Hey citizens! I was taking a walk through Whyville recently when I stopped to chat to some fellow floating faces nearby.

"Hello!" I said, routinely.

To my surprise, I received no such greeting in return. ". . .Do I know you?" was the slightly more grammatically correct response to my attempt. Wow, I thought. . . I really didn't know I was supposed to know someone before I began to chat with them.

Not only this, but upon entering another room, I had others use the responses, "You're ugly," "Get away from me," and even more surprisingly from a well established Ymail helper, "You nerd."

At the end of it all, my head was ready to explode! "What has happened to the Whyville Way," I shouted into the House of Illusions that very hour. To my greater shock, a girl whispered to me and asked me a brain throbbing question, "What is the Whyville Way? Is it a cheat site?"

Citizens, what is the Whyville Way? For those of you who have been around long enough to experience it; what happened to the Whyville Way? When I joined Whyville a long time ago, the Whyville Way was the way to go! While chatting to a very-oldbie, she told me, "Back when I joined, the Whyville Way was law. People just did it." Everyone who's anyone was doing it! If you wanted to be cool, you followed the Whyville Way. If you wanted to be popular, you followed the Whyville Way. Heck -??? if you wanted any friends, you needed the Whyville Way. I've followed the Whyville Way every day of my little Whyville life. I've got a set of friends to be proud of, and I've accomplished some bits and pieces (including the first Good Citizen award) where wrong-doers would have failed.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe the Whyville Way is still the only way to go. I've seen citizens rise to the top in a matter of weeks just by following this simple plan.

Here's a summary of the Whyville Way, the way I see it:

* Have a good attitude towards everything. Think before you speak, make sure whatever you say is in good humor for everyone.

* Greet everyone. When someone enters the room, make them welcome.

* Make your look who you are. If you're unique, look unique! If you're spiritual, show it! If you're a conformist, then go with the flow, but don't forget to just be you!

If you want more about the Whyville Way, read the "Site Policies" again. Here are some interesting bits I've taken out for you:

USER RULES
By using this Site, you agree:

- not to disrupt or interfere with any other user's enjoyment of the Site or affiliated or linked websites

- not to use or attempt to use another's account, service or system, or create or use a false identity on this Site

CHATROOMS, MESSAGE BOARDS, AND WHYVILLE MAIL
Numedeon does not allow Submissions which contain:

- profanity or obscenities

- personal attacks on other individuals

I guess it really is law to follow the Whyville Way after all! So let's everyone try really hard to bring back the Whyville Way. Spread the word! Do the word!

This is Deriko, spreading the word at the Emerald Isle.