Morning Coffee is a user-created discussion series where Snapzu members can check in with each other in a relaxed environment.
We are experimenting with different formats and ideas, so feedback is very welcome!

Snapzites! Hopefully everyone is having a great [time-in-your-region].

Yesterday there was an interesting occurrence: a newborn user spammed the site with downvotes, reminding us of what we've been missing in our community. First of all, congratulations to everyone on the remarkably cordial atmosphere we find ourselves in — it really says something when a naughty user stands out so much. Secondly, let's all high five Team Snapzu for their quick response, which has resulted in new downvote rules.

If you enjoy reading or would like to enjoy it, stop by /t/books for the new Monthly Book Reading & Discussion series. Right now you can submit suggestions for next month's nonfiction and fiction book choices. Please read the topic to fully understand the process.

Finally, what does your weekend look like?

Morning Coffee is a user-created discussion series where Snapzu members can check in with each other in a relaxed environment.
We are experimenting with different formats and ideas, so feedback is very welcome!

What's up, snapzites?

Yesterday you shared your ideal version of Snapzu. At the top of your lists were high-quality discussion and freedom of opinion, especially without fear of the downvote. Many of you wondered how we might handle rogue chiefs and mods. It was also clear that, while we appreciate the quality and camaraderie inherent of a small community, we would all like to see more activity around the site. We all agreed that we like where Snapzu is going, and we'd prefer not to emulate other popular communities. So, let's tackle some issues for our future health:

1. The downvote's main function seems to be to act as a spam-deterrent. Users will inevitably abuse it and downvote dissenting opinions. How would you handle this?

2. Many of us have experienced or seen cases of community leaders abusing their power. Oftentimes, the common user is unable to seek justice. What systems can we put in place to keep our leaders accountable, and even remove them if need be?

3. For those lamenting the lack of content, it's no mystery — posts and comments will come with new users. Still, there are areas of Snapzu enjoying lively conversation. So, where have you all been spending most of your time?

Check out /t/devilsadvocate, where you can argue the other side and see if you can't come out of it with a better perspective on things.

Remember to visit /t/newtribes for places of interest.

I'd like to read more books, both at a higher speed and with better understanding and retention. After neglecting books for quite some time, this year I've gotten back into reading and have managed a pace of one book per month. It will take time for me to retrain the reading muscle, but I've noticed some habits that I need to overcome, such as rereading passages I've already absorbed, zoning out, getting distracted, and simply struggling to open the book in the first place. There are also habits I'd like to develop, like taking notes, writing reflections after each book or even chapter, and really pondering thought-provoking passages when they come up.

What are your reading habits, good or bad? Can the voracious/seasoned readers give me some advice? I just want to get lost in a book like I did as a child.

Edit: Thank you to whoever downvoted this for keeping me in check! I'll think twice next time :P

Morning Coffee is a user-created discussion series where Snapzu members can check in with each other in a relaxed environment.
We are experimenting with different formats and ideas, so feedback is very welcome!

Hope everyone's having a good (time-in-your-region)! What's going on in your area today?

The recent influx of new users has sparked all sorts of discussion on the present and future state of Snapzu. So far we've maintained somewhat of a consensus, but there are disagreements here and there. What does your ideal Snapzu look like? What does your nightmare Snapzu look like?

From scouting other areas on the web, I've noticed many are waiting for Snapzu to 'take off' or even 'become more like reddit' before committing. For better or worse, other sites have taken the brunt of that mindset, but we're still very much in the spotlight for now. We will continue to experience the growth we're in need of, but it's clear that we'll have to be patient. We're seeing the effects of bringing good people into this community, so let's all redouble our efforts!

The Steam Sale is still going on. If you want to try out your shiny new game with others, go and join the Snapzu Steam group.

Today's QotD, from /u/90boss: What do you want to live long enough to see?

Remember to check /t/newtribes for places of interest, and share your tribe there if you haven't already.

Morning Coffee is a user-created discussion series where Snapzu members can check in with each other in a relaxed environment.
We are experimenting with different formats and ideas, so feedback is very welcome!

Today, we want to ask you about your experience here at Snapzu. Why do you think it's been successful in fostering such a positive user culture so far?

Is it size? Snapzu is still very small and it's tough to get away with bad behavior. Is it the reputation system? When downvotes actually affect your standing, it pays to be good. How about the fun of leveling up? We're given an incentive to post quality content. Is it the invite system? Only those who want to be here get in, and invites act as a basic filter for incoming users. Is it that our accounts are more personal? Avatars, levels, reputation — they all instill a sense of ownership, and 'throwaway' accounts make less sense. This is in stark contrast to reddit, where there is no real context when coming across other users, and it's hard to actually care about them, or even your own image.

Conversely, what are the potential negative consequences of such a community, if any?

We also want to encourage you to help Snapzu grow! Snapzu is a content-based community, and apart from contributing to the site yourself, the best way to help is by inviting good people. If you're sitting on Snapzu invites, send them out! Friends, family, even strangers — as long as you think they'll be a good addition to the community, ask them to join. Keep in mind that their profile page will reveal that you invited them.

From /u/drunkenninja:

I would just like to point out that the best way to do this is to use the tribe invite codes provided within approved tribes of the referral program. Just start a tribe on a topic you love, meet the minimum requirements for referral program validation and then submit it. Once your tribe is accepted you can use the many tools to tastefully spread the word about the platform and your community, and the best thing is that people ultimately get what they ask for!

So, grab your sustenance of choice, pull up a chair, listen to or ignore today's (1) eclectic (2) cafe (3) music (4) and let's go!

Edit: Head over to /t/asksnapzu for the Question of the Day!

Hello, everyone!

/t/cafe was created yesterday by /u/White with myself as moderator as a result of all the participation in these threads. The idea was to create a space for users to talk freely and to stimulate discussion using cool questions, but obviously /t/lounge and /t/asksnapzu already exist for those purposes. We're thinking of how /t/cafe can coexist without being redundant, but in the meantime all Morning Coffee (name courtesy of /u/Autumnal) posts will be here in the Lounge. These will be for general discussion, and we're committed to consistently posting these every day (in the morning, depending on your region).

So, grab your drink/pastry of choice, pull up a chair, listen to today's (1) eclectic (2) cafe (3) music (4) and let's go!

P.S. This is just one example of users trying to make Snapzu more fun. If you have a cool idea, give it a shot :)

Since this is a still a small community and we see the same faces everywhere, I thought it'd be nice to get to know each other. Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with! You can use the following as a guideline:

• location: New York
• interests/hobbies: philosophy, psychology, guitar, tennis
• 5 music artists: Radiohead, Pixies, Crystal Castles, Pulp, Queen
• 5 films: Oldboy, Gattaca, American Psycho, Fight Club, Spaghetti Westerns
• 5 shows: Game of Thrones, Arrested Development, Archer, Firefly, Twin Peaks
• 5 games: StarCraft, Diablo, Left 4 Dead, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, The Sims 3 (I like to build houses)
• a dream/goal of mine: to go into outer space
• two truths and a lie: (1) I can run 100 meters in 10 seconds, (2) I read at least three books per week, (3) I don't know how to drive

Call people out on their lies :) If you like, you can wait until several people have guessed before revealing the truth.

Follow people who intrigue you or have the same interests. Maybe you can get together and create a tribe.

I've just arrived from reddit (from the Snapzu invite thread, in fact) and I'm really enjoying it here. I do wonder what will happen as the community expands and diversifies — will using invites to stagger growth and an XP/reputation system to incentivize good behavior be enough to prevent this place from becoming a mess like reddit? Probably not, but I don't think it will be nearly as bad.

Much can be learned from successful communities around the web (successful in that they're orderly and productive). What makes them work? I thought perhaps a smaller, more personal user base could mean something, and I certainly think it helps, but there should also be growth. Also important is the subject matter and the type of people it attracts, but there are vile communities built around good things and fantastic ones built around bad things (though that's subjective). So what makes the difference?

One thing the good communities have in common is solid leadership. There are clear, meaningful rules, and administrators/moderators enforce them dutifully. In addition, much depends on the users following through and embodying the type of culture they want to be a part of. I think that's incredibly effective, as most people will act how everyone else is acting. Fostering the right mindset from the get-go is much easier than trying to fix things later.

reddit has many problems, and I'm sure this place will reveal its own in time, but I think the completely anonymous nature of reddit is one of its downfalls. Just imagine how things would be if everyone were anonymous in real life. Already, I feel the need to act responsibly here while also feeling safe behind my anonymous username. I think it's a good system.

Obviously, people are people and human nature will have its way. There will always be people who aren't nice, or have differing opinions, not to mention spammers and trolls. I think that's unavoidable, but I'm hopeful that Snapzu will not deteriorate into a cesspit.

These are just some thoughts. Let me know what you guys think makes a good community and why you like Snapzu!

P.S. I tried out a few different alternatives: Voat is a bit of an eyesore and annoying to navigate, Hubski is actually pretty nice but a little too free-form for me, and the others were just not very usable. I haven't seen any mention of MetaFilter, however, which is a nice place.