The Island of Misfit Posters

[Monkeypunch]

Okay, I've been posting here for quite awhile now, and I still don't feel like I fit in all that well. I mean I don't fit in anywhere in the real world either, so it doesn't really bother me, but still...anyone else feel like they're intruding on a private party where everyone knows everyone else?

[The Silver Bullet]

Don't worry about it, man.
Anyone will tell you that I went (and often still go) through a period of feeling like I was locked out of this giant circle.

I think you could nearly call me one of the biggest campaigners against circles here at MoFo. Things will settle down.

I was at least five or six hundred posts in before I felt really accepted. Don't worry about it.

It all passes.

[Yoda]

It's odd that so many people seem to feel that way. Toose started a thread on the very same subject, and we all know he was part of things as much as just about anyone for awhile. Silver has obviously felt the same way before.

Don't let it bother you, though. My advice is just to get to know some of the people around here, and I'm sure you'll feel better. :)

[spudracer]

We all went through it...well...all except Chris.

Just gotta not let it bother ya and continue posting, if you bring your wittiness, humor, all that other good stuff to the table and are unique with it, you're gonna stand out, and you're gonna get your own spotlight.

Just give it time. Also, you don't really post on a day to day basis, you do post, yes, but it's not everyday like some of us addicts. I'm not saying that you need to do that, but that's mainly why some of us know others pretty well.

[The Silver Bullet]

I remember talking to Spud about his post count once.
Poor Spudly. He felt he needed to be prolific to be popular.

;D

[spudracer]

Originally posted by The Silver Bullet
I remember talking to Spud about his post count once.
Poor Spudly. He felt he needed to be prolific to be popular.

Got Sadie and I talking.

[Yoda]

It's hard to imagine Kently ever worried about his role on MoFo.

[Raziel1]

Yeah look at me man i almost have three hundred and these dorks still hate me.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

p.s. I gues i am still a newbie.

[spudracer]

No, once you start acting like a know-it-all movie buff, that's when you are no longer considered a newbie.

[firegod]

Ask Mary what you have to do. She's been here about 2 months, and is already one of the elite regulars, I think. Of course, being one of the funniest people on the planet help things, I'm sure. :)

[Yoda]

She's a natural fit on so many levels. She can take a whoopin', dish it right back out, and bust us all up in the process. The fact that she loves The Simpsons and appreciates witty (or otherwise) innuendo certainly doesn't hurt, either. :)

[The Silver Bullet]

We love her because she's a lunatic...

:D


Originally spoken by The Cheshire Cat

I'm mad, you're mad, we're all mad here.

[Mary Loquacious]

:blush: See, that's why I love you guys... You know I'm a nut-job and you don't care. You actually like it. You humble me. You do. All youse.

Okay, now I'm all fumbling and verklempt... Talk amongst yourselves...

I'll give you a topic: the Industrial Revolution was neither industrial nor a revolution. Discuss.

[sadesdrk]

Originally posted by firegod
Ask Mary what you have to do. She's been here about 2 months, and is already one of the elite regulars, I think. Of course, being one of the funniest people on the planet help things, I'm sure. :) Mary and firegod-
the-Demon-with-radioactive-clusters-of-grapes-for-earrings, sitting in a tree K*I*S*S*I*N*G...
just kidding...I couldn't resist, it was such a line,"...being one of the funniest blahblahs on the blah helps." *taking his finger; licking it, then smoothing his eyebrow*
Anyhoo...
*kisses to Mary and Jeremy, my pals; you know I'm only foolin'*
:kiss:

[The Silver Bullet]

I just wrote an essay about a very interesting little essay for school:

The loss of innocence is the major turning point in the developement of story and character. Discuss.

I looked at Macbeth, Run Lola Run and Pravda.
It was very good, of course.

[Mary Loquacious]

Of course. :D

That's a good topic. Much better than mine. :yup: If we're going to discuss, we'll discuss that. Or maybe we'll discuss why the good folks at Post decided to name it "Grape Nuts," 'cause there's nothing vaguely grape-like about that cereal. It's more like "Tasteless Gravel."

