A
consensual environment is another name for a
virtual world but
explicitly requires
participation from the
users in its
creation.
Every consensual environment, be it a BBS, a usenet newsgroup, /., a MU* or E2 is always going to have the newbie problem.
It takes time for people to learn the ropes. And "the ropes" are different in each place.
In order to learn how to fit in, there must be some form of peer review or feedaback. E2 "teaches" newbies by using "rep" (and helpful write ups from more experienced Everythingians.