Excellent analogy Betsy. We are able to read posts from well known regulars and know the underlying tone of the posts. We have chided regular members about having a bad day when their posts are uncharacteristically bad moody. We don’t know the underlying intent of new members, but I feel the banned member made his intentions clear.

The flood of new posters are joining a party in progress with people comfortable and knowledgeable of the social environment. It is not the only social environment available on the World Wide Web. The overwhelming majority of new posters are going to have a good time playing here and I shout welcome to the party. (and welcome Mike P)

The system worked splendidly. It did make me somewhat uncomfortable, but the bottom line for me was that the presence of the offending poster caused me to unsubscribe to the FF thread and now I can go back. It’s all good.

and I'm one of those unfortunates who doesn't feel right skipping the majority of back posts and then submitting my own. If that disqualifies me from ever being a 'real' Buffista, then so be it.

I absolutely didn't mean to say that, & apologise if I sounded that way to you. I was referencing an older discussion about new-ish people feeling they weren't "real" Buffistas yet.

I really want to thank everyone for their thoughtful and thought-provoking responses to my admittedly knee-jerk Firefly thread post. The initial gut-wrenching feeling I had is slowly fading, and it is extremely refreshing to find a community of people who can agree or disagree in such a civil fashion. The demands of my daily life prevent me from participating to the extent of ever being one of the 'real' Buffistas, but it is quite pleasant to be able to spend what little time I do have available with such generally nifty people.

X-ish post with RL: Alrighty. Do I deserve a wrist-slap for my tone? :)

Mike, a 'real Buffista' is someone who contributes to the community where and how they can, and abides by the community standards we've developed. I'd say, according to that definition, you're certainly a Buffista, if you want to be.

I hate people to think that there's some sort of probationary period before you get to be a Buffista.

Mike, please don't think that you have to post a lot to be a "real" Buffista.

Personally I'm getting frustrated that the whole old school/new school "real" buffista thing is getting thrown around. I will say that back on Worldcrossing when Allyson (I believe it was Allyson) said she didn't feel like a Buffista I was shocked. I consider her to be a Buffista.

We don't have tests here, there's nothing beside your name that says after X number of posts you are Novice or Intermediate or however other boards rate it.

You obviously like the community and you want to stay and be apart of it as much as your time will allow, and that in my mind makes you a Buffista.

Well, that's crossposty.

I think if I were considered Old School in some sort of privileged way, I'd drop out in fit of strange, Dadaist protest. It's not in my brain wiring to be considered "in". Some sort of class betrayal. From youthful traumas do mighty neuroses grow.

My neurosis is bigger than your neurosis. Nyaaah.

Nah, I think I'll skip the Duelling Neuroses thing. I can hear the banjos already.

Just thought I'd pipe in, as I seem to have missed the Firefly thread situation coming to a head in the wee hours last night. Going back through the posts both in that thread and here, I think the response of the stompy feet and the community at large was admirably conducted. It's unfortunate when action of this sort has to be taken, but I think a good balance was struck between giving the benefit of the doubt and not allowing an unpleasant situation to escalate.

There is, of course, a certain discomfort involved in banning a poster. But for my part the discomfort is over the situation making it necessary rather than a disagreement with the folks implementing the ban. And I think from a community standpoint, it is better to exclude one person who seems to be willfully seeking discord and confrontation than to allow such a person to take over a thread and drive out the reasonable, polite discourse that these forums were created to encourage.

In short, I look forward to reading the Firefly thread and reading a variety of opinions about the show, its cast and crew, and efforts on its behalf, rather than about one of the thread's posters and people's reactions to him.

Damn you for that earworm, Connie!

it's a small world after all...