sallycinnamon78
New Yorker
This is a long one I'm afraid, and what's worse, I am on my soapbox.
Disclaimer / arsesaver: This is not aimed at any specific person, and I'm not just talking about here, but in most internet forums I've seen. I just want to find out what anti-newbie nonsense is about, because I cannot comprehend it.
I write in defence of newbies. The articulate, smart ones who get shouted down just because they are new, as I once was. I felt bullied, despite the minor detail that I was talking more sense than some of the longer-term members at the time. Having been here for over 2 years now, hopefully I can say this and actually be listened to by at least 1 person.
I often see comments from people who've been forum members for ages, being derogatory towards the newer members, thinking that their opinion takes precedence over newer members' opinions. I know it's a big joke amongst some, but it isn't amusing for the poor sod who is trying to get their point across.
What makes a person think that the newer people are not worthy? It's like a 30 year old telling a 28 year old, "Oh, sorry mate, seeing as you were born 2 years after me, your comments are irrelevant." Some such comments are sheer rudeness. Others are because people suspect the 'joiner' has joined just to troll or post unpopular opinions/propaganda for the sake of it. I think it's largely because a lot of the people who post duplicate threads - the 'spammers', 'trolls' etc are often newbies. This can be for different reasons - either FMs have just signed up to irritate others, or perhaps they just haven't got to grips with the SPEED of the forum and that there may be similar threads which have jumped off the first page for a few minutes. We just need to teach them about the 'search' function, not whack 'em round the head. Obviously that doesn't account for all of the intake.
What does it matter if you've been here 6 months or several years? If you'd joined here yesterday, what significant influence would that have over your ability to express yourself? I didn't realise a message board had such a fascinating social hierarchy... personally, if I want to know if someone's a troublemaker, I take a quick look at some of their previous posts and I think it gives a much better idea of what they're like than drawing conclusions from a joining date.
I think post numbers and joining dates often get in the way of meaningful discourse. I dont think it matters when you join, just what you have to contribute to that forum. Isn't that what really matters?
Thankyou very much and goodnight.
sallycinnamon78 x
Disclaimer / arsesaver: This is not aimed at any specific person, and I'm not just talking about here, but in most internet forums I've seen. I just want to find out what anti-newbie nonsense is about, because I cannot comprehend it.
I write in defence of newbies. The articulate, smart ones who get shouted down just because they are new, as I once was. I felt bullied, despite the minor detail that I was talking more sense than some of the longer-term members at the time. Having been here for over 2 years now, hopefully I can say this and actually be listened to by at least 1 person.
I often see comments from people who've been forum members for ages, being derogatory towards the newer members, thinking that their opinion takes precedence over newer members' opinions. I know it's a big joke amongst some, but it isn't amusing for the poor sod who is trying to get their point across.
What makes a person think that the newer people are not worthy? It's like a 30 year old telling a 28 year old, "Oh, sorry mate, seeing as you were born 2 years after me, your comments are irrelevant." Some such comments are sheer rudeness. Others are because people suspect the 'joiner' has joined just to troll or post unpopular opinions/propaganda for the sake of it. I think it's largely because a lot of the people who post duplicate threads - the 'spammers', 'trolls' etc are often newbies. This can be for different reasons - either FMs have just signed up to irritate others, or perhaps they just haven't got to grips with the SPEED of the forum and that there may be similar threads which have jumped off the first page for a few minutes. We just need to teach them about the 'search' function, not whack 'em round the head. Obviously that doesn't account for all of the intake.
What does it matter if you've been here 6 months or several years? If you'd joined here yesterday, what significant influence would that have over your ability to express yourself? I didn't realise a message board had such a fascinating social hierarchy... personally, if I want to know if someone's a troublemaker, I take a quick look at some of their previous posts and I think it gives a much better idea of what they're like than drawing conclusions from a joining date.
I think post numbers and joining dates often get in the way of meaningful discourse. I dont think it matters when you join, just what you have to contribute to that forum. Isn't that what really matters?
Thankyou very much and goodnight.
sallycinnamon78 x
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