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Al's Pages
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Alatyr's FAQ Who's Alatyr, you ask? And why on earth does she need an F.A.Q, like all the big-name players? Well, you see, Al created a NeoMillionaire Guide that seems to be fairly popular, judging from the site visits and neoMails every day. Since many of those neoMails ask the same questions, Al decided to use my page to answer those questions.Want to know what makes Al angry? Click here:  Want to see why Al's happy? Click here:  |
The Questions |
Are you a neoMillionaire?
Most of the time, yes. I have a bit of a spending problem sometimes. And a chatting problem and a petpage-making problem and a real-life job, all of which interfere with my ability to make and retain NPs.
Do you own tineneohelp.com or any other help site?
No, I do not, nor do I know any contact information for any owners. The websites, however, do include contact information.
How many Neopoints do you have?
I have enough to keep my pets fed and happy, to buy gifts for my friends, and to support my accounts. That's all you need to know, and I won't answer any more than that.
How did you get all those Draiks?
I bought four Draik Transmogrification Potions and used them on my pets. I also bought a Maraquan paint brush for Marchegai, used a Fountain Faerie quest for Kalenteth, and bought a Darigan paint brush for Eldrakkyn. Total, it cost me about 8 million NPs.
If I neoMail you, will you NeoMail me back?
Unless you're begging from me, then yes, I most likely will, and from any of my accounts (though I prefer my alatyr13 account for comments or questions about my petpages). Be sure your neoMail isn't set to NeoFriends Only, and be sure that you have Parental Consent to receive NeoMails at all! Also, I'm not on all the time. And when I am on, I'm not here "just to chat." There are plenty of other people on this and other sites who will "just chat" with you. What questions will you not answer?
I won't answer questions about how many NPs I have, if I'll give away items or pets, or if I'll join a Guild, and I won't answer anything about my offline life. Basically, if it's covered here or indicated here that the answer here is all you get, then I won't answer it.
You didn't answer my question! Why not?
If you asked one of the questions that I said I won't answer, I will ignore that question.
You didn't neoMail me back! Why not?
Was your NeoMail set to NeoFriends only? Do you need Parental Consent to receive NeoMails? Both of these happen a lot. Was your post comprehensible? If I can't understand it, I can't answer it. Did you actually ask a question, or did you just want to chat? I've gotten lots of NeoMails that just say "Hi." I ignore those; if you have something to say, say it. Were you yelling at me or begging from me? Well, the answer for that should be obvious.
I asked for your advice, but you took too long NeoMailing me back! What gives?
Impatient, are you? First of all, I'm probably the last person you should ask for advice--there are many players here with more experience than me and who are online when you need them. Ask the Help Board first next time. Second of all, I have a job and a non-Neopets life, so I'm not online much. And when I am on, I don't often stay very long. Waiting around for me, again, is not the best option.
Can you shorten your NPs Guide? It's too long!
I tried to include absolutely everything I know about making NPs in that Guide. I know it's long, but it's thorough. You can use the navigational links on the left side to only read what you want to. I've even included a basic Summary section at the beginning that highlights the main points. Still don't want to read? Try my neoAdventure. It's the same basic information as the Guide, but in a form better suited to short attention spans.
Will you give me Neopoints and items?
Absolutely not. And if you ask me at all, I will report you for "scamming to get items/NPs" and will permanently block you. I don't care if you're a newbie--begging is very serious. You're asking for something that does not belong to you and that you can get for yourself. Every child is taught not to ask for or to take things that don't belong to them; it's a basic social constraint. Don't tell me you "didn't know it was wrong".
Will you help me get NPs and items?
I still see this as begging, though it almost implies a willingness to work for it. So I'll be slightly less harsh and say instead that I've already given you all the help I can--read Cryon's petpage. But complain that it's "too hard" and that if I could just give you "a boost"--now you're reported.
