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The Ultimate Guid
Chatterbox: Chirp at Cricket
The Ultimate Guid
The Ultimate Guide to the CB
Okay, okay, I know that there have been a few of these in the past, but I think that there are a few things that aren't in the older ones that new CBers need to know about, and I'd rather not comment on an old thread. Anyway, feel free to add on terms, shorthand, and rules. Admins, you too, if you have anything.
Glossary
CB (noun, abbreviation): Chatterbox!
CBer (noun): Anyone who goes on CB. Ex; Somebody, Joan B. of Arc, St. Owl, Esthelle.
Admin (noun): The amazebubble people that run CB, post all are comments, and make this all possible! Three cheers to Admins!
AE (noun, abbreviation): Alter ego. An alternate name or personality that some CBers have and post as for a little fun or a different way of expressing themselves. Ex; Shifting Sands, Devil Owl, Puck. Note: AEs should be used in moderation and only on threads where it is appropriate.
RP (noun, abbreviation): Roleplay. A story in which multiple CBers participate. Each participant has a character which they create based on the topic and then everyone works together and writes a comunal story from the prespective of their respective character. Usually written in first person, but it's not a requirement. Ex; "Magic RP" by Hermione Granger (also the longest thread in the Inkwell!).
Charrie (noun, shorthand): Character, often used in a RP. Ex; "Anyway, here are my charries."
Charrie Sheet (noun, term): A sheet in a RP that one uses to introduce/create one's charrie.
RR (noun, abbreviation): Round Robin. Like a RP, multiple people work together on a story. However, more like a standard book, everyone takes turns writing "chapters", not nessecarily from different POVs. For example, CBer A might write: Jane fell into the pit. Then, CBer B might continue: In the pit was a giant snake. Usually, the posts are longer than this, they are of no specified length. Ex; "Anything RR" by Echo.
CBer Story (noun, term): A story in which one person writes a story in which CBers are characters. Usually the writer will ask for applications to be in the story. Ex; "CB Camp" by the Camp Manager (AKA Abigail S).
Ski Lodge (noun, term): A type of CB story in which there is a secret murderer and all other participants die. Participants guess the murderer as the story goes on. Commonly written under an alias for added spookiness. The originals took place in ski lodges, but they do not have to. Ex; "Hotel L'Faye" by the Teller of Tales (AKA Shadow Dragon).
CAPTCHA (noun): The little spam box at the bottom of a page when you submit a post or a comment. Some people name theirs and post what they see. Ex; Sir Galahad, Meox, Fruity.
Character RP (noun): I don't really think there's a name for this, but this is when one participates in a roleplay in which you comment as your character as if you were them. Bad definition, sorry. I don't really know how to explain it. Most of the old Warriors threads are like this. Ex; "Welcome to LakeClan!" by Secretleaf.
SI (noun, abbreviation): Secret Identity. A game in which every player takes on a name usually based on a theme (for example, in a Food SI one might be Fried Chicken) and then tries to guess who others are and avoid being guessed. Ex; Disney and Pixar SI by Mulan. In fact, let's have a mini one now. Try to guess who I am!
OP (noun, abbreviation): Over Powered or Over Powering. When a character in a RP is super-powerful and it's not fun for other people to RP with them because they sort of can do anything and take of the RP. One example of an OP character could be in an Element RP. The OP charrie could have water, ice, frost, and be able to read minds. Sometimes it's easy to get carried away and not realize your charrie is a bit OP. The others in the RP can gently remind you.
Basic Roleplay Ettiquite
1. Use proper grammar and spelling at all times. (This goes for everywhere on CB too.)
2. If you join a RP, make sure to post frequently. If you absolutely are too busy, say you are dropping out and don't just drift away and assume nobody will care.
3. Obey the rules of the RP maker. Ex; If they say, "No magical powers" do not make a charrie that has magical powers.
4. Avoid god-modding. This is when one "uses" another person's charrie. Obviously a little bit is nessecary so that there can be dialouge and plot, but do not make huge desicions or events on behalf of another's charrie.
5. When you post, write a sufficient amount. "I fell off the stairs and broke my leg." Is NOT an acceptable post.
6. Okay, this is really important. (New CBers, pay attention.) Do not join a RP that has already started unless the maker says it's OK. If a RP is nine pages in, on page 39 of the Inkwell, and from 2012, don't join it!
7. Have fun roleplaying, guys!
Areas of CB
This Month: An center to talk about things from this month's issue of Cricket! (If you don't get Cricket this one might not make sense.) Did you like the cover art? Want to know more about one particular author? Fangirling that you got into the Letterbox? This Month's the place for that!
Chirp at Cricket (CaC): Supposed to be used for talking to Cricket, Ladybug, and all those other bugs. But nowadays we CBers fill it with silly games, sillier announcements, and other supercalifragalisticexpialadocious things! (Like this thread!)
Blab about Books (BaB): Well, the name sort of speaks for itself, doesn't it? Do you love books? (Who doesn't!) Come on down to BaB and chat, play trivias, and fangirl over y'all's fictional crushes!
Down to Earth (DtE): A place to talk about things in the world around you, like the Presidential Election, school, Global Warming, and anything else! You can also stuff it to bursting with the like of CaC's fare! Plus, a great place for surveys, chatting about NaNo, and announcements.
Puddings Place (PP): Those of you who read Cricket will know that Pudding is a theatre-loving firefly. Thereby her area is for anything and everything theatrical! Looking for audition tips? Loved that musical you just saw? PP is the place for you! Also, feel free to add Ski Lodges, SIs, games, and CB stories here!
Inkwell: The writing center! Looking for RPs? RRs? Need advice on a story? Stuck with writer's block? This area is full to bursting with creative people! The busiest place on CB!
