Forums are amusing.

[Madman]

This is about the only forum I even post on, and I don't do that all to often.

Recently I joined another forum (I'll withhold the name). It was a rather large blogging site and I believe the forum was more of a "rider" or "came with the software" type of thing.

Anyway... I joined back in August of 09. They must've had some kind of major rift in their site just prior to me joining. I say that because the atmosphere was very negative and hostile. Not just to me, but to almost everyone - even the seasoned members were targets for hostility. The site was a business, the moderators were employees of the business and, from what I could see, didn't comeon the scene very often.

Back in August I posted an introduction in the Intro forum and, as things usually are for me, I logged out and popped back in about three weeks later to read any responses I may have received. I had ZERO welcomes. I looked at other intro's and the response was the same - except for someone who posted an intro with the name "SexySusan" - she had 27 responses.

I decided to surf the forum and check out some of the other threads. I found the main area where most of the activity is, found a thread and posted a rather neutral, but controversial opinion on the topic. Wow! You would've thought I committed a crime. Within just a few minutes I was attaccked by no less than three members. We went back and forth for a few rounds about the topic. I explained my points, they called me stupid and then explained their points, and I responded on topic and I was called really ignorant and that I didn't know what I was talking about. It was really weird. I posted again and asked if I had offended anyone and I received a warning from one member who told me he used to be the moderator and If I didn't quit trolling that he was going to make sure I'd get banned forever.

Banned? Me? I hadn't even said a nasty word yet.

Okay, I said it... finally. I said to this ex-moderator type... "You Stupid Pinhead... Go Fuck Youself and do your butt buddies while your at it."

OMG The shit hit the fan! It became a feeding frenzy and I was the food for the forum gods. I sat there looking at my monitor, clicking on refresh, in disbelief at the number of post that kept coming up in response to my one post. It was hilarious - I was awestruck. A psychologist would've thought they died and went to heaven trying to figure out this scenerio. I logged out and went back to work.

About two weeks later I logged back in again and looked for that thread. I found it. I counted the number of posts in response to my one - 54 responses to my one post. Unbelievable! I surfed around for a bit, didn't see anything of interest. Lots of flaming, negativism and just plain complaining about piddly things. I logged out.

Went back again yesterday. The ex-moderator made a threat to someone that he was going to leave the forum if things didn't get better.

I logged in and made one post - "don't drop your mouse on the way out!" and placed the big grin right after that.

Not to exciting really. Just thought I'd share this experience with y'all.

Well, I gotta go. See y'all in a few weeks when I come back to read this thread.