But I wouldn't come into Bureaucracy and scream about it, and I would be upset and embarrassed if a dozen or so other people chimed in with "Yeah, let's GET HIM!"

(I'm not only responding to this quote; this is just the one that jumped out at me on the topic.) I just did a search, and the first time Schmoker's name was mentioned in Bureaucracy was after he posted here about why are standards are different for people on the show than for people on the board. So he kind of started the discussion on himself.

I tried to type up something responding to the discussion in general, but then realized that i'm not entirely sure what's actually being discussed. Pretty much: I've seen boards go up in flames before. It's not pretty. But the one I remember most pretty much self-destructed when two long-time posters got into an argument and dragged everyone else into it with them. It's not always newbies who "don't get it" who bring boards down.

Also: I think the fears of being overrun have been a bit overdramatic. We haven't been swamped. We've had a bunch of new posters. There are some that I like more than others, but there are some old people that I like more than others. I don't think we've been picking on new people for being as snarky as old people (and if we have, I'm sorry.) I think that most of the issues stem from the fact that the board really serves two purposes: it's for talking about the shows, and it's a community. Snarkiness, analysis, and whatever about the shows is welcome from everybody, and always has been. Most of the issues that I see coming in are from when people are trying to figure out their place in the community, and that takes time, simply because that's how people work.

Uh, I hope no one minds a relative (as in, my number's lower than others who are part of the mass influx of Fall/Winter 2002, but I haven't posted much) newbie dropping in to the discussion.

To be honest? I think you're blowing this issue way out of proportion. No offense, but all this talk about newbies and the problems they'll bring sounds like kids fearing the boogyman and what he'll do to them at night. Your fear is coming off as way out of proportion to the actual problems that have cropped up, in my opinion.

I haven't Nattered, but I've posted in Dude, Firefly, Bitches and the Angel thread. Has everyone come rushing to welcome me with open arms? No. But I don't expect that. I expect that, despite my close friendships with two longstanding board members (see tagline) it will take time to ingratiate myself with the established community, and I haven't had the time to devote to doing that yet. But it'll happen eventually. I know this... or at least, I'm hoping!

I can only speak for myself, but I don't think you guys are turning your noses up at newbies. You just need to get to know them first. That's not a reflection on you as a community, it's a reflection on you being a community made up of human beings.

I still believe that the double-standard is acceptable. i.e, if i call ita a low down dirty ho in conversation, vs someone who has never before posted calling ita a low down dirty ho.

I agree. Uh...not about ita being a ho, because she can kick me in the head. But about a "double standard." And it isn't a double standard, IMO -- there are levels of relationships here. And that's the way things are with different relationships.

Steph's right.

Allyson, you can call ita a low-down dirty ho and ita won't get offended and neither will anyone else who knows you and ita.

But if you (or ita) said something vicious and biting to someone, and it wasn't meant as a joke, and nobody called you on it because you were established members of the community, that would be wrong.

That's the distinction. And the problem we're having is that unless you pay close attention, the difference isn't obvious.

Has everyone come rushing to welcome me with open arms? No.

That's just cause we warned them about you before you got here.

And the problem we're having is that unless you pay close attention, the difference isn't obvious.

Really? It is to me. As in, I know who can call me a ho, and who can't. And if someone who can't, does, I'm going to say something about it. I've been trying to be more conscientious about it, but if I think it can make a difference in how I'm treated, damned skippy, I'll mention it.

There might be a distinction because I don't think I need any protection -- if someone calls me a ho and I don't say anything, no one else need say anything on my behalf.

But I know it when I see it, and I got my back.

My take on it has been that if someone's not being called on their shit it's because the person targeted (say, an INVISIBLE FUCKO) doesn't mind, or can't be arsed. I still need to develop a relationship with this fucko before I can get all caps on their ass, though.

That's just cause we warned them about you before you got here.

In backchannel.

imagining ita spinning around in circles very fast, trying to get her own back

Oh you can talk about me all you want on backchannels.

I'm all about the attention. Especially if I don't have to do any work to get it.

Really? It is to me.

Yes, but you're never afraid to speak out for yourself either.

Case in point: I don't read Bitches, don't have time. If I stop by on an ordinary day I have no idea whether I'm reading a flamewar or a friendly back-scratching session.

I'm not going to step in and say, "whoah there, folks!" because I don't really know whether this is in violation of the standards or not.

Ah, I've wandered far from my original point, which was "let's not work ourselves into a tizzy."

We're NOT being inundated with trolls. We're just as likely to have the board blow up because of disagreements between veterans as by having some newbies show up who didn't read the FAQ.