Registrationism

[Lasher]

Wow!

I've just been kinda kicking back the last couple of days watching a variety of fools make complete asses out of themselves on this board. I don't know that I've ever seen crap like this happen on the board where I wasn't in the middle of it - and it certainly is refreshing to see just how silly everyone else can be.

Now, there are a few things I've seen that I'd like to take a few moments to comment on - and surprisingly enough they are not going to be the things that everyone would expect. I know many of you have just been sitting back waiting for me to raise hell with those who have been posting, well, shall we say, overzealously in recent days - but I'm not gonna do that. Last time this subject came up I said that I had seen the light and that I was going to stay out of shit like that in the future. Well, this is me staying out of shit like that. As annoying as overzealousness may be, I just know it can't last forever - I hope!

Nope, what I want to talk about today is something that I've decided to call Registrationism - which I've decided to define as discrimination against the quality, honesty, or comedic virtue of a post based entirely on the registrational status of the individual posting - and while showing a complete disregard for the true value of the content of said post.

I don't know about the rest of ya, but I hate ISMs. People who become involved in an ISM tend to deal in absolutes - and there's nothing so absolutely annoying as inflexibility. So you'll understand my dismay when I saw the blatant Registrationism that's been going on the last few days.

I don't understand it in the least. I look back at the time I've spent on the board and I've seen many fine contributions from Unregistered users. And I also think that it is quite silly for those hiding behind "fake names" to begin with to accuse others of cowardice for doing the same. To me, that says more about the insecurities of the registered user than it does about the insecurities of the unregistered user.

I personally place alot of value in what the unregistered users have to say - I've always believed that they are the barometer of the board. We all know damn well that in most cases unregistered posts critical of registered users are being made by other registered users who, for whatever reason, feel the need for an extra layer of privacy. I think we should respect that need for privacy. Often times these are things that NEED to be said, but because of the protective nature of this board, often times they are not. Maybe if more people would take the time to actually read what is being said, and less time being concerned with their own status, most of the situations that develop between the registered and the unregistered could be avoided.

Just as an example, take a look at the posts from our new friend GUH! over the last few days. As he/she so, uhhh, eloquently has said - many of you have been thinking the same things that GUH! has been posting, but no one wants to take the responsiblity of pointing them out. I know I don't - I'm sick and damn tired of having to tell people how messed up they are. I've seen a handful of people try to politely say things about this recent mess, but polite just ain't gonna get it done...

Shit, if this wasn't so long, I'd talk about the comedic necessities of the unregistered post, but I'm sure there's some who've struggled to get this far.....

Anyways, and I'll try and do this briefly... Another thing that's just been driving me nuts is the homogenization of the board. Since when did every one have to agree and everything have to be so happy and shit?? LOOK at the title - it says Literotica Discussion Board.... How come no one discusses anything anymore? Used to be (and I'm sorry for talking about the good old days), people would debate things here - now it seems like if you don't agree that the entire world should be happy and approve of everything that's posted - regardless of how sophomoric or bizarre it may be - then you're immediately attacked and labeled a shit stirrer. Look at the thread about the Nicole/Havoc/Rosebud situation. Looking at that thread you'd think that eveyone in the entire world thought that it's a good thing. You know why?? Cause everyone now seems to be afraid to post an unpopular or dissenting opinion about anything. I guarantee ya there are people chomping at the bit out there to say something about that, but they know they just can't because they're too insecure about their place in this little Literotica society.... So what happens? Either they end up holding their tongues, or they end up posting unregistered....

Think about that next time before you decide to dismiss an unregistered user based solely on your Registrationist beliefs...

(BTW, for those with limited attention spans, there will be a Cliff's Notes version of this post made available... Thank you.)


[Edited by Lasher on 09-10-2000 at 11:45 PM]

 

[Guest]

Lasher. Why don't you shut your pompus ass mouth for once? Damn, I was starting to enjoy the board again.
Let's hear it for 'ism's and registration people. That way you always tell how much shit an asshole has poduced.

______________
Always in the wabe

 

[Siren]

Whether Lasher wants it or not, I am agreeing with him.

 

[MistressSin]

I may be new but I agree with Lasher

Even though I'm completely new to this board (and it's concepts) I really have to agree with Lasher. Alot of times I'll read a post and want to reply but by the time I get done reading everyone elses reply's it's gone completely off the subject and I would feel silly replying when the original topic at hand seems to have been completely lost. Oh hell what do I know I think I'm just bichin! but seriously folks he's got a point!

