Elitism - Page 2

Actually "nasciant" is only used as a Latin term. So fuck me, you're the elitist you dead language speaking mo fo.

A comedy about Borad Finch who proved that particleisation of inanimate objects was a technical impossibility?

Yeah. Sure.

Perfect example:

Patrick Dempsey went from a nobody to an elitist. "You shit on my house!!!"

Consider the debate over now.

Bloody hell, I am an elitist! Aestimo ergo sum!

Elitism is only a problem if you don't like the people you're grouped with.

a) an Apple user.


b) Lives in Cary, NC


or c) My boss says if you went to UNC-CH you are a wine and cheese homosexual Chapel Hill Elitest.

I'm a Mac user and went to UNC-CH and live in Durham. That's 2 out of 3.

I guess that I aspire to be Elite but I'm dirt poor.

I had a level 36 Tanker and I could stand up against a level 50 boss. Fuck yeah, I was elite!

Aww, hon, you're the best smartass I know. :P

Isn't everyone an elitist about SOMETHING? Seriously. I'm a yarn snob. I'm not a film snob, not really a video game snob, but I like my knitting yarn a certain way and that's it.

Also I'm a better knitter than you. Everything else? not so much.

(This is very similiar to the guys who are beer elitists or something)

Some of us in Cary got grandfathered in. ... apparently.

Elitism is a method of trying to build oneself up into something more than we are. Elitism attempts by the use of knowledge, intelligence and subjective judgment to place oneself higher in realm of humanity than others. Elitism serves no purpose except to divide and delude.

The worst elitism I experienced was as a music director for a college radio station. People would think they were all so special because they knew some group or another. Thinking that they had something special that no one else had. Thinking that they truly "loved" the music and "got it" in a way no one else could. The reality is they didn't love the music so much as thinking themselves as "special". However when you try to share your passion about something, that is when you really get to experience the depth of whatever it is you are in to music, films, and literature...

We are way more alike than we are different. AND if you truly love whatever you are "elitist" about you would share it openly and without prejudice with others. Beyond that elitism is a narrow point of view. If you are so invested in "your beliefs" about something and are not open to the possibilities outside your elitists ideology you are doomed to have limited experience.

I agree with what others have said.... there is always someone better, smarter, nicer, more attractive than you...

I would also agree that most people are elitist. We have to fight our own prejudices about what we love and not project negatively on others that "just don't get it".

"Eliticism" isn't a real word.

Damn...clearly not an elitist speller either...

Ha! I finally beat somebody to the punch.

Ah, the cost of being fashionably late. C'est la vie.

Hey, I take my victories, however small they may be, when I can.

Eliticism....should be a word for pretentious elitists types that can't spell or perhaps for the neuroses involved in discussions of elitism.

No it shouldn't.

That would be Nelson. I know that because he passed some kids in a BMW and scared them.

If you are elite, you belong to a bunch of guys or girls who share some special skill or appearence in some field, thus forming a group that has a higher social status.

Being an elite on an internet message board is mostly archieved by youngsters and people who are way too alone, spending their time preferred on the net instead of archieving something in work, or going out with friends - and lovers. A high amount of posts in a short period of time, similar signature lines and the repeated use of insider jokes often indicates such a person.

Is there any praise or pride, to clap yourself on your shoulder for being a well-known, witty (in)famous elite person on a message board? You can't buy a thing with that, and it won't kiss you goodnight. Imagine the board being taken down from one day to the other. Within days, you'd be forgotten and vanished. You can take such a community seriously, but there should be limits.

Me? Of course I'm an elite, but not in a message board. I prefer reality.

Ah, a reality snob.

Bullshit.

But of course.

"-Ism's in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, 'I don't believe in The Beatles, I just believe in me.' Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus and I'd still have to bum rides off of people."

Once again, Ferris points the way.

Well, then tell me about those internet elites. Do you consider yourself one? Then what's so special about being an online elite - in discussions? Even Counter-Strike 1337 kids have more right to be proud about that.

Spot on. Your internet persona is whatever you desire it to be. If you think you're badass in real life and attempt to project that attitude onto a message board..well, whatever. If you think you're a badass or a member of an elite sect on the INTERNET or a message board, you have my condolences. Seriously.


I'm now off to post with my badass internerd buddies about what a fake John Titor is. Ciao.

Don't you run an internet site ?