Kyngdom: (If you don't get Cricket, you'll be seriously confuzzled here.) Kyngdom is hard to explain... to find out about it, go to: http://www.cricketmagkids.com/chatterbox/kyngdom/about
How to Post a Picture on CB
Just use the file attatchement feature! (Thanks for that, Admins!) But if you want to do it the long way (and post multiple at a time), do this:
1. Search Google for "Image Hosting Site". You should get a result called Postimage.org. Click on it.
2. Follow the directions on the site to choose a photo. Click "UPLOAD".
3. There should be a little link to your image. Click on that, too.
4. Now your picture will be on the screen by itself, big and beautiful. Copy/paste it onto CB. Voila! You're done!
So that's about it, everybuggy! I'll add stuff and you can, too!
submitted by Maker of Guides, Handbookland
(March 7, 2016 - 12:17 pm)
(March 7, 2016 - 12:17 pm)
@Mei-xue: Sometimes people have things they need to say, problems they need to share, but sometimes its hard to get stuff out. Have you ever had feelings so strong that they make you want to cry—but you don't want anyone to know? Have you ever lain awake at night yearning for help but not wanting to ask? It takes a lot of courage to fess up to issues and troubles. Please don't deny people the small comfort of a fake identity.
(March 25, 2016 - 1:06 pm)
I agree with Abigail.
(March 25, 2016 - 3:57 pm)
I've thought the same thing as Mei many times, and for that reason, haven't gone under an Alias unless on an SI. But I also agree with Abi that there are certain times when it just helps to get something out without anyone knowing who you are.
(July 9, 2017 - 5:57 pm)
(March 21, 2016 - 3:51 pm)
Roleplay Etiquette:
Never, ever, ever, forget about a roleplay you're in. Especially not one you've made (Cough, cough).
(March 24, 2016 - 2:36 pm)
Activities Established by CBers
RPs (noun, abreviation): See the Maker of Guide's definition.
S.I.'s (noun, abreviation): See the Maker of Guide's definition.
Ski Lodge (noun, term): See the Maker of Guide's definition.
Character Cafe (noun, activity): An activity in which CBers take characters from stories, etc. that the want to develope, and send them to a cafe with other CBer's character. Earliest known esablishment: unknown.
Hink Pinks (noun, game): A game in which one CBer posts a riddle, and another CBer has to answer it with a two-word synonym that ryhmes. Both of the two words have to have the same number of syllable. Earliest known establishemn: Silly Rabbit, 2016.
CBer picturing (noun, activity): An activity in which CBers picture each other. Recently updated to drawing pictures of each other using an anime website. Earliest known establishment: unknown.
Word game (noun, game): A game in which one CBer posts a word, and another CBer posts the word that they immediately think of when reading the aformentioned word. Earliest known establishment: Eris, 2015.
World Domination (noun, game): Pretty self explanatory. A game where CBers take over the world. Earliest known establishment: ZNZ, 2010.
Lemming War (noun, activity): Also self explanatory. A CBer tries to take over the world using lemmings. Earliest known Establishment: Red, 2012.
Last to Post (noun, game): A game in which the CBer who is the last to post on a thread "wins." Earliest known establishment: unknown.
This or That? (noun, game): A game in which CBers ask each other which they would rather do: "this, or that?" Earliest known establishment: Mag Fan, 2014.
Typing Game (noun, game): A game in which one CBer will tell another one to type a silly phrase backwards. Earliest known establishment: St. Owl, 2015.
Quoties (noun, activity): CBers share favorite quotes from their life, books, web, whatever. Earliest known establishment: Willa, 2009.
CBer interviews (noun, activity): CBers interveiw each other. Earliest known establishment: Gollum, 2013.
CBer balls (noun, activity): Basically where all CBers get invited to a ball, and all the girls talk about what dresses they are going to wear. Earliest known establishmen: unknown.
Ask Admins (noun, activity): CBers ask Admins questions (usually pertaining to Blue Moon Ice cream). Earliest kown establishment: Susy, 2011.
Battle of the Fandoms (noun, game): CBers have epic duels to the death in the style of their favorite fandoms. Earliest known establishment: Cloudy Dweller, 2015
I'm sure there are many, many more games and activities out there. I just posted some.
(March 24, 2016 - 3:44 pm)
OOOOOOO! I need to find out more about this "Battle of the fandoms".
(March 31, 2016 - 6:59 pm)
It's also worth noting Ruby asked that no one try to recreate the Lemming War.
(August 3, 2016 - 11:45 am)
Ahem. Wow. I just realized that I put a lot of trivia about the AE war there.
To add on to Rose Bud (I keep adding on/correcting people! Sorry!):
The Typing Game is really just a game where one CBer tells another to type a phrase of some sort. The rule: you can't look at the keyboard while typing it. For example, this is an example can I do it?
For another, Yes, I can do it!
(March 25, 2016 - 11:55 am)
Not backwards! I sooo messed that up ;P. I've played the game myself.
(March 25, 2016 - 2:16 pm)
St. Owl, I know you told me to stop making reminders, but did you forget about the Yet Another Harry Potter RP again? You said you were going to catch up, but it's been over a month.
(March 25, 2016 - 9:39 pm)
Mei: Check this thread:
http://www.cricketmagkids.com/chatterbox/downtoearth/node/207879
(March 26, 2016 - 2:41 pm)
TOP
(March 30, 2016 - 11:04 pm)
is there a way we can permanatly top this?
(March 31, 2016 - 11:23 am)
More history. This may be a painful topic. I'm sorry.
Between the Alter Ego war and the Nostalgia War was the Impersonator War. All I can say is: I think we need to remember it because this hurt a lot of CBers. And we lost Winter Firefly. *Goes and cries in a corner.*
(March 31, 2016 - 7:55 pm)