Nursery for New Members

So you've just joined and you're wondering what the hell this nursery thing is all about and why this site has it when few to no other sites you've visited have such a thing.

Please read all of this post!

We had a few problems in the past with things like:

• **Spammers **signing up and posting adverts

• What makes a spammer a spammer when there's a classifieds section? The difference is whether those posting items for sale take part in the wider community... if they are doing that and the majority of their posts are not spam, then they're not a spammer... if all they do is sell stuff and have no interest in the community, then they're a spammer.

• **Spammers **signing up and **sending PMs **to 60 or so people

• Invasions from other forums, so basically mass trolling

• Individual trolls

• New people asking **questions that have been asked and answered **what feels like a hundred times already

• New people starting little flame wars against themselves by asking such **stupid questions **that a quick search would've saved them embarrassment and spared their reputation

Those are a wide and varied set of problems, and we worked out that nearly all of them could be stemmed by just putting up an artificial obstacle for those joining the forums.

Effectively there is a cooling-off period in which new members should get acclimatised to the forum and get to see how it works, and the forum should get a moment to become familiar with the new person. We are basically forcing you to ease yourself in gently... but honestly, doing so is better for you, this place can be harsh so just go with it.

The name for this artificial period is "the nursery". Until you learn to walk here, you can't run.

And what does being in the nursery actually amount to?

Well members in the nursery can:

• Search the forums
  
• Reply to existing threads
  
• Upload a profile picture (non-animated)
  
• Join an existing social group
  
  

What nursery members can't do is:

• Start new threads
  
• Use Private Messaging
  
• Have a custom avatar
  
• Upload a animated profile picture
  
• Edit their posts (they can't undo what they say)
  
• Rate threads
  
• Give reputation
  
• Post on polls
  
• Anything else not explicitly granted to them above
  
  

What defines a "nursery member"?

It's pretty simple, you are no longer in the nursery when you have both:

• Posted 3 times
  
• Been on the site for 24 hours
  
  

And this is an automatic thing, as soon as that threshold is passed the system will promote you to full membership within an hour or two.

Now, a lot of people don't like the nursery. And that's very understandable, but let me just underline some qualities of this site that don't really exist elsewhere.

First up, moderators... we have none... not one, none. Other sites pride themselves on having 20 or 30 moderators, we just don't bother. We have an administrator, that's me VelocityBoy... but really I do the technical stuff like run the software and server and ensure that the place functions well and doesn't get blacklisted. What I don't do is to subjectively police the place. Point is, if we have no moderators we really do need a system that from the outset reduces the kind of work that leads to the creation of moderators... basically to reduce spam and trolling from the instant that a new member signs up.

Next up, jostling. Every forum has it's fair share of new members being initiated by the old timers by some friendly ribbing. But sometimes this can go too far, especially if (without searching first) you ask an oft-repeated, tired, or dumb question in your first post. It's not pleasant to watch new members get ripped to shreds, and really I'm doing you the biggest favour by forcing you to search first and look around before you ask... the guys here can be merciless towards the new, so say hello first and search thoroughly before you ask stuff. The result, yeah there's still some jostling, but not much, and the place is a hell of a lot friendlier for it and that is priceless.

Can you evade the nursery period?

Don't try. Really. It's a public forum which means everyone can see you do it, and if you post 5 meaningless posts in an attempt to sidestep the nursery chances are that someone will report you... when that happens, I will ban that account permanently. You're free to register again, but then you start the nursery again too. So don't try, we're not that dumb and as this is our one piece of moderation it's purposefully harsh, really, don't try.

But what if you're not a spammer, not a troll, not a internet and cycling newbie, you aren't going to ask a dumb question, and you have experience of other fixed gear forums. Well, why didn't you say? If all of this is true, then you can contact me (the administrator) using the Contact Us form at the bottom of the page and outline why you need to be out of the nursery. If you can persuade me with a paragraph that you need to start a new thread, or send a PM, or something... then I will get you out of the nursery as soon as I can (i.e. when I've checked my email and seen your message). I do this a lot, it's cool. So do just ask, I'm not that scary really.

I think that covers all of the basics about the nursery... key thing, just say hi, chat to us... the nursery period will fly by before you know it. It's the best way, and it's the one that works best for everyone.

sounds cool

First post

2nd

Oi dick head..

"Can you evade the nursery period?

Don't try. Really. It's a public forum which means everyone can see you do it, and if you post 5 meaningless posts in an attempt to sidestep the nursery chances are that someone will report you... when that happens, I will ban that account permanently."

Point taken

Yahtzee!

only took 3 attempts...

any way on the cheese thread. Manchenga can't be beaten for taste. also cooks well and has a nice nutty after taste. chedder should be left alone.. unless you can get your hands on a really good one

Nothing wrong with proper vintage cheddar! Have you seen the Norwegian brown cheese mentioned in the other thread? Seriously, a man of your impeccable taste Greasy would find it most agreeable.

for proper vintage lancashire bacon butties you should head to pars wood this weekend

Manchenga

Manchego right? Because Manchega is the sheep not the cheese they get from it.
Proper tasty... can't beleive the price of it in the UK... spose you do get less milk from sheep than you do cows though.

I'am WIN!

hi. i am looking for any riders in the swindon area. gives us a holla if u ride and are from swindon

Fuck it. Here goes.

Hello all.

Me: Completely agree with the famous Desgrange quote about gears, which is why I've gone fixed at the age of 44. Been lurking here a while just to see whether the forum is just populated by obnoxious cunts. I have confirmed in my own mind that it is - so I should fit right in.

I have TWO brakes, and wear a helmet. Recently gone clipless too, so have also perfected the 'Horizontal Trackstand' at lights. Hobbies include poking the eyes out of kittens and excessive masturbation.

yes yes

.... Hobbies include poking the eyes out of kittens ....

Is this you?

thats no way to treat your cat Mr Soul

for proper vintage lancashire bacon butties you should head to pars wood this weekend

Just joined about 10 minutes ago, so good to meet someone who has also been to Parrs Wood. See you all there on Sunday.

Manchego right? Because Manchega is the sheep not the cheese they get from it.
Proper tasty... can't beleive the price of it in the UK... spose you do get less milk from sheep than you do cows though.

That would explain the lanoline taste and the difficulty in spreading it on a cracker!

i need to expand my lingustic skills for the wildlifes sake!

yes yes

so happy you agreed twice?

Fuck it. Here goes.

Hello all.

Me: Completely agree with the famous Desgrange quote about gears, which is why I've gone fixed at the age of 44. Been lurking here a while just to see whether the forum is just populated by obnoxious cunts. I have confirmed in my own mind that it is - so I should fit right in.

I have TWO brakes, and wear a helmet. Recently gone clipless too, so have also perfected the 'Horizontal Trackstand' at lights. Hobbies include poking the eyes out of kittens and excessive masturbation.

you should meet Balki....

We used to date...

:(

Was it the move to clipless that drove you apart? its tough on a couple.. real tough

glad for it.

We used to date...

:(

Was it the move to clipless that drove you apart? its tough on a couple.. real tough

Brought a tear to my eye that did :'(