 

[Sammyjo]

I have frequently taken time out to respond personally to those that have been attacked on this board. I have taken a certain liking to some of them and have continued my communication with them via e-mail...mainly because they didn't want to come back here after being ripped a new asshole for being a new poster.

Believe me, when I was first told of the Nikki/Havoc/Rosebud thing...I was pretty upset. Ask Nikki. I talked to her for a good long time about what it is she wants, what it is she is going to get, what it is she isn't going to get...blah, blah, blah...we pretty much covered it all. Had I not been privy to this information prior to the thread, I probably would have gone nuts. They are all apparently happy...and I'm sure that things like this happen, we just might not know about it, so we don't have to deal with it.

Anyway...you have seen me lash out at people when they piss me off, you have seen me speak my mind, even when everyone else is against what I say. And I know that I have lost some people along the way because of it. But, as I said in another thread, I'm not here to impress anyone. If I have something to say, I do say it.

I don't know what happened along the way...I don't know if I'm part of the good old days or not, but when I started coming here, things were quite a bit different than they are now. Now, it's a race to 1,000 posts...even if I'm gonna do it in one day, I'm gonna get to choose my own title, damn it...or it's a constant need to berate people for being new...we were all new at one time, deal with it. It's an ordeal and a half if someone doesn't use proper grammar and such...I'm sure English isn't everyone's first language...and we aren't all English majors here. And don't dare bring up a topic that we've discussed before...even if you are new and don't know the way the site works just yet.

I agree with you whole-heartedly Lasher...and I've spoken out on it a number of times.

 

[Nicole]

You know Lasher I agree with you. I have tried to say it on many ocassions but just end up putting my foot in it.

As for OUR situation, I wish people had said what was on their minds. Look the thing is I really don't care what people think, I am happy and know what I am doing. I won't do anything without being comfortable in the situation, and without full thought, like any situation I get myself into.

I wish people WOULD speak their minds, I think we need more of it actually.

Yes we all were new Sammy but, I really don't think any of us older ones were quite like some of these new ones. YES we ALL have the right to say what is on our minds, and YES we all have the right to stick up for anyone that we want too. BUT we also have the right to say good and bad things without being jummped on ourselves.

I think we all need to start saying what we want instead of worrying what others might think.

Take Care

 

[Cheyenne]

Now, there are a few things I've seen that I'd like to take a few moments to comment on - and surprisingly enough they are not going to be the things that everyone would expect. I know many of you have just been sitting back waiting for me to raise hell with those who have been posting, well, shall we say, overzealously in recent days - but I'm not gonna do that. Last time this subject came up I said that I had seen the light and that I was going to stay out of shit like that in the future. Well, this is me staying out of shit like that. As annoying as overzealousness may be, I just know it can't last forever - I hope!

Hey, Lasher? Last time I checked, posting a whole paragraph about how you aren't going to talk about the annoying overzealousness of some of the posters doesn't quite qualify as "staying out of shit like that." I'd say it qualifies as giving us your opinion on it and getting IN to shit like that. Nice try, though. You did keep quiet for a few days at least.

 

[Cheri]

I said on another thread that registration means nothing to me. If a post has merit, the status of the poster is irrelevant. What I don't like is a anonymous poster that tries to be intentially cruel such as the Naked Hunny thread. In that instance, it seems that the same point could have been conveyed in a less spitful fashion. I do understand that fear of retribution makes people post anonymously but, as stated before, I wish they had the guts to put forth their true opinions as themselves. It takes this kind of honesty to make this place real and open to those who frequent it. It would also mean that this IS a place where ideas are more important than acceptance. I want to be loved and accepted as much as the next person, but that's not the only reason I come here.
As for the merit of the recent thread, I have found them wanting as well(Hell I've even missing Sparky). Lately there have been few threads that make me think and contimplate my reply before posting. Most recently I've been forced to search for threads that I even want to post to. But I do realize that I am just as responsible as everyone else when it comes to this. And in checking back over my two last thread, they were meaningless fluff, exactly the kind that annoys me. So from now on I will endeavor to start the kind of threads that at least I find interesting, and if others do as well, life is good. If not, go fuck yourselves. Have a nice day.

