True newbies normally have NO face parts and look like a potato, or a tater, as we all say. On the 30th of December, Whyville experienced a strange kind of server crash, or something. I think we should put this date in Whyville history. Today, everyone -- and I mean everyone -- had no face parts. We all looked the same for once. We were all unable to change the look of our faces.

On this day, there was no discrimination, no racism, no criticism. Today shall be remembered as a very special day in Whyville history.

People are used to logging on to Whyville and buying face parts and designing their faces and seeing different, unique faces in the chat rooms. Today was different, when everyone noticed they didn't have any face parts and they all looked like newbies.

I think this particular day taught everyone a lesson. Don't discriminate, and don't criticise others by the way they look, talk or react. Everyone was a newbie at least once, so don't judge a newbie on how they look. You were a newbie once before, and you probably got teased about how you looked.

Today you looked like a newbie again. Did it change who you were?

I am asking after this special day that you set a good example to other Whyvillians about how to react to a newbie and how not to.

It's just like if you move to a new house and a new school. You might find you don't quite fit in as well in your new school. You know some people are trying to be nice to you, but some people are talking behind your back and spreading rumours about you, at least sometimes. It doesn't give you much confidence and it makes you mad and irritated and makes you want to cry.

The same is true in Whyville.

Some people may think it was tragic that we all had to live as a newbie on Whyville for at least one day... but one day can make a huge difference. In that day, people learn what it is like to be a newbie, and newbies can once again fit in with the crowd.

I declare December 30, 2004 to be NEWBIE DAY!

On this day, every year....

- We will be certain to respect newbies for who they are.
- We will try and help newbies out.
- We will be nice and kind to newbies.
- We will remember this day when everyone in Whyville were newbies, including the City Workers.
- We will also pray that this event will never happen again... though I bet it might.
- We will also remember what it was like to be a newbie when we all first started Whyville.
- To get into the spirit, we can make our faces look like newbies by removing all our face parts, on this one special day of the year.

We should help people and be kind, not only on this day, but always, in real life and on Whyville.

It's not all that bad being a newbie for at least a day... so far.... Fact is, Whyvillians shouldn't complain, because this is what newbies must deal with every day until they earn enough clams to become more like everyone else. Fact is, being a newbie on Newbie Day isn't quite as bad as being one all the time. Today, everyone fit in.

Here are some places I've seen newbies be mistreated:
- Trading Post

At the Post, I've seen people who don't really want to trade with newbies, because they don't think they have very good stuff to trade with or very many clams to offer in trade.

- Tic-Tac-Toe
- Artsets
- Chinese Checkers
- Kalah
- Checkers

People are rude to newbies in the games because they think they'll be easy to play against.

- All chat rooms

Fact is, there are some people who think that the cartoon a person wears defines how good a friend they could be, and how good a chat you can have with them.

But the saying is true: "DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!"

Next year, on December 30, 2005, and forever more, I would like all of you to think about anything you've done that was really kind or nice to someone, in real life or on Whyville. We should always treasure the gift of friendship and think about how lucky we have good friends that support us and cheer us up when we have no confidence or are sad. True friends will always be there for you and that's what being friends and having friends are for!

I hope I have changed your mind about newbies :) and don't forget to celebrate Newbie Day next year by removing all of your face parts to look like a tater!


Kendra8