Official Trout Rating

<----- What's wrong with rainbows?

Im normally all sunshine and rainbows, but repellant doesn't work one me! mwahahaha

Damn.......I can't keep Claire away, well sheesh, there goes that plan!!

I was BUSY last night! Busy. Fingers are tired this morning from all that typing. I don't really salivate over the pictures because it messes up the keyboard, but I do try to spend a little time with them trying to see if I can get some insight into the person behind the avatar. It's sort of interesting to see what clues people leave about themselves in the way they put their avatars together, dress, etc. That's why I always prefer multiple pictures to just one.

Stephen - Gasp! People don't know who I am!? I'm a LEGEND! A LEGEND, I tell you!! lol. Seriously, I'm perfectly happy with that and I don't expect anyone to know who I am. If they hang around here, they'll see me post and I'm pretty easy to get to know, I think. I don't beat up on anyone and I try to respect others' opinions and posts. It's not like I'm someone who has contributed anything huge and meaningful to SL like a few of our regular posters.

Speaking of opinions, Rha has expressed hers, and I don't have a problem with it. If she doesn't like the rating thing, then that's ok by me. I wouldn't want anyone to take away my right to disagree with her, so why would I object to her right to speak her mind? In this case, she and I disagree both about the cliquishness and about the ratings. Cliques are exclusive. When I showed up on the forums, I thought Rhaorth was one of the "in crowd" because I saw her posting. I was a totally hapless, clueless newb who couldn't get his AO to work. I posted a question, got an immediate answer, and people were very friendly and welcoming. I made friends immediately. Hell, within a day, a few people looked me up in-world, helped me with the AO and invited me to hang out with them. They didn't have to do that, they just did. If that's a clique, then sign me up. I think that as far as us being a circle of friends, Nika was right. Whether Rha or Ricardo or Michael Bigwig or anyone likes it, you're "in". You post here, you're stuck with us. We're friends. That's what friends do. They stick by you even when you don't want them to be your friend. Welcome to the clique, Rha (and Ricardo)!

Don't go bringing facts into it Stephen

This Forum does foster a little bubble away from SL, which gives rise to the idea of popularity. However it's what is in world that counts.

I can't think of a better example than Claire. I don't go the The Hangout very often anymore, but when there is a green dot on the map it is usually her. She just jumped in and made the place her own. We really should put her name on the place. Socialization is a shared process. You don't have to be a social maven, but you can't keep to yourself and then complain of being lonely.Yesterday when I was there we had a new visitor, Kurt Ludd, a well known business owner and forun regular. When I left a few minutes later he was yakking away like any other regular. *He has great hair, too*

Just kidding...I was busy too, Trout. So much so that I didn't even have time for a quick IM to you when I saw you on.

I thought our skybox club would be a hands-off operation. Just find a manager and let her run it as she liked. BZZZZT! Wrong!

/me kicks stack of discarded racy pics of herself under the sofa.

Come and sit here, and I'll massage your poor, tired fingers...

Re the assertation that people confuse "clique" with posters who know each other, I think this is rubbish and self-delusional. This Forum conforms to the way ALL Forums work - which is on the basis that if someone is disliked they are either ignored or, occaisionally, picked on.

And no I do not mean I am picked on. I think you all know I am far more than capable of handling myself.

A clique is a little group who are seen as the pack leaders in essence. Again, I speak for things other have said to me. In Cherry World, there's just whatever I am doing at that time. Like it or lump it is a good Yorkshire saying, and also not from Yorkshire but equally good is "Mute is your friend".

I haven't met enough people in world whom I get good vibes from here (and this is my fault for being so busy most of the time). I have met people I'd rather not have .. they are not on my social agenda. Shrugs.

Also, to take up the point made to Rhoarth. I've always found her extremely personable and helpful in world or not. If anything, I find her slightly innocent, bless her cottons.

All a matter of perception. What shocked me was the discovery that I was seen as one OF the clique, when I am fairly sure most of them wouldn't pee on me if I was on fire - unless they pee petrol (in which case they have worse things to worry about that little old me).

Even though it's our nature as humans to classify everything in our environment, sometimes I think it's possible to get into "overclassifying" things. I don't worry about cliques, groups, "families", clubs, whatever. I hang out with those I'm comfy with, where I'm comfy to be. SL is about being happy and having fun. when it isnt either of those, you're doing it wrong.


I guess some people enjoy the gossip/drama stuff; I don't judge those who do, but I prefer to avoid it like the plague...

My advice is maybe it would be easier to be happy and have a good time if one wasn't so worried about being "in" or "out" of the things he/she sees as exclusive clubs/groups/ets.

In school, I never had a 'set group" for lunch. I sat with a variety of groups. Wasn't unusual to see me one day with the tuba line and the next with the science club geeks. I still am that way. I guess "implied membership" was never that important to me.

