I have yet to witness the elitism!

[33rd&Ellerslie]

I only joined the board as a posting member this season; I had been a reader for many years prior. I don't have any idea whether this year is any different than those past, necessarily, but I have noticed an increasing number of new contributers hint that there is an elitist group of individuals dominating the board, skeptical of new posters and new ideas.

I have respectfully disagreed with NewMarketSean and SportsGuy; I have started threads and contributed to others and I must say that I have yet to feel isolated from the group, unwelcome and most importantly unappreciated. My first post must have garnered 20 or more, "welcome to the hangout" messages and my presence on the board since has been nothing short of well received.

I want to be recognized as much as the next guy and it means a ton when Frobby, SG, Wedge, NMS, ScOtt, heck El Gordo, Shack, Moose ( I really can't name all of you so forgive me) respond to a comment or a thread, because I respect and appreciate your input as well as recognize that you share my passion for the Orioles. It is a difficult thing to put an idea down on paper (cyber as it may be) and leave it open to the scrutiny of others, but just because it is not as earth-shattering or laden with the philosophical genius heretofor unseen in the OH does not mean that it has not been read, considered and appreciated, positively or negatively.

In short, I think folks should recognize that ultimately, although we have driven by the party more times than we can count, we should enter the hangout community having respect for others rather than demanding it for ourselves. Recognition and credibilty earned from others is far more valuable than that which is expected. It is only one person's opinion but I just get sick and tired of the self-serving victimization or accusations that there is some stinkin' elitist conspiracy when all you have to do is be kind, respectful and appreciative of others to have it returned to you.

Thank you all for welcoming me to the board and for providing me a place like no other to talk about the game I love and the team I love. Now, however I must leave and eat some potato pancakes my wife is cooking for breakfast, sadly I love them almost as much as baseball, but not as much as meatloaf! YUM!

I can submit my address if needed so you can mail me my "How to be an elitist scumbag" manual and if someone could pm me the secret handshake procedures and the phone number for the secret OH decoder ring company that would be awesome!

[AgentOrange]

Well said. I feel sometimes people jump on the board and start posting away instead of checking out how we do things. Everyone was starting out at some point, we all understand that. Yet, you have to take a little time and effort when you post as well. We all have lives, most of us have successful careers.

Sure, there are going to be one or two bad eggs of the bunch. You are going to get that anywhere. It is usually the people that come over and don't read the board rules properly that have the issues. I am fine with that. I took the time to read the rules before I started posting. Usually the long time lurkers, first time posters have the best chance of sticking in the end. They have read the way we do things here and want to contribute in a positive way.

I don't call it elitist, I would rather call it professional.

[bobmc]

I only joined the board as a posting member this season; I had been a reader for many years prior. I don't have any idea whether this year is any different than those past, necessarily, but I have noticed an increasing number of new contributers hint that there is an elitist group of individuals dominating the board, sceptical of new posters and new ideas.

I have respectfully disagreed with NewMarketSean and SportsGuy; I have started threads and contributed to others and I must say that I have yet to feel isolated from the group, unwelcome and most importantly unappreciated. My first post must have garnered 20 or more, "welcome to the hangout" messages and my presence on the board since has been nothing short of well recieved.

I want to be recognized as much as the next guy and it means a ton when Frobby, SG, Wedge, NMS, ScOtt, heck El Gordo, Shack, Moose ( I really can't name all of you so forgive me) respond to a comment or a thread, because I respect and appreciate your input as well as recognize that you share my passion for the Orioles. It is a difficult thing to put an idea down on paper (cyber as it may be) and leave it open to the scrutiny of others, but just because it is not as earth-shattering or laden with the philosophical genius heretofor unseen in the OH does not mean that it has not been read, considered and appreciated, positively or negatively.

In short, I think folks should recognize that ultimately, although we have driven by the party more times than we can count, we should enter the hangout community having respect for others rather than demanding it for ourselves. Recognition and credibilty earned from others is far more valuable than that which is expected. It is only one person's opinion but I just get sick and tired of the self-serving victimization or accusations that there is some stinkin' elitist conspiracy when all you have to do is be kind, respectful and appreciative of others to have it returned to you.

Thank you all for welcoming me to the board and for providing me a place like no other to talk about the game I love and the team I love. Now, however I must leave and eat some potato pancakes my wife is cooking for breakfast, sadly I love them almost as much as baseball, but not as much as meatloaf! YUM!

I can submit my address if needed so you can mail me my "How to be an elitist scumbag" manual and if someone could pm me the secret handshake procedures and the phone number for the secret OH decoder ring company that would be awesome!

