Sib Houses

Summary
The House system was devised by various 'Board members, in an attempt to bring about some organization to the Big Sib - Little Sib construct. As of the creation of this page (06/15/2012), the idea is still in construction. In a nutshell, a House is a loosely-bound group of PPCers, yet-more-loosely divided into the categories of Big Sibs and Newbies, or Little Sibs.

The Newbies, upon their introduction to the Great Wide World of Everything PPC, are given a choice of Houses to join, and select the House that most closely resembles what they are looking for in the PPC community. When they make this decision, they are assigned a Big Sib, and that person takes responsibility for helping them with their questions about the PPC, how things work, behavior guidelines, and so on.

House Goals

 * 1) To make it easier/less scary for newbies to approach and get to know older PPCers;
 * 2) To give newbies a mentor/teacher they can always ask questions and advice;
 * 3) To provide a network of support for Big Sibs in particular, but all members in general, so no one person gets overwhelmed trying to mentor/advise/guide/correct/befriend/whatever all the new people, and so there are clear channels of support open for advice on given topics about which members of a given house are knowledgeable;
 * 4) To get older PPCers more involved and more personally invested in the PPC Goals by giving them a specific obligation toward other PPCers. In other words, if your Little Sibs are driving us up the wall, we're going to Have Words with You;
 * 5) Not to become cliques whose members never talk to anyone outside their sibs/house;
 * 6) Not to devalue the importance of other houses' interests. In other words, just because your group isn't big on giving concrit doesn't mean people in it should believe concrit is stupid, since that would contradict the PPC Goals.

House Structure

 * 1) Houses shall be made up of oldbies willing to be Big Sibs to newbies, with the responsibilities that role entails;
 * 2) All Big Sibs shall have a working knowledge of PPC in-universe canon and PPC rules, policies, social mores and folkways, etc., and be willing and able to teach their Little Sibs;
 * 3) Each house shall have a stated area of expertise that sets it apart from other houses, to provide newbies with something to identify as a personal interest and thus efficiently narrow the field of potential Big Sibs, preventing much flailing and confusion over who should step up. However, this area of expertise should not be too specific (i.e. Lord of the Rings humorfic concrit in the IRC), because that would just get really silly really fast and leave us open for too many Clue jokes;
 * 4) Each house shall have a silly name that doesn't necessarily bear any relation to its area of expertise;
 * 5) Newbies shall be given a list of houses and their descriptions upon joining, and asked to select one. In order to prevent popularity/intimidation from becoming a factor, this list shall not include names of Big Sibs;
 * 6) A Big Sib from the newbie's chosen house will then elect to adopt that newbie as their Little Sib, according to availability and/or compatibility; considerations may include fandoms in common, interest in the IRC or wiki, and other matters not covered in house descriptions;
 * 7) Each Big Sib may adopt as many Little Sibs as they are comfortable with.

Existing Houses
These are the Houses that have been proposed on the 'Board thus far, listed in no particular order. This list is subject to change as the idea takes a more definite shape.

House Skull Goblet
House Skull Goblet focuses on helping newbies fit into the PPC community as individuals, rather than any specific community value espoused by various parts of the PPC.

House Parmandili
House Parmandili focuses on being really, really, really into canon - for people who learn to write in their chosen canons' languages, or just generally very obsessed with the details and minutia of a canon. The members are as follows:

House Darjeeling
House Darjeeling focuses on the lore, traditions, and history of the PPC; one would look to this house for an understanding of how certain PPC structures or traditions came about, and help with how to write within those traditions.

House Kind Words and a Two-by-four
House Kind Words and a Two-by-four focuses less on fandom and fanfiction, and more on improving writing in general - both oneself, and aiding others, through concrit. This house is Very Big on giving concrit, it goes without saying (but will be said anyway).

House Fruitbat
House Fruitbat focuses on comedy, and the Rule of Funny. Specifically, how and why it is important, and how the PPC tends to run on it, from time to time. This is the place for people who are interested in banter and comedic timing, and so on.

House Grave Energy Initiative
House Grave Energy Initiative focuses on PPCers who want to, presently or in the future, branch out and begin writing their own original fiction, in their own universes. This house specializes in world building, basic mechanics of fiction, and most often fantasy style.