| As a community leader, you are expected to regularly scan homesteads
in your block assignment. A good pace is to average about 5 to 7 sites/day. If
you keep that pace, you should cover all the homesteads on your block in about a
month. While scanning, you will encounter a number of different situations similar
to what you experienced during training. Therefore, in an effort to keep you brushed
up on your scanning exercises, we have provided this page as a reference source for you. Following
are some of the most common situations you will encounter:
RESIDENTS THAT NEED HELP
As CLs, our first responsibility is to help homesteaders. The problem is that
many homesteaders just never figure out they can contact a CL for help. They sign up
for a homestead, and never get any further than the sign-in process. That's one
reason a courteous introduction letter from a CL is helpful, and strongly encouraged.
Obvious signs indicating a resident may need help:
- The initial "Just Moved In" page is still up after several weeks have passed
- There is a list of files, and no index.html page
- There are broken images, and non-working links
- Downloads are incomplete, laboriously SLOW, and/or crash your browser
- Text runs over into borders
- Improperly nested tables
NOT MOVED-IN YET
- If it's the Not Moved-In page that you get at initial sign-up, send the resident an
introduction email, and let them know you are there to help. You might also want to
include instructions about adding an index.html page. If your email is returned
undelivered, chances are the resident typed the wrong email address at sign-up, or they
changed accounts before moving in. If so, there's nothing more you can do, so don't
be concerned. GC will eventually delete the account. (No need to include this
site on your block scan report).
- If the resident has added to the page, such as an "Under Construction" notice,
and your email is delivered, but (1) nothing changes at the site after a couple of weeks,
and (2) you don't get a response after sending a 2nd email, include the site in your
weekly report to the liaison who oversees that hood. Be sure to indicate in your
report that you did give the resident ample time to respond. The liaison will check
the site with the liaison tool to see if it is being used for remote storage.
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ABANDONED SITES
- These are completed sites that were active in the past, but nothing has changed within
the last year. For example - A Happy Birthday page devoted to John who turned 47 on
11/9/97, or a site that was devoted to some other event that has come and gone.
Sometimes you can even find a date on the page that indicates when the site was last
updated. Include these sites in your report so the liaison can check them for last
date of activity.
- Exception -- well-done sites that contain undated material that can be used as reference
sources, or information. For example - a website devoted to the wildlife of a
specific area, with pages that describe the history and biology of those animals.
Check to make sure the links still work, and that the email address is current.
RIGHT THEME - WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD
- Remember, it is not a violation to have a homestead in a neighborhood with a different
theme.
- Being in the wrong neighborhood prevents a site from being eligible for GeoRewards, and
other programs, like BOG, Outta Site Awards, and Landmark Site recognition.
- What to do? Send the resident a complimentary email pointing out all the
good things about the site, then explain all the great programs they'd be eligible for if
their site was in the right hood. Recommend the hood that best fits their theme, and
brief them on how easy it is to move.
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VIOLATIONS - a complete list can be obtained from GeoCities Content Guidelines
MINOR VIOLATIONS
- Sign Posts - report them to Alert
- Multiple sites in the same hood - a resident can have multiple websites in hoods
with different themes, like Athens and RainForest, but you cannot have 2 sites in the same
hood, or its burbs. Report multple sites to Alert.
- Commercial Sites - if they are selling goods, services, or soliciting money
- non-profit or for profit - they are considered commercial, and must be registered in GeoShops. Send them a nice letter
with information about GeoShops, and include the url where they can sign up. Also
report the page to Alert,
so GeoCities can follow up with additional information.
- Excessive Profanity - a few four letter expletives scattered around on a page are
not considered excessive, so use good judgment when reporting these pages to Alert.
- Defamation - damages the reputation, character, or good name of by slander or
libel. Don't confuse "honest opinion" with defamation. Report it to Alert.
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MAJOR VIOLATIONS - IMMEDIATELY REPORT TO ALERT AND TO YOUR LIAISON
- DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE RESIDENT
- Pornography - true artisitic work is not considered pornography, such as
images of Grecian statues, or nude paintings by well-known artists, etc. One link on
a page that links to a link for pornography is not a violation. One risqué comic strip is
not a violation.
- The entire site is devoted to porn;
- The site itself includes pornographic images and text, as well as links that connect
directly to pornographic images;
- Hidden links and graphics that indicate the site is a storage site for porn.
- Hate Propaganda - direct attacks on a person's race, color, gender, or religion.
- Software Piracy - including downloads for cracked versions, lists of serial
registration numbers, or links to these areas.
- Hacking Sites - site must be dedicated to hacking, complete with instructions and
how-to's, and not just a page of links to hacking sites
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OUTSTANDING SITES
Send the resident an email complimenting their site, and provide information about
GeoCities' featured site programs, as well as RainForest featured site programs. You might
also want to invite them to consider the Community Leader program, and include the url for
the CL application form.
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