C'mon, you can tell me--what's the real secret to earning NPs?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no "magic" or "secret" way to earn NPs. Everything I put in my Guide really is how to earn NPs. There are no "easier" or "quicker" ways. There's a lot of dumb luck sometimes, but no cheats.
Can I have one of your pets?
You've now been reported for begging and blocked. I worked hard for my pets. You should work hard for your own, too.
You're such a big selfish meanie! Why won't you give me anything?
The best help you can ever get, in real life or on Neopets, is good advice. Then you can be independent and self-sufficient, and you can do things for yourself. I've put a lot of time and effort in to making petpages to help you, pages that detail everything I know and do in my own accounts. I've put a lot of time and effort in to playing Neopets and building up my accounts. I have no time or desire to also play for you, and I have no patience with people who refuse to do things for themselves, either in real life or in an online game. And really, you are the one being mean and selfish, expecting me to do everything for you.
Why are you such a sarcastic, grouchy person?
I'm not, actually, unless provoked. I'm generally quite easy-going and forgiving. However, I have a low tolerance for displays of ignorance. Chat speak puts me in a bad mood, as does begging, whining, bad manners, and rudeness.
Will you be my NeoFriend?
My NeoFriend requests are always open on my alatyr13 account. I don't mind you requesting, and I will accept. However, just because I accept does not mean that you can now beg; I'll report you and remove you from my NF list. Be aware, too, that I accept everyone; I have a huge list of people as my NeoFriends over there (over 300 at the moment). This means I will not remember you if you neoMail me to "just chat." If you have a question, I will answer, but I do not accept all those requests just to find friends to chat with. If it makes you feel better to be my neoFriend, or if it makes it easier for you to remember my pet pages, then by all means, request away. Finally, if I saw you begging, scamming, spamming, etc. on the Boards, I will not accept. I do not accept random NFs on other accounts. And no, trying to "chat me up" or bribe me will not make me change my mind. Trying to "befriend" me will not change my mind. You'll just get yourself blocked on all my accounts. Why did you block me?!
I will not tolerate begging, spamming, rudeness, or any other such behavior. I will block people who do anything like this. If you lied to me in order to get on my neoFriend list, I will remove you from the list and will block you. I will not change my mind and unblock anyone who is added to my Block list. So having your sister or cousin or classmate neoMail me and beg me to change my mind will not work; in fact, I'll block them, too.
Why did you take me off of your NeoFriend list?!
As I said before, my NeoFriend list is huge (my Portal NeoFriend list shows 150, and that only goes through "K"). I will remove usernames that either have not been on Neopets for over 30 days or have been frozen. If you come back to Neopets or if you get your account unfrozen, you can request to be my NeoFriend again, and I will add you.
Can I link to your NeoMillionaire petpage?
Certainly! Here's the same banner that's at the end of Cryon's page (180px x 35px):  Or the one that moves:  
What about linking to your other petpages?
Marchegai: Quests Help 
 How did you make those banners?
I used Neopets' images, Paint (for the non-moving ones), and Photoshop CS2 (for the moving ones).
Can you make me--
No, sorry, I don't make buttons/banners for other people.
Your banners don't match my layout. Can I make my own?
Of course! We can't have garish buttons contrasting with your lookup. You are more than welcome to design (and host ;) your own buttons to link to any of my petpages.
I have a Neopets Help offsite page. Can I link to your page(s)?
Certainly. I don't mind that at all.
I have a Neopets Help offsite page. Can I just paste your entire page on mine?
Absolutely not. My pages were created on Neopets and will stay on Neopets. You may link to them, you may create your own guides based on them (see the following question), but you may not duplicate them. That said, if anyone notices any of my pages plagiarized on a petpage or "Help" site, please let me know. Can I copy your ideas for my own neoMillionaire guide?