[The Silver Bullet]

Speaking of the taste of gravel:

Once, in order to be popular, I ate gravel because older children found it funny. My fifteen minutes of gravel eating related fame.

[Mary Loquacious]

My sister used to make me eat dog food whenever we went out to visit my grandma. She really made me do it--I didn't like the way it tasted or anything.

I didn't. Stop looking at me like that.

[The Silver Bullet]

Imagine my avatar with one raised eyebrow...

I'm not looking at you funny. Tell yourself that.
It's okay, Mary. I'm laughing at you not with you...

[jungerpants]

Originally posted by The Silver Bullet
I just wrote an essay about a very interesting little essay for school:

The loss of innocence is the major turning point in the developement of story and character. Discuss.

Should have gone with Lord of the Flies. The main theme throughout the entire novel is loss of innocence.

[spudracer]

:rotfl:

This whole thread is hilarious.

[The Silver Bullet]

Indeed.

Meanwhile, I would have done Lord of the Flies or something along those lines (ask Chris, my own The Unnamed Chocolate Shop would be perfect for such a question), but it wasn't a text we had studied. We studied Tykwer's Lola, Shakespeare's Macbeth and Muriel Spark's The Driver's Seat. We had to do two of them and one of our own choices and it was only natural that I do Pravda when the play is my whole life at the moment.

Just thought I'd clarify that.
But you're right, Flies would have been perfect.

:D

[Mary Loquacious]

Lord of the Flies... what a book. You could write an entire paper on just the opening sentences: "The boy with the fair hair lowered himself..."

Originally posted by The Silver Bullet
It's okay, Mary. I'm laughing at you not with you...

Sure, go ahead. Laugh it up at the poor little retarded girl who thought the dog food would enable her to talk to Ganja, her grandma's dog. Yeah, go on. It's funny!

Real funny.

[spudracer]

Originally posted by Mary Loquacious
Sure, go ahead. Laugh it up at the poor little retarded girl who thought the dog food would enable her to talk to Ganja, her grandma's dog. Yeah, go on. It's funny!

Real funny.

Yes..yes it is..:rotfl:

[The Silver Bullet]

You could write an entire paper on a dog called Ganja.

[Mary Loquacious]

You know, I didn't even think it strange until I got to be about sixteen, and then I started wondering why in the hell my Grandma Winnie, who we can be reasonably certain has never gotten high in her life, had a dog whose name was a slang term for marijuana.

We did some snooping and found out she got the dog from a young man who worked with her at the hospital. And that young man, shall we say, knew all about slang terms for marijuana.
He also, later in life, became one of my English instructors, and he always had great things to say about Grandma.

But you know, we never had the heart to tell her the truth about Ganja. :nope:

[The Silver Bullet]

"Gran?"

"Yes?"

"We have something to tell you about Ganja..."

"What's that?"

"His name is a slang term for, well, pot."

"And pans? Well, that's relatively funny, no?"

"No, no, not pans exactly. We mean, well, his name is a slang term for African Woodbine. Acapulco Gold. You know what we're saying?"

"He's named after an African tree?!"

"No. Not an African tree, Gran, listen to us. The guy who had Ganja, well, he smoked Ganja."

"He hurt Ganja!?"

"Gran! You're dog is named after Bambalacha, Dawamesk, the Goblet of Jam and the Golden Leaf! Your dog has been named after the Rainy Day Woman, for Christ's sake!!"

"How could he be named after so many peopl..."

"GRAN! LISTEN TO US!! YOU COULD ROLL UP THAT DOG IN A NEWSPAPER, LIGHT HIM, SMOKE HIM AND GET HIGH!! HIS NAME IS GANJA FOR F*CK'S SAKE!!


Oh Gran. Don't cry...."

[spudracer]

:rotfl:

That was hilarious, and I can actually picture that type of conversation going down.

[Mary Loquacious]

:rotfl:

Yes, that's the way I always imagined it would go. Ending in tears and heartbreak for all involved.

[Yoda]

:laugh: You're a funny motherf*cker. I admit I hadn't heard of even half those slang terms for pot. And here I thought myself fairly well educated. :D

[The Silver Bullet]

I actually have a song I wrote about it somewhere. Perhaps I'll track it down and upload it. It's to the tune of A Few of My Favorite Things (so easy to put words to that song), and is called A List of Nicknames for Dope. It's pretty funny.

I love words like that.

[Raziel1]

Look at us people. This guy starts a thread about not being able to fit in. So what do we do we take over the whole thread and he doesn't even get a word in. This guy either needs to speak up or quit complaining. I mean you have to be able to voice a pretty strong opinion with these people or you'll never keep up.

p.s. gotta post more to be "in" the club bro.

[The Silver Bullet]

Actually, a lot of posting makes some people very, very annoying, Raz.

:rolleyes:

[spudracer]

Look at us people. This guy starts a thread about not being able to fit in. So what do we do we take over the whole thread and he doesn't even get a word in. This guy either needs to speak up or quit complaining. I mean you have to be able to voice a pretty strong opinion with these people or you'll never keep up.
For one, you're not in any position to start preaching to those who have been here longer. Monkeypunch does post, the place wouldn't be the same without him, but don't start telling others how to conduct themselves.

p.s. gotta post more to be "in" the club bro.
You're not "in" the club yet...bro.

[Yoda]

I don't know if there even is an "in" club. Here's my philosophy: as soon as you stop trying to get in the "in" club and just worry about posting quality stuff, you're in. :yup:

[sadesdrk]

Silver B.~ That little script you gave us was great. It's not surprising you want to be a writer, you're very talented. Me laugh! :laugh:
Side note: Lay off Raz. Seriously. It's not nice.

Kently-Poo~ Sheeh, you too. I hate that we have the power to make people feel insecure or left out. It's a movie site, for cripes sake, not highschool! Be cool. Granted the guy uses more than one smilie, is that a crime? Okay, yeah...he starts threads about the sexiness of others, but I'm willing to overlook it, now come on! Lighten the f*ck up, you all sound like a coupla prigs. (Mary Lo~ good use of my new word, eh?)

[Mary Loquacious]

:yup: Very nice. :D

I'm backing Sades on this. Raz is entitled to his opinions, no? Although giving him sh*t about the Smilies... that's just a bit o' teasing that I'm sure Raz doesn't mind. :D

With that having been said...

I have to say that, although I've contributed to taking this thread way off topic, I think you're fine, Monkey Man. You like good music, and you know of the Wesley Willis. You're gravy in the Mary Lo book. :yup:

[Yoda]

Aha! I told Kently and Silver to ease up on him. Glad to know I'm not alone. Not that it changes my stance at all.

Prig is an excellent word. Heavily used in The Chronicles of Narnia, I think. I think it started in Britland.

[Mary Loquacious]

Aha! We can play "Spot Sadie's New Word!"

It's not "prig," but that's a damn good guess...

[Yoda]

Was it "coupla"?

[Mary Loquacious]

Well, that was quick. Monty, tell him what he's won! :D

[Yoda]

Originally posted by Mary Loquacious
Well, that was quick. Monty, tell him what he's won! :D
A free copy of the calendar? :D

[sadesdrk]

Voice Over: Mary, Yoda has won nothing. He still thinks Britney Spears is pretty, which, he's entitled to his opinion, but the owner of this gameshow thinks she's a talentless Slutbeast! So, he wins NOTHING!! Ha-Ha!
:p

[Mary Loquacious]

Slutbeast! Now there's a word! :laugh:

[Yoda]

She's used that one a few times in the past. It's her word to describe most teeny-boppin' female singers. I think she's just in denial over the fact that Britney does indeed have some things going for her, even if she enters skankish territory from time to time. :p

[sadesdrk]

Going for her? Like what?! Anything she can do, I can do better. Hmph. As a matter of fact, almost anyone can do better. :p

[Yoda]

She can sing. Just because she doesn't always sing all that well, it doesn't mean she can't. And just because some of her lyrics are God-awful, it doesn't mean she has no talent. And she IS pretty when she doesn't mess herself up with those clothes and all that forsaken makeup.

