Mecha : reading-and-posting


Building / Mecha / reading-and-posting

Welcome to the lugnet.build.mecha user guide!

News Group guide links

lugnet.build.mecha

News Group User Guide

Reading and Posting

This section describes some common practices and guidelines to reading and posting in this News Group. As always these are just suggestions and there is no real hard guidelines set in stone. However, politeness and courtesy should be the common focus that binds us and promotes cohesiveness.

Some of the issues and practices discussed here are:

Reading
Posting
Writing your content
Authentication
What if no one replies to my post?
What are the appropriate User Topics?
How do I get my creation on the Side Bar?
Thread Hijacking

Reading

Reading about the creations posted here is fun. Many people from around the world post their creations here and you’ll see the diversity in the creations just as the people are different.

Keep in mind that people of all ages post their creations here. Some people are beginners while some folks have achieved master level from years of building experience. This diversity is what makes this group strong. You never know just who is gonna post and how old they are as well as what country they may be from.

The key is positive encouragement to promote a friendly atmosphere. Also, keep in mind that some people here have become close friends off and online, so sometimes they tease each other or make inside jokes. No one should feel left out or feel like there is any “in crowd”. This writer for one, would not stand for that. This news group is for everyone. Jump in, have fun, you will always be welcome.

Posting

Posting is fun. But before you post, you’ll need to either become a Member (recommended) or begin your posting privileges set up. Once you have done this, take a some time to read the LUGNET™ User Guide and become Familiar with the Terms of Use.These documents are straight forward and helpful. Once you have done these first steps you are ready to post!

Posting to this newsgroup basically consists of two parts.
1. Writing your content.
2. Authentication.

Writing your content

When composing a post, you can do some cool things. You can simply write about a story or creation, or you can go advanced and use FTX Code to include picture links and signature images to link to your home page.

FTX Code is a LUGNET™ specific language written and created by the creators of LUGNET™ designed to be easy to use and is very useful in making your posts come to life.

Authentication

Authentication is a process that ensures a post written by you is from you and no one else. Sometime ago the authentication process was put in place to make sure no one could write a post and use another person’s identity. Really it only takes a moment and the time it takes protects you against nefarious forces attempting to hijack your identity.

Authentication occurs in one of two ways.

1. By Email.
2. Automatically when signed in as a Member. (recommended)

Authentication by Email

When you make a post and you are either not logged in or not a Member, a message is sent to your email. Follow the instructions in the message, click on the appropriate boxes to authenticate your message.

When signed in as a Member (recommended)

When you make a post and you are logged in as a Member, your post will be automatically recognized by the LUGNET™ server and the system will put your post online for all to read.

The authentication system is a vital part of the posting process. It protects you and certifies the post came from the original author’s name.

What if no one replies to my post?

This is a tricky subject. There are however some dynamics at play that may explain why. Also, some people may post a message that is purely informative in nature and does not require a response.

Perhaps some of these examples may provide some insight.

A. Your post was ill written.

Perhaps your post was uninformative or hard to understand.
Try to create a post that is fun to read and beckons a response by asking for feedback or look for ideas from other builders.

B. Your post was not replied to yet due to the time in which it appeared.

As discussed before, people from around the world participate here and so when it
is day time where you are, it may be night time elsewhere. Give it some time.

You made a post on a Holiday or during nice weather and everyone is outside!

You made a post during a contest and everyone is offline building.

Some studies have shown the majority of Traffic here on LUGNET™ occurs during the business week.

C. Frankly, your creation was not impressive and people passed it over.

As tough as that may sound, consider it encouragement to revise your design and try to build better. Also, a common reason/excuse I have heard is...“Everyone said what I would have said”. Meaning that other people that have replied have already expressed their thoughts. Like, “Oh that’s cool” or, “Wow that’s nice.”

The worst thing you can do is get upset and complain. While true there are those who do nothing but lurk and never contribute publicly, there are always people that read posts and give from the heart. Always remember, some people are more outgoing than others. Some people are extroverts and enjoy reaching out to others. On the other side, some people are more reserved and choose to keep to themselves.

What binds us together is our interest in Lego. Always keep in mind why you build. You should always build for yourself. Never build for approval or the tip of the hat by others. Still building and posting is what makes LUGNET™ so fun. LUGNET™ is also a resource for information. Not everyone uses this site for the same reasons. Hang around long enough and you’ll be interacting with the other members.

What are the appropriate User Topics?

From time to time you may wish to include other News Groups in your post. Take care to make sure you are on topic with your crosspost.

For instance, You may have made a Mecha Creation that makes use of TECHNIC construction and you think the readers of that group may find interest in the way you created your Mecha. Some people have made use of common and uncommon elements found in other LEGO themes. An example like a part usually found in a Harry Potter set might justify a cross post to that group when you point out that you had made use of a particular part found in one of those sets that was used in an unusual or note worthy way. Just be sure your topic warrants a cross post to a particular theme.

Also when composing your post, be sure to direct your crosspost to a “suggested follow-up” so you bring the post back on topic and so you do not flood the other news groups you have posted to with similar messages. When in doubt, use common sense and feel free to ask, there are many friendly people here who will be glad to help you out.

How do I get my creation on the Side Bar?

The ways of the side bar are as mysterious at the curators themselves! Keep building. You’ll see your creations there.

“Wow us” and it will be there for sure!

Thread Hijacking

Thread Hijacking. What is it? Who does it? Where do you draw the line?

Thread Hijacking kinda goes like this. Someone makes a post. Let’s call him “Mecha Biff”. Mecha Biff writes a post about his super cool Mr. Softee Mecha. People like it. People start to respond. One person, let’s call him, “Mecha Dude”, writes a response and says “hey cool Mr. Softee Mecha, I had a vanilla cone today and it was good. I liked the way you used that Orient set part.” Then another person jumps in, and replies to Mecha dude. Let’s call him “Mr. Bungle”, and says “Eeeeiiiiwwww, you like vanilla! That’s gross its made of snail guts and dog bones and Monkey sets, and did you know that my sister had a vanilla cone and my brother had one and that my brothers friend had one and and and and......” You get the point.

Mr. Bungle took the time to chime in and hang a post off a comment Mecha Dude made but showed no respect or recognition to the original content that Mecha Biff posted, which was his Mr. Softee Mecha.

Thread Hijacking is not showing respect to the person who initiated the post. However, it is natural for conversations to drift and many posts that start out as one topic end up in another topic. That’s ok. You just need to reset the user topic so the conversation that has drifted settles in a more appropriate news group. The best thing to do out of politeness is to show respect to the original post. Take the time to say something positive before taking a person’s thread for granted.

Again, if a conversation starts to drift, that’s ok. Just pay some respect to the original content before running away with a conversation.

Common courtesy should always be the guide where the issues become unclear.

The links above will help you get started in understanding how this news group works. Like all other newsgroups here on LUGNET™, each has its own theme of interest and similar guidelines to help users gain a better command of the tools available to you.

With time and observation you too can join in the fun and interact with other builders by replying to other people’s creations, make posts about your creations, write stories, and add picture links to your posts to make for a great presentation.

Be sure to check out the LUGNET™ User Guide to learn about the additional features available.

ver. 1.06
Since 7/15/04
Credits

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