Even something as simple as posting, "Hi, Newbie!"

Yeah. I'm bad at this, sometimes because I'm behind threads, sometimes because I'm skimming, and sometimes because I'm just not that outgoing, but I greatly admire people like Laura and Scrappy and Nilly, who are without fail, polite, welcoming, genuine, and pleasant.

Suggests that some form of policing is necessary.

You realize that we already have this, right?

Hell, *I* left for a while in part because of John H.'s aggressive and combatative posting style.

Well, that's because you're such a shrinking violet.

By the way, loving Hecubus and Nutty and Robin and Matt particularly today. Good, thoughtful, generous posts.

Ahhh, it's a good glowy feeling.

Those are good additions to etiquette, Dana. Did we add guacamole in there? I think it would be helpful for two reasons: (1) Newbies will learn that there are common mistakes which will piss people off; and (2) It's not the end of the world, or the end of their citizenship. People get over it, people are still welcome after mistakes to make amends.

Nodding head to Consuela's and Dana's last posts.

Also,

We're a very independent group here. Because of this, we react badly to anything that comes across as preaching. We also react badly when told [we need] to modify our behavior to accommodate someone or something.

Would it read better as "when told we should modify"?

I just want to say I was overwhelmed with the feeling of support I got yesterday. I'll really try to be more forthright when I think my POV is valid.

Did we add guacamole in there?

I figured that would go in the FAQ, since we're sort of trying to keep the ettiquette short and to the point. Maybe we add a reference to one of those bullet points that points to the guac entry in the FAQ?

(There is a point at which all this becomes slightly ridiculous, right?)

I'm off to be a responsible adult for a bit. Please, take apart the stuff I wrote, suggest changes, etc. I'll think about how to address Shawn's point about one person speaking on behalf of accepted community standards.

Wolfram:

You know, I've been going over some of my guacs of old in a minor fit of self-indulgence (good times), and you could smell the moral indignation a mile away. So I can certainly see how Rafmun feels at this moment.

I did a similar thing: threadsucked Bureacracy 1 & 2 last night, and skimmed. Eeeyaaagh! Voting discussion! Preferential Ballots! Schmoker! War Thread! Zoe! Ow! Maybe it's just the Bureaucracy OD speaking, but I'm feeling things are not as tense right now as they have been several times in the past.

And wrod, Wolfram, about seeing the moral indignation in my posts there. I was with you in the guac over the war thread. I remember being a pissy nitpicker, but I'd forgotten how many times I posted, beating the same dead horse. (should email Beej back and retract the bit about my low post count.)

So, yeah, things ain't that great now, but I think they've been worse.

Thumbs up on Dana's suggestion's.

I'm feeling things are not as tense right now as they have been several times in the past.

Eh, there's always something.

At least it's not AICN.

hah! I see a new board slogan.

B.org: we may be snarky, and you may fall in the guacamole, but at least we're not AICN.

Well, that's because you're such a shrinking violet.

Snerk. I just didn't want to deal with what read to me as him looking for a fight -- I had better things to do with my time, and I didn't feel particularly like staying part of the community here was one of the things I wanted to do with my limited energy.

I'm just noting that there are all sorts of reasons why people leave, and just because someone left does not make them automatically a "victim" of the board culture.

Eeeyaaagh! Voting discussion! Preferential Ballots! Schmoker! War Thread! Zoe! Ow!

Good times, good times. t /Bill McNeil

Maybe it's just the Bureaucracy OD speaking, but I'm feeling things are not as tense right now as they have been several times in the past.

It's really not. Or (and this applies in many instances) people judge the board by the amount of stress they're dealing with in their life at the time - not always the tension that's in the board. When you're having a shitty time, board friction is highlighted and can add to your stress. When life is carefree and gay, it's all a big party.