_{| You know ... | Free Avatars | Comissions | Plz accounts | Rubik Collection |}

... is like a school lunch room and you are the new transfer kid.

From the outside we look like one big group of people, but if you look a little closer we break down into smaller groups of friends each sitting around a lunch table. You turn up on your first day at the new school and from here you have to decide where to sit. Do you ...

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Once upon a time the emote community consisted of a single tight knit group of friends. But as any community has expanded it became difficult for everyone to know everyone on a personal level and it started to separate into smaller groups of friends. Although we are all united by the same art form and occasionally come together to work on a contest or project, for the most part we stick around in our groups mainly focussing on what our friends get up to in their daily lives.

Coming in to a community, like coming into a new school, isn't easy for most people. You get the odd person who is able to dive in head first and immediately click with a set of people, but its more common for people to start off unknown at what seems like the bottom of the heap. As much as we would like to be an open, caring, tight knit community, it often requires any new people to first put a bit of effort in to get noticed before they feel a sense of belonging. Most established people wont go browsing for the 'new kid on the block'', instead waiting for them to do something interesting to grab their attention.

I know its not always easy making that first step, but with a bit of guidance it really isn't that hard. Our community has loads of outlets to get people involved which can be great platforms for new emoticonists to take their first steps. You can join a project (or create your own), join in a contest, create an avatar, make a distinct OC, join in community/chat events, start up a news article/interview series, get involved with a group, speak to established members, ask for advice or just strike up a conversation with someone you'd like to know better. The options are limitless.

I understand that trying to talk to one of the 'popular kids' can seem scary, but they are humans just like the rest of us. I may have been in the community 3+ years but that doesn't mean i have anything against new people - it just often takes me a while to spot them because i'm already watching over 200+ other emote accounts and rarely have the chance to browse the gallery. I'm always willing to comment on art, offer advice (whether its emote or emoticon community related) or have a random chit chat with anyone who bothers to take the time to say hi. It may be true that many of the people i hang out with have a certain level of experience under their belt, but that doesn't mean i have no interest in people that are just finding their feet in the community.

So if you feel you aren't getting noticed in the community, put some effort in and do something about it. Go score that goal in gym class (make a great emote), try out a new hair do (create a cool avatar), start up a school newspaper (make a new set of news articles), plan a school dance (set up a community event), or simply take the plunge in the lunch room and pick a table to sit at. And if at any point you feel lost, ask someone that has been around a while. I'll even start you off 'Hi Karen. My name is .......... and I'm new to the community. I just wanted to say/wanted to ask/wanted your opinion on .......'

The emote community is a great set of people. But don't expect to be able to walk through the door and immediately be recognised or rewarded. Get your name out there, have some fun and make some fantastic friends