I joined 9rules after a moderator of bloggertalk.net spoke fondly of some of the members there. I had hoped that I would find a friendly blogging network. I never thought that I would find a place where members inflict their morals on other people and humilate them for having an opinion that differs from theirs. 9rules is supposedly an online community of blogs and bloggers.
Signing up alone does not make you a member. To be accepted in 9rules, “Scrivs, Tyme and Mike pick the sites that are admitted into 9rules. Picky people Scrivs, Tyme and Mike are, looking for interesting content, updated regularly. They look for writers that not only care about their sites but their readers, are committed to their writing and passionate about what they write about.” I did not bother to submit my site, because I was not sure if I would be sticking around.
9rules has a section called notes, which allows anyone to sign up and participate in a forum. I found a large majority of those posting in the note section rude and disrespectful and down right immature.
A majority of them were unable to add to a discussion without attacking my views and were too quick to jump to conclusion. Yet at the same time I know that a few bad apples do not speak for the community at large and it would be very unfair of me to critique the entire site based on a few immature, obnoxious snobs.
On March 17, 2007 ,Tymes spoke about 9rules and etiquette saying, “There is a respectful way to voice disagreement. Unfortunately, some people refuse to do that. They inflict their morals, ethics, etc. on other people and ignite fear, shame, humiliation, etc. ”
“That is not what 9rules is about Scrivs, Mike and I want 9rules to be a place were people feel comfortable interacting, having fun, learning and networking.”
“Too many users are quite simply fed up. They want something done and I have to agree, enough is enough.”
“Debate all you want, but the insults and the intentional offensive comments stop today.”
That was just two weeks ago, and obviously not much has changed and from my opinion Mike was not too open to my opinion on the users posting in the note section despite Type’s post about 9rules and etiquette and how I as a new user of 9rules came in and saw the same thing taking place.
Despite those immatture users who are giving 9rules an unwelcoming feel, there are some very good blogs in the network, like Lorelle on WordPress, Paul Stamatiou, and Plagiarism Today though I did not see them posting in the note section.
From opinions offer on a post at bloggingpro.com, I’m not alone in my opinion of the 9rules network. I also read another comment on the web from someone named Pablo who had this to say, “9rules is a wannabe elitest ring of arrogant snobs. Why people pander to be accepted into their or any other for that matter, fraternity is inconceivable.”
Well I’m certainly not discouraging anyone from, joining 9rules or submitting their blogs. The site is just not for me.
I feel that if you own a blog network your focus should be on your members and making them feel welcomed so they come back.
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9 responses so far ↓
Wrote: Mar 30, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I think what happens is that they soon realize that they can’t really control everyone. it just gets to be too big of a community and gets out of control. I think it’s pretty easy to do that.
It’s tough to make something like that work. I’ll have to admit that I thought about being a member a while ago, until I realized that yes, they do seem to be “elitist wannabes”.
but yes, there are definitely some really great members in there.
Wrote: Mar 30, 2007 at 11:11 pm
I guess I had better stay away from that site. Sounds like to me the members of 9rules are also members of the US Congress, always arguing. Or either they just wanna be.
Wrote: Apr 3, 2007 at 12:37 am
I went there originally last fall to do a minor bit of research, a very small subsection of a much larger study between the school of business ( marketing and the school college of arts and sciences – specifically cultural anthropology – at the school I attend. The study is an ongoing, on social construct of social networking and it won’t end until after I graduate.)
I stayed due to the need to write a paper for one of my cultural anthropology professors, somewhat related.
For me any experience with a forum like that was new because I hadn’t participated in forums before.
The point for me was to observe – my participation was incidental. At first it is was a break from what I usually read and the way I usually talk because it was a lot of nonsense, or talk about trying to get more traffic or web 2.0 stuff which doesn’t interest me in the least. Nor does people writing include terms like “butch/lesbian/gi jane” in their posts but me telling them they are “porn freaks and need to get a life” set off a bunch of emails and text messages to one of the “rulers”. I had never seen anything like it.
It was almost funny how much the people who want to get into the network kiss the ass of the people who run it, a network and people that I, and most people not into web 2.0 or design, had never heard of. Their own little secluded world really.
At first I thought it would get better, more substantive, but except for a rare blip on the radar it didn’t get any better.
Pretty clearly it is among one of many social networks that will exist in a very tight frame of faux elitism; it is not unlike any society or culture really. They choose the insiders, the people trying to get in treat the “rulers” with kid gloves and a lot of ass kissing , an interesting phenomenon to observe as an outsider, which I certainly am in that environment. I don’t think I have ever had one of my questions addressed really.
My paper is done, just finished it as a matter of fact, and my part in the research was done last week, so I am not sure if I am going to stick around there or not. It really is not for people that are not of that world, a limited reach social network.
