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### Topic

#### Some solutions regarding street management, communicating with visitors, etc

I'm seeing a lot of discussion about people being unhappy with how their public spaces and offerings are being utilized. I think there are some things that will help visitors understand the ways you would prefer they interact with your street/tower.
Note poles are your friend :)
1. "But no one reads them!" Well, here's the thing--if your note pole's subject line says "PLEASE READ" or "IMPORTANT" or, worst of all, is blank (?!), that's not an effective way to communicate. Maximize your note pole's message by stating your intent as much as possible in the SUBJECT LINE. So if your preference is for someone to only plant one type of crop or herb, put in the subject line, "Please only plant Gandlevery here :)"
2. The Please and :) are friendly and welcoming,. Sometimes when I see a sign where it's all caps and grumpy and ends in !!, it seems hostile and bossy. Most people react to hostile and bossy with defiance (even if it's internal, silent defiance).
3. For the message body, you could explain *why* you prefer this. People are happier to comply with requests if they know the purpose behind it (and feel it's a good reason). It's also an opportunity to teach someone a neat thing about the game mechanics.
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Gnomes! :)
Place a gnome by each resource for which you want to establish guidelines. Have them state those guidelines. Don't give a single gnome four important pieces of information, since he will only say one item at a time. Use more gnomes. You have four things you NEED people to know? Four gnomes.
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Teamwork!
If you're tired of having your street gardens harvested and then left a mess, have someone check in and tend them. You could:
1. Ask a friend to do it, and reciprocate with looking after her street.
2. Hire someone to do it if you don't have time to reciprocate
3. Form a garden care group where people can build up a schedule of clients, or wait for someone else to form it so you can hire them :)
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Backyard sharing/co-op
If you really really want a garden you can control, but it won't suit your theme, exchange keys with someone who doesn't like to garden much (or isn't online a lot) and use THEIR back yard gardens.
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A final word
I see a lot of people getting really upset about how their public spaces are used. Unless you want to spend a lot of time policing your "Who Visited" log and blocking people, you probably would be happier, in the long run, if you accept that it's public, and that people "misusing" your public space are very, very unlikely to be doing so out of malice or greed.
If someone comes through and harvests your garden without even cleaning plots, send them an IM and say something like, "Hey, you were probably in a hurry and stuff, but would you be willing to clean the plots when you harvest here next?" That way, if they're simply clueless/oblivious, they get SOMEone communicating to them what the generally socially acceptable protocols are. Some people are lazy, some are having a bad day, some are unaware of the effect on others. These can be teachable moments--and if someone turns out to truly be a dick about it, then block 'em and move on.
Good luck and happy streetwalking ;)

