How to properly use Discord for networking

Many people on the Steem blockchain use the Discord App for networking with others. That is a very GOOD thing, as networking is important in a social media environment (which is why the word "social" is included. Despite honorable intentions, some people use Discord incorrectly, and I hope the information shown below will help get everyone on-track!

Each server (or "guild") on Discord is run by an individual ~OR~ a group of people, therefore each server can have its own rules, guidelines, and expectations that are different from other servers. In the real world, we must be conscious of rules and guidelines in each building we enter. Some people want you to remove your shoes before entering their home. Some government buildings do not allow firearms. Some shops do not allow backpacks. In the same way, each server on Discord might have rules of their own, and they should be followed. Those rules are how order is maintained, which will make the experience enjoyable for everyone.

Some servers post a "Welcome" message when you join. READ IT! I am in one server that requires all persons who join to say, "Hello!" and tell how they learned of the server, and the "Welcome" message says that! Yet, invariably, someone occasionally joins the server, never says hello, and then later complains that they don't see the other channels. That is THEIR fault, not the fault of the server owner(s)!

Many servers — even those with a "Welcome" message — often have channels that contain the rules, as shown in the image to the right. Look for those channels and READ THEM! Most servers do not have many rules, but they are important to follow if you wish to get-along well with the other people there. If someone greets you in the 'welcome' channel, it is fine to respond to them, but please do not consider posting to other channels until you have read the rules! If you do not understand one of the rules, now is the time to ask, while you are in the 'welcome' channel!

Once you have become familiar with the rules of the server, begin engaging with the community there by talking to people! That is a crucial part of "networking." It would be rude to walk into someone's house, fix a snack in their kitchen, and then leave the house without ever saying hello to them. That is EXACTLY what you are doing if you jump into a server, drop a link in the 'post-promotion' channel, and then leave! The use of the 'post-promotion' channel is a privilege intended for members who are "in good standing" with the community. If you never engage with the community, then you are not being a member in good standing.

Besides the rules that exist for the server as a whole, each channel might have its own rules, too. Those are usually "pinned" so one never has to scroll far to read them. To see the pinned messages in any channel, click on the "push-pin" icon in the desktop-version of the Discord app ~OR~ click on the "Three Dots" icon in the mobile-version of the Discord-app, as show in the following images (desktop view on left, mobile view on right):

While it is not absolutely necessary to join communities on Discord to use sites on the Steem blockchain, it will definitely make your experience richer, earn you friends, and increase upvotes/comments on your posts! It is fun to engage with others, and you won't feel so alone. There is a huge variety of servers on Discord: servers devoted to writers, poets, visual artists, performing artists, musicians, photographers, homesteaders, bloggers, vloggers, poker enthusiasts, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, motorcycle enthusiasts, woodworking enthusiasts, philosophers, fashion-minded, teaching minnows who are new to Steem, empowering women, LGBT support, religious-minded people, Christians, advocates of global science, independent journalists, healthcare initiatives & discussion, and so much more!

There is something on Discord for everyone! 😎

Anyone who is not yet on the Discord app can get it easily! On your mobile phone, visit your "app store" to find the app. If on a computer, click the following link to "test drive" the web-version of the app and/or download the MUCH better desktop-version of the app: