Join Forum.
We've read it, filled out the username, password and in some cases the profile. But what is this exsistance we share called Forums. What etiquette and invisible rules do we need to follow.
I recently went to a website devoted to the topic of Pop culture. It's an interesting site with interesting articles. I am a pop culture buff. Give me some trivia on insignificant history and I'm lovin it! I searched the site and found the "join forum" button. I had to think about joining because really, what could I contribute to their site that I can't contribute here. Besides, everyone here is so wonderful. I have made some reputation points here and am somewhat well respected. I've been here more than a year, and I still stand behind the statement that this is the best forum site on the net.
I joined. I felt guilty. Have I betrayed Yoda, all my good friends at MoFo?
I soon discovered that even thought the site is mainly dedicated to pop culture, the threads and topics are as broad as ours. They talk about politics, religion, movies, cartoons, etc.
I also noticed that like us, they use smilies, font colors, font size, words like LOL, newbie--or nOOb--or something to that effect. Something else too. As a "newbie" you are subjected to slights and inside jokes that most members that have well over 1000 posts to their name use against you. They also have characters that post in a tone that defines their characters. The cynic, the slutty girl, the flirt, the intellectual, etc.
I guess the point I'm getting at is that the Internet Forum Culture, although not at the forefront of our minds does exist. Just like in reality we open the doors for the elderly, we let the person to our right at a 4-way stop go first, and we don't cut in line at the theater.
Anyway enough ranting. In fact after I posted this observation, thinking it would be a nice contribution to examine Internet Forums as a new pop culture phenomenon, I was met with a reply from an Admin who thought the topic was a bit boring.
Maybe it is. Perhaps you guys will think the same thing. So I'll make it interseting. Can you guys think of words, Icons or some such lingo that defines Internet forums as pop culture? I'll start:
newbie
smilie
post
thread
username
avatar
We've read it, filled out the username, password and in some cases the profile. But what is this exsistance we share called Forums. What etiquette and invisible rules do we need to follow.
I recently went to a website devoted to the topic of Pop culture. It's an interesting site with interesting articles. I am a pop culture buff. Give me some trivia on insignificant history and I'm lovin it! I searched the site and found the "join forum" button. I had to think about joining because really, what could I contribute to their site that I can't contribute here. Besides, everyone here is so wonderful. I have made some reputation points here and am somewhat well respected. I've been here more than a year, and I still stand behind the statement that this is the best forum site on the net.
I joined. I felt guilty. Have I betrayed Yoda, all my good friends at MoFo?
I soon discovered that even thought the site is mainly dedicated to pop culture, the threads and topics are as broad as ours. They talk about politics, religion, movies, cartoons, etc.
I also noticed that like us, they use smilies, font colors, font size, words like LOL, newbie--or nOOb--or something to that effect. Something else too. As a "newbie" you are subjected to slights and inside jokes that most members that have well over 1000 posts to their name use against you. They also have characters that post in a tone that defines their characters. The cynic, the slutty girl, the flirt, the intellectual, etc.
I guess the point I'm getting at is that the Internet Forum Culture, although not at the forefront of our minds does exist. Just like in reality we open the doors for the elderly, we let the person to our right at a 4-way stop go first, and we don't cut in line at the theater.
Anyway enough ranting. In fact after I posted this observation, thinking it would be a nice contribution to examine Internet Forums as a new pop culture phenomenon, I was met with a reply from an Admin who thought the topic was a bit boring.
Maybe it is. Perhaps you guys will think the same thing. So I'll make it interseting. Can you guys think of words, Icons or some such lingo that defines Internet forums as pop culture? I'll start:
newbie
smilie
post
thread
username
avatar
__________________
I have been formatted to fit this screen.
r66-The member who always asks WHY?
I have been formatted to fit this screen.
r66-The member who always asks WHY?