println("hello world"\n) hehe

[Gamerprinter]

This place has too many friendly and helpful people to be an internet forum. Its freakin me out

Where are the trolls... the flamewars? Its just odd. LOL

We have lurkers, and though we appreciate anyone looking at, downloading and using our content (only CC licensed content), we prefer participants, though lurking is not a terrible issue with any of us.

We've had one thread that was temporarily closed because a heated debate crossed over into throwing insults, and that was a new poster and the problem was "nipped in the bud". That thread is now open again, and the problem alleviated. However, that is the only instance of something close to a flamewar, ever in the history of the Guild.

Its the initiative of our grand administrator (Arcana) and the dutiful CLs to keep the forums as friendly as possible. In the way initial responses are made, in the way these introduction threads are welcomed with open arms, in the way that we try to help even those that ask questions that fall outside of cartography issues. We, the members, have found that following in their footsteps is actually addictive in being a more friendly environment, from the senior members to the noobs. By treating each other with respect, the Cartographers' Guild is an island of hope within a sea of trolls on most other forums.

I try to keep my posts friendly on other forums (EnWorld, etc.) but with their rampant trolling, flamewars, and edition wars its not always so easy.

I'm glad to be a longstanding member of this guild, and I'm here more than at any other online community, largely because of the friendly atmosphere, aside from the topic of mapping, of course.

So, don't be freaked out about our community, be freaked out that other communities do not have the presence of mind to be respectful to each other.

And belatedly, "Welcome to the Guild! I hope you have as wonderful a time as we do in our great community!"

GP

PS: and "no, we are not the Stepford Cartographers" - we are friendly with free will!