Welcome, New Users, to Daily Kos. This Diary is intended to help you orient yourself to the site and ask questions about how to use it.
In the Body of this diary you will find some links intended to get you participating more effectively. Also in the Body this week is a discussion of Following Tags.
After that you can ask me any question you want. I don't know all the answers so if you stump me, you do. I invite those wiser than I to contribute and correct (or raise a ruckus, just don't scare people).
Before we begin, a brief word from our sponsor:
Everyone is encouraged to review some of the previously written goodness that survives here in the DKos archives.
* Other diaries in the Welcome New Users Series.
* The Welcome New Users dKosopedia page.
And finally, as DarkSyde eloquently stated:
With the exception of trolls, we're glad you're here!
Note:
The realm of Welcome New Users has evolved. For now, it will be hosted alternately by smileycreek and myself, LaughingPlanet. We hope that any attempt to revive this effort is appreciated by those who got the ball rolling, especially the person who wrote literally dozens of such entries over the years.
TAGS: The secret to personalizing Daily Kos
One of the best features of the new/improved Daily Kos (4), and yes, a year old isn't that new in blog years, is the FOLLOW TAG option. Despite this tool being available to old and new dogs alike for 10+ months, a shocking paucity of us take advantage of it.
When you follow a tag, stories on that topic, no matter who writes about it, appear in your Stream (put your name where my name is). It is a great way to discover new diarists on this site you may not have otherwise read. It's also good for anyone who has a keen interest in a specific place or specific subject.
(I would imagine that applies to 99% of folks) So start clicking the little hearts next to tags at the end of your fave diaries.
Not sure how many tags I am following, but each scroll lists 20, and i have nearly 3 full scrolls worth already. How many tags are you following? If it is NONE, you should fix that ASAP.
So, if you haven't yet, go, right now, to the tag list and click the little heart thingy next to 10 or 15 tags that speak to you.
There is a list on the bottom of EVERY SINGLE PAGE of Dkos for you to peruse.
Take advantage of the option to cull from the herd of goodies this site offers. The stream page gives you the short version of what you might like. If you ever want to drink from the veritable fire hose of posts here, you can always revert to the DIARIES link atop every page.
AN ASIDE OF BLUSHING GRATITUDE....
Some of you may have noticed the recent subscription drive here at Daily Kos to end 2011. In the flurry of gift subscriptions, someone's hand must have slipped and accidentally bought me a lifetime subscription. Wish lists have resulted in dozens of new subscriptions being handed out to people who have asked for one. I'm guessing this means that everyone who wanted a gift sub has gotten one, so the benevolent types have had to dredge the bottom of the barrel.
This humble poster, who hasn't added a single item in months (and has failed to post a WNU in 6!), was recently gifted a lifetime sub.
To whoever that secret kind soul was who parted with the $100 to make this happen:
THANK YOU!
Now, with that being said, I have a bit of new news for old users who are new subscribers....
NOTE: The following section mostly applies to subscribers only.
BONUS TIP: FREE STUFF!
Have you noticed the free downloads?
Forgive me if this is all old news, but I just noticed the free E-books being offered by some of this site's authors.
Click on your profile page and then the lower right "(Downloads)" link.
Just decide which of the 3 formats offered works best for you and your digital book-reading options and just a few quick seconds later: BAM! You have yourself a free paperless X-mas gift.
My girlfriend got a Kindle as a gift recently so this might give me the kick in the pants to set up her device with a free book or 2. It was a nice thing to discover for a number of reasons. I look forward to reading more from 2 of this site's finest writers. I already know both of them are well worth spending more time getting deeper into their minds in the extended blog format that used to be known as "BOOKS".
May you find the same joy of the written word. Go click the link NOW!
Follow this group for your stream. Bookmark the group page for regular viewing.
Become a "follower" by clicking the little ♥ thingy under the GROUP name (like so ↑) Welcome New Users until it has a little check mark emblazoned on it.
Following the tag is also recommended, but you will find that smileycreek & I have begun adding items to the queue that do not have the WNU tag added. You will see new diaries that feature useful teaching about the new site every day or 3, if all goes well.