A thread to discuss naming threads, board policy, new thread suggestions, and anything else that has to do with board administration and maintenance. Guaranteed to include lively debate and polls. Natter discouraged, but not deleted.
Current Stompy Feet: ita, Jon B, DXMachina, P.M. Marcontell, Liese S., amych
I'm cranky by nature. I'm cranky and of a circle the wagons sensibility. You're all newbies to me. I had to get to know you. Some of you I love dearly, some of you piss me off, but occasionally crack me up, so you earn (earn!) my respect and tolerance, and even my championship should it be needed (sorry for the c-word), as a fellow Buffista. Some of you have no redeeming social qualities that I can tell (and I'm more than sure the feeling's reciprocal) but damn, you're my people, and I'll defend you against invaders any day.
Some of the newbies became my people so fast it was spooooky. I suspect they lurked and learned for quite a while before venturing to speak. Some other newbies bumble around like puppies, spill the punch *and* the guac, get reprimanded, figure out where they went wrong, stick around and eventually become valued my peopleses.
I think the board is doing fine. I think we've handled things as well as most newbies could expect, given who we are and what our proclivities are. Part of the onus is on them, and they need to realise it.
I'd like to point out that I was here before all of you.
All your newbies are belong to me.
Seems kind of loud and clear to me. Smackdown. It's not just for newbies anymore. Or I might be miss interpreting your tone.
Nah, more frustration than smackdown.
There is tone online. It's where I've mainly communicated for half my life. It's not the same as spoken word, where you can rely on infliction. It's all about word choice. I find claims that there isn't tone in the written word baffling, because it's a medium for communication, like speech or any other, and it has its own rules and forms and patterns and ways of getting things across. I don't deny that there's more room for misinterpreting, but that doesn't mean that tone's not there, and if multiple people have issues with the tone, you (general you) need to take a look at how you're wording things in the context of the culture you're communicating with.
(giggling like a mad thing) I bow to Dana.
As Shawn, noted this is not our first trip through this cycle. Here's what I think happens, when we get an influx of new folks at once the friction levels rise because people are stepping on toes inadvertently.
While it's a fact that long-time posters get more slack, I don't know that I think that's the
best
way to welcome folks. Orientation at your new job usually doesn't start with "First of all, if you fuck up, we'll fire your ass." It's the truth, it's understood, it's not the emphasis in training.
A little bit of patience provides a lot of social lubrication. I don't want or expect this place to be a haven for only the hardass veterans of psychic wars various board cultures.
I'm not talking about hand-holding or bending over backwards. I'm saying, you just clear your throat and say, "Excuse me, you're stepping on my toes." Not, "You cow! Maybe you should watch where you put those clodhoppers. Do I know you?"
As for there being no such thing as tone? BS.
Thank you for reading my post, though this was not the point I was attempting to make.
the kinder, gentler, table talk days
Must have been before my time. When I was a newbie on TT, things seemed very much the same as they do here.
There is tone online. It's where I've mainly communicated for half my life. It's not the same as spoken word, where you can rely on infliction. It's all about word choice. I find claims that there isn't tone in the written word baffling, because it's a medium for communication, like speech or any other, and it has its own rules and forms and patterns and ways of getting things across. I don't deny that there's more room for misinterpreting, but that doesn't mean that tone's not there, and if multiple people have issues with the tone, you (general you) need to take a look at how you're wording things in the context of the culture you're communicating with.
Worth repeating.
I'd like to point out that I was here before all of you.
This is true. Though Holli and Vortex are right behind you.
"You cow! Maybe you should watch where you put those clodhoppers. Do I know you?"
But--but-- It's so apt. And of Our Culture!
Okay. I am chastened, somewhat. But I still think we should reserve a rolled up newspaper for spamming newpuppies.