Bullshit indeed. You just seem archetypal of the sort that uses the term "elite" (see my earlier post for explanation). Then again you're the same fellow who "employs" jamiepoole for his acumen, spelling and journalistic credibility, so...

I call bullshit because your description of "Internet Elites" is just the same old garbage.

"Youngsters and people who are way too alone, spending their time preferred on the net instead of archieving something in work, or going out with friends - and lovers."

So, fat virgin in parents basement dressed as Klingon, right? Astonishing insight. Bravo.

You sound like the unpopular kid in school trying to convince himself that all the popular kids are just big smelly poopheads.

To even have an opinion on what "Internet Elites" are like is a sign that you are the one who takes all this far too seriously, and allows their low self-esteem to bleed into their online dealings with other people.

That you sign off by making it quite clear that you're a "real life" Elite kinda guy, and certainly not an Internet loser...it's pretty pathetic that you feel you have to do that.

Who cares?

People who have confidence, people who are at ease with who they are on and offline, don't give a toss about what other people's Internet personas mean, and they don't give a toss if they're "elite" or not.

And that is probably what makes them "Elite", if you insist on clinging to the term. Because those are the people who stick around, have personalities that come through even from words on a screen, and help form communities.

I can honestly say - having met a great many of the people from this site who are presumably part of this lonely sexless online elite existence you crow about - that they've all been socially adept, intelligent, confident and attractive; and have interesting and successful lives.

Yes, even in real life.

I say it again: if you've gone to the emotional investment of thinking about "Internet Elites" and coming up with cliched notions of what they're really like in order to make yourself feel better about your place in the world...

They're not the sad ones.

Every day I become more and more convinced that internet message boards are populated largely by insecure people. You've got your timid, naive affirmation-seekers, or your jaded, bitter, angry bullies who cannibalize them. Just about everyone's looking for an ego boost, aren't they? Trying to impress or destroy?

Whitehead is master of reality.

Me? I'm full of Super Confidence, on and off the board! Yee-haw!

No.

Some come here to learn and impart.

Funny, according to Andre, everyone's quite aware who's elite or not. From his thread in the sex forum:



You may think people calling others "stupid" is imparting knowledge, but I'd overwhelmingly disagree. There are some people like Micah, Jacob, or DaveB who do their best to interact with everyone (the exception being obvious shills and trolls) in a respectful matter, whether or not they agree with that person's stance. But the majority of people that are acknowledged as elite think its not only their right, but their duty to treat people like shit. Again from the infamous sex forum thread:

Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with people being elite on a message board or in reality. It's human nature that some people are smarter, faster, bigger, etc. than others. What I have a problem with is the sense of entitlement that many elite people have. A severly handicapped person has the same right to exist that a rocket scientist has.

Similarly on a public message board, everyone has the same right to be here, regardless of their knowledge of certain films or their taste in certain film genres. I find the entitlement that some Chewers feel they have over these boards inappropriate and off-putting. Since its a public message board that no one but Nick owns, the argument that some people deserve to post here over others is moot.

If Nick has a problem with anyone, he can ban them. And if anyone other than Nick has a problem with someone, they can ignore them. Attacking people for their opinions on movies just makes you (the general you) look like an asshole, whether you are elite or not. Some people thrive on being the asshole and I find that sad and pathetic. That's what makes you look insecure. Because if you really were fine with who you are as a person, you wouldn't need to put others down to make yourself feel better.

Diva, imparting harshly, maybe, but still imparting. Nothing in that thread was less than solidly thought out or bang on the money with regards to the text at hand.

I think you're slightly biased due to the self acknowledged flippancy you displayed in the respective thread. So it's not the most quantative assessment. Not denying elitist qualities (which is what Dre says in that quote) is not the same as using "Elite" as an adjective or proper noun. Plus the fact that it's never the ones accused of being "Elite" that bring the term up, or think of it that way. It's merely a label that's difficult to ignore after it bandied about so vociferously in forums like this, right or wrong. I'm sure I could find examples if I trawled through your post count, but you yourself have found it funny when a veteran slams a newb for expounding somethign a little idiotic. The difference is, this time it was you that was in the "firing line". So how do you square that kind of "hypocracy" (for want of two less hyperbolic terms) ?

Murph: ...

Actually people posting stupid or naive stuff with good intentions can be quite useful. it teaches us how other people live and how they, in this