Hub Help: Chatbox Ettiquette

Chatbox Ettiquette

While the usual Community Guidelines always apply,
here are some extra tips for interacting in the Roleplay Hub chatbox.

• Greet everyone politely, even if you don't know them. Many members will make the chatbox their first stop before they even post - we want them to be treated equally! Try to avoid statements like "Who are you??" or "Do I know you?"
  
  
• If someone goes quiet for a few minutes, it doesn't mean they've left! If someone's last post was less than 20 minutes ago and they're just now making another post, chances are they've been their all along. No need to hold up the cbox by re-greeting them, why not just carry on the conversation?

• When in doubt, jump right in! Whether you're brand new or you've been hanging around for years, there's nothing to lose by just jumping in the conversation. If everyone's talking about what they had for dinner, just throw in your two cents too! You don't always have to stop and say hi before chatting.
  
  
• Catch up before you participate. Sometimes the conversation can go in circles because someone didn't bother to catch up before they started talking. Before you ask everyone what's going on or what they're talking about, try scrolling up in the chatbox and reading the last few comments. If you'd like to read back further, you can always click "Older Messages" - it'll show up when you reach the end of the current chat.
  
  
• If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. Maybe the conversation has swung towards Twilight and you're more of a Harry Potter fan, or everyone is talking about steak and you're a vegetarian. Whatever the case may be, the topic of interest will probably change soon, so just sit tight and observe if you have nothing to contribute to the current conversation. It won't stay on the same topic forever!

• Share your opinions on different topics.
• Politely offer an alternative discussion topic if you aren't comfortable with the current one.
• Jump right in and suggest something to talk about if it's gotten quiet.
• Disagree politely if you happen to not agree with someone.
• Share your feelings about something that bothers you.
• Ask if you can PM people about certain things.
• Avoid chatspeak like "u" and "r" and "sry" so others can easily understand you.

• Abuse the caps lock (or shift!) key.
• Post many messages in quick succession, or spam.
• Blatantly advertise your personal website or forum.
• Tell others their opinions are "wrong" or be rude if you disagree.
• Make whiny or "Pity Party" style comments when something bothers you.
• Try to interrupt in a rude manner when you are not interested in the discussion.
• Ask anyone for personal information or instant messaging handles.