 

[Guest]

Agree...?

 

[Bliss]

I think you have to examine why the person with the oppossing opinion doesn't bother to post.

Like His Humbleness touched on, fear - or exhaustion. One may not care enough about a particular thread originator's opinion to voice disagreement. One may be tired of the pack mentality. This is still Earth, it is highly unlikely that all present agree with any one sentiment 100%.

Most posters are long time lurkers before they ever register, so they've seen everything that goes on here for weeks or even months beforehand. The whole concept of "newbie" is nothing but a smug security blanket worn by some of those who posted before. Certainly not all, though.

This environment, despite some valiant effort, is not based in total reality. Two glaring examples are those lucky men cast in the roles of Satan and God. The Professor and Maryanne? A porn site owner and a would be screen writer. Just two regular Joes indulging in fantasy.

Harmless enough, right? Until jaded regulars and naive newbies are trained to anticipate the next flame or put down, at ever increasing speed.

In short, Senor, some thread readers are afraid to post dissenting opinions, in part, because of the environs of fear that you had a hand in creating. You already know this and have expressed the "error of your ways" on several occasions. I think the phenomenon is commonly called "the damage is already done".

Specifically about the N/H/R situation... Even if there are those individuals (such as Sammy, who said so herself) who do or did have concerns, I do not think that a sex site is harbouring any of what Deborah termed holier than thou's - at least not in that particular situation.

Call me naive, but I don't think most here give a flying Fig Newton about dictating how anyone else should live. Enough already.

 

[Patryn]

So Lasher, in essence, what you're saying is if you want to insult someone, use a fake name? Excuse me, where are you getting this? There are ways to say you don't agree with someone without insulting them personally, cussing, or trying to cut them down. I'd take equal stock in anyone who did that, registered or unregistered if they had a valid point. But some of this "selective editing" that's been going on, or taking the parts of people's posts that they want to twist, has been the problem, not who's been doing it.

For example, if the "guest" that was harrassing me last night would have said "This is what you posting earlier. It doesn't seem to coincide with what you're saying now. Am I missing something?" or better yet, taken it up personally with me, I would have had no problem explaining the situation to them.

A registered poster can be as big an asshole as a troll or a regular posting under a fake name, so what, again, was your point? I haven't seen anyone judging based on the registration or lack thereof. If a guest comes in with a legitimate need for advice or anything else, they usually get answers. It's the regulars who masquerade as trolls that bothers us. If someone hates me, I'd just as soon know who it is.

 

[Bliss]

We're all using fake names, Patryn. Or at least most are, so what difference does it make which fake name is used and whether it's used to agree or disagree?

Until I saw the silly shit from last night, I always thought that "Not Never" et. al. was in fact Never being silly or more meaningless. Guess not.

And what's this about hating you? With a few exceptions, nobody here really knows anyone else, so how could they make a mortal enemy out of you? If someone really has, then isn't that their sad loss and not worth giving a second thought to?

 

[Patryn]

Bliss, exactly. That's what I was getting at. If you need to use a fake name to hide a fake name, you are totally gutless, and don't deserve to be paid attention to. I, however, like anyone might, get a little irate when this person or persons comes onto the board flooding every thread with "this person is annoying" "this person is a liar" "this person is stupid" when there is no remote mention of anything like that anywhere else in the thread.

Under any name, that just serves to leave a bad taste in people's mouths, but maybe, just maybe, if someone was really "guitly" of something, they'd stand back and take notice if it were coming from someone they were familiar with. Look at it this way. Who would you take more stock in, a friend who told you you didn't look good with a certain hairstyle, or a stranger on the street who told you the same thing?

As for hating me, well, I'm not the only one. Not Never, Hello?! and a few others whom I'm almost convinced are the same person, decided to have a hate fest on nearly everyone last night. If someone doesn't like something I'm doing, I'd like to hear it from them, either on the BBS, or preferably privately, under their "real" name.

Oh, btw....

Get real, Isabella. When was the last time one of you registered fucking sheep had the balls to actually speak what's on your mind? I know I'm not the only fucking person here how's had enough of this bullshit. When is everyone else going to start speaking up? I'll tell ya when, NEVER, cause you're all too busy huddling together protecting yourselves from the truth.

