BEWARE OF RUDE FORUM MONITORS

In the few short years I have been overly involved with the internet, I have learned to be careful as to the type of sites I want to involve myself in. This is a massive world and although most people are sincere when posting and chatting online there will always be bullies and difficult users thinking just because we are not meeting face to face, it’s okay to be rude and obnoxious while online. This goes for leaders of forums on well known sites as well as the newly introduced ones. Not all blogs and question/answer sites are created equal. Not all writing sites are friendly either.

As many of my friends and followers already know, I am struggling to be a well known, well liked writer as well as friends to most of the people I communicate with both on and off line. I write on all kinds of topics. I try to help my fellow writers as well as learn from them as I embark on a career not yet launched to the levels of my goals. I’m thankful for every platform given to me to post my efforts on. HubPages has been the perfect community for me, but as I try not to put all my eggs in one basket, I have wrote for other sites just for the exposure to see if I can expand my talents even further. Most are hosted by understanding people who are pleased to be of help to their users.

Exploring the world of the fiction writer online, I was excited for a platform that wanted good quality, well written fiction stories based on other works of fiction written years ago only with a new twist or idea on the subject matter. I found a site where not only could I do this, but I also could share my works on social network sites so my already developing audience could see it without much effort. All these writing sites have different ways of displaying stories. So, just as we had to learn the ins and outs as hub writers, these other sites have mountains of information to stroll through as well. The difference of how we converse with other site users however is nothing like Hubpages. I know at Hubpages if I can’t find the answer as to how something works on the site through the learning tools all I need to do is ask for help. Clear prompts lead me to answers without spending hours to find them.

A few days ago I ran into a problem posting my story on another site I started using in December because of document limits. Being confused as to how the site worked, I thought I had to post the story as a second chapter to another completed story. As I’m thinking this must not be right and not being able to find the answer easily, I got on one of their many forums to ask about my problem. Had I known what I know now I never would have asked them anything. Of all people the monitor was the rudest person on the forum. After trying to explain my problem I was quickly informed I did not do my homework as to how the site worked. I try to defend myself explaining I was new to the site but only had this one issue I could not find the answer to and I thought the forum was there to help. I guess it was the wrong forum to enter. I told them I was sorry I posted the question and they need not worry about me ever posting another. Now I wonder if I should have wasted my time posting my stories there at all. I like the site otherwise, but I don’t think I’ll be using it again other than referring my friends to the stories I already have posted there.

To make a long story short and not cause trouble naming the other site, I want my fellow hub writers to beware when entering other writing sites. If there’s no room for new members to find answers to simple questions concerning the site, there’s no room for us to be there otherwise either.