This is a post I like to post every once in a while. I've been a bit delinquent but I'll probably try to do it a little more often than I have because it's a good reminder to all of us including myself of what we're trying to build on here. We've had and will continue to have a constant stream of new arrivals. If you are lurking I hope that this helps you navigate the community and brings you into the light. If you're a new commenter, read through this to make sure you have the bases covered. If you're a regular commenter then something you did is probably the reason I had to write this and you should go to a box and feel shame. In two minutes you will be free.
If you have any questions about the content of this post, feel free to ask.
Community Guidelines: I've decided to set out more detailed community guidelines. They can be found here. Everyone, whether old or new, should read it right now. It, along with the user guides, can be found in the left-hand sidebar. Dean Keaton put together some other rules that should help make things run smoothly. Basically it boils down to this:
We are all here because we love the Toronto Maple Leafs and love talking about them in depth and to death. If you don't like what's being discussed, you're free to discuss something else or write a FanPost to provide new fodder. Since we'll be spending an entire season together, let's treat each other with respect. Feel free to disagree with anyone's opinion but try to explain why you disagree in something approximating reasonable language. And for the love of God, don't take it so personally if people think you are wrong. The commenting engine is great but it can also lead to a large volume of replies. YOU ARE NOT UNDER ATTACK. A lot of people might just disagree with you. Present your case and you might win some converts. We've gotten away from it of late but we should try to remember there is a right way and a wrong way to talk to people. Unless they are Habs fans, then there's no sense in trying to civilize animals.
Help new people navigate the site because everyone's been new at some point. Except Jared. He's always been here. If someone asks you to do something like title your pictures or use the reply button it's for a good reason. Don't get offended too easily.
Quite honestly, some of spend a good portion of our day on this site and we want to make it as enjoyable as it can be. The Overlords and the Girlfriends and the Contributors all do this because we enjoy it. The second you start ruining our enjoyment you are likely doing something wrong and are not long for this site.
Trolls will pop in from time to time. The best thing to do is probably to ignore them but that's not as much fun as crushing them with wit and logic. Then Chemmy or I can crush them under our bootheels.
Profile Pictures: This is a way of replacing the generic SBN star and allows you customize your profile. Definitely add one. It helps highlight your personality.
Photos: In many of our stories you will see pictures that are provided courtesy of the Associated Press or Getty. If you click on that photo, you will be brought to a gallery of related photos. Each one generally corresponds to a particular game.
FanPosts: Have something you want to discuss? Something that's not getting the attention it deserves? Not reading what interests you? Write it up. It is simple enough that Senators fans can do it. If it's really good you might see it on the front page. If it really flaunts the guidelines, you might find it deleted.
FanShots: These are meant to be quick hit items (videos, quotes, links, lists) that don't really fit elsewhere. Check if it's been posted before in the morning links (From The Branches - FTB) or as a FanShot because I'll delete repeated material. If it's a link to your blog posting, it should go in the FTB and e-mail me with your URL so we can add your site to our roster.
Maple Leafs Tickets: This is a recent addition to the site. We've partnered with TiqIQ to give you a resource that will help you buy Maple Leaf tickets. Check it out. It lets you see which tickets are available, whether it's a good deal for the section, and you can buy home and away tickets.
Tagging: Tagging fanshots and fanposts properly ensures that the SBN magic built into the platform works to its fullest. When you click through to a story, fanpost, or fanshot proper tagging ensures that the most relevant related stories, fanposts, and fanshots appear. Not doing so means that I have to do it and that makes me cranky.
Commenting: This is your main avenue for contributing to the site. Offer up your thoughts on the posts or on other commenters' comments. 'Z' lets you move through the new comments and 'R' sets you up to reply to the highlighted comment. But please, for the Love of Wendel, use capitals, punctuation, and spell as well as you can. No one's expecting you to mimic Howard Berger's use of a thesaurus but if u rite lik dis eye will h8 u 4eva. Also, I'll delete your comments.
Player rosters and Schedule: At the top of the home page, there is a tab for "players". By clicking the tab, you can see the player page for every player on the Maple Leafs roster along with all their stats. The Maple Leafs' schedule is also there.
Game Day Threads: During every Maple Leafs game there is a game day thread if you want to chat with fellow Maple Leaf fans. Birky is the boss. It's our electronic sports bar but keep in mind that people are reading these threads at work. Do that and everything will be fun. Usually at least one or two other members of the PPP team are in there. The threads go live around 30 minutes before the puck drops.
PPP Dictionary: Ever wonder what the "!!!1" at the end of words means? What are the inside jokes? Well, check out the site dictionary and then you're on the inside too. Welcome, it's dark and scary but funny.
Post Topics: There are a few posts that are done every day. The most important is the From The Branches morning links roundup. If you have a Leafs blog e-mail me and we'll make sure you get added to our Google Readers. If you're missed or have links to share this is the place for general hockey talk or non-Leafs game talk. Every other post should try to stay on topic as much as possible. If you notice comments missing that's the most likely reason.
Like us on Facebook: Also at the bottom of every story, you will see a button to share the story on Facebook. If you like the story, share us.
"Re-tweet" us!: If you are on Twitter, you can click the "Re-tweet" button at the bottom of every story and share it with your followers.
Follow us on Twitter: Your Pension Plan Puppets team can all be followed on Twitter! Here is how to find the folks that make this site run smoothly:
@mlse - PPP
@felixpotvin - Chemmy (Note: if you message him as if he was the real Felix Potvin he won't correct you)
@ - SkinnyFish
@mforbes37 - MF37
@b1rky - Birky
@JPNikota - JP Nikota
@So_Truculent - Bower Power
Also, if you follow any of us on Twitter, you can hunt and peck through our followers lists, and you will see that many of our great posters are on Twitter as well.
E-mail me: At the bottom of the home page, you can e-mail some of us. If you have an idea for something you would like to see on the site, or if you have a comment, complaint, or compliment, let me know and then I'll delegate the shit out of it. This site is for all of us, we want all of you to be a part of it, and we really do value your input. Note to trolls: any ludicrous hate mail will be published and mocked.
Oh go ahead and register, you know you want to: If you've been lurking, don't be afraid to join the conversation! We're all Leafs fans and we all have pretty diverse opinions and haven't killed each other yet so odds are you won't be the first. Even if you don't want to contribute the link will explain why registering makes your lurking experience better.
And with that, the class is over. Taking the time to read through all of the links will be beneficial to everyone so please, at your convenience, take a stroll through them.
Now, for the quiz:
If you compared your hockey game to a Maple Leaf past or present who would it be?