A little gossip can be fun, but be careful not to hurt any feelings.

Forum Etiquette

Let's Keep the HubPages Forums Fun and Friendly

In our recent Feedback Survey, some Hubbers mentioned feeling unwelcome and put off by the atmosphere of our Forums. We want the Forums to be a place where everyone feels welcome. We have such an amazing, helpful, supportive, and knowledgeable Community, and we want to facilitate open, friendly communication in a way that benefits everyone. With that in mind, I'd like to share a few tips on Forum etiquette that can help promote a positive environment:

1. Kindness is king. Let the principle of kindness guide your words and you'll rarely go wrong. Remember that we're all Hubbers, and we're on the same team.
2. Be positive. Criticism and honest feedback are great ways to help others improve, but don't focus on another Hubber's faults or be unnecessarily harsh.
3. Disagree with respect. Naturally, there will be differences of opinion in the Forums. Keep your disagreements civil and on topic.
4. Follow the Forum Rules. Respecting the Forum Dos and Don'ts helps keep things running smoothly.

Christy Kirwan
Editor & Web Content Manager

How to Make Jar Candles at Home

by beckisgiftguides published 4 days ago

Jar candles make amazing gifts for your friends and family. If you've ever wanted to be able to make high quality homemade candles at home, this page will help you learn to create jar candles at home.

Tips for Staying Safe While In Your Car

by ronbergeron published 5 days ago

If you spend a lot of time in your car, these tips may help you stay safe from accidents and crime.

Writing Exercises to Help With Writer's Block

by DzyMsLizzy published 6 days ago

Stuck on trying to write something? Writer's block is real, but can be easily overcome.

Tips for Facebook Advertising

by jenniferyaniz published 7 days ago

My name is Jennifer Yaniz and I am a Local SEO living in the Chicago suburbs of Schaumburg, IL. I hope my tips and ideas about Internet Marketing provide an easy guide and set of guidelines for anyone developing their own great website or blog ideas. Keep the faith, continue your hard work and push until there is no wall between you and your audience.

The Impact of Bird Feeders on Wild Birds and the Environment

by EricDockett published 5 days ago

What is the true impact of bird feeders on wild birds and the environment? Are they are troublesome as some people claim?

Five Breathtaking Performances That Didn't Win Best Actor

by CoryBradford91 published 2 days ago

A look at some timeless performances that were nominated for but didn't win the Oscar for Best Actor.

Beat the Bedtime Blues: 5 Tips to Ease Your Child to Peaceful Sleep

by cassiehodgin published 34 hours ago

Do you have trouble sending your little one off to dream land every night? Here are 5 time-tested methods to help your child feel ready to go to sleep without tears or tantrums.

Homemade Beauty: Amazing Avocado Face Mask Recipes

by healthmunsta published 3 days ago

If you knew the benefits of avocado for beauty, you'd rush out to get some on your face. Learn about avocado's amazing benefits & try out some avocado face mask recipes too!

Fruit Salad From Scratch

by A Dane in Spain published 3 days ago

Fruit salad fresh from nature. Create your perfect bite of healthy fresh fruit. No canned fruit filled with sugar - only fresh fruit from the garden, the greengrocer or the market.

10 Awesome Old Dudes in Video Games

by NornsMercy published 6 days ago

How do you prefer your elderly video game guys? Serious? Quirky? Sweet? Perv-y? This list has them all.

Details for Sweethearts to Consider before the Engagement

by MsDora published 2 days ago

To help sweethearts discover important details about each other, here are six important areas into which they should gently probe before the engagement. See video of six premarital questions to ask.

9 Simple Ways to Relax

by Silver Q published 6 days ago

Relaxing sounds like such simple thing to do, and yet many of us don't even know where to start. Keep reading to find some easy, simple ways to relax, and throw your troubles away!

12 Romantic Ways to Make Valentine's Day Special - At Home!

by NornsMercy published 5 days ago

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Did you forget to think of something to do? Are you broke? Can't find a babysitter? Working late? Don't worry. These cute at-home ideas have you covered!

How to Plant March Daffodils -- in the Autumn Time

by beckisgiftguides published 22 hours ago

Daffodils are the official flower of March. They bloom in the spring, but must be planted in the fall. This guide will show you how to plant your daffodils and features beautiful daffodil photos.

Get the Best Deal from Your Cellphone Service Provider

by Beth Eaglescliffe published 5 days ago

Cellphones, mobile phones and landlines, they are a crucial part of modern life. Here are some tips to help you negotiate the best price for this service.

A Paleo Diet for your Dog

by DrMark1961 published 2 days ago

Your dog should also benefit from the natural food that his ancestors ate, and you can provide him with it cheaply. Find out how.

White History Month: A Fair Alternative to Black History Month or an insult

by deecoleworld published 2 days ago

February marks the celebration of Black History Month. Even so, critics have suggested a White History Month. Is this fair? Is this racist? When is Black History Month? celebrating black history month

Did Aliens Build the Pyramids?

by cryptid published 5 days ago

Is it really possible that aliens may have helped to build the pyramids of Egypt? If so who were they, and where is the evidence?

