In the outside world we have the typical “Beautiful People” and everything they represent. On social media and places like here the SDMB we also have the beautiful people but we have never seen or heard them. I would like a name or phrase for the beautiful people we see on line. I can’t come up with anything decent.
Isn’t your answer right there in your question? (my bold)
The Interati?
The Ethereals.
I will look that up and get back to you. Looking for something more complimentary than derogatory.
A little over the top but I kind of like it, gives it a little more edge than beautiful people.
Need sexier
I guess I don’t understand what you mean by “beautiful people.” I just thought of ethereals as a play on the nickname for the Internet being “the ether,” while also being a synonym for “exquisite, sublime, divine, refined.”
I liked it, did you read my response for your word or the response for interati? I thought it was really cool for this.
It’s a beautiful world we live in. a sweet romantic place full of beautiful people everywhere and the way they show they care makes me want to say it’s a beautiful world, for YOU. Not ME. For you, it’s a beautiful world.
(catchy techno beat here)
Given the state of the current media, I’d say “beautiful people” is pretty derogatory.
That’s why I indicated I was looking for something more complimentary. I am using the term to describe a loosely defined group of posters on an internet site.
That’s really good- but it should have a link.
How about “spuds”? No, that one is taken…
The e-leet?
I like that but it would be too long.
And there’s no time to lose.
Sorry but I clicked on this thread to work in a Monty Python reference and that’s the best I got right now.
Please define this loose definition.
I don’t know whether you’re trying to describe people who are famous simply for being famous, or people who are wealthy but crass, or people who are trend-setters for the mindless trend-followers or what. Or maybe you’re looking for a word to describe a group of people who are somehow useful and beneficial in some way. At any rate, I have zero idea of what you’re asking us to come up with a slogan for.
What are several of the defining characteristics of this category of online personalities you think you see out there?
Please help us help you.
A good comparison would be the talking heads. Those who are respected and looked up to strictly based on what they write, intelligence, humor, logic, people skills, anything that would cause others to look up to them and possibly want to emulate them in some way.
No wonder I’m confused.
This part: talking heads
means (to me) the mindless drones who read the scripts written for them by the advertisers. Or the wannabe demagogues who push some POV they think will make them a “thought leader”. Alex Jones is a talking head. Ref http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=824135
This part:Those who are respected and looked up to strictly based on what they write, intelligence, humor, logic, people skills, anything that would cause others to look up to them and possibly want to emulate them in some way.means (to me) the polar opposite of “talking heads”.
One of the problems I see trying to move forward is that most shorthand terms pretty quickly acquire cynical pejorative connotations. At least for many people. It’s hard to come up with a shiny coinage that won’t get quickly tarnished.
I’ll have to think about this some more. But at least now I understand what the homework assignment is. 
Thank you.
Some of the sites I frequent talking heads is very derogatory, while others consider it to be kind of a compliment indicating they are part of the in-crowd.