Posted 4 months ago by MG Botia | Permalink

### Replies

- In addition - a couple of nice things to do for visitors -
  1. A pile of freebies - which we top up at our convenience and don't get upset at if they all disappear in a trice :)
  2. Leaving a stack of something or other with our Butler - even a small gift is appreciated and will have people returning. I've seen a couple of good ones lately ... butterfly milk and plain bubbles (which will last for ages). And some folks are very generous in this respect - I salute them!
  Posted 4 months ago by Moz Art | Permalink
- Also, if your resources need restoration you can post in Global saying what is required (I've seen this used quite effectively) or the Resource Restoring Alerts group chat which (I haven't opened in a while but) is specifically there for resource restoration): http://www.glitch.com/groups/RNVBA5TQT1135J1/
  There are plenty of people willing to help :)
  Posted 4 months ago by xombiekitty | Permalink
- Yes, yes, yes! These are the kind of threads I love to see! Helpful, friendly suggestions. This is what Glitch is all about, being friendly and helpful. :)
  I feel as though the root of the problem lies in the fact that it might not be clearly indicated to new players that streets are open to the public, intended to be used as such, and that yards in your own house are private. If people saw the HRR or Serious Routes, they might understand a little better. Pay it forward and all that.
  And for what it's worth, I always read note poles, especially ones posted near the entrance to a street. I like to know what's what, and sometimes, people even include witty or otherwise inspiring words on their notes.
  Glitch is about community and creating a culture all its own, and it really makes me sad to see problems arise over such things as people using publicly available streets in perfectly normal ways.
  Posted 4 months ago by Mahkia | Permalink
- If you don't want people using something,
  put it in your backyard.
  Problem solved.
  Posted 4 months ago by Avnas | Permalink
- Avnas, that's technically completely accurate but not really very helpful in the context of a thread giving tips on street management and communication with visitors.
  For example - I have a crop garden out front that I don't harvest from - it's there for others. But I would like to let people know that I'd appreciate it if they took certain actions with it so that it stays a helpful resource for other visitors too. That means that if I hadn't already realized the tip about note posts and subject lines in the original post, that would be a really helpful thing for me to know.
  There's been so much unhappiness and arguments about this subject so it'd be neat (from my perspective and I imagine the original poster's as well, if I may be forgiven for assuming) to keep this thread constructive if possible :) (edit: I should say I don't think there's anything wrong with what you posted - just that I can imagine threads on sensitive topics could go down a non-constructive road very fast)
  Posted 4 months ago by diaveborn ♥ | Permalink
- Good tips!
  I often get, I don't know, frustrated (I suppose) when I see a billion note poles on a street and they all have either "A Note!" or "Please Read" or (worse) "_____" in their subject line. If I'm visiting via a route, I am wary of doing anything there because it feels like I might need to read all billion of those untitled notes to avoid accidentally offending someone by, say, restoring a resource on the far side of the street or planting the shucked seeds of whatever I just harvested. Even just something that says "Yellow crumb ONLY" or "Let Jellisacs DIE" would be helpful. Also, I LOVE to read the poetry, history or just plain goofy notes that folks write, but some indication in the title that I am about to embark on a literary journey would be handy :)
  Posted 4 months ago by foolbunny | Permalink
- A very concise and helpful summary of best practices. Thanks, Botia!
  Posted 4 months ago by Pascale | Permalink
- bump - this needs to stay closer to the top of the page while certain other threads are still active. It is great to see someone thinking about how to prevent problems rather than how to react to them.
  Posted 4 months ago by Captain Daisy | Permalink
- nice ;) just so everyone knows I clean water and usualy replant every garden i harvest
  Posted 4 months ago by oblivion5683 | Permalink
- Good stuff fishy lady :)
  Just one other suggestion. Note poles with clear titles are a lot better than a note on the floor. The latter is very easy to miss accidentally, especially as a lot of street art covers parts of the floor. I have had someone rather upset with me because I 'ignored' their message, whereas in fact I just didn't see the small note half visible on the floor.
  Posted 4 months ago by stripe/shrimp | Permalink
- I agree that it's hard to see notes on the floor until it's too late, and there is also a chance that someone will pick it up.
  Posted 4 months ago by >^.^< | Permalink
- Home streets are public. Towers and the things for sale in them are public. If you dont want your resources used, or things bought from your tower, dont put them in your front yard or for sale in your tower. Once you put them in your front yard, you pretty much lose the ability to say what happens to said resources. Yes, you can put up pretty little notes, but that doesnt mean people are going to read them, or even do as they ask. Youre just setting yourself up for heartache if you think otherwise.
  Posted 4 months ago by Serenity's Mommy | Permalink
- Thanks so much for constructive and helpful best practices, Botia. I'll be pointing newbies here!
  Posted 4 months ago by Celeloriel | Permalink
- If your resources require an unusual component to restore, I suggest stocking that component in your tower (at a slight premium to the AH price) so that people can completely restore your resources if they deplete them.
  For example, I host dirt piles on my street so I put Pleasing Ambers for sale in my tower.
  Posted 4 months ago by Janitch | Permalink
- I like to make my home street vistor friendly. It is set up soley for the purpose of vistors. One thing that is annoying to me as a vistor is don't tell me exactly what to do. Don't say no, don't, can't or won't on your note poles. People are pretty easy to read. It's a passtime of mine to figure people out. Most people flow about the same. There are a few exceptions though.
  Note poles - Please do not say don't, can't or won't. Please don't tell me what not to do or exactly what to do. I have my own brain. I can figure these things out. If someone leaves a note saying DO THIS OR ELSE, more than likely you'll get the or else because that's how people roll.
  For example, for the herb garden on my home street, I have a gnome next to the garden who says various things about planting like "Achievements for planting herbs! Shuck your herbs and replant!"
  You see that sets in a suggesstion to them. Like they thought of it themselves. I didn't tell them what not to do and I put in the part about achievements so they see there is a purpose to replanting besides just replanting.
  For my crop garden I have a gnome saying "Feed the piggy 3 crops and then examine the plops!" I don't say hey you better fill up this garden or else! That is just not friendly and you will not get it filled up that way. People don't like to be told what to do. If you implant the idea and make them think it was their own then you'll be a lot better off.
  I must be doing something right I get a least 2500 iMG from visitors in one game day at least once a real day.
  Posted 4 months ago by Eye Wonder | Permalink
- +1 Eye Wonder
  Posted 4 months ago by Patricia | Permalink
- Another good idea if you're concerned about your street use and have a preponderance of one or two resources- join a route. The routes are super-friendly, generally well-traveled, and a lot of the routes pay attention to the condition of member streets and resources- so if you've got something amiss on your street, you might be able to get help simply from a neighbor stopping by to lend a hand (whether you're around or not).
  I think that the butthurt over streets isn't going to go away by putting our heads in the sand- I think socialization and communication, key elements in the ideas here, are going to help a lot in the long run.
  Posted 4 months ago by Djabriil | Permalink
- bump for more exposure!
  Posted 4 months ago by foolbunny | Permalink
- I heart you, Botia.
  Posted 4 months ago by Miau | Permalink