What happens when it's a long-time poster who feels like this? Isn't the fact that they feel this way something that may need to be addressed in terms of board dynamics?

But the unnamed cabal is already a strong element of the posting table beyond bureau. How could I like posting here in any form if I really hated David, Plei and ita,

What part of unnamed cabal was unclear to you, Counselor?

What happens when that isn't enough? And, perhaps more to the point, how can you become a valued participant if you feel unwelcomed?

I thought Matt's history lesson was germane. We can insist on civility and courtesy, but we can't make the place inoffensive. Nor would we want to.

And, perhaps more to the point, how can you become a valued participant if you feel unwelcomed?

I think there's a difference here between "feel unwelcomed" and "is unwelcomed." If someone feels unwelcomed, but actually isn't, I don't know what anyone can do. If someone actually is unwelcomed, then they can either figure out why and work on changing that, or decide that maybe this isn't the right board for them and leave. We've had plenty of examples of both. Some people just aren't going to fit in here. Others need an adjustment period. (And no, I have no idea how someone can tell the difference between "I feel unwelcomed" and "I am unwelcomed," other than sticking around for awhile and seeing if they still feel that way, and even that won't neccesarily resolve it.)

Huh.

That was definitely 500 or so posts.

(Is it wrong that I'm slightly happy to express no opinion on any of this whatsoever?)

Isn't the fact that they feel this way something that may need to be addressed in terms of board dynamics?

It was addressed. Addressed means blah blah intensive. We've addressed it. Sometimes this means...Actions are taken. In this instance, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly actionable.

What happens when it's a long-time poster who feels like this?

Honestly, if I felt like I didn't fit in anymore, I'd probably do some wriggling and gnashing of teeth ... and leave.

This doesn't have to be a place where I belong. It's no one's job to make it that.

On a personal level, I can see that individuals may reach out to someone they see leaving, but I've seen people come and go (sooner or later) and it just happens.

You can't mandate the board into a place I'm always happy in without driving someone else away. People, new or old, will leave.

Right, but what's a minority?

One of the things I realized today is that this board isn't really one community anymore. Hasn't been for some time. Where you go on the board dictates your experience.

If I spend my time in the Lit thread, the Fic thread, Boxed Set, and, say, Comics, I'm both blissfully ignorant of the kerfuffles going on over here in Kafka and -- more importantly -- having just as valid an experience as someone who just got drowned out in an argument in Natter about the proper use of the gerund (or Beep Me).

If me and my ficwriting pals all get along great in the Fic thread, how am I a minority? How can I be a marginalized Buffista if there are places where I'm welcome, and where I do all the proper monkey-grooming appropriate to the context?

(Is it wrong that I'm slightly happy to express no opinion on any of this whatsoever?)

No, no! cf. "Going sane in a crazy world."

this board isn't really one community anymore. Hasn't been for some time. Where you go on the board dictates your experience.

Absolutely! I know Le Nubian, for instance, from two or so other boards. I'm always startled to bump into her in Buffistechnology, because I forget she's here. It's the only place we cross paths (she lives mostly in Spoilers, last time I visited).

Isn't the fact that they feel this way something that may need to be addressed in terms of board dynamics?

Tell me what can be done. How is it that someone feels unwelcome anymore?

I sometimes feel ignored in Natter because I can choose to spend the time catching up, or spend it participating. I can't do both. I rarely manage to get into the frequent post-response flow nowadays, the thread moves so fast.

Do I blame the board for that? No. For myself, I go to a thread where I can keep up with people. Or I go to LJ, which, frankly, allows me the time to think. I love this board, but it's not the everything to me.

ETA: There are 1200 people here. Things have changed, not all for the better. What we do about it? I don't know. Allyson's frequent invocation of Clay Shirky comes to mind.