This is frustrating, it pushes buttons. Not to mention the fact I'm sleep deprived and pmsing and so not thinking straight so I think I'm going to just walk away until I can get my head on straight.

we are not just a posting board, we are a community. And as with any community, there must be a transition from just-pulled-up new person to established member of the community. It's just how this works, for club, circle of workers, online posting board, or any other type of community. It's *not* a limitation; it's a fact.

I'm just saying that a certain measure of feeling as though you don't entirely fit in yet, when you haven't yet learned all the expressions and met all the people and felt as though they know you, is not a shock horror unhealthy thing to feel. I felt it. Other people felt it. It's not that we are unwelcoming to new people; it's a natural, unavoidable consequence of being a community.

The Lizard is a smart, smart cookie. What she said is so SO true. I definitely wouldn't send packages or play Secret Santa or go to an F2F if this were just a posting board. (That's me, personally, and has to do with my comfort level.)

I think any "core Buffista" group can be self-defined as people who keep up with and post in this thread, because this is where community decisions get made. While there are certainly people who are generally expected to weigh in on matters (and whose opinions are highly valued), anyone who wants a voice in the community can have one.

Concur with JessiMoon's post.

What we're seeing is that we've doubled in size within a short period. That changes the nature of the community somewhat - but it's normal. It's normal for people to take a while to acclimate and feel part of the community. As noted by Lizard, that's the dynamic whether you're in an online community or not.

Just waded through several days of posts in this thread. I love that the long and lengthy discussions happened. I love that we stuck to the policy we developed (after previous long and lengthy discussions). I love that Mike P came here and I value what he had to say. I love that several new posters have found this thread.

As for the current Buffista discussion, I shower all lurkers and posters - who enjoy being here and feel at home without causing discomfort to others - with official msbelle glitter and pronounce you BUFFISTAS!

that said, I can't make you feel at home (but doesn't the glitter help? you know it does) - if people feel there is a divide it's cool to talk about it, but all discussions are open, all threads are open and the fact is that some people will post more than others and some will feel comfortable sooner than others and some will get responded to more than others. All of that is good, just remember that I am the nicest one here.

And I'm her favourite.

But that aside, I'd like to agree there's no external Buffistacheck, no belt tests, or checklists. When you feel it, you feel it. Participating helps, but isn't necessary. It's the spirit baby thing ... and I forget who said it where.

but there is a secret handshake and you will be tested.

t /big fat liar

t /lost on the spirit baby thing; are we procreating now?

Cindy in Firefly:

You know how the Mormon church encourages its members to have lots of children, because they believe the souls (or spirit babies or something, okay - I'm not a Mormon or a Mormon scholar - I'll out myself on that, here) are out there waiting to be born into a body? Well that's what I figure about Buffistas of the potential kind. There's a gaggle of Buffista spirit babies out there, they just haven't been born here yet. Still, it'd be nice to know the stork is double checking the URL upon delivery. And now, having botched some point of Mormon theology and then combined it with the old stork's tale and somehow tried to use it all as a metaphor for spirit-baby Buffistas, I'd say my work here is done.

Y'all get freaky when I don't read every post...