Well put but could you learn to spell or at least use the OH spell check? ;) :rolleyes:

I AM kidding but can be a SB at times - but never elitist! :o

Now, let's get back to ripping AM a new one, debating whether or not the Reds should offer Bruce or how we can survive with LH as SS! :p

btw - do you have an old world latke recipe? I haven't had good latke's since my youth in Queens when a Polish lady down the street used to make them up for us kids.

[The Wedge]

I've always maintained that message boards are the same as any community of people. How do you insert yourself in to a new group of people in real life? What's the reaction if you jump in like "look at me! I'm awesome!" Or "you people are stupid, this is what it really is." You get off on the wrong foot in real life, and you'll get off on the wrong foot here. Some people think they can just insert themselves in to a long established community online instantaneously, and it usually leads to them being ostracized. That's not the fault of the group, and it sure doesn't make them elitist.

[gallden]

Nicely put, the problem is people come in and act like boog, and I'm not sure you remember eli or not. But if all the new users acted like you it'd be real nice. Like agentorange said we were all new once.

[33rd&Ellerslie]

Well put but could you learn to spell or at least use the OH spell check? ;) :rolleyes:

I AM kidding but can be a SB at times - but never elitist! :o

Now, let's get back to ripping AM a new one, debating whether or not the Reds should offer Bruce or how we can survive with LH as SS! :p

btw - do you have an old world latke recipe? I haven't had good latke's since my youth in Queens when a Polish lady down the street used to make them up for us kids.

When I was studying Russian in California, I had the privilege of living with a family from Kiev for 6 months; I had the very best pierogies and latkes ever. My wife just uses flour, eggs, minced onion, seasoning and a bit of nutmeg, I think, and they are darn good.

[The Wedge]

Nicely put, the problem is people come in and act like boog, and I'm not sure you remember eli or not. But if all the new users acted like you it'd be real nice. Like agentorange said we were all new once.

He's actually still around, though he's back to using his original name.

[Danielos38]

I think the best way to gain a little respect around here is just to be here for a while. I think that you can go to almost any board across the internet, or in society in general, and find that the people that have been around the longest are the most respected.

For me, it took even longer than some. I joined when I was 14, said some stupid things, and started with my pips in the red. It took a little while for people to know me and to gain a little respect, but that's just how is goes.

[The Wedge]

There used to be this video that someone made for a forum years ago, but for the life of me I can't find it. It was a "welcome" kind of video and basically gave you good rules of thumb for joining up and contributing to that forum. It was a bit caustic for this site, but the overall message was pretty true.

[scOtt]

I've always maintained that message boards are the same as any community of people. How do you insert yourself in to a new group of people in real life? What's the reaction if you jump in like "look at me! I'm awesome!" Or "you people are stupid, this is what it really is." You get off on the wrong foot in real life, and you'll get off on the wrong foot here. Some people think they can just insert themselves in to a long established community online instantaneously, and it usually leads to them being ostracized. That's not the fault of the group, and it sure doesn't make them elitist.
Well said. And well said by 33rd&Ellerslie too. Like Wedge said, the ones who come on screaming for praise are kinda dismissed on sight. I guess that's a little elitist... but we do have a high standard of posting here. It's what makes this board THIS board. Ya know?

The only other type that gets written off out of hand is the l33tspeakers, or those who won't write in sentences and paragraphs. Even those get (almost immediately... :p ) a warning. Before they get the cold shoulder (or worse...)

You've always been well spoken, 33rd. And muchly welcomed.

[scOtt]

When I was studying Russian in California, I had the privilege of living with a family from Kiev for 6 months; I had the very best pierogies and latkes ever. My wife just uses flour, eggs, minced onion, seasoning and a bit of nutmeg, I think, and they are darn good.
You live in Rib heaven and you want latkes??? :p

[scOtt]

There used to be this video that someone made for a forum years ago, but for the life of me I can't find it. It was a "welcome" kind of video and basically gave you good rules of thumb for joining up and contributing to that forum. It was a bit caustic for this site, but the overall message was pretty true.
I have this saved.... VERY elitist! :p

http://web.archive.org/web/20041009182126/http://members.ams.chello.nl/jvane/welcome.htm

[gallden]

He's actually still around, though he's back to using his original name.

You mean boog the boob or Eli?

[The Wedge]

Eli. He's old#5fan.

[rolliefingers]

Recognition and credibilty earned from others is far more valuable than that which is expected. It is only one person's opinion but I just get sick and tired of the self-serving victimization or accusations that there is some stinkin' elitist conspiracy when all you have to do is be kind, respectful and appreciative of others to have it returned to you.


Bingo. Most of the people who think there's an elitist conspiracy here are, to put it charitably, not the kind of people you'd really want to talk with anyway. If you have something constructive to say, and don't immediately start berating other posters, we're probably going to be OK with you.

[bobmc]

You live in Rib heaven and you want latkes??? :p

ESB! :p ;)