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...

Whew. Just caught up.

I have so many opinions and thoughts, but I'm just too tired to post any of it. I love the combination of thoughtful discussion and quick (though some might disagree) action that was taken.

'Suela, I mentioned that the venting in Natter upset me not as a slap on the wrist to you, but because it just seems, well... uncomfortable. If someone has issues with me and they post it in something I don't read, then it's like talking about me behind my back and yet not. Frankly backchannel doesn't bother me because I'll never know. But if someone says something about me publicly in a place where they think I won't read it..it just feels wrong and extra spiteful, which I don't think you were being. Or it feels like something my middle school counterparts did to me or something we did to the class pariah (Megan M, please forgive us!) to feel excluded.

Other Buffistas have said, "But people always do that in Natter!" and I bow to their experience, but I haven't noticed it happening in the time I've been here and at WX. It just seems not a model of communication I'd advocate for.

On being a buffista... Well, if you're a lurker and you don't feel like you are "one of us" it's probably because you become part of us by participating. If you want us to know you, then tell us about you.

For posters who don't feel like you are "one of us," it might take some time. The injokes, the nicknames, the references all come with time. If you don't get a backthumping response to your post, keep at it.

We talk a lot and often people aren't intentionally ignoring. It can be hard to get word in textwise, and it might take time to respond, but people will if you keep at it.

Someone with the username "/mieskie" (with the slash), just registered. Should we do something?

I started typing this before Kat's post, but got interrupted, so it's a little repetitive, but from the flip side.

Glitter! We get Glitter? Shiny.

Once more speaking up as a relative newbie, even though I feel like I could be a Buffista, I don't feel like I am one yet.

And it's my own gorram issue. One of the reasons I like being here is that this feels like an established community. You all obviously care about each other a lot because you have spent time getting to know each other. Sooner or later maybe that will be true with me as well. In the mean time, you are all funny smart people I like "watching" (hoping that's not too stalker like), even if it is somewhat from the outside for now.