[sadesdrk]

You're hopeless.
She can NOT sing. She can't carry a tune.
Lot's of people her age can sing, dance and look a thousand times better. She just got lucky. END of story.

[Yoda]

Bah. I think not.

First off, she CAN sing. She was on Star Search (and sung quite well, I might add) at the age of something like 8...and you can't accuse Ed McMahon of being blinded by her gonzagas, either, because she was as flat as a board back then.

True, there are people less successful, but more talented, than her...but that doesn't mean she is without talent. It means she has talent, and has maximized it through marketing. She has plenty of things about her to dislike (ain't much of a role model, in my opinion, for example)...but don't let her faults convince you that she has no virtues. Hitler was a smart guy...just because he did horrible things, it doesn't mean we should, say, claim that he was not an impressive leader. Obviously he had virtues...and acting as if he had none simply because he had glaring faults doesn't make any sense.

Besides: logically, the extremes on these issues are almost NEVER right. It's no better to claim she's talentless than it is to claim that she's the greatest singer alive. She's got talent...I don't see how anyone can deny that. A lot of what she is is marketing, but it's not 100% smoke and mirrors. :nope:

That's how I see it, at least.

[sadesdrk]

Star Search, gosh...all the great ones started there! :rolleyes:

Oh Wait!! She was also on the Mickey Mouse Club! Okay, you're right. She has a great set of pipes, anyone can hear it.

Anyhoo...
Monkeypunch, you're most wanted, stick around! (It'd help if you sided with me on the Britney issue. ;D )

[Yoda]

Don't get me wrong; she ain't Charlotte Church (who I happen to find just as attractive, I might add...more classically beautiful, I think)...I just don't think she's, well, me, either (I can't sing worth sh*t).

Don't try to get help from the Monkey. That's cheating. :p

[spudracer]

:nope:

Please leave poor Britney alone, let the whole issue rest in peace.

[sadesdrk]

Poor Britney?! Isn't that an oxymoron? Like Jumbo Shrimp? The girl auctioned off a toilet seat encrusted with diamonds, for crying out loud! Yes, poor Britney. :rolleyes:

[The Silver Bullet]

Excuse me for bringing up some old skeletons (from earlier in the thread, I mean) but I have to agree with Spud, to an extent.

None of you would like it if someone rocked up and told you how to conduct yourself whether they were "in" the "in" club or not. It's a matter of common courtesy. Anyone, online or off, however popular you are or aren't and how long you've been around, you shouldn't really tell people how to conduct themselves, no?

And if you want me to make an effort to be 'nicer' to Raziel, well, I can't promise that I'll try. But I'll try to try.

Just kidding.
I'll try.

[Monkeypunch]

Originally posted by sadesdrk
(It'd help if you sided with me on the Britney issue. ;D ) [/B]

Oh, I am no fan of the Britney Spears, I tell you what. I grew up in the early 90's. Nirvana, Mudhoney..That's music to me. Britney Spears is pretty horrifying.

[Raziel1]

I am not talking to you guys no more

[Gracie]

I wouldn't know whether or not she can sing. Frankly, I don't want to take the risk and listen to her music. Although, her lyrcis do suck. Half of the lyrics are the chorus and the name of the song. Although there was Oops I..no, there's that chorus thing. What about I'm A Slave... no, that chorus thing again. And about her clothes, were you unfortunate enough to see her in that concert where she ripped off her suit and had a see through jump-suit on?!?! And what was up with the superbowl halftime show? She was wearing a sock on her arm! A FRIGGING SOCK! Any weak-minded fool will listen to her songs. She can belch into the microphone, add some ooh baby's, some guitars in the backround, and she's got another #1 Single!

[Monkeypunch]

I dunno, I'd listen to the Britney "Belching, Ooh baby" song.:laugh: It'd be the most musical thing she's ever done!