Fun Youth Baseball Fielding Drills

by Cre8tor published 2 days ago

Baseball coaches are always seeking ways to improve the team. Here are a few fielding drills that keep practice fun, moving and productive along with some tips on arm soreness and field prep.

Setting Up Google Authorship For Beginners

by ecommerceseo published 41 hours ago

Learn how to setup Google Authorship to help increase your websites CTR on the search results. With a few simple steps, your Google + profile will start to show on the SERP's!

An English Train Journey

by Allyson Cardis published 6 days ago

A train journey through the west of England is a quintessentially British experience but also a chance to take in the Victorian engineering achievements of the Great Western Railway.

Stay upbeat!

How You Can Help

Our Forums have gotten a lot better over time (despite the occasional negative or unpleasant post), and we'd love your help in continuing that positive trend toward improvement. Here are a few small things you can do to help us make the Forums a better place:

• Don't feed the trolls. Don't respond to inflammatory or incendiary remarks. Fighting back can be tempting, but trolls and bullies aren't worth your valuable time. Report the post or comment instead and move on.
• Report posts that contain insults, personal attacks, bullying, and petty bickering. Reporting a post is anonymous (your report can only be seen by HP Admins, not by other Hubbers) and it helps us weed out prohibited behavior. When reporting a post, be sure to include the particular word or words that you consider to be inappropriate- this helps us sort through long posts more quickly.
• Boycott Forum threads that contain poor behavior. If a thread receives no comments, it will quickly get pushed off of the first page.
• Set a great example. Be the kind of Hubber you want to interact with in the Forums, and treat others how you'd like to be treated.

Check out the Community News Forum to see what's going on with your fellow Hubbers:
http://hubpages.com/forum/category/2915

This Week's Rising Stars

Below you'll find this week's  Rising Star winners. Our candidates showed off their skills in the Books, Literature, and Writing Topic.

Since Hubbers are only eligible for the Rising Star Competition during their first 60 days at HubPages, our winners represent the hottest new talent. Why not read their Hubs?

Christy Kirwan

How to Get Started as a Freelance Writer

Ever considered making some extra money by writing at home? You may want to get freelance writing a try! It’s not always easy, but writing at home can be a great way to earn some extra money!

Mystery Writer: Paranormal or Mind Manipulation

When deciding to create an effective mystery novel, there are many different genres.

WRITING TOPICS: 5 Good Topics to Write About

Lacking good topics to write about? It is hard sometimes to get writing topics for your on-line content. Using Google keyword research tools can help you get good topics to write about.

amiebutchko, From Warwick, NY, 25 Fans, 14 Hubs, Joined 3 months ago

Christy Kirwan Interviews amiebutchko

Insights from a Writer, Busy Mom, and SEO Professional

How did you hear about HubPages, and what made you decide to sign up?

Trying to get my career going again after having small children, I decided that it would be of benefit to me to have online writing samples to show to potential new clients and to get my name out there as a published writer. I also wanted to practice what it took to be successful in internet writing and HubPages has really helped me to do that. I found out about HubPages when I was searching for sites where you could make money for writing. I was already writing on Yahoo Contributor Network, but a client suggested I try out HubPages as well. I love the comprehensive nature of articles here.

Your profile mentions that you’re a freelance writer. What other types of projects do you work on?

I assist in optimizing websites for an SEO business, as well as ghost write PR articles for marketing companies. My forte is really medical writing. Additionally, I help a few independent clients both write copy for and optimize their sites. I am hoping to build my clientele.

You also mention that you have a background in marketing. I imagine it’s been a big help in your writing career. Do you have any marketing tips to offer your fellow Hubbers?

My marketing background definitely serves my career. I was very lucky to have a background of both writing and business out of college and it really helped me to understand how to use both cohesively. My marketing tip for my fellow Hubbers would definitely be to learn and apply SEO. As a writer and a lover of the artistry of writing, SEO makes me a bit sad and I want to resist it. However, it is necessary to succeed in writing online. I understand SEO, but I have a hard time putting it into my own writing, as I want things to sound beautiful. It certainly is a push and pull that I am only beginning to embrace.

You are a family woman and a busy mom of 3. How do you find time to write? Do you have any special time-saving techniques?

If you saw the laundry situation at my house right now, you would not be asking me for advice on how I “get it all" done! As any working mom knows, you just have to try your best. I write in the morning when I am fresh and when the house is quiet. I make time to try to build this career I am trying to succeed in. I know there will be a time when my kids will leave and I need to have something that is my own. But life gets in the way a lot and my family is always my first priority. As far as time-saving techniques… I would have to list planning ahead and not over-scheduling as principles I hold sacred.

The views and opinions expressed in this interview
do not necessarily reflect those of HubPages.