Automatic introduction PMs for new members!

[Dashe]

I'd love to be able to do that...I'm just not sure how to program the board so it'd send messages automatically! Any assistance in that matter would be immensely appreciated.

[Chiz]

It's not a terrible proposition, but it's not one I'd support for various reasons.

• Logistics - These messages would have to be sent manually and be personalized each time (like the warnings). We have no bots, and don't have the option of using bots, for such a task. To save time, we'd end up resorting to a 'form' reply (again, like the warnings), which seems absolutely perverse for something meant to be welcoming. ("Hi, welcome to the club! Here's your complementary copypasta!")
  
• Missing People - There is a 'newest person' status at the bottom of the main page. There is not, however, a '2nd newest', '3rd newest'...you cannot re-sort the member list by, for instance, signup date. In instances where multiple members sign up in short succession (which can basically mean within 12 hours of each other, minimum) the mods (above, doing this manually) are likely to miss people. This may in fact cause them to feel more unwelcomed than if we simply did not hand out the impersonal form letters in the first place.
  
• Yet another thing mods need to manage - There's also the risk of multiple mods sending (roughly) the same PM to a new member if they haven't gotten the memo that they've already gotten their PM. Us staff are often a little disorganized when it comes to anything other than the really important projects (like Secret Santa, etc), so an ongoing effort to hit up every new member with a PM will almost certainly result in a lot of members getting welcome-spammed by the staff. That's gonna turn off a lot of people.
  
• We already have a newcomers forum - We already have a whole subforum dedicated to newcomers and the recently signed-up to introduce themselves and open themselves up to the community. This gives everyone the opportunity to welcome them after reading a little bit about them, often leading to commentary tailor-fit to their ideas and interests. By jumping the gun, we disadvantage ourselves by not knowing who we're talking to, if they want to be talked to, and disadvantage them by not getting the full welcome they deserve, and possibly giving them the misconception that the PM is the end-all to the welcoming committee.
  

Ultimately, I don't think it'll be implemented - and I really hope it isn't, at least not as-is - but don't think you're 'overstepping boundaries' with the suggestion. We try to be very receptive to input and suggestions, and are willing to talk about them if they have potential.

[Buster Cannon]

Well, there is a way to get PM's sent automatically upon registration. It's pretty ghetto, but it's a solution.

[Speculator]

First of all, what are the schedule of the mods? Who is on during which days?

What are your assignments?

Why does the need to be an instant PM? Why can't it all be sent out during certain times of the month? Once a week? Could you dedicate at least some time to welcome new members?

Not all new members announce their existence in forums in my experience. You just find out with post count and the date they joined.

It doesn't seem to be that problematic in my opinion. You could even have someone more passionate and willing to do this for you guys since it is definitely "excessive" to the more important priorities but it definitely means a lot to us if you do. It's nice to be noticed once in a while.

Concerning the problem with modding these PMs: My question- can mods and other mods see these PMs?
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Hm, a certain idea that came to mind:

-Develop a thread.

-List the names of people who have recently joined in the past week or two and have members of the station personalize messages. Set a character/ word limit (ex. no longer than 500 words)

-To avoid having multiple people send the same thing make them work with each other to form a message for the same person. (This could only be enforced if everyone on the LIST has been taken) Members who are not willing to provide this service due to bias to an inclination of doing someone else's could compromise.

-Assign a mod(s).. Like Dashe and EricChiz on this week.. to edit and review these messages and tag team on sending them out after 2-3 days upon reception/ review.

Simple. Seriously does not take that much time.

[WhiteWindow]

Crusher's idea is best, most sites with an Automatic intro PM uses that type of thing.

[Deleted]

I agree with both of Buster Cannon's suggestions as both would work quite well.

[Avegodro]

This idea sounds like a good one to me, just might be the thing to get some more activity from new members.