[Gracie]

I couldn't agree more, Monkeypunch. BTW Monkey, I don't even think I know whether or not I'm "in" the club yet. I thought you were when you registered! I always thought that this site was for already misfit posters from other sites.:yup: This is a place where we can be unique and not worry about people making really obvious typo's. If I'm wrong, tell me.:) Monkeypunch, (I know it's kinda' corny) be yourself! And Raziel, chill, okay? Wer're all equals here. Act that way, especially to the newer members. I'm a 100% newbie here, and I'm talking to people with over 100 posts! And I feel like I fit in fine! So give the people on here a chance, Monkeypuch, and if you stick around for a day or two, you'll feel fine. I felt much better when I started to post on a subject I enjoy, instead of starting a new thread about how much I don't fit in.:yup: I hope I don's sound too bossy, but that's the way I think it should be.
Be awesome to each other. AND PARTY ON, DUDES! -Abraham Lincoln, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

[Gracie]

I guess my post was too awkward for anyone to reply to...

[Austruck]

Gracie, I agree with you.

But, then again, you and I feel a little more at home here already because we're both related to the site owner.

It is not always easy to fit in here. I often feel as if I am not in on the latest joke or that certain threads that just rip into other site members are cruel. If I were a newbie not associated or related to anyone on the site, I would probably have left over some of the flame wars that go on here, usually with little or no provocation.

A lot of talented, hilarious people here. But they have got to learn to share their toys and work and play well with others a little more sometimes. Otherwise, this site could end up being their little private playground if the flaming offends enough people. I have been on writing sites with fewer flame wars than this one, and they're all history now, partly because people up and left and refused to support the nastiness.

Just my double-penny....

[Ladies Man]

"I just saw this post excisted..."

Ask me about not fitting in, YOWSERS! Still, fun to see what they come up with next, and I'm sure it's the same with all of u people in this one big happy forum family.

[The Silver Bullet]

But they have got to learn to share their toys and work and play well with others a little more sometimes.

That's all very good and well.
I still use Mary as an example. She just *fit in* just like that.
We only share and play nice with people who make a genuine attempt at:

- Writing properly.
- Using logic.

[Austruck]

But you pick on Holden, and he does those things. ??

My only point (and you can ignore me if you want) is that it *can* be intimidating to read posts on this site and feel as if it's one big inside joke all the time.

You can choose the better part of valor and simply ignore people who don't fit your criteria of writing and logic. That would keep the tone around here from getting so nasty so often. It just seems that every thread I've read lately has a really vicious streak to it somewhere, and it's incredibly off-putting for newcomers and those of us who don't have a thousand posts to our credit.

I guess it depends on what Chris and others want this site to be. If you no longer want it to be a wide-reaching site, that's your choice.

Linda
(who writes properly and studied logic in college)

[The Silver Bullet]

But you pick on Holden, and he does those things. ??

We don't pick on Holden. At least I don't. I was a part of a joke that we played against him, but that was ultimately a one off, something that hadn't happened before and shows no real signs of happening again, and nothing that ultimately hurt his feelings or anything like that. Not like he hasn't gotten all of us once or twice.

My only point (and you can ignore me if you want) is that it *can* be intimidating to read posts on this site and feel as if it's one big inside joke all the time.

I won't ignore, don't worry. :D
I am well aware of this, I used to feel the same way once, as did Toose/Matt when he was still here. But while it may feel that way, that doesn't mean you won't sooner or later be a part of it all. None of us are going to drop these friendships we've created to make new people feel accepted. That sounds much more malicious than I mean for it to sound. What I mean is, newbies may feel intimidated , but they can't expect the place to stop functioning to allow for their own acceptance. They have to make an effort to get in there and to get their hands dirty. Once again, look at Mary. Her days as a newbie were up after like two because she just walked head on in. People have to look at this place and think to themselves, "Well, they've all been here for ages and they have a great friendship group going on, I'm going to get in and be a real part of it." The only way to discover an inside joke is to get inside, no?

You can choose the better part of valor and simply ignore people who don't fit your criteria of writing and logic. That would keep the tone around here from getting so nasty so often. It just seems that every thread I've read lately has a really vicious streak to it somewhere, and it's incredibly off-putting for newcomers and those of us who don't have a thousand posts to our credit.

