So long as it's not quantified and people don't start sidling up to each other and saying "My respect's bigger than yours."

I don't know what would make people suddenly start doing that -- Allyson's position (I'm interpreting here, while she's off cavorting with scientists) is that it's always existed. And your worry hasn't always been happening.

At least, not where I've read.

So long as it's not quantified

Yah. And so long as it doesn't translate to, oh, special privileges, you know? By which I mean quantifiable objective rights that do not inhere to other members of the community. Which is the difference between someone cutting you some slack on a bad day because they've known you a long time, and getting to sit in the first class cabin because you were here first.

I don't want any first class cabins at B.org.

Does that make sense?

What benefits do we have that we can hand out, Consuela?

So long as it's not quantified

I think we dismissed the notion of quantifying it a long time ago.

and people don't start sidling up to each other and saying "My respect's bigger than yours."

I think that just falls into cheesy behavior. Unless it's...Respect Mah Authoritah! It would be a good way to lose respect in our culture. Not that I'm keeping score or anything.

hides notebook behind back

What benefits do we have that we can hand out?

None that I know of, and I'm hoping that we stay that way.

I consider Stompies to have responsibilities rather than privileges.

ET clarify who I was responding to

None that I know of, and I'm hoping that we stay that way.

While we're not just a bunch of friends, cyberhanging, neither are we a club with point rewards systems, nor a government.

And I don't see how we could be, what either could achieve for anyone, since the metaphor would be bound to crumble under any strain.

Me and Conseula, and no, we're not twins, despite the names. Just pre-emptive end-runs, folks. Kind of like making sure you give a speech on the Senate floor, even though no one's there, because the speech is then in the Congressional Record for everyone to see.

Well, I'm glad there's some clarification here. Because I do think Allyson is basically talking about respect and what goes with that. Not riding First Class at B.Org with free champagne, and dog food pate for the grubby masses in Coach.

Right, David.

I'm sorry if I implied I thought that we were in danger of going that way -- I was basically speculating, and running my discomfort out to the logical limit to show why I didn't like the concept that much.

Bad Suela, too much theorizing.

Wait, I'm sorry, not all of you guys get the Extra Special Fancy Buffistas.org with massage attachment?

...oh, man. I shouldn't have said anything.

Carry on.

(Oh, actually, I do have something to say about lurkers voting and stuff: I think it's very cool that there are dedicated lurkers, and I'm glad some of them vote, and I appreciate the financial contributions some of them have made. And when they do post, I think it's cool that they already know us, even though we don't know them yet.)