This is a HUGE messageboard community with people from all over the world, all walks of life. I am completely impressed by the general get-alongness of this board. Even in the Pit and in GD, where emotions tend to run high and stuff can get really personal, most of the people who participate here are really remarkably level-tempered, patient and generous.
I think what impresses me most are the posters who get asked extremely personal questions about themselves and who respond thoughtfully and honestly without taking offense. The relative anonymity this board affords us allows for that sort of discussion, but even that is not explanation enough for why these discussions so rarely become the nightmares they could easily be. Hats off to all the people here who willingly share their real life experiences and knowledge with the rest of us.
There’s a Mod Appreciation thread around here somewhere, but I want to mention that in here, too - it’s pretty rare for a Mod or an Admin to go completely ballistic, even when someone deserves it. We’ve all questioned their decisions at times, but I truly can’t think of an instance where there was a complaint that wasn’t handled with civility and courtesy.
Thanks, everyone. I’ve learned a lot here, and I look forward to learning more.
“Programs like this are made possible by viewers like you.” That, or something close to it, is something I’ve heard any number of times on stations like PBS, and it’s true here too. I know one of the reasons I’m forthright (when I am) is because I get the distinct feeling that a question is being asked in earnest - or, at the very least, that it is not meant in a demeaning way. There’s a world of difference between “How can you possibly be attracted to men?” and “What is it about men exactly?” There’s an ocean between “But you have a … y’know. Why would you want to see anyone else’s?” and “What is it about you/the human body that you’re excited by the same bodyparts you see every day?” etc.
If you are not respectful (to use one word where others could be used with equal merit) with a post, there is little reason to justifiably expect a respectful response. If you are respectful, folks here have shown time and again that you’re generally going to get responses in-kind, regardless of how far-fetched your OP is. The community engenders the responses you get, which in turn engender the conversations.
I remember using the Internet when it was little more than text-based Usenet message boards (yeah, that dates me, I know). So I’ve been on a large variety of forums over the years.
While it was another that introduced me to this place (thank you, Dazz! ) it was the friendliness and wittiness of the folks posting here that hooked me. I felt welcomed from my first introductory post. It’s so refreshing to find a forum like this.
Group hug! Now get away from me, kid, yer botherin’ me…
You really said that well, LifeOnWry. My sentiments too. And I’d like to add that I admire the way, if someone says something that sounds not-quite-cricket (or worse), s/he is usually called on it, but in a very gentle way. Unless, of course, s/he has proven that gentleness is not deserved!
Oh, I forgot to add… I’m totally impressed with the level of expertise in almost any given area. I definitely don’t feel like I pull my own weight around here. I tend to lurk more than anything. I love this “place”.
Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but honestly it probably has a lot to do with the rather heavy (though even) handed moderation this board has. It doesn’t really make people behave any better than they otherwise might, necessarily, but it does weed out the trouble makers fairly quickly and efficiently. Probably so quickly that most people never notice/hear about many of them.
This board tends to attract intelligent people by its nature, but the moderation is what keeps those people here and posting and not let it get overthrown by trolls. I use to visit a very popular news discussion site which shall remain unnamed, that I had to quit visiting because it was community moderated… though there were lots of intelligent and civil people that posted there, eventually the trolls and ne’er do wells took over because the site owner simply left it up to the community to moderate itself, and they crapflooded it by sheer numbers and proxy accounts.
I was gonna post a thank you to Larry Mudd for that link over in the Pit, but the thread there had been closed before I saw it. Funny stuff. I haven’t found the strap-on thread yet, but be assured, I’m looking for it!
jinwicked - yes but. There’s still plenty o’ potential for general nastiness on certain subjects. Mere troll-disposal and the ever-present threat of banishment would not adequately account for all the times it’s NOT nasty. Also, when things do get heated here, there is ALWAYS someone (Mod or not) who can pour oil on troubled waters pretty efficiently. I’m certain that without the moderation, it woudn’t be quite so smooth, but there’s a sense of self-policing here and a general kind of concern for one another that goes a long way to keeping things cool.
My favorite thing about his mesage board is that it has taught me that I’m not that intelligent. (that’s a lotta thats in that sentence. This one too!)
I guess growing up (even in a fairly large city) and realizing that most everyone around me was just not as bright as I was gave me some misconceptions about my intellect.
How refreshing to be exposed on a regular basis to some truly super-intelligent folks that make me look like a dullard.
Y’know.
I’ve been thinking lately about **Taking Over The World and Dominating The Masses and All That Stuff **.
And this thread pops up…And mentions we have Agents all over the globe and we are always in the city where Big Things happen. ( 911/ 311/Tsunami/Hurricanes and other such sundry)
And gives me a Brilliant Idea: Dopers Uniting For World Domination And Stuff. Sorry, no brilliant acronym available at this time. All Neurons are jammed. Try again at a later time. Thank you.
Who’s with me?
Sorry for the hijack, but really one must go with the blurting of Wonderful Ideas as they enter the Gray Space.
Me! Me! Just let me find my car keys, and I’ll… oh! I’ll probably need my cell phone too. It’ll onlyhave to charge for like an hour or two. Should I stop on the way and pick up cookies? Or ooh, no, I know - doughnuts! I just need to throw in a load of laundry (one cannot Take Over The World in one’s pajamas) and take down the Christmas decorations and make sure there’s something in the fridge for these people who seem to think I am in charge of food, and real quick I gotta empty the litter boxes and walk the dog and…
Shirley honey, why don’t you start without me and I’ll get caught up soon as I get there.
) it was the friendliness and wittiness of the folks posting here that hooked me. I felt welcomed from my first introductory post. It’s so refreshing to find a forum like this.