For your reference, I was, up until a month or so ago, a rather constant presence on the Foo Fighters postboard - a postboard which, all things being equal, is remarkably well behaved and intelligent - especially considering the potential for youngsters to run willy nilly around the place.
Interestingly, I was up around 2,800 odd posts and I’d been there for quite some time - and slowly, I noticed a trend which sadly got me in no end of trouble - a trend which I don’t perceive as being prevalent here on the Straight Dope board at all, oddly enough.
And the trend? It was a trend I jokingly referred to as “Foo Website Royalty” - and in essence, it was this - there was/is a collection of 8 or so folks who are real old hands, who have super high post counts - and in effect, they tend to conduct themselves above the law, as it were.
Being the guy that I am, I couldn’t help but get hot under the collar about the de fact double standard involved - namely, newbies would get reprimanded and sometimes banned for behaviour which the “Gang of Eight” as I called them, could get away with. It’s worth noting that the “Gang of 8” regularly used to have private “friendly” conversations with the Foo postboard moderators outside of the postboard as well.
In short, I spoke out about it one too many times. I never once swore, nor abused anyone, or did the sock puppet thing etc - but I was banned eventually for having too many “personal issues” - which oddly, wasn’t the case - it was the double standards I had problems with.
Rather refreshingly, I don’t see those sort of double standards here at all.
I did learn something from the Foos Postboard though - and it’s this - postboards have an inherently “kindergarten” kind of quality to them - insofar as, just like when you’re a little kid, the concept of “punishment” is kinda abstract and as a result, you tend to push the envelope of “acceptibility” more.
The posts above which have mentioned being able to see the warning signs etc are very wise posts. Just like in life, there will always be certain personalities which get on our nerves - I’ve reached a point where my personal battle is to never let such people know they have that power over me. I fail occasionally of course.
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