Randy,
Well, you're both right and wrong in your understanding of that snippet of my post. Let me explain.
I am fully thankful for every new member that we can possibly get here at fauna. Not so that our numbers appear bigger, and not so we can begin to take over the gecko world either (sorry. couldn't help myself!). I look forward to new members coming here, because I firmly believe in diversity of experience, perspective, and thought. I am all about encouraging people to speak their minds here on the BOI. Some of the people who are now "old timers" were once newbies, who were disgusted with the way things transpired on the BOI, and I personally talked them into staying around long enough to fully comprehend the nuances of this community, Once they did, they came to appreciate the BOI for what it actually is.
However, what I am not in favor of, here or in any other board community, are new people, who have no real perspective of what actually takes place here on a day by day basis, telling everyone about how we're not using the BOI properly. I'm sorry, but I think that is perhaps the most arrogant thing you can say to a group of people who have been interacting online as a true community with each other for a long, long time. We know how it is supposed to be used, let me assure you. How? Because, although Rich Z. has been generous enough to provide this arena of ideas, and it has been developed completely under his oversight and personal control, those who have been here the longest have had the most impact on what this BOI has become. The "old timers" around here helped to BUILD this site, but someone (not singling ANYONE out here!) who has been lurking for two weeks and then made four or five posts is supposed to know how to use the BOI better than the old-timers??? That's just ridiculous.
I remember arguing with my mother when I was 16. I told her that I was the better driver between the two of us, because I had just read the State driver's training manual, and the information was fresher in my memory. Well, that was a really stupid argument for me to establish with her! She only had about 20 years experience behind the wheel by that time! However, to me, the argument made perfect sense, and I persisted until my father "explained" things to me later.
All I am saying is that new people are more than welcome to post whatever in the world they want in whatever thread they want. I am thrilled they are all here. But please, new people (whoever you are), think about what you are saying when you are basically tell us all:
"Wow! You people sure are misusing this whole BOI thing! Good thing for you I've stumbled on to this site to teach you better!"
The BOI works exactly as it is designed to do in about 99.99% of the cases. When it doesn't work, we recognize it rather quickly, and the BOI is self-corrective. Honest, intelligent people have helped establish this site, and have helped it to continue. More of the same join us every day, and we are thankful!
Regardless of your poltical leanings, it's just like what Rush Limbaugh tells his listeners all the time on his radio show: You have to sit back and give it six weeks or so to understand all of the nuances that go into any thread posted here. There is background to a number of these threads that you may not understand, and many of the old-timers simply forget that the context is not as obvious to everyone else.
By all means, everyone, jump right in! But before you complain about the water being too hot, you might want to make certain that the spring-fed pond you
thought you were jumping into wasn't always intended to be a hot tub from the very beginning!
