Having been one of the more vocal worrywarts in the wake of Joss' delurk, I think I should mention something encouraging. My misgivings about the membership boom seem to have been largely unwarranted... we've had one obvious troll and one debatable case out of over 200 new members, and been blessed with a much larger number of newbies who've seamlessly joined the discussions with their own polite and insightful points of view. That's a great relief compared to my previous experiences with other boards where the bad apple share was considerably higher than 1%. All the more so because it's happening at a time when unfortunate outside circumstances have upped the stress level of the thread drawing in the bulk of new members.

Thanks for speaking up, Denise. And it isn't just this one poster we're discussing here, but similar situations in the future. This one may not be worth the time and effort, but maintaining the community against multiple assaults certainly is worth it.

I love the Buffistas. IJS.

If he gets defensive and nasty if the Stompy Feet have to intervene again can his post about not caring if he steps on anyone's toes be used against him?

mmnargh I think it could be, but I would rather he be able to, if he wants, to be able to say "I changed my mind, I don't think that any more." It had always personally horrified me, when I was on TT, to be held to something I'd said a month ago, because often, dude, I'd revised my stance. This could have been about me being a fast-growing child then. But the chance to be allowed to revise oneself is a dear one to me.

I don't actually think this particular poster will actually have such a turnaround, but I'm thinking precedents.

So I'd say it's good evidence; but if we reference it later, I'd also like that he be given the chance to restate his feelings.

Matt, that's an excellent point, thanks for making it.

It's worth noting that a lot of trolls or stupidheads (*g*) aren't going to want to post here, even if Joss comes by. It's too dense here, and you have to be willing to not understand things for quite some time, and invest a lot of energy in the board and the community.

That's too much for a lot of people.

That said, Joss' last post just showed up on a mailing list I'm on. It's attributed to Joss but the poster doesn't know where it came from. This list is pretty savvy, articulate, and courteous (it's a Jossiverse-focused list sprouted off of Dunnetwork, the grande dame of Dunnett communities). Do I enlighten them, or just let it go?

I think letting it go is the better part of valor.

That's cool. I don't expect they'd come racing over, but they are academic enough to appreciate appropriate citation. *g*

Has the poster asked? Otherwise I'd let it go, and even then I'd tell off list.

Thanks for speaking up, Denise. And it isn't just this one poster we're discussing here, but similar situations in the future. This one may not be worth the time and effort, but maintaining the community against multiple assaults certainly is worth it.

There's another important point here too, of course, and that is that we know we have a wider audience for this particular drama than just the main players. As indicated above, I think everyone here does want this place to be a welcoming one. We promise in the etiquette guide that "newbie mistakes are usually corrected gently and informally". People acting in good faith can still step over the line just because they're not familiar with where it's drawn in this place.

I'd like to think that the IMO moderate action of the moderators here helps to emphasise that. The stompy feet, and the rest of the community I'm sure, would prefer to err in giving the benefit of the doubt, where it exists to be given.

RL--if he changes his behaviour I don't think he should be held to what he said.

But I was asking, if he doesn't change his behaviour and it comes to the Stompy Feet taking the next course of action against him, and he makes a fuss against that, would they feel alright using that against him. Because he said he didnt' care if stepped on toes, and he's stepped on toes left and right.

Oh, the poster put it up with a note like, "this is something joss said... somewhere, I don't know where."

I'll let it go, I guess.