I don't think any of my ideas are unusual or terribly original; they're the same that anyone on any Board would tell you if they had enough time (and that all the other Guides tell you, too). Therefore, yes, you're more than welcome to borrow the ideas. However, do try to find a way to rephrase my language and to reformat my page--plagiarism is wrong. Exact copying also violates copyright law; as soon as something is in published form (and yes, webpages count), copying it is forbidden. Ideas are not copyrighted, but content is; that's the same little detail that the girl who plagiarized her novels forgot... If anyone notices any of my pages plagiarized on a petpage or "Help" site, please let me know. Can I copy one of your guides and put it on my own petpage?
NO. I have never and will never give anyone permission to copy my petpages (except in one case--see the following question). I have already put hours and hours of hard work into creating those petpages, and I continue to put hours of work into updating and maintaining those petpages. You do not have permission to steal my work.
English isn't my first language, and I think other people who speak my language would benefit from your Guides. Can I translate your Guides into my language?
I think that's a brilliant idea. I don't know enough to translate it myself, so you're quite welcome to do that. I do ask that you neoMail me first to tell me you would like to do that; then I can also link to your petpage from the appropriate Guide. One note on this: I speak or read several languages, and I know people who speak many others. In other words, if you don't really speak a language naturally or fluently, I'll probably know and I'll turn you down. I'm only emphasizing this because I've had several obvious American middle-schoolers who barely speak English volunteering to translate to Spanish. (And if I find out that I've been hoodwinked, I'll yank all affiliation to that page. So if you notice that one of my translation affiliates is incorrect, please let me know!) I think your petpage is great and I made you an award! Do you accept awards?
I thank you very much for the notice, but I do not accept awards. A "Thank you" is enough for me.
Someone contacted me on a messaging service or through neoMail and said they were you. Was it?
I do not use any messaging services (IM/MSN/Yahoo/ICQ/etc.) in connection with Neopets. I only use them to talk to my friends. If someone cannot neoMail you from one of my five accounts, then that person is not me.
Oh, cool, I found your blog/social site/etc. Add me!
Once again, that's not me. I don't have any of those that in any way connects with Neopets. (Note: why "social site"? Because TNT blocks the real names ;)
Someone contacted me, and their account name and pet's name looked like yours. Was that you?
That was not me. Again, I have only my five accounts (alatyr12, alatyr13, greek2me, emc2, and consolation_prize). Other people have created accounts and pets with names that mimic mine, but they are not me. Don't be fooled.
Can I use [insert pet's name] in a story/NT Article/NeoAdventure?
No. Make up your own characters, please. That said, if you see any of my pets' names used in any way like that, know that I did not give permission or encouragement for that. I do not endorse, support, agree with, or otherwise have anything to do with that person. And please let me know where you found this. While using a pet's name and character without the owner's permission is probably not against the Rules, the person who did it will quickly find themself on my personal blacklist. (Mavrodaphne did "appear" in one comic (and Al lost the link...) as a stand-in since the artist did not actually have a Garlic Kiko.) Do you think my Shop prices are too high?Do you think my Shop layout is okay?
Again, I won't look. Judge for yourself. Is there a lot of stuff that has to load--background, music, annoying animated anythings? Were I to visit your Shop and if I tried to buy anything, would the page continue to slip away from me before I could click because you have even more things that have to load? That's so absolutely frustrating that I usually leave the Shop immediately and never return. Does your background move or blink? Again, I'd probably leave. I visit Shops in order to get items that I want, not to get headaches.
Can you rate--
No. I do not rate. There is no absolute standard, only my personal feelings and opinions, and you'll probably think I'm snobby and picky.
Can you make me a--
No.
Did you make all those petpages?
I only made the petpages I've listed on the left; they're marked with an asterisk * on any of my other pages. All other petpages were made by other talented people.
Why did you make so many petpages?
Firstly, because I wanted to learn HTML/CSS. Secondly, because I was bored on Neopets. Thirdly, because I was tired of answering the same questions over and over again in huge long discussions. Fourthly, because this way I can help even more people without having to be online constantly, and I can help other people help people.
Why are your four major Guides on a gallery account?
