It is quite frustrating to have to write this up, but it seems common problems keep rearing their ugly heads over and over and over again. This is meant to be a short, but informative guide to helping New Users understand their place within the System and what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.
It should also be noted that there are many, many, many--I really want to allcap that last 'many' for emphasis, but that is against the site's Rules--Threads out there already to help assist you in navigating the site, in interacting with members, and in putting on your best face when interacting on the Spells of Magic website. Use these.
It's as simple as clicking on the 'Forums' Tab, where you will be carried to a page of broken-down listings to help you find whatever it is you need to successfully utilize this site in the manner it was meant to be utilized, as a valid Resource for information about Magick and Witchcraft.
The first thing you should do is work on your Profile. People take you much more seriously on any Forum when you properly fill out even a little information on your Profile. You don't have to dress the full nine; just a little will make you stand out above the thousands of SOM users with only a Username and nothing else.
The second thing you should do is realize that English is the dominant language of this Forum and that anything other than English, including Chat Speak, is largely frowned on and may get you Banned from the Forums. Allcaps is also a large no-no on this site. Further, while people won't harshly judge you for making gaffes in your written responses, working on producing a well-written Post or Reply on SOM is highly-appreciated. There are highly-respected members who constantly contribute numerous Articles to the SOM Forums and they are prone to making mistakes in their writing. You don't have to be perfect, in other words, you just have to be Legible.
Here we enter the Territory that has largely prompted this Posting. I haven't seen a lot on many of these Topics in any of the Pinned Posts, but they are constantly being addressed in individual replies to any number of users. (And some are mentioned in several Pinned Posts as well.) These are the types of behavior that absolutely grates on the nerves of SOM's Moderators and Members, in general.
You should always put an appropriate title to your post. Posts reading "No Topic," "Question," "What do you think...." "Is it true that...," and other such cutesy titles are not only lacking specific details, but also prone to agitating people, especially Moderators. (I know, I was once a Moderator on a Manga Forum.) Putting in a concise, yet informative title helps people to search out and answer your Topic more efficiently, as well as allowing people to more easily skip over it if it is not something they are interested in.
Further, you should become aware of the "Search" function so that you are not adding the eight-millionth Post on Chakras, Herbs, Meditation, etc.There is a vast array of information on the SOM Forums about any given Topic and adding to that cluster does nothing to enhance the viability of getting an answer, much less one you want. However, if you have perused these Posts and seen that you can offer a unique take on it, then by all means, Post away.
Speaking of answers you want--just stop asking about Vampires, Werewolves, Mermaids, Fae, Transformations, and so forth in a Real-World context. (That is, stop asking how to Transform into a 'real' Werewolf, or how to become a 'real' Vampire.) These Posts are literally prone to causing fights on the Forums. To be clear, just stop asking on anything that would defy the Laws of Physics. Magick can't do that, and neither can you.
Following on that, just stop adding Spells about such aspects of such Topics as well. That is, if you are going to add the one-trillionth Werewolf Spell, make sure it does not assume that Werewolves are real, and does not give that impression as well. Adding a Werewolf Spell that can be accomplished on the Astral Plane, or adding a Spell that will help you have the more innate qualities of a Werewolf--Boldness, Fierceness, etc.--is fine.
Related to the above, just stop adding Spells if you yourself have never ever Cast one. There's many sound reasons for this. First, it's clear you have no idea what you're talking about or doing when you add a Spell that shows no Groundwork at all from a Fundamental perspective. Second, it misleads others into thinking you have some sort of authority you clearly lack. Third, you can't ensure that Spell will work because you have not gone through the proper steps to ensure that it does. (You can't ensure that anyway, given a number of factors, but people will be able to Troubleshoot a Spell you have successfully Cast easier than one you just spit out as a cool-sounding 'Witch-Rap.') Finally, it's okay to Post a Spell you have found in, say, an Old Grimoire or whatnot; just make sure you specify you have not Cast it yourself and are passing it on for Information's Sake.
Just stop asking for someone to Cast a Spell for you--especially an Impossible one. Even with a mundane Spell, how would you feel if I went to your house for the first time ever just to ask you for money? Or coffee? Or Sugar? You'd get pretty ticked-off, wouldn't you? Well, that is exactly what you do when you come here asking other Casters to Cast Spells for you. Further, SOM is not a place to Freeload the Magickal Abilities of others. It's a Safe-Space for people to gain information and insight on the History, the Lore, and the Techniques of Magick. Further, asking for Spells on things like Legal Matters when you should be talking to a qualified Legal Councillor is like asking a Zumba instructor to put out your house fire. It defies common-sense.
I can't say "just stop" to this next one, but I sure wish I could. I am so tried of seeing the increasing number of "I commune with (A-Lister God/Goddess) and we are Intimate," type Posts. Also, going along with the idea of what Spells you should and should not be asking about, don't ask people for information on Summoning an A-List God or Goddess--or anything, really--if you have never Cast a Spell before or are just starting out on your Magickal Journey. Such an endeavor ends in Failure at Best, Harm to you or someone else at Worst. Summoning is not something to be Practiced lightly, and it is often recommended as one of the last things you should work on in your Magickal Journey. While it is possible a God or Goddess may have come to you, or wants to help you, just outright Summoning one is a far-from-intelligent decision. You have to spend much time getting to know the God/Goddess and attempting to Commune with them before they will ever show their face to you, as it were. This is true of any Summoning; it's a Process. You may not even hear the voice of the particular Entity you wish to Summon for a long time after you begin trying to Commune with them. Instead, they might use Signs, Symbols, and so forth to begin talking to you. And if one shows right away claiming to be that Entity, be Wary; there are Entities who are Tricksters and Malevolent and would love nothing more than to lead you down a False Path in the name of another Entity. Without the Guidance of the framework of Grounding, Defense/Warding, and Divination, you would be none-the-wiser.
Understand this; I am not trying to be a rotten person here. Magick has Consequences, and I'm tired of seeing people coming on here and treating it like a joke. You have a Responsibility to yourself and to others when you advocate certain Magickal ideas. There are a lot of disturbed people who come to these Forums seeking Help and Relief from a Cruel World that holds no Surprises, holds no Laughter, holds no Hope. To persist in behaviors mentioned in this Article as undesirable can have a drastic impact on others coming to these Forums in such a state of Despair. And it further clutters the Forums with unnecessary, confusing, and uninformative Topics.
As I said many times in this Article; Just Stop.
Must-Read for Newbies
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