What the fuck is the difference between a registered fake name and an unregistered fake name? I still use the same name everytime. I stand behind every fucking word that I say. I just don't have to succumb to the fucking herd mentality of the registered to feel like I belong or that I have importance.

If you don't like it, who really gives a shit?

This wouldn't be you, would it Lasher?

[Edited by Patryn on 09-11-2000 at 09:19 AM]

 

[Never]

What?

I'm confused here, 'I am not Never' is me. 'Not the Never' is me. 'I wish I were a Never' is me. 'FUDGE YOUSE GUYS!!' is me. I understood that the majority of the board recognized this, as Bliss said, as being another try at meaninglessness and sometimes mockery. At no time, however, have I wished to be cruel or offend someone.

Now, what did I say?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If these deeds did offend,
then Never shall make amends.

 

[Patryn]

You thought that was funny?!?! Are you stupid, or just ignorant? Or maybe tasteless.

 

[Aranian]

Since when did every one have to agree and everything have to be so happy and shit?
...
now it seems like if you don't agree that the entire world should be happy and approve of everything that's posted then you're immediately attacked and labeled a shit stirrer.

I disagree with your disagreement to universal agreement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...wait a minute...

 

[Never]

Patryn, would you please tell me what I said that upset you? I'm not quite sure what you're refuring to as not 'funny'.

 

[Bliss]

See? Each individual has their own humor, own tolerance level and very own unique I'll-stab-your-hand-with-my-fork-if-you-reach-for-that-chicken-leg sacred cows and we're all supposed to intuitively know each person's quirks, mood swings and follow along the party line of I-ain't-speakin'-to-ya-if-you're-friends-with-her but you damned better know when I change my mind and we're best friends again.

For those that don't get it, insert a big, giant NOT after each sentence, er thought.

Nev, the trouble with you being Not Nevah or whoevah is that anyone can post under that unregistered name and, efuckinggads, stir up a hornets nest.

 

[Patryn]

Viva South America!

Never doesn't come out of her room until she thinks of a title. How's about "Goat raping sonofa bitch"?

Listen, 'Goat Raping Son of a Bitch' is Patryn's nickname for me you very nasty person. Now, it may not be pretty but it's the best idea anyone's given me so far and there's no way in heck I'll let you take it..

Draw your own conclusions. And are you the lovely and eloquent boobtoad777 or Hello?!?! as well? And if you say you're not, how are we supposed to believe you?

No, nothing you said by itself is really all that bad, immature and annoying, maybe, but think of the context and the threads you were posting on, and maybe, just maybe, you'll get it through your thick skull why I was not amused.

 

[Never]

If you only know a person by their name then you don't really know them.
If anyone was offended by something I ever said or that someone said while using 'I am not Never' I know I would hear about it or read it myself. In truth, I think too highly of the people on this board to believe they'd do something like that. While I understand the need for anonimity posting as me strikes would be totally dispicable in my opinion. I could to believe people would not do that - even if one person did I wouldn't conclude that the entire board was after me.

 

[Jeff726]

Wow!

I've just been kinda kicking back the last couple of days watching a variety of fools make complete asses out of themselves on this board. I don't know that I've ever seen crap like this happen on the board where I wasn't in the middle of it - and it certainly is refreshing to see just how silly everyone else can be.

Now, there are a few things I've seen that I'd like to take a few moments to comment on - and surprisingly enough they are not going to be the things that everyone would expect. I know many of you have just been sitting back waiting for me to raise hell with those who have been posting, well, shall we say, overzealously in recent days - but I'm not gonna do that. Last time this subject came up I said that I had seen the light and that I was going to stay out of shit like that in the future. Well, this is me staying out of shit like that. As annoying as overzealousness may be, I just know it can't last forever - I hope!

Nope, what I want to talk about today is something that I've decided to call Registrationism - which I've decided to define as discrimination against the quality, honesty, or comedic virtue of a post based entirely on the registrational status of the individual posting - and while showing a complete disregard for the true value of the content of said post.

I don't know about the rest of ya, but I hate ISMs. People who become involved in an ISM tend to deal in absolutes - and there's nothing so absolutely annoying as inflexibility. So you'll understand my dismay when I saw the blatant Registrationism that's been going on the last few days.