Because I'm silly. :P When I got my first Fountain Faerie Quest, there was a rumor that there would be a Fountain Faerie Quest Avatar coming out. I held out for that Avatar, so I left that Quest sitting. I made a Gallery account, alatyr13, so that I could still use the Shop Wizard to help people on Quests. But I couldn't restock or play Games or anything else, and I was getting bored, so I needed something to do to occupy myself. Marchegai's petpage was first (and about Quests, obviously, since that was what I spent a lot of time helping with), and Cryon's followed when I got tired of trying to explain how to earn NPs.
Six months later when no avatar has materialized except the Buzzin' Av, I turned in the item and got Pendwyr her squishy brain--er, paint color. What program did you use to create your petpages?
Program? This is no program. I entered words in the box on the "Edit Page" page. That's it. The pages only look fancy, because I used div layers and tables to make them behave how I wanted them to. It's nothing complicated, and something you can quite easily teach yourself. I do use a free offline HTML editor because it turns everything pretty colors, but I still enter all the text myself. Can you teach me HTML/CSS?
You really wouldn't want that; it wouldn't be pretty. I'm self-taught in HTML/CSS, and I believe that anyone else can teach themselves, as well. You can check out Patraikis petpage; it lists the HTML/CSS contortions I've performed on my petpages. Other than that, ask your friend Mr. Internet.
I really like your petpage layout. Can I use your layout on my petpage?
Yes, you can. There is nothing copyrighted in the coding for the page itself. I came up with a design I like and then set out to teach myself the HTML/CSS necessary to create the page. Because anyone with a similar idea and enough time could create the page itself, and because it uses no backgrounds or anything else of my own design, you're more than welcome to copy the petpage layout. (Why do I like this design? Because I hate scrolling all the way down a page to read something, then scrolling all the way back up to find the outline or another link. I like everything there in front of me and ready to go.) Can you link to my petpage?
There are many petpages, such as so_you_need_a_guide, whose sole purpose is to provide directories of other petpages. Mine are not among those, so I try to choose the petpages I think are the absolute best for the small subset of Neopia I'm addressing. If I think your petpage fits my criteria, then I'll be quite happy to link to it. However, if one of the petpages I already link to links, in turn, to your page, I probably won't list your page separately.
I visit your petpage several times a week, but the counter never changes! Is it broken?
Nice catch, but no, it isn't broken. I have my counter set to record unique hits only. That means no matter how many times you visit, it only records the first one. So my counter actually gives a fairly accurate count of how many different people have used my petpage.
Will you join my Guild?
No, I'm happy with my Guilds.
Can I join your Guild?
If you're interested in learning how to stop Spammers, in helping on the Quests and other Boards, and in finding a supportive community of Neopets users, then check out the Spammer Slammers Anonymous Guild.
Will you vote for--
No, I will not vote for your pet in the Beauty Contest. I do not hang around the BC Board, so any neoMails like this I receive are classic Spam--unsolicited, unwanted mail. In fact, I dislike people trying to cheat in the BC so much (which includes advertising on incorrect Boards) that I'll 1) report you for cheating, 2) block you, and 3) vote for someone else in your pet's category.
Can I have a Premium invite?
Remember, Premium costs $7.99/month in real money (not NPs). Visit Letos petpage for more information about Premium. My main account, alatyr12, is the one to neoMail about that. My first reply to your neoMail will probably direct you to Leto's petpage, in case you have any questions, and will mention that Premium does cost real money and that you will need a credit card. If you're still interested, just respond and let me know, and I will send an invitation. Many people have neoMailed me asking for information about Premium, which is why I take the extra step of making sure you know what you're asking for.
Can I contact you off of Neopets?
No. I prefer to keep Neopets business on Neopets.
How many pets and accounts do you have?
I have five accounts; four galleries with four pets each and my main account with three pets (and sometimes a lab rat) (15 pets total). Look on Vyksa's petpage to meet them all.
How many Fountain Faerie Quests have you had?
