I don't think it's gauche to say there are some people who have earned respect. What I do think is gauche -- extremely so – is to bring it up in a way that makes it clear you think you're a Special Buffista with Sparkles.

I'm not sure "respect" is the best word. Maybe "context" would work better.

If someone who's been around a while starts to do something strange, we're more likely to think that X is just having a bad day. Because we know X is normally witty, or insightful, or a little too serious, or whatever. So we cut X some slack in context of X's history. Let it slide, or gently ask if something's wrong.

But if newly delurked Y does the same thing, we don't have context. We can't tell if Y is having a bad day or just a jerk. And it becomes easier to do a knee jerk and assume the worst.

And that's normal in social groups. We act on what we know.

Almost forgot, Debet feel free to tag.

Just wanted to chime in that I'm enjoying reading this theoretical discussion very much. And all Buffistas are foamy. And all lurkers should have a vote. And I loved Anne's frontier analogy, especially the porn room. Enjoy the holiday weekend all.

Longtime (since TT) dedicated lurker chiming in here to say I love the community here and the way it solves problems and supports people. As to lurkers' voting, I myself would never feel right in voting here because I am not an active participant. I wonder if other lurkers feel that way.

And one of the reasons I mainly lurk is that the majority of you are so quick-thinking and articulate that by the time I think of something to say, someone else has already said it so much better! All I could add is "Wrod!"

Whoot! It's like I conjured you up, Margaret. Except for the part where you already existed independent of my delusions.

Now I want to just keep namechecking and see who appears.

Welcome, Margaret!

t does the dance of lurker-welcoming

t trips, falls down, gets up fast, hopes nobody noticed

t saunters away casually

Woo, look at Margaret with her Very Low Number.

May I ask what threads you read? I'm always curious whether lurkers prefer the show threads or the social threads or a mix.

Oops. I hope this isn't a repost. I'm not sure how I just lost my message.

David, I read the show posts (especially when there are new eps), Buffistechnology to pass on interesting info to my (grown) son, and Literary Buffistas because they have great suggestions for reading. Also Bureaucracy to marvel at how well things work at the Phoenix. And Farscape, which is my new obsession, thanks to the Buffistas.

And Farscape, which is my new obsession, thanks to the Buffistas.

Yay! Another toaster for me!

Suela has more toasters than Elwood Blues.