I don't understand it in the least. I look back at the time I've spent on the board and I've seen many fine contributions from Unregistered users. And I also think that it is quite silly for those hiding behind "fake names" to begin with to accuse others of cowardice for doing the same. To me, that says more about the insecurities of the registered user than it does about the insecurities of the unregistered user.

I personally place alot of value in what the unregistered users have to say - I've always believed that they are the barometer of the board. We all know damn well that in most cases unregistered posts critical of registered users are being made by other registered users who, for whatever reason, feel the need for an extra layer of privacy. I think we should respect that need for privacy. Often times these are things that NEED to be said, but because of the protective nature of this board, often times they are not. Maybe if more people would take the time to actually read what is being said, and less time being concerned with their own status, most of the situations that develop between the registered and the unregistered could be avoided.

Just as an example, take a look at the posts from our new friend GUH! over the last few days. As he/she so, uhhh, eloquently has said - many of you have been thinking the same things that GUH! has been posting, but no one wants to take the responsiblity of pointing them out. I know I don't - I'm sick and damn tired of having to tell people how messed up they are. I've seen a handful of people try to politely say things about this recent mess, but polite just ain't gonna get it done...

Shit, if this wasn't so long, I'd talk about the comedic necessities of the unregistered post, but I'm sure there's some who've struggled to get this far.....

Anyways, and I'll try and do this briefly... Another thing that's just been driving me nuts is the homogenization of the board. Since when did every one have to agree and everything have to be so happy and shit?? LOOK at the title - it says Literotica Discussion Board.... How come no one discusses anything anymore? Used to be (and I'm sorry for talking about the good old days), people would debate things here - now it seems like if you don't agree that the entire world should be happy and approve of everything that's posted - regardless of how sophomoric or bizarre it may be - then you're immediately attacked and labeled a shit stirrer. Look at the thread about the Nicole/Havoc/Rosebud situation. Looking at that thread you'd think that eveyone in the entire world thought that it's a good thing. You know why?? Cause everyone now seems to be afraid to post an unpopular or dissenting opinion about anything. I guarantee ya there are people chomping at the bit out there to say something about that, but they know they just can't because they're too insecure about their place in this little Literotica society.... So what happens? Either they end up holding their tongues, or they end up posting unregistered....

Think about that next time before you decide to dismiss an unregistered user based solely on your Registrationist beliefs...

(BTW, for those with limited attention spans, there will be a Cliff's Notes version of this post made available... Thank you.)


[Edited by Lasher on 09-10-2000 at 11:45 PM]

dammit we agree again. maybe i need some creative writing classes so i can post my own thoughts.

 

[Never]

Well, you did call me a Goat Raping Son of a Bitch. I'll admit I was very hurt by that, I thought you liked me and was shown, no, she doesn't - she doesn't even trust me. How do you know I'm not boobtoad? You don't you don't know that anyone here isn't boobtoad. You'll never know. That's what I mean about knowing people by more than their names.

Can you do that? If you can't here than there's no way you'll be able to look at other's posts without thinking 'Are they the one?'

Now, I don't know what was wrong with the first one. You said you met a person from South America who made you feel good about yourself and I replied 'Viva South America.' It's clear to me you took that as some sort of recrimination for being happy - for meeting someone that made you feel 'that way'. It was not.

The other two were after you called me a GRSOAB. Someone used that name to insult you and I felt the need to defend myself. It was obvious they were implying I was the one doing so and as I rather like you.. well, and as far as I knew at the time it was the only suggestion anyone had given me.

Hence tha last comment to Nicole about making that my title.

 

[Patryn]

Well, Never, so far you're the only one who's admitted to using a guest name. I honestly didn't know that was really you. There's so many "Not The...." running around, and variations of other names, well...what would you have thought? I guess you just mighta picked the wrong time and the wrong threads to be flip.

Maybe I misunderstood, but it is getting a little difficult to tell who's who and who means what. Would I have reacted differently if I had known it was you? Probably, but I still take somewhat of offense that you were jumping in the melee at the wrong damn time, and not trying to do anything about it, or even staying out. You can do what you want, and so can I, but IMO you coulda picked a better time to do it.

 

[Strange Girl]

Thank you Lasher for starting a thread that stirs so much shit. How about a group hug?

 

[Bliss]

Riddle me this.

Why is the stirrer blamed for the pot of shit?

Points to ponder. Or some such nonsense.