Animation Source Forums

Some people, when they enter a new setting, are very quiet and reserved at first. It takes time for them to get comfortable on a new site.

I agree with what Tamer said.

Yes, this annoys me. It's like: "How do you expect to make friends when you act like such a robot?" And simply saying "hi," the members don't realize, does annoy some members and they get ignored. Then, before we know it, there's a new member in the banned box for yelling, spamming, and possibly swearing in the shout box because they've been ignored (most of them don't do this, but it has happened in my mod-ship).

When I first came to the site, I was already a part of other chatting sites, as well. This helps in communication - and I quickly learned the rules (I had horrible grammar and used TONS of SMS, it was a surprise I wasn't banned). Most members actually don't bother with the rules - I had one member report me (as a moderator) for "threatening to ban them for SMS, when there are no rules against it." When, in fact, it is one of our more strict rules.

So, with new members not knowing the rules, they feel personally attacked by members and moderators the like, which adds to their discomfort. However, after the first week or so, they begin to mellow out - know the rules - and begin to act like people. Most of it, really, is shyness. Maybe they've been harrassed on another chat site for being young, one-lining, or whatever -- and don't know what to expect when entering a new site. Someone's past can have a rather horrific effect on their present. So, they might have it in their minds that we will react negatively to their presence.

Whatever the reason, most of it is shyness. And anger for being ignored. But they soon learn to engage themselves in conversations and make friends. It's not too bad, however, when a brand new member says "hi," because they don't know what to think of the chat, either (I know I didn't).

I agree. In general, the reason for the lack of expression is that they feel shy. I was the same, I didn't know what to say when I first posted on the sb so...I was quiet and actually, a little intimidated by all the members I didn't know.

Although, after getting used to it, I'm far from shy with ANY members. XD

Maybe personality has nothing to do with it at all...

Who knows...this person may be busy. I mean, often times, when I work on my computer, I leave an extra window for the shout box open, just so I can peek in every now and then. Those times, I don't really engage in in-depth convos. Just "Hey," "What's up?" "Whatcha doin?" "That's cool," and whatnot. If someone notices I'm on and addresses me, I simply pop the window to the front and write a short and curt reply -- often without punctuation.

Which leads me to a second point: Punctuation doesn't show personality!! Lol. No, the purpose of punctuation is simply to connotate a desired response, action, or feeling. Of all things, punctuation tells your reader how they are expected to respond -- not much so that you can show off your spark. Thus, I believe an example is in order...

Tell me; the following is a simulation of a typical shout box conversation. All correct punctuation has been included. Yet, can you still sense each character's "personality?"

BEN: Yo.
MAX: Hey. What's up.
BEN: ...Not much. You?
MAX: Eh, not much. Same-o, same-o... Lol.
BEN: lol.

And then, on the other hand, you got the exact opposite; in which case, you're usually just being annoying and spam-arific...

BEN: WASSSSSAAP, dooooodzz!!!!!!!!!
MAX: OMG, Ben!!!!!11! Like, how the heck are you???
BEN: Hiya, Max!!! DDDD I've been keepin' busy. How about you??
MAX: Eh, kinda blah. LAWL!!!
BEN: LMAO!!!!!! XDDDDDDDDDD

...Personality? You bet. Annoying? Most definitely. Just saying -- it kind of gets me irritated when you tell people to show more personality [In part, because my family tells me to do it all the time. So I'm a little biased on the matter.]. Because when they talk like, "hi," "whats up," and "hey," ...believe it or not, THAT's a personality a well.

I think it's more lazyness than anything else. Those people only write in "SMS" language type, and they do it on the shout box too. That's all. But I don't like this too : they shouldn't wonder why they're ignored...

"hi" is a greeting. As is "hello" What is the difference? New members have bad grammar, what do you want from them? Some times i write in all lowercase too. I don't have a problem with peeps saying "hey"
If it bothers you, then ignore it best you can.

I didn't mean it as a stereotype.. I meant like they normally come in saying 1 word, and then they start spamming and what not. I am sure you were a good newbie.