Project - Mentoring Idea!

[Elennainie]

I have an idea for the guild, since it is supposed to be a learning and teaching guild. How do you guys feel about some sort of mentoring system so new people can get constructive criticism about what they post? It's hard sometimes when no one replies to a post, and, when your'e new you can't tell if the post was just dumb or wrong or whatever. If we had a guild mentoring system, I think we could strengthen the guild as a whole by helping new members (like me!) become better contributors. What do you think?

Oh, and thanks to everybody who's been nice with feedback, good or bad, for me.:)

[Grond]

Since you asked me first, Elennainie... I will be more than happy to be your mentor. I am far from being a Tolkien expert but I can direct you to answers as good as any. Thanks for asking me.

Any other members who desire a mentor should post here and an Expert or Master of the Guild will mentor you as well. :)

[Elennainie]

Thanks, Grond, and I would be honored to be your mentoree, mentored one, or whatever you call it. :) :) And I finally got my signature figured out!

Just having hung around here for a few day, I bet many of you would be great mentors to anyone one else new who thinks a mentor would be helpful. I wonder how we could reach out to the other new people?

[Nenya Evenstar]

I would actually like to have a mentor myself. I would really like some feedback such as criticism, suggestions, etc. on my posts as well. Also, it would be great to have someone help suggest better debating techniques etc. A mentor would be truely helpful. Thanks, Elennainie, for suggesting the idea.

[Maedhros]

Well Nenya, if you like debating, then maybe I could help you with that. I' be honored to help you and you can help me by mentoring me in the fine arts of dancing.;)

[Nenya Evenstar]

I'd be honored myself, Maehdros! Thanks a billion! And I'll be preparing myself for my half of the bargain. ;)

[Elenaelin]

If anyone wouldn't mind telling me when being I'm remarkably dim about threads/post etc. (I seem to have a talent for that:rolleyes: ) I would greatly appreciate it :)

[Maedhros]

If anyone wouldn't mind telling me when being I'm remarkably dim about threads/post etc. (I seem to have a talent for that ) I would greatly appreciate it
You're not the only one, Elenaelin, I too made some boo boos time and again. But I'm sure that everyone will help you in the guild.:)

[Nóm]

Originally posted by Elenaelin
If anyone wouldn't mind telling me when being I'm remarkably dim about threads/post etc. (I seem to have a talent for that:rolleyes: ) I would greatly appreciate it :)
Here's a little story for you....
I once made an utterly useless thread, it was awful. I was so embarrased that I PM'd Grond and Maedhros telling them that I resign from the guild. Grond asked me what happend and when I told him that I made a fool of myself he just told me that he does that all the time and that he wasn't going to accept my resignationn..:D This was right after our guild opened and I didnt want to give it a bad name. It's funny to look back on now but at the time I thought I would never live it down.
The good news is that we all make mistakes on some level and though a mistake might seem like a big deal to the person who makes it, other people do not see this the same way. Mistakes are not a big deal.
If I see you post anything that is really wrong I will let you know right away though if that is what you want, I have done so with other memebers before who had your same concern about their posts.
We are here posting and learning from eachother through discussion and most of us will help in any way that we can.

[Eöl]

Yeah really...I don't think I have seen anyone here make fun of some one else for their post the closest to it I have seen is in a debate but thats basically just arguing a point which is the entire idea of a debate so I mean, it's not like you really could screw up that bad, unless you were swearing a lot or something. P.S. (I would like a mentor, preferably some one in The Silmarillion:Ainulindale discussion.)

[Melian]

To me the mentoring idea seems quite good really.Since I'm foreign,I always feel that kind of tension when I post--it's not only language,I'm nervous because I might offend someone,or make fool of myself,or not express my ideas clearly.I was even shivering when typing my first post (I was gullibly and humbly asking if female Dwarves had beards...and they had,actually...).Hmm,I hope you don't laugh at me very often.:)
By now,everybody has been nice to me (special thanks to Grond).

[Elu Thingol]

I remember this extremely stupid line of argument I tried to debate. I'd never read the Sil or UT so I had no idea what I was saying. I tried to argue that the Flame of Anor was infact Glamdring. I felt like such a fool after I read the Sil but in the end I think it was a good experience. We all make mistakes and they are a learning experience.

[Melian]

That's right,dear husband!:)

[ravenbrand]

hmm sounds like a plan!!i woundnt mind a mentor or to be a mentor!
im more knowledgable than some but less than others so to speak!
its a great idea promotes guild unity!

[Nóm]

Originally posted by Elennainie
I have an idea for the guild, since it is supposed to be a learning and teaching guild. How do you guys feel about some sort of mentoring system so new people can get constructive criticism about what they post? It's hard sometimes when no one replies to a post, and, when your'e new you can't tell if the post was just dumb or wrong or whatever. If we had a guild mentoring system, I think we could strengthen the guild as a whole by helping new members (like me!) become better contributors. What do you think?

Oh, and thanks to everybody who's been nice with feedback, good or bad, for me.:)
I've been confused about all this mentoring business. It seems to be from Elennainie's opening post that these mentors are more about helping the mentoree (that a word? ;)) in posting, that is to give them mentoree feedback on their posts, and offer advice and answer all around questions the mentoree might have.

On the other hand it seems to me that people take this as more of a teacher to student thing - Tolkien's books being the subject.


Did I word that well?
Was my point made?
If so, which is it?

[Elennainie]

It seems to be from Elennainie's opening post that these mentors are more about helping the mentoree (that a word? ) in posting, that is to give them mentoree feedback on their posts, and offer advice and answer all around questions the mentoree might have.
You are correct, Nom, this is exactly what I had in mind - i.e. getting feedback about posts and answering general questions about the forum.
On the other hand it seems to me that people take this as more of a teacher to student thing - Tolkien's books being the subject. This isn't what I had in mind. However, I think people should feel free to do whatever they want with the mentoring thing. It's between the mentor and the mentoree. WHen your'e new, it just helps to know you have someone who will help you out when you feel like this: :confused: !! :) :)