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 ratings, mojo and so on.
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. Anyone is welcome to volunteer to host a diary. 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.
So, what the heck is all of this mojo stuff, anyway?
Yeah, great question. The truth is that it is all still becoming clear to even those of us who have been active here forever.
There are many classes of users here. I use the term class as in "classification", because I cannot think of a more apt term off the top of my head. Caste? Level? Hierarchy?
Anyways, here are the levels, in order, as I understand them.
(Check the "PEOPLE" link below the masthead on any page to see info about users, mojo, etc. But note that the "People With Highest Mojo" section has not been updated much since DK4 went live over a year ago.)
Front pager
(a.k.a.
Infinijo)
Yes, there are also diff't classes of FP'er. It is even possible for a FP'er to be banned.
Nevertheless, these are generally the people who do not need tips and the like to retain their mojo/TU status. If you are in a hurry, on a dial up connection or a phone, it is safe to say they will be fine without your comment rec.
Deceased
(a.k.a.
RIPjo)
This is a new designation created to commemorate those here who have passed. It is not always brought to the attention of those who deal with mojo, so feel free to contact them if you know of someone who deserves this designation. It will also ensure their account is never used by another person.
5 Bars
(a.k.a.
Maxjo)
This is for those of us who spend way too much time here. We are the site's trusted users slash community moderators.
We get to hide comments, police hidden comments & uprate or re-hide them when necessary, edit tags and so on.
I guess this is the "reward" we get for having too little life offline or on other sites.
3-4 Bars
(a.k.a.
O.K.jo)
Four bar users are those who are up-and-comers, or folks who have lagged recently and dipped below maxjo.
You can still be a trusted user with only 3 bars of mojo.
Two Bars
(a.k.a.
Lojo)
This level is mostly for brand-new users or those whose accounts have been dormant for some time.
(From what I can tell, no user on this site has exactly 1 bar of mojo; correct me if I am wrong)
Zero Bars
(a.k.a.
nojo)
Clinging to life? On the edge of banning?
Only the ants who are our overlords know how one can be "alive" without a heartbeat.
NR
(a.k.a.
Uh-oh-jo)
This is fairly new, IIRC, and I can only guess it stand for "Non-Rating". If this judgement is passed down, it "overrides all other mojo". At first, it appeared that this rating was intended to be permanent suspension of rating privileged (both Hide rate and Uprate). But then, just today, we learned that if enough people support you, there may be changes to this status after all.
Banned
(a.k.a.
Bojo)
People with bony mojo or bojo have been banned & can no longer use the site actively. They can of course still view the site (lurk), but that is all. In the past, people who have been banned can petition Kos for reinstatement. Not sure how this process is working, or if Kos much cares to deal with it as the 2012 elections are approaching.
It is best to avoid getting bojo'd if you would rather remain an active user.
Well, DUH! How the heck do you DO that!?!
No need to yell...
The short answer is clear: Play nice
The long answer is more complex.
Recently, Kos warned us all about playing nice, and intimated in no uncerain terms his patience is wearing thin. If you want to stay in his good graces, there are some suggestions in that diary-
So if you hate that other person, AVOID that person. Don't go into their diaries! Ignore their comments! Don't even acknowledge their existence! If you don't take my advice and feel compelled to remind that person that yes, you still hate him or her, then too bad. I'll zap. Furthermore, if someone uprates any of those comments, I will ZAP THEM TOO. I won't waste time with NRs. NRs take two clicks to make happen, and I'm not willing to devote more to this matter than the one second it takes to click on "ban".
There are no sacred cows. No one will receive leniency. I'm simply too busy with actual important shit, so don't test me.
Not included in that post was a reminder that even uprating comments in such meta wars/pie fights can lead to you having your ratings privileges revoked.
So be careful.
Read what you are recommending.
And think before you click "POST"
1:37 PM PT: I am so ashamed.
It just dawned on me that "BOJO" could also have been called "BANJO"
I am going to send gchaucer2 to stand in the corner because of my error.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
7:50 PM PT: Thanks to Senor Unoball, angry marmot & others who pointed out indeed there are a few people with only 1 bar of mojo.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
I love it when someone shows me my guess was incorrect; it happens so rarely it is refreshing.