Just to add a few comments of my own here.
The Greeters never went away, even before the reopening of the cavern. While the traffic and postings slowed down, both on this forum and the GoG forum, several of us were still actively posting and helping out when we could, in addition to making further improvements and revisions to the website.
In the cavern, the number of active Greeters in the cavern did fall to a handful after the initial rush and jubilation at the return, but we were still there when we could be. Personally, I've always found it difficult to take a "regular shift" in the GoG Bevin. On the other hand, rather than stand around an empty GoG Bevin, I would try to wait in the newest of the DRC Bevins to meet as many of the first-time explorers as I could. This can be the most difficult and repetitive of the greeting jobs, but I think it's the most important and the most rewarding. The other thing I was doing was every time I came in, I'd have to go through the Nexus and bump the GoG link back to the top to keep it from falling too far down the list, or dropping off it completely. Thankfully, that task is no longer required.
But since there were too few of us, I came up with an alternative to try to help the new explorers when we couldn't be there. I would create a new avatar that would (usually) automatically become a member of the newest DRC Bevin so I could post a detailed message on the hood imager. This message is carefully crafted to help the new explorers realize the importance of getting their KI so they would be able to reach the city where they will have a better chance to meet others and get help or have their questions answered. This is done without giving any spoilers. I also suggest visiting the Guild of Greeters Bevin for the information posted there, as well as the GoG website for even more information and help. (I'm making an assumption that they already know about the MOUL website, otherwise they wouldn't have gotten this far.)
The results were a lot more traffic through the GoG Bevin, which I could directly track, so I know they were at least finding their KI now. While I had this new avatar as a hood member, I was also able to give more direct help if they showed up while I was there, either with the KI or by chasing them down if they first wandered into the "instanced" version of the city. And for some of those DRC Bevins I've missed, sometimes I've been lucky enough to find a new explorer there who can help me post the message while I'm giving them a lesson on how to use their KI. Every one I've asked has been happy to help.
The message I've been posting works, even if it's a poor substitute for having someone there to meet the newcomers as they arrive. Some others of you have already realized how important it is to meet these new explorers, and I'd like to encourage you to continue!
Everyone can greet, T-shirt or not! That's just part of being in this community. What some may not realize is that those who wear the shirt have to adhere to a fairly strict set of standards and decorum, and not everyone is suited to work within those limitations. Fun as it may be, it is also a very serious job, and can be quite a burden and frustrating at times. We are not compensated in any way for this, except for the satisfaction derived from helping others, and the occasional thanks we get for doing so.
Robin, Robyn, Robbyn
_________________ "What are we going to do today, Borg?" "Same thing we always do, Pinkutus: Try to assimilate the world!" -Pinkutus & the Borg
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