Since the previous discussion on this topic, kicked off by the awesome Irish Samurai in response to another discussion started by the awesome PoorCynic, has fallen off the front page (and was getting rather unwieldy besides), I'm bringing it back up so we can keep working on this. There's still lots to do and more voices are badly needed!
What we've got so far is a developing "charter" for what this is for and how it works, and a few proposed houses and Big Sibs in them. I'll start with the charter, now on its third revision thanks to input from hS:
1. PPC Goals
These are the primary goals of any PPCer or group of PPCers.
- To encourage and celebrate good writing, be it by reading and/or writing good stories, by giving concrit, by beta-reading, etc.;
- To have fun with bad writing, be it in the form of missions, MSTs, just talking about it, etc.;
- To celebrate fandom in its many forms, whether in writing, in art, in role-play, in nerdy holidays, etc.;
- To have fun, fulfilling, and safe community interactions with other PPCers, wheresoever you prefer to do so;
- To do the above with respect for each other, for badfic authors and others, and for our community spaces, so we can all have a good time and not give anyone a justification for calling us big fat annoying stupid meanie-heads.
2. House GoalsSecondary to the above PPC Goals, these are the specific aims of the Big/Little Sib "Houses" program.
- To make it easier/less scary for newbies to approach and get to know older PPCers;
- To give newbies a mentor/teacher they can always ask questions and advice;
- To provide a network of support for Big Sibs in particular, but all members in general, so no one person gets overwhelmed trying to mentor/advise/guide/correct/befriend/whatever all the new people, and so there are clear channels of support open for advice on given topics about which members of a given house are knowledgeable;
- To get older PPCers more involved and more personally invested in the PPC Goals by giving them a specific obligation toward other PPCers. In other words, if your Little Sibs are driving us up the wall, we're going to Have Words with You;
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Not to become cliques whose members never talk to anyone outside their sibs/house;
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Not to devalue the importance of other houses' interests. In other words, just because your group isn't big on giving concrit doesn't mean people in it should believe concrit is stupid, since that would contradict the PPC Goals.
3. House StructureThis is how houses work.
- Houses shall be made up of oldbies willing to be Big Sibs to newbies, with the responsibilities that role entails;
- All Big Sibs shall have a working knowledge of PPC in-universe canon and PPC rules, policies, social mores and folkways, etc., and be willing and able to teach their Little Sibs;
- Each house shall have a stated area of expertise that sets it apart from other houses, to provide newbies with something to identify as a personal interest and thus efficiently narrow the field of potential Big Sibs, preventing much flailing and confusion over who should step up. However, this area of expertise should not be too specific (i.e. Lord of the Rings humorfic concrit in the IRC), because that would just get really silly really fast and leave us open for too many Clue jokes;
- Each house shall have a silly name that doesn't necessarily bear any relation to its area of expertise;
- Newbies shall be given a list of houses and their descriptions upon joining, and asked to select one. In order to prevent popularity/intimidation from becoming a factor, this list shall not include names of Big Sibs;
- A Big Sib from the newbie's chosen house will then elect to adopt that newbie as their Little Sib, according to availability and/or compatibility; considerations may include fandoms in common, interest in the IRC or wiki, and other matters not covered in house descriptions;
- Each Big Sib may adopt as many Little Sibs as they are comfortable with.
This is all pending approval! So far I've really only heard suggestions from hS. It would be good to know if everybody doing the Big Sibs thing is on the same page or not.
Now, existing houses (or at least, names that have been shouted out):
- House Kind Words and a Two-by-Four: This house is big on giving constructive criticism. This house is made up of Boarders who are interested in improving their writing skills, in general, and helping other people improve as well. Current members: 2.
- House Darjeeling: This house is steeped in the history, lore, and traditions of the PPC. Also delicious with scones. Current members: 3.
- House Skull Goblet: ??? Current members: 1.
Names of people who are already members have been purposefully left out here, because part of the point is that newbies should pick out houses based on description, not who's in them, and I imagine a few unadopted newbies may be reading this. If you really wanna know, check out the original thread
from this post.
Now, if you're a Big Sib volunteer, what we really need you to do is 1) give feedback on the charter; 2) join a house if there's one you like the look of; or 3) start a new house if there's something you feel is your area of expertise that hasn't been covered yet. Also, make sure you tell us what your house is going to be for. {= P
If you're not a Big Sib volunteer, consider volunteering, and see above! If not, you can still offer feedback, so please do!
~Neshomeh, determined not to let this die a-borning.