This is a copy of the Discord Read Me, originally posted on the Conversation 2023 Discord.
Welcome to the Discord server for members of Conversation, the 2023 Eastercon! In this channel you will find information about the convention itself, as well as how best to use this Discord server.
[Image of a sign post titled READ ME with signs pointing to different channel names. People are looking and pointing at the signs. Credit to Jackie Duckworth]
We’re using Discord as the primary tool for the online part of this con. This is a space where both on-site and online members can socialise and discuss programme items. A lot of the community is already familiar with Discord, and having mobile, desktop and web clients will allow the blending of onsite and online.
This Discord Read Me is also available at https://www.conversation2023.org.uk/discord-read-me/.
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Settling in
Once you’ve finished reading this read-me, here’s a few things to do to get started:
- Change your server nickname to match your badge name. You can find instructions on how to change your nickname at https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/219070107-Server-Nicknames#:~:text=If%20you%27re%20on%20the,new%20nickname%20of%20your%20choice. Your badge name was in the same email that had the invitation to this server.
- Pick your roles in get-roles. Some of the roles will give you access to new channels, such as affinity spaces or the green room.
- Tell us about yourself in introduce-yourself. This channel aims to act as a directory-of-sorts of our members, so please keep discussion to the other channels.
Policies
The convention’s Code of Conduct applies to this Discord server as well as in person. Please make sure you are familiar with it by reading https://www.conversation2023.org.uk/policies/code-of-conduct/
Please be mindful that this Discord server is available to members 13 or older, unless in channels explicitly marked as 18+.
All of Conversation’s other policies are available here: https://www.conversation2023.org.uk/policies/
Programme
The programme is currently being finalised. We’ll make sure to link to it as soon as we can. During the convention we will open up the forum channels where you will be able to discuss programme items.
Roles
Roles allow you to access certain spaces on the server, or add an indication of something to your server profile. They are visible to all convention members who view your server profile. Some roles are opt-in; to find out more and join those please go to the get-roles channel. Some other key roles to know about are:
- Committee – The core team running the convention.
- Convention Team – Other people working on the convention.
- Discord Mods – The people looking after this server. If you need their help feel free to tag @Discord Mods, or send a private message if that feels more appropriate.
- Member – Indicates someone is a member of the convention.
- Bots – Friendly robot pals who help us do things with Discord we otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.
Affinity Spaces
Affinity spaces are channels where people who are part of a certain group can have in-group discussions. An affinity space could be based on shared experience, existing social groups, location, or shared interest.
These affinity spaces are intended for a wide range of people who might fit into those groups. In many cases, the language and labels used by community members vary significantly. We do not want barriers of language or identity to prevent someone from sharing in discussion or feeling a part of those communities.
These spaces can be opt-in spaces, which can be accessed by visiting get-roles and selecting the answer/s that apply, or opt-out like disability. These spaces are for people who are a part of a certain group to be able to have in-group discussions, so please be respectful of these boundaries when deciding which spaces to join. We encourage you to hide any public affinity space channels you’re not participating in. See https://www.conversation2023.org.uk/discord-guide/#reducing-the-noise for instructions on how to hide channels.
These spaces will not be monitored by mods unless tagged or privately messaged about an issue.
If you want to request a new affinity space please do so in discord-help.
Audio and Video chat
The audio and video chat channels are available whenever you want to use them. Feel free to drop in at any time and see who’s there. The bar spaces are for general chat, while crafting and filking are focussed on crafting and filk music (not a typo!) respectively.
Help Desks
We have a few different channels if you need help. Please keep in mind that if you have an issue while on site at the convention you might be better off going to the Ops desk in person, rather than asking for help on the Discord server. These are:
- #help-desk – General queries about the convention.
- #hotel-queries – Anything specific to the hotel that you need to ask that can’t be answered by contacting the hotel directly.
- #getting-to-the-con – Information and questions about getting to the convention.
- #discord-help – Help with the Discord server, along with requests for additional emojis and affinity spaces.
When a member of our team has seen your request in one of these channels they will react to your message with 📓 to indicate that it has been seen and we are looking for the solution. Once an issue is resolved we will react to that post again with ✅ to help us with keeping track.
New to Discord?
For more information on how best to use Discord, our further instructions are available here: https://www.conversation2023.org.uk/discord-guide/
New Discord Feature: Forums
Even if you’re familiar with Discord, you may not be familiar with forums yet. Forum channels work like the Internet forums we had in the 2000’s, which were based on the BBSs we had in the 80s, which were like cork bulletin boards in the office. Everything old is new again 👵
Each forum has a broad category, such as #entertainment, or #art-show. You can then create posts to talk about more specific topics within that category. People can reply and chat in your post, the same way they would in a channel, by clicking on the post.
We’re using forums in two ways. First, each of our programme items, and each of our dealers, artists and fan tables, will have a post in a forum. You’ll be able to text chat to people on those forum channels, but you won’t be able to add new posts without being a dealer, artist or fan tabler.
Secondly, we have social forums under the Social category, where you can start chats on subjects that you’re interested in, like Star Wars or Victorian SF. You can start channels in those forums, and we’ve just given you a few to act as ideas.
See https://www.conversation2023.org.uk/discord-guide/#forums for more details.
New Discord Feature: Browse channels
The “Browse channels” feature, at the top of the channel list, allows you to see a list of all the channels in the server, along with a description. If you’re trying to find the right channel to put something in, this is a great place to start looking.
It also allows you to completely hide channels. So if there’s any channels you have permanently muted, you can now go into Browse channels and completely hide it.
See https://www.conversation2023.org.uk/discord-guide/#reducing-the-noise for more details.
Thanks for coming
We’re so glad to have you here with us for this convention! Don’t forget to change your nickname and visit get-roles before getting stuck in to the rest of this discord server. Looking forward to having you with us.