In Devin's "I Am Not A Fanboy" thread, one of the posters made a couple of comments about (a) the futility of posting on an internet message board, and (b) the presumed low social status those who do so. This type of thinking crops up from time to time, and I think it bears repudiation.
Let’s begin by addressing the so-called futility of message boards. This attitude is reflected in statements such as, “Who cares about what people write on an internet message board?” Another favorite is, “Let’s face it – we’re just wasting our time here, circulating messages among people we don’t even know.” I suggest three ways of viewing message board culture: the political, the artistic, and the personal. I’ll look at each, in turn.
First, the political. In their initial circulation, The Federalist Papers had a circulation smaller than that of CHUD’s Political Discourse message board. George Washington University professor Gregory Maggs wrote, “Although the exact circulation of these New York City newspapers (that published the Papers) remains unknown, the average circulation of daily and semi-weekly newspapers at the end of the 18th century was probably at most about 600 to 700 copies.” (Maggs, Gregory. A Precise Guide to the Federalist Papers as a Source of the Original Meaningn of the US Constitution) Yep, when yt or Seabass Inna Bun or any of the other of my esteemed and insightful interlocutors hold forth on domestic or international politics, they reach a wider audience than Publius. As with Publius, their arguments do not derive from their professional positions or the degrees on their walls or the size of their bank accounts. Their arguments depend on their intrinsic viability and on the skill of their proponents.
Second, the artistic. Every artist needs a medium, and the internet message board is the medium of choice for some of the smartest and funniest writers around today. Where are you going to find modern writing keener and funnier than the prose Nick Nunziata, Kevin Matchstick, Greg Clark, Clarence Beaks, Jeremy Slater, and the vast rogue’s gallery of CHUD wags create every day? Where are you going to find, day in and day out, religious and philosophical writing on par with DaveB’s – writing so elegant, accessible, and insightful that it qualifies as art? You’re going to find in on the CHUD message boards. It’s good for you, the reader, and it’s good for the creators. The humble internet message board is their canvas, and thank goodness for it.
Third, the personal. The internet message board can be a medium for self-actualization, as I’ve found in my personal life. I essentially coasted to a Magna cum Laude in the graduate program of a respected school on the analysis and argumentation skills I’ve honed here at CHUD. Hell, banging out a final exam on Chinese strategy in Africa or analyzing the future of Caspian Sea oil and natural gas politics is child’s play compared to defending the decision to invade Iraq against Micah Robinson. Further, the internet message board culture can help us develop our best selves through the freedom of anonymity. When I created the FrankCobretti persona, it was specifically to test the advice of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. It worked and, over time, FrankCobretti came to represent an aspect of my best self. While I’m still much more apt to call someone a fuckin’ moron in person, I’ve internalized large parts of the patient, accepting Cobretti persona, and I’m a better man for it.
Now, let’s discuss the self-loathing of the “message board posters are unkempt Asperger’s cases who subsist at the very bottom of the social hierarchy” mindset. Honestly, I have no idea where this comes from. I’ve been involved in internet culture since AT&T experimented with the Gateway portal in 1986. I’ve had the good fortune of meeting a number of <>rs, listserve members, and Chewers over the years, and I’ve found them to be as likeable, charismatic, and attractive a cross-section of humanity as one is likely to find anywhere. No one can witness the beauty that is LD operating on an unsuspecting cutie and believe that Chewers are a bunch of guys who’ve never kissed a girl. No one can spend even 15 minutes with the Atlanta gang and believe that Chewers are misfits who are unable to carry on a quick, witty, hilarious conversation in person. We’ve got doctors. We’ve got lawyers. I strongly suspect that Lisa is an Indian Chief. Bottom dwellers? Pfah. Message board posters are some of the smartest, funniest, best-informed people around. Look around, baby – we’re at the top.
So, let’s have done with message board self-loathing. This is our forum. It has value. If it didn’t, we wouldn’t be here. After all, we’re too good to waste our time on worthless pursuits.
