IngredientX wrote:One thing I've seen on this very site is the issue of the Core Nerds. It's not really a clique, because people are really just one Recess away from befriending people in the Core, and the Core is quite quick to embrace outsiders.
With other people, just having a Core would be a problem. It's to our advantage that our Core is made up of incredibly friendly and approachable people! But it's still a Core.
So please understand: I'm not being critical of the people inside the Core, or the fact that there is a Core. Like I said, the Core is made up of awesome people. But I've seen conflicts of Core vs. newcomers here, and I think they're worth mentioning. As we grow, we'll only see more of them.
* Now, when people in the Core message each other, there's usually light-hearted abuse and fun. But when someone outside the Core, especially a newcomer, posts something with an acerbic tone, he/she doesn't get the benefit of the doubt, and there's a backlash.
It's not always obvious to a newcomer that he/she can't write with the same tone as the Core. Some newcomers never accept this, and get angry. It is, to an extent, a double standard.
Do we clearly define who's in the Core? Do we change the way we post?
* Other times, someone with a personal philosophy that differs from the Core will post something, and there'll be a clear division between the Core and everyone else.
As we grow, this division will become more and more exagerrated. Different viewpoints will be exchanged, and there might be a time when the Core may be outranked and outvoted by a bloc of newcomers. This is exactly what happened on BGG.
Are we comfortable with that? Is it worth growing if, one day, we will have to surrender our control of the group to people we won't necessarily agree with?
Tekatana wrote:An amazingly insightful post.
I think the thing that makes this board function the way it does is many of the participants in this chunk of cyberspace see each other in "meat-space" and do not just interact on these boards. It's not a common thing for most b-boards on the web I am sure.
Friends behave differently with each other than semi-ananymous board posters do (naturally) and that carries over to the boards. That has a profound effect on everyone's posts, behaviors, styles, etc (lots of people will rise up in 'defense' when their friend is challenged for example). Those friends comprise the "core." And I don't think it's something that is necessarily detrimental or that needs fixing. It just is.
I would think a major part of the Nerdnyc goal would be to meet more people live and in person through events and GGG's and such. By doing so it expands the core, filling it with new people, who eventually become friends. Then that newly expanded core meets new people who become friends, etc. etc. until all nerds are united under one banner... and then we will change the face of Arakis. The Dice Must Flow!
JimB wrote:When I joined NerdNYC it was pretty obvious to me that there was a core group that I was not yet a part of. I knew without anyone telling me that I couldn't just jump right in being sarcastic, making fun of people or threatening to fuck their dads. As time went by and I developed friendships at NerdNYC, I allowed my posts to get more outrageous.
What I'm saying is that the Core issue never affected me because for me (and I think most people) it's pretty obvious how you should or shouldn't behave in a group that you're a new member of.
But, Ingrediantx, you are totally correct that there have been issues in the past when new members crossed lines that old members cross all the time. As far as a solution goes, I would say it would suffice to add a note to the site rules. Perhaps something like:Because many members of NerdNYC are close friends, they often talk to each other in very familiar ways (sarcasm, insults, sex jokes, etc). If you are a new member, we look forward to the day that we know you so well that you can post like that, but until then please use common sense when posting on NerdNYC.
IngredientX wrote:Jimb, that's probably the best way! Hopefully our advice will be heeded...
