Making the Message Boards Work For You

by meow177

One of the most invaluable tools provided for Neopian citizens is the Chat function. The message boards allow us to make new friends, advertise, find information we need, speed up trades, and more. In order to get optimal use from this service, there are some basic rules that bright and respectful citizens will find sensible.

Safety should always come first. One should never announce how wealthy one is, or write about rare items they have found, just to crow about it. Hackers and scammers patrol those boards and such posts could make a target of you. It has been stated at least dozens of times, and I will reiterate--NEVER give out your password or your NeoDrive URL to anyone, no matter what they offer. If a post says that you can gain some reward from doing so, or pleads for help with NeoDrive access by asking for the address of yours, it is most likely an attempt to get your password. We shouldn't become overly paranoid, but do consider each post carefully before you reply.

Basic courtesy and respect cost us nothing and make the boards a more efficient and pleasant tool for all of us. There is a great range of ages and cultures among Neopian citizens, and what one person may consider mild language may be shocking to another. Words that are not offensive in the US might be naughty in the UK, for example, and vice versa. Threatening posts are welcome to no one and not only do not impress readers but make the post writer look ridiculous. Scammers are systematically being reported and the methods of their thievery are passed around among citizens so fewer people will fall prey to them, so there is no point of continuing such tactics on the message boards because it will soon result in the loss of the culprit's account.

Many different message categories have been provided to us by the Neopian Powers That Be, and we should use them appropriately. Since there are spaces specifically provided for shop ads, guild recruitment, Battledome challenges, cries for help, etc., there is absolutely no sense in posting such things in the wrong board category. This just clutters things up and annoys people. Some of us may completely ignore misplaced advertisements just because they are not where they belong. It only takes a few seconds to make sure your post is aimed at the right category, and it is the considerate thing to do.

Etiquette is optional, of course, but the word "please" has only five letters and makes for a nicer request. It is always nice to thank someone who has taken the time to answer a question for you, and many people will more easily remember you if you take the time to do so. Try to be patient and refrain from repeating the same post as quickly as you can simply because it has not been answered yet--it is hard to wait, but eventually someone will reply if you keep checking back.

If we all keep in mind how helpful public message forums can be if they are used well, the chat boards can be a wonderfully informative place to meet. You never know...you might meet your next best friend there, find help curing your pet of a disease, or hook up with a partner for battling. Do go try the boards, play safe, be nice, and enjoy!