I'm thinking about Press. You know, in some ways I'd like to strike the banned person from the book of the Buffistas, and never speak of that person again. But in other ways, I think it's worthwhile to announce a momentous event, to make sure everyone's aware of it, to put it down as a Thing That Happened, and is resolved, and is ready to become history.

And then we signify that the matter is closed, and those who want to may refuse ever to speak that name again.

It's that too. Nobody's told you to stop posting. Not once.

I know, I was just answering Allyson's question.

I just think you've had that experience more often than most people, and I can see where it would drag a person down.

Only proportionally, I mean, considering my short time here. But you're right.

Wolfram, I want to tell you What Deena Said. I think you're a good guy. I think you're smart and articulate and can be witty. I want to know you better. When I know you better I'll be able to hear the wry grin in your typeface, or the concern in a throwaway comment.

What can I say, it's true. I'm pretty faceless right now, and I'm going to make more of an effort to change that, or less of an effort to change other things.

I want to wish all who celebrate it a Happy Passover, and I'm going to be dark for a few days.

I've posted in Natter, Angel, Buffy, Smallville and others and even when I don't get a chance to post, I read almost everything.

t whine

Dang, always when I'm somewhere else, I suppose. Um, I want to know how many you've got now. I think I'll have to catch up in Natter. Do you know how HARD that is?

t /whine

I SO want to post a smiley face or more hugs or some sort of blasted curly thing. I'm refraining, womanfully.

I was against banings being posted in Press, but I am not coming up with a good way to articulate my reason why. Something along the lines of - if it is a concern to a member they are going to find out it happened. It just seems enough to me to cover it in Bureaucracy. Like one place to keep the unpleasantness. I had a good reason at one point, but I forgot what it was.

What Laura said.

I work with lawyers and I think Wolfram posts like one. I can see how it could sound terse or ascerbic or something but I think he's made it clear that there is no nasty intent.

What can I say, it's true. I'm pretty faceless right now, and I'm going to make more of an effort to change that, or less of an effort to change other things.

Fwiw, sometimes I agree with you, sometimes I don't agree with you, but I think you're a valuable member of the community. I don't want to be in a place where everyone has the same opinions on everything.

Had I virtual chocolate chip cookies, I would be offering them around right now.

eta

Also? What Deena says. Yes. That. And I guess it's true that you tend to post (when I've happened along at the same time as you) in a somewhat distanced/professional/abstract style - which may well be the source of the jarring that there's been. Just that people don't feel like they know you you all that well. Maybe.

But, y'know - I'm a middleclass Brit. We're big on that whole 'reserved' thing.

Wow.

So, um...yeah. Wow.

Hugs to the stompies and everyone caught in the crossfire.

Dana took the words right off my fingertips...

If Jon B advocates a change, say, preferential voting (I think i can joke about this now, Jon. If I'm wrong, let me know and I'll change it)

Just so's you know -- not offended. I've joked about it here myself on several occasions. I probably spent more social capital on Prfffffl than I should have, but learned a lot.

change isn't really a popular thing around here.

This being the most important lesson.

silently passes freshly-baked virtual chocolate chip cookie through the ether.

I probably spent more social capital on Prfffffl than I should have

Hey, look, everyone, the shock treatments worked! Jon can't even say the words anymore!!

Nah, seriously, I hope that suggestions are always welcome around here -- but tone is just so damned important. And I think that's sometimes a little less obvious around here than it is in a lot of places online, just because we are so closely knit, and so many of us know each other IRL. We do hear the tones of voices in a lot of people's posts, and when we can't "hear" someone that way, that's jarring in itself.

So, Wolf (although you're probably gone), I'm chiming in with another round of What Deena Said. I'd much rather get to know you better and learn to hear you as you intend than get annoyed that That Lawyer Guy Is Being Argumentative Again. And I'll admit I've thought the latter at times in the past.