Post counts shouldn't matter for one. Look at Jason. His post count is relatively small and he's not a 'newbie'. He's not 'off-putted'. I would ignore some people who annoy me, yes, and I do for the better part. As of late there's been a number of member's who have rocked up and thought that they were God's gift to intelligence. Myself and Spud may have been the only ones acting viciously to the persons in questions, but it was a feeling that was generated all over. Sorry if this got to you.

I guess it depends on what Chris and others want this site to be. If you no longer want it to be a wide-reaching site, that's your choice.

I would say that the place is as wide-reaching as it ever was and it's only going to get moreso.

Linda
(who writes properly and studied logic in college)

Good to know.


In regards to the in-joke of "Birthday" and "I Love You" -- they're not that hard to work out. No one seems to [i]think anymore. It really isn't very hard.

[Austruck]

LOL, no no, I don't mean the Birthday and I Love You threads. They were actually hilarious.

I know what you mean, and I don't mean to sound whiny. I'm not. It's meant more as a warning ... in case Chris still does want this site to be something more global and less tribal.

I'm on several other "community"-type sites, and there is always a spirit of happiness and wide acceptance when a newbie wanders in. I always see "Guests" online when I'm here, but do they ever sign up? I dunno. I've directed a bunch of friends to this site who love movies, but none of them have stuck around. Too cliquish.

As I said, it all depends on what you guys want it to be. I just wasn't sure if you realized how many of these threads sound to some of us who aren't as tight with you guys.

I think sadesdrk said it well (elsewhere?) when she reminded us that this is a movie site, not high school.

Anyway, don't mind me. I was just tossing out a stray thought that has been in my mind about this site lately.

Linda

[Yoda]

I'm somewhere in the middle on this issue, honestly. I do think this place is a little less than inviting in one sense...but in another, it's very inviting. I figure it depends on the type of person you are. Some people see a group of "insiders" of sorts, and want in...so, they walk right in. Others kinda hang around outside them and wait for an invite. Others walk right by and, if they're not stopped and recruited, never come back.

Obviously this is not ideal...but it's not wholly preventable either. We want people who hang around here to value their status...to feel as if they've really gotten something out of this...something of value. If such a thing is easily obtained by anyone and everyone who shows even a small interest in it, it holds no actual worth.

So, I see it as a balance that needs to be struck: make the regulars feel special (because they are), but afford everyone a reasonable chance to become part of the gang. It sounds contradictory, and sometimes, it is...but I see no other way. I'd say we ARE too clique-ish right now...but I also think we're improving thanks to, for example, the Birthdays and Introductions forum, and the Glossary, etc.

We shall see. Rest assured I'm keeping a close eye on things and will take action long before any truly damaging things happen.

[Austruck]

I may not post very much but I do lurk quite a bit. I don't think anything needs to be "done," Chris. I was just pointing out something I've noticed in recent months...this trend toward having no patience for people who perhaps try to jump in a little but stumble once or twice. Then it can feel like the regulars have no patience for people who (gasp) start a thread similar to an old one, or (gahhh) don't punctuate properly. I mean, getting upset that someone started a new thread similar to an old one? Gak, on my favorite writers' site, we are constantly asking the same questions over and over, starting the same conversations (sometimes with the same people!), but no one would even think to mention this as something to get annoyed about.

That's the kind of thing I've been noticing here lately (and only lately) that I cannot for the life of me figure out.

But, it's not in crisis-mode or anything. Just something I noticed. I think this is a great movie site, with lots of folks who know and love movies (and have amazing senses of humor), and I'd rather it be genuinely open to all, even for folks who sign on habitually as "Guest" and just lurk.

For instance, most times I've been on here tonight, there have been three members online and four or more Guests.

Now, I'll stop harping on this because I don't want it to seem like a bigger deal than it is, and because, frankly, I'd rather find other movie-related threads to post to.

Side Note: I stumbled on one thread here about a movie called Donnie Darko, which I'd never heard of. (Chris, Drew Barrymore is involved with it....)

There's apparently a web site for this flick, www.donniedarko.com, and it's an amazing, creepy, chilling site. Turn off the lights, turn on the speakers (or headphones), and click away. (I only got to Level 2 before getting seriously creeped out late last night.)

Linda