Forum Moderators: open
For the benefit of those just joining us from where I had come from in 9/2000.
I believe Mr. Mackin has posted this warm and fuzzy "blast from the past" for a point, but since Mr. Mackin is noted for his rather lengthy, in-depth, scholarly dissertations, I'll summarize:
There are a few other boards out there dealing with SEO and web marketing (yes, it's true). A couple of them are apparently in their death throes and the members are coming here. WebmasterWorld's courteous, low noise, buttoned-down style is fairly unique and we know there are some culture shock issues. There are two basic rules: 1) Respect someone else's opinion as much as your own and 2) be nice about it.
[edited by: korkus2000 at 6:54 pm (utc) on Nov. 1, 2002]
I remember reading it like it was yesterday, and feeling quite overwhelmed at the level of expertise, and COURTESY that I found here.
It's an exciting place, different to be sure, and has got a definite 'sparkle' as we call it.
I read at a few different forums, I believe I never actually posted anywhere but here though...the others just didn't have what WebmasterWorld has got.
Yeah, since a member's status/post count is updated across all of their posts, it looks as if that was a moderators-only thread. I was running through that thread and noting how many that were new to the board at that time went on to become moderators.
It's the full package. I have never participated in another forum and, frankly, have no desire to. I can't imagine what this one lacks that another could offer. I have lurked through most of the others and it always feels like high school, the in crowd is always instantly apparent.
I never got that feeling here. I was always treated with respect and did so in kind. The knowledge that I see, and absorb, from newbie to admin is priceless and post count or title doesn't matter.
Well, glad you guys pointed out that those folks weren't mods then...I was reading through it and starting to think that you guys sure did seem to like yourselves a lot. LOL! :)
I went to one forum where they do site checks and it looked like everyone was willing to look at a site, but if they didn't like it, rather than trying to say something helpful, they'd either trash the person's design verbally or ignore the fact that they'd stopped by at all and said nothing. The same was true on the other threads.
The nicest thing about Webmaster World is that no one assumes you're an idiot just because they know more than you. Or if they do think so, they're polite enough not to say so. You just get good, solid, constructive advice. Even when you wander into a thread that's over your head. Folks take a moment and explain things to you.
It's kinda homey and leaves you with lots of warm fuzzies (so to speak)! :)
I'd say that what was true then is true now. In spades.
Even when you wander into a thread that's over your head. Folks take a moment and explain things to you.
There's just so much any one person can know, no matter how many years you've been at it.
Anyone who's still 'in there' and really working the web runs into something nearly everyday that reminds them of what they don't know - we're all newbies in some area or other, and we always will be.
It's that lack of "superiority" that I have valued here since day one. Attitudes are checked at the door!
As for the tone of the forums, I don't completely agree. Personally, I consider myself outside of the political loop, even though you guys know that I'm a mod over there... I have recently started posting here after lurking occasionally over the years. There are good resources both here and there and the only reason I visit online forums at all is because I [hope I] have something to offer people and I get to learn so much in return. I also feel like I owe a lot because it was the webmaster style forums that turned my 18 year old butt a few years ago into the career I have today. Now I feel like repaying people and hopefully I get to influence people positively no matter where it is.
In 2000, where did you get website traffic from? Does anybody remember the break-up of traffic from different search engines?
from 2000 post
Definitely different ;)
Some people obviously are eager to win a discussion and do not care a bit about finding a piece of truth.
It's different here on WW.
<Some people obviously are eager to win a discussion and do not care a bit about finding a piece of truth.>
This is so true. I too have visited other forums and have learnt things from them but there tends to be a more ego driven attitude prevailing which tends to put you off asking questions and even answering them as people are trying to assert their ideas rather than analysing and learning.
In these forums you can tell that there are a lot of people with a LOT of experience but whose posts never come across as arrogant or never try to belittle people as they too are still looking to learn and try to consider other people's opinions.
PS WW is the only result if you search Google for "'air-dried horse rectum' sausage". Do you think there's a market for this product as you could corner it?.;)
As WebmasterWorld became more and more international in membership, there developed a once-infamous thread called "Foods of the world" or somesuch. And, yes, there used to be a site describing that, ummm, delicacy.
Now look at me! I can't shut up:o
I have been posting on various SE forums for a while now, after a couple of years as a lone wolf in the industry. All the main SE forums are different and cater for different needs, questions, aspects and personalities. There are questions I will take to various places because I know there will be people that can help better than another etc.
One of my pet peeves that has been developed over this time is the concept of "enemy camps". The industry should be striving for "unity in diversity" instead of building walls (or re-inforcing them) if we are really going to make the search industry a better place (for site owners, searchers, search engines and marketers) and help others.
This is not a game or a competition in my opinion, I'm quite serious about building a better web and try to apply that to everything I do in my own business as well.
(Which doesn't mean there is no fun in networking with peers :))
Initially I joined WebmasterWorld under a different handle and only just changed it to my real identity last night as I went to post something. My main reason for doing this was that it struck me to check if the handle was available as I would hate to see two excells running wild!
Another reason I did this was that unfortunately I did not have such a good experience here due to various things that were going on at that time which would do nobody any good to bring up.
Thank you to those that have welcomed me here.
mamafoofoo? I sure hope no one finds out my law school nickname. (It had nothing to do with law :))
lawman