P.S. I'm sorry, I couldn't figure out how to name-drop all the quality posters here at CHUD. You're awesome!
Let’s begin by addressing the so-called futility of message boards. This attitude is reflected in statements such as, “Who cares about what people write on an internet message board?” Another favorite is, “Let’s face it – we’re just wasting our time here, circulating messages among people we don’t even know.” I suggest three ways of viewing message board culture: the political, the artistic, and the personal. I’ll look at each, in turn.
First, the political. In their initial circulation, The Federalist Papers had a circulation smaller than that of CHUD’s Political Discourse message board. George Washington University professor Gregory Maggs wrote, “Although the exact circulation of these New York City newspapers (that published the Papers) remains unknown, the average circulation of daily and semi-weekly newspapers at the end of the 18th century was probably at most about 600 to 700 copies.” (Maggs, Gregory. A Precise Guide to the Federalist Papers as a Source of the Original Meaningn of the US Constitution) Yep, when yt or Seabass Inna Bun or any of the other of my esteemed and insightful interlocutors hold forth on domestic or international politics, they reach a wider audience than Publius. As with Publius, their arguments do not derive from their professional positions or the degrees on their walls or the size of their bank accounts. Their arguments depend on their intrinsic viability and on the skill of their proponents.
Second, the artistic. Every artist needs a medium, and the internet message board is the medium of choice for some of the smartest and funniest writers around today. Where are you going to find modern writing keener and funnier than the prose Nick Nunziata, Kevin Matchstick, Greg Clark, Clarence Beaks, Jeremy Slater, and the vast rogue’s gallery of CHUD wags create every day? Where are you going to find, day in and day out, religious and philosophical writing on par with DaveB’s – writing so elegant, accessible, and insightful that it qualifies as art? You’re going to find in on the CHUD message boards. It’s good for you, the reader, and it’s good for the creators. The humble internet message board is their canvas, and thank goodness for it.
Third, the personal. The internet message board can be a medium for self-actualization, as I’ve found in my personal life. I essentially coasted to a Magna cum Laude in the graduate program of a respected school on the analysis and argumentation skills I’ve honed here at CHUD. Hell, banging out a final exam on Chinese strategy in Africa or analyzing the future of Caspian Sea oil and natural gas politics is child’s play compared to defending the decision to invade Iraq against Micah Robinson. Further, the internet message board culture can help us develop our best selves through the freedom of anonymity. When I created the FrankCobretti persona, it was specifically to test the advice of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. It worked and, over time, FrankCobretti came to represent an aspect of my best self. While I’m still much more apt to call someone a fuckin’ moron in person, I’ve internalized large parts of the patient, accepting Cobretti persona, and I’m a better man for it.
Now, let’s discuss the self-loathing of the “message board posters are unkempt Asperger’s cases who subsist at the very bottom of the social hierarchy” mindset. Honestly, I have no idea where this comes from. I’ve been involved in internet culture since AT&T experimented with the Gateway portal in 1986. I’ve had the good fortune of meeting a number of <>rs, listserve members, and Chewers over the years, and I’ve found them to be as likeable, charismatic, and attractive a cross-section of humanity as one is likely to find anywhere. No one can witness the beauty that is LD operating on an unsuspecting cutie and believe that Chewers are a bunch of guys who’ve never kissed a girl. No one can spend even 15 minutes with the Atlanta gang and believe that Chewers are misfits who are unable to carry on a quick, witty, hilarious conversation in person. We’ve got doctors. We’ve got lawyers. I strongly suspect that Lisa is an Indian Chief. Bottom dwellers? Pfah. Message board posters are some of the smartest, funniest, best-informed people around. Look around, baby – we’re at the top.
So, let’s have done with message board self-loathing. This is our forum. It has value. If it didn’t, we wouldn’t be here. After all, we’re too good to waste our time on worthless pursuits.
P.S. I'm sorry, I couldn't figure out how to name-drop all the quality posters here at CHUD. You're awesome!