Four, three on this account (used on Pendwyr, Sentarshadeen, and Raykee {for the Buzzin' Avatar}, though he was later pounded) and one on alatyr13 (used on Kalenteth).
What do you look like?
Seriously. But brown eyes, not purple.
What kind of music do you listen to?
My soundtrack, in no order: DecembeRadio, The Elms, Kutless, Thousand Foot Krutch, Inhabited, Plumb, Big Daddy Weave, Third Day, Jars of Clay, The Waiting, Holland, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Eagles, Poco, Jeremy Camp, Todd Agnew, Rebecca St. James, Sanctus Real, Delirious?, Bleach, Hawk Nelson, Telecast, Pocket Full of Rocks, Dalton, Benjamin Gate, Luna Halo, Caedmon's Call, Derek Webb, Martha Munizzi, Audio Adrenaline, Grits, The Cross Movement, Out of Eden, The Turning, Jonah 33, Detour 180, Project 86, Crosby Stills Nash (& Young), Barlow Girl, Jessie Daniels, Sara Groves, Orange County Supertones, Newboys, Skillet, Bebo Norman, Spoken, Petra, Switchfoot, Relient K, Ricky Skaggs, Roy Acuff, Johnny Q. Public, Five Iron Frenzy, Scarecrow & Tinman, Plankeye, Toby Mac, MxPx, Joy Williams, Pillar, Bride, Sarah Brendel, Jennifer Knap, Sixpence None The Richer, Galactic Cowboys, The Normals, Christafari, Silly Songs with Larry... and more that I can't think of right now... According to my Pandora stations, though, what I really like is "emotional male leads" and "strong use of accordions". I get that on nearly every channel, including ones seeded with female singers. Huh?? Why are you picking on me for my spelling and grammar?
Because I am a technical writer and editor. My job is to make sure that people spell and say things correctly. I never get out of editor mode. I'm constantly re-editing my own pages, trying to say things more completely and more clearly. This also means, of course, that if you find a mistake on my pages (and they do happen, especially with spelling), that you're free to mock me, as long as you also point out the evil typo so I can squish it.
How old are you?
28.
If you're an adult with a real job, why are you playing a kids' site like Neopets?
Because Neopets isn't just a kids' site...? It was originally created for bored college students. When I found Neopets, I was a bored college student. Now the site targets all ages; since I fall in the "all ages" category, I still play.
And really, just because I'm an adult doesn't mean that I'm serious and boring all the time. We adults like to have fun, too, and fun for us is still probably similar to what we liked to do for fun when we were kids. I like to read, go to movies with my friends, go shopping, go to amusement parks, and play video games. Only now I have to use my own money instead of mooching off my parents, so I have to work 40 hours a week in order to afford what I like to do (and since I can drive myself where I want to go and can pay for it, I can do practically anything I want to--hey, this might be even more fun than mooching off Mom and Dad...). Neopets is a fun site that lets me earn money (NPs, and faster than in real life--I'm a multimillionaire here, but not even close in real life), take care of pets (I can't have pets where I live, and I don't have to clean up the messes they leave or walk them), run a successful business (my Shop, instead of working 9 - 5 in a little office and getting paid half of what I should be), invest in the stock market (ugh, I don't understand Wall Street at all), practice my writing (since no one in the real world seems to want to publish me yet), practice my HTML skills (web domains cost money), and teach other people how to function in this world (I'm still learning how the real world operates...). Why would I want to leave? |
Other |
About My Writing
Many people have asked about my writing, wanting to know if I've published anything they could read (besides, obviously, my petpages). So far, I've edited scientific journal papers, written resumes, written and edited software users manuals, and edited catalogs; I'll start editing a thesis soon, and I'm also helping someone else write a book. None of this is anything you'll probably encounter. I have my own novels, short stories, and poetry that I work on, but none is close to being ready for publication. Don't worry, I'll let you know when they are; I'll be jumping and squealing all over the place.
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