I know I've never been asked not to post in a particular thread, and I've been to the cartel hangout many, many times, and the times there *were* people there, I've always been treated very nicely...no one went out of their way to fall at my feet, but they didnt fall at anyone elses either.

I guess the whole point of my rambling this time (and no, I haven't been into the wine) is to say....relax, quit worrying about who's in and out...have fun, be what you want to be, and treat others the way you want to be treated... And who cares who's in or out?

*group hugs* to all of you...

Good point!

I watched "Dancing With the Stars" regularly the first few seasons and read the forums daily. Posts such as, "You didn't like that dance?!?! WTF is wrong with you????? You're probably some fat old bioch who is just jealous you don't look like that."

...and those were the "nice" posts.

It seems clear to me that all the people who think that there's a clique and that they are (for whatever reason) excluded from it, logically form a clique of their own. Ha ha, you're in a clique. Take that!! Why won't you let me in your clique?

You should try the RL BDSM Forums I no longer can be bothered with. Nice smiles hiding knives. This Forum is like kittens licking each other by comparison.

No I don't mean me and Ann.

Shame on you all who think such a thing.

OK no Godwins. OK. I think I can change that.

How about them Nazis then?

You're not smelly enough.

/me remains -- and quite proudly so -- unrated and unratable

..i didn't think it till you mentioned it.. and now I can't stop (Not that I wanna, mind you...)

Unratable? If you sent him a pic (Not nude of course, gawd no) he wouldn't even rate you? That's no fun.. I'd like to know how negative it can go...

/me adopts Mrs. Doubtfire voice: Maggie!!! I'm SHOCKED...just...shocked!!!

/me waves....good to see you

Yes, what she said.

/me stares off vacantly for a while

OK My take on this,

Well, I think many of us have different views on what a clique is. I for one always thought everyone who posts regularly in RA to be in the 'clique'. So whether one wishes to be in the clique or not, the fact that I could recognize your name makes you part of the clique (for me). The RA clique, if you like. I feel as if I know a little about everyone here. The regulars have different interests and you will see them post and answer in different threads. Some enjoy meeting inworld at the hangout (many of those aren't posting in this particular thread) and some have never met inworld.

I think that you are right about sub-cliques (if that makes sense), who may share in-jokes and the like. This one could be called 'The Cabal of Dissident Sluts'. It's all in fun and it doesn't stop anyone who may share in the joke to later disagree on another topic. There are many regular posters who may or may not be considered part of the 'clique' that haven't popped into this thread (yet).

If a poster is nasty to someone else just for the sake of being a jerk, I'll stick up for that person - whether they're a regular or a first time poster. I for one have always felt that I 'belonged' where ever I have been, that I had a right to 'be'. Yet, an outsider in the sense that I'm unique and not easily swayed.

Each and everyone of us belongs to a sub-clique, and the fun part is, you can choose to be in as many as you wish. Example, if you find this thread to be funny - if you enjoy reading it, then you are part of this sub-clique. If you do not, then you aren't. Either way, do as you wish. Whether anyone wishes to admit it, we are ALL part of a sub-clique here on the RA.


(Gee, you guys are such fast multi-fingered typers...already 2 pages have zoomed by while I wrote this)

/me settles back into his chair and thinks for a bit.

Well, the problem with the Nazis is, fundamentally, their pitching. You certainly don't look for the bullpen to be up to speed at this point in Spring training, but you at least need to be showing a little better depth. They've got a couple of fast-ballers, but those guys blow out after seven innings, and then what have you got? No bullpen. Plus, no starters who can toss knuckleballs and curves to give the bullpen a break. It's not a good situation. Defensively, their infield is good and they have decent outfielders, but I'd like to see a little more speed at second base and shortstop.

Their bats are great, though. I expect to see a lot of action, especially when they play other teams with weak pitching, like the Socialists and the Marxists. Should be high scoring games. Look for the Nazis to play just under .500 ball this season.

Definite clique.

This is the thing Lindal. I was the one saying these things before cos people were "scared" to come out here or to the Hangout. I actually encouraged them to go for it and many have.

I don't consider myself "out and in the dark" though - I am perfectly happy doing whatever. But if we analyse what you are saying there. -"If you are not with us then you're excluded" is the logical conclusion Even - EVEN - if that is not what you or anyone else intends when things like this are said ... that's how it looks. And I am judging that from the outside, i.e. objectively.

Hugs.

hmmf!

.....Its true...I have no life...

Godwin!! Yay.

Bless ya

Nope. No rating f'r me. Trout said so. AN really, dat's okay by me.

As for cliques: I was given my FIC membership card dis last weekend. Go fig.

Mari

I'm a fundamentally shy person, and I managed to do it. Not saying that that means everyone should, but I do think the bar is pretty low. Especially considering how friendly and forgiving *most* of the people here seem to be. More than once somebody has shown up, made a complete ass of themselves, and then was later accepted regardless. Well, maybe just the once...