Quote:
Originally Posted by
melgross 
Those of us who have gotten to know each other over time act more like we would offline. We agree, we disagree, we praise what others say at times, we get annoyed, we kid each other etc. but sometimes new people don't understand the byplay because they haven't seen it evolve. So sometimes they say something that may be acceptable to those who know each other and know it isn't serious, but isn't acceptable from them because it comes across as too negative, or much more serious than we would mean it. When that's accompanied by improper language, it goes over the top.. I don't want to make it seem as though there is an "old boys club' because that's not true, anyone here is a member by default.
But sometimes, someone new should step carefully and not be too aggressive at first until they understand the unwritten ground rules.
This is true for any thread on any site, though here, we tend to have a fair sized core group who post a lot, whereas on many other sites, the posters seem to be more erratic.
People who are determined to be consistently highly negative are perceived as being so on purpose, and not offering anything constructive. That isn't appreciated. This IS a Mac site after all. Some objectivity is good once in a while.
Most of us are on different sides depending on a particular product or service Apple or its partners offer, that's normal. We don't agree with everything Apple does, though we agree with much, or we wouldn't be Apple product users.
Things aren't ever as good or as bad as those who are extreme in their views make them out to be.
And that's why those viewpoints are so annoying to most of us. Especially when accompanied with vitriol.
This makes a good point and it's why, if I'm going to get really crabby and reactionary, it's likely going to be in response to a new poster who leads off with "Wow, what a bunch of fanboys you guys are really lame", etc.
It has nothing to do with defending the honor of Apple or some nonsense, it's simple manners. If you were hanging out with a loose circle of friends at the neighborhood pub, and someone you'd never seen before came in and sat down at your table and the first thing they said was "Wow, you guys are totally posers I couldn't help but overhear your conversation and let me tell you, you sound like a bunch of idiots", that person would not be warmly welcomed.
Apparently on the internet the proper response is "you make an interesting point, indeed some of our crowd are useless twits, but stick around, I think you'll find that at least some of us are worthy of your attention". Not really feeling that, unless we just agree that being a Mac user is sort of shameful and we have to adopt an attitude of obsequious deference to our betters, or some fucked up notion such as that.
The trouble is, when enough people start coming and going, and enough of those are expending a lot of energy loudly decrying the general shabbiness and stupidity of our metaphorical pub, it's unlikely your going to have much of a sense of community or comity.
Myself, I can't see the point of hanging out in a Mac enthusiast forum so that you can tell everybody how stupid their enthusiasm is, over and over again. It strikes me as a mental illness, and I think such people should be banned just because the sourness and bitterness that apparently is a symptom of such illness is toxic to any sense of community.
That's a fair sight from demanding everyone toe the Apple line, or only speak well of the platform, or whatever other straw man might leap to mind. But constant, sneering references to "fan boys" and meeting every appreciation of any particular thing Apple might do with the same, tedious sarcasm about "worshipping at Jobs feet" and "flipping out if anyone questions your precious Apple" are, to my mind, a kind of sludge that ever drags down the forum into ugliness. It's a freaking Mac enthusiast site. Why do I have to worry about coming off as "enthusiastic"?
Lots of people here, myself included, are perfectly capable of calling Apple out for boneheaded moves or wondering what the hell they were thinking when they did whatever without relying on the lazy, braindead "fanboy" chant to knock down anyone who disagrees.
Since at this point the very use of the term "fanboy" is such a clear indicator of having nothing to contribute beyond tribal hostility I would ban a member for using it, every time. That alone would probably clear about about 75% of the pointless snark that's infesting the forum.
Come back refreshed!
