Claiming Newbies, is it right or wrong?

Lately in the chat a few of the younger members have started claiming newbies a lot of us are a little disturbed what this entails. It's less like mentoring and more like you're treating them like sheep. It doesn't do right, to have people pounced upon when they come in chat and be told 'They're mine' or some variation there of.

As I said a lot of us find it a little worrying seeing this happening. I would name some of us against but they can do it themselves I'm sure.

Also, if this is wrong place to put this, then move it.

I'm all for mentoring, but mentors don't just attack you first thing saying 'I'm your mentor now deal with it' you get to meet them and talk to them, learn about them, a friendship develops.

Just my thoughts on this.

It's a joke thing and I think people are overreacting. That's my opinion, you're free to disagree.

I agree with Paladin. Maybe we could bring back the mentoring? I think it would be a good idea since the site is expanding and I'm not sure how confusing it is to new members. It would also help with the reviewing if newer members learned how to help each other after being taught by older members.

~peanut~

Speaking as a 'newbie' I have never had this happen (although I don't chat--don't type fast enough) but if I did I think I would just take it as a joke. Personally, I think it would be pretty easy to ignore someone who's annoying you--we are online after all. It doesn't seem like a big deal.

Claiming members is just a tradition, most of the members today got claimed when they first went into chat, including me. But of late I've been noticing that people are getting a little obsessive. When I was in the chat at first I thought it was all good fun, but then it just got overwhelming and feeling pity for both the newbies and myself, I abandoned the chat. Sure, mentor people, but do not go overboard and definitely don't fight over newbies. Another thing I don't get is when newbies claim newbies. That's not mentoring, that's just going along with the fad. Come on, as horrible as this simile might seem, that's like a hand-less guy taking up Scoobying.

I agree in that claiming members has been happening way to often lately. In my opinion I think that it most likely makes the newcomer feel awkward when he is being fought over and claimed. If you plan to claim a newer user then you should at least offer to answer any questions. Also I think users should offer to be a mentor in private, and not spam the chat with it. If they wan't to help a new member then it should be done in private.

Well I'm a newb here, and I've been "claimed." No one really fought over me; someone just claimed me. I thought it was just kind of funny. Especially since the people doing the claiming are all younger than me. I think "claiming" would be better if the people claiming newbs were mentoring them, but I don't think it's a big deal. I guess it would be annoying if people really fought over newbs.

I think that claiming Newbies IS wrong. Maybe we could have certain members that ask to be mentors, and have to be approved by Nate or a moderator?

I'd join.

Durriedog wrote:I'd join.

I think that it shouldn't be the person's choice to join. The moderators should have to pick a select group themselves.

We've had several mentorship programs on YWS, all of which have failed miserably once the mentors get bored of being a mentor and the leaders get bored of artificially enticing the mentors to actually do something. If you can figure out a way to keep people interested in starting and continuing a mentorship program, then by all means, try, but just know that history is not on your side.

I don't think "claiming" people in chat is that bad, unless the person being claimed protests and doesn't like it. Then it's not okay and the claimer should back off. It's more of a harmless thing though.

We do already have a very successful mentoring program. It's been going on for over 5.5 years now, and has led to a lot of success. We call it "reviewing", although others may refer to it as "critiquing" or "constructive criticism". If you wish to join, there's no sign-up process involved; just go to the Read/Write area and begin by replying to posted literary works.

Awww no-one claimed me when I first entered the chat when I was a newbie lol Well, I've never heard of it before until now, so it may not be as bigger problem as you think. That saying, because I don't chat very often, I wouldn't know what's going on.

But a mentoring program - even if it's not offical, sounds like a good idea. I know we all need to toughen up our skins, but for a newbie to post something and the first review they get is a 'just saying but this is rubbish' type of review isn't exactly the type of confidence to inspire the future generation of writers out there. If there was a buddy up system for those who wanted it, maybe it would stop the claiming business. Plus I think 'older' members (in age sense, not how long they've been here sense), may feel a little put off if someone 'younger' than them tries to claim them.

Just food for thought.

Nate wrote:We do already have a very successful mentoring program. It's been going on for over 5.5 years now, and has led to a lot of success. We call it "reviewing", although others may refer to it as "critiquing" or "constructive criticism". If you wish to join, there's no sign-up process involved; just go to the Read/Write area and begin by replying to posted literary works.

Seconded.

If you want to help somebody, just find their work to review and review it religiously. Follow them, even. It's not official but I'm in this type of partnership with multiple people and it's really nice.

I just wanted someone to bring me a pizza and an iced tea....is that so wrong? D;