It's all about the Bullies

[daisyb]

The experience that the old timers bring to the table is invaluable. It is not just about exchanges between posters "du jour." Newbies learn from old posts. I am a new member, and I read my way through pages and pages of posts before joining (and participating).

Cranky, eccentric and "difficult" people exist in every aspect of life . . . Why rail at them here?

Admittedly, online community life has its' downside: it's harder to forgive folks when we can't see the emotion (e.g vulnerability, humor, passion) which may be conveyed in a human face. But that's the price of admission when we join up online. Every group has its' institutional politics. Why get your panties in a knot over it when there is much one can gain from participating - both as a newbie (learn) and and old timer (give back to the group as whole, help the newbies)?

Thanks to all the hanger-on-ers who endure the repetitiveness and blundering of newbies and stay. No online support system can survive without them. This post is a shout-out for gratitude!

[OkyDoky]

The experience that the old timers bring to the table is invaluable. It is not just about exchanges between posters "du jour." Newbies learn from old posts. I am a new member, and I read my way through pages and pages of posts before joining (and participating).

Cranky, eccentric and "difficult" people exist in every aspect of life . . . Why rail at them here?

Admittedly, online community life has its' downside: it's harder to forgive folks when we can't see the emotion (e.g vulnerability, humor, passion) which may be conveyed in a human face. But that's the price of admission when we join up online. Every group has its' institutional politics. Why get your panties in a knot over it when there is much one can gain from participating - both as a newbie (learn) and and old timer (give back to the group as whole, help the newbies)?

Thanks to all the hanger-on-ers who endure the repetitiveness and blundering of newbies and stay. No online support system can survive without them. This post is a shout-out for gratitude!

Very well said daisyb, I think most people can sift the grain from the chaff and get the very helpful info that they need if they are willing to put in the time.

[daisyb]

The experience that the old timers bring to the table is invaluable. It is not just about exchanges between posters "du jour." Newbies learn from old posts. I am a new member, and I read my way through pages and pages of posts before joining (and participating).

Cranky, eccentric and "difficult" people exist in every aspect of life . . . Why rail at them here?
S
Admittedly, online community life has its' downside: it's harder to forgive folks when we can't see the emotion (e.g vulnerability, humor, passion) which may be conveyed in a human face. But that's the price of admission when we join up online. Every group has its' institutional politics. Why get your panties in a knot over it when there is much one can gain from participating - both as a newbie (learn) and and old timer (give back to the group as whole, help the newbies)?

Thanks to all the hanger-on-ers who endure the repetitiveness and blundering of newbies and stay. No online support system can survive without them. This post is a shout-out for gratitude!

Very well said daisyb, I think most people can sift the grain from the chaff and get the very helpful info that they need if they are willing to put in the time.

Thanks, OkyDoky.

I did a little poking around and saw a series of pertinent but separate posts which I had not seen when I replied to the OP. The series was heated, which several long-time members noted, is not an unheard of occurrence here. Had I seen that series before I replied to the OP, as a forum "baby," I might have chosen to sit down and shut up. But as a baby, I have no alliegences here yet, except to the spirit of sharing knowledge and experience. What I do have is an appreciation for all who have offered words of support and advice to the hundreds who have landed here and found a helpful (albeit spirited) community. Until I step on someone's toes and get spanked - I am simply grateful. If I fight off the lazies & devote a reasonable amount of time to digging around previously plowed fields, I can probably avoid the spanking. So it's all good.

[Elapid]

I have found that distinguishing the Helpful members from the "trolls or bullies" really isn't that hard. By the time somebody has been posting or "hanging around" for a year they really aren't that hard to read. I haven't been around long but I am able to tell who is giving sound information based on years of experience, who is trying to look important and who is simply blowing smoke. I'm educated in the medical field, so my vocabulary might be focused on medical terminology, but I think I have at least a basic understanding of English. I also feel most of the posters here know who is who, it doesn't take long to tell the difference.