Visiting. Try to do what is requested on the banner first, but we do understand that there are times when you're looking for the elusive ores and sap. When you're not actively hunting for your own needs, try to help others.
Banners. You can name your kingdom whatever you like. I personally have named it some things that could have gotten me reported. Some people take a banner request as a 'demand' or an 'order'. I can see why. This is the rule I myself try to follow, and I think it makes for a smoother understand of things:
When I am in need of neighbor help on a mission - Harvesting, ferting, etc, I ask for it in the banner.
When I am not in current need of neighbor help, I change the name back to something else. Have fun bashing my rocks and chopping trees :) Just don't kill the minions.
Minions. LMAO, ok - the minions are my pets. I love my minions. They have NAMES. I built a fence around them. Having THREE OF THEM TRAPPED keeps any more from ruining my game play by popping up in the crops and wasting my energy. Charlie, Dave and Tyrone would appreciate a more loving environment for their dance practice, thank you very much.
And there are people who always want HELP but never return the favor. Believe me, there are players that make lists of who helps and who doesn't. Try asking for items or help from them and they WILL ignore you. It's how they play the game, just like you have a right to play the way YOU like. The same goes for people who don't put out resources. You may have beautiful kingdoms, but you could throw a few cheap trees out.
There are going to be people insulted by this, because you can't make everyone happy all of the time. The ones that get upset are the ones most likely to delete me for my viewpoints'. Let me state this. I was a beta tester for the game. I was there BEFORE the game went live. I made the banner for the first group myself. There were people who got along and people who didn't before we ever saw the opening screens. I'm a member of many groups on this subject. I talk to MANY people in groups and inboxes about the game and how they feel it can be played to a certain level of mutual happiness. I know I come out of left field sometimes. I've been a member of some of these groups without ever saying a word. In fact, I kind of dislike when I am welcomed into a new group because I get f/r from people I don't know. I like people, but I only let in a few because my life, my style and my job is not for everyone.
Mostly, I listen. I try to help people but I'd rather just be a lurker, really. It's a lonely job, so I give thanks to the people that ADMIN a group or a page (for no pay, oft times no recognition). The good ones try to encourage people to help each other, work together and keep things running smoothly. They encourage friendships with people from all over the world. They give a hand, or lend an ear to those in need, sometimes reaching out personally to those people. These people are the blessing of what social media is about.
Let's try to work together on making a basic set of etiquette that we can all (or mostly, ugh... some people) agree to. Let's be respectful and appreciative.
- (MDG)