As we've had quite a few new members over the last few months, I wanted to go over old ground and reinforce our guild ethos ... our number one rule .. "be nice".
Guild chat (indeed, any in-game "chat") has the benefit of time .. it takes time to type it, which means you have time to consider it before you press that button for everyone to see it. Unfortunately it also has the problem of not necessarily being the best way to get across intent or meaning. Just because it sounded okay in your head, does not mean that, once it is typed, it will be taken the same way.
Voice chat of course has it's own benefits and problems ... it is much easier to get across intent, but it is also easier to just blurt stuff out that, really, shouldn't have been said.
So .. guidelines:
In voice chat, please do not "hog" the microphone .. we don't want to hear a monologue all night and don't want to hear the inner workings of your brain before you've even registered it yourself.
In voice chat, especially during raids, be aware of what is going on .. don't start talking about what you're going to have for dinner the next day, whilst we're trying to kill a boss.
In text chat, take a moment and consider what you have typed, and how others may see it, BEFORE pressing that button.
In any chat, if you realise after the event that something you have said could be misconstrued, say so and correct it as soon as possible.
In any chat, be aware of anyone who is new to the guild, perhaps not used to your idiosyncrasies or your sense of humour, and ensure you make allowances for that.
In any chat, if you are new to the guild, feel free to join in, try not to take offence, take a step back and absorb how people talk and how different people interact and, if you have a problem, speak up. If you don't feel you can speak up directly, you can contact myself or one of the officers privately.
To be honest, all of this should be obvious, and common sense - I should not have to reinforce this at all, however, I have seen the effects of all of the above - and it is worrying that often the person saying or writing something that could be deemed rude, inappropriate or wrong is completely oblivious of the fact.
Remember .. first impressions count. Current guild members should be making an effort to give a good impression to new members; new members should be doing likewise for us.