They do have private forums where the members go to talk among themselves. I think the outside notes are to entice readers, for financial gain of the rulers of course. I’m not sure everyone knows it but someone told me that in the beginning.
I believe that members are encouraged to participate in notes by the rulers. Sort of to throw bread crumbs at the pigeons while the real pretty birds look on from their private birdcage. I don’t think anyone there in 9rules proper really wants to talk to people outside the “network” which is why the notes section is maybe not what the private forums are. They might have decent discussion there I don’t know.
I don’t think they realize no one in the real world cares.
I have met a couple of nice people there, only a couple who are actually 9 rules members.
You also have to remember most of these people are web 2.0 geeks or tech geeks, design geeks, gamers, or fifteen year olds. There is evidently some kind of design – tech geek hierarchy which people who are not of that life just can’t get. I don’t think they really know how to socialize outside that little circle of interest. Really though they don’t need to because there is so much out there already.
Some of their design blogs are killer good though.
Wrote: Apr 7, 2007 at 12:48 am
Hi Rose,
I’m a 9rules member, and I like the community a lot. I’m sorry if your experience wasn’t a good one, though. The notes section is pretty much what you make of it — sometimes the topics are interesting and the conversation’s terrific. And sometimes the topics are silly and the conversation is similarly silly.
The readership’s quite different from my blog readership, but I’ve never felt unwelcome or not respected. And although I don’t always like the tone of some of the posts and posters, I think Tyme does a wonderful job moderating threads that step over the line. In doing so, I think she serves the community well — many people don’t always know the right way to behave in conversation and she offers useful reminders of good behavior.
To the extent that there’s some suggestion that the site’s not welcoming, that hasn’t been my experience at all. The people I’ve run into don’t strike me as arrogant in the least. Some are inexperienced bloggers looking for support, and others are more experienced folks who are willing to offer it. Sometimes you get somebody who’s a little curmodgeonly, but I’ve always found that if you give them the benefit of the doubt, and listen and respond calmly, you end up seeing more about what you have in common than what separates you.
Wishing you well in your blogging, xo, BL
Wrote: Apr 7, 2007 at 2:23 am
Lily, yes I remember you. Thank you for dropping by and I appreciate your opinion. I wish I had of found the community welcoming and friendly. Tyme was very nice though.
I’m glad that your experience was better than
mine. I too wish you well and you are welcome back any time.
Wrote: Apr 11, 2007 at 5:47 am
Hello Rose. I was wondering where you went in the writing community (I have a soft spot for it), and imagine my horror when I saw this post.
I’m sorry if 9Rules didn’t seem as welcoming, nor if some of the users seemed rude and hard to talk with – Tyme usually does a marvelous job of making sure everything is relevant to the respective communities.
But, you’re right – to each his/her own. Good luck, and keep writing.
Yours truly, Eli.
Wrote: Apr 13, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Though there is a difference between 9rules and my.9rules that confuses a lot of new people.
It’s just that for the most part, the notes are new and 9rules members don’t necessarily have to participate in the notes. The notes are meant to be the bridge between readers and the 9rules members themselves.
The thing is, what makes 9rules unique is that the members (not the my.9rules members) are passionate about what they do and say. And I guess you experienced first hand how “passionate” they can be about their opinions. It isn’t a bad thing on an individual blog. But it can write itself off as pompous egoism that people don’t like. Much like you’ve expressed here. I do apologise for it and if I have said anything to enforce your opinion, I really am sorry if I’m part of the problem.
I’ve learnt to walk away from notes that just break down from the point because there is no use continuing it and pull my hair off. It takes two to argue and I rather not be one of the two. There are better things to do than argue opinions. For me at least it’s to express them on my blog and considering that many 9rules members do the same, that’s what makes each and every member special.
Wrote: Apr 16, 2007 at 2:20 am
Hello Eli, thank you for dropping by. As I have already stated it was not Tyme. As I said, I found her to be very friendly and welcoming. I just decided the community was not for me. I have not had a chance to ask for my account to be removed yet. I’m certainly not discouraging anyone from joining 9rules. There are some wonderful blogs amongst the network. Please feel free to drop by my blog any time.
Edrei, passionate about their opinions is not quite the word I have for it, but thank you for dropping by and offering your opinion.
Wrote: Apr 16, 2007 at 2:31 am
Alice from Wonderland or Not I happen to be married to a tech geek and over the last few years I have become somewhat a geek myself. Nothing wrong with geeks. I don’t know about any private forums and I don’t really much care. On my community we have forums that are not open to the general public too. Your point?
I realize 9rules has had some problems like any community online. You have a few bad apples that try to ruin it for the bunch. Perhaps once they work out the issues I might view the community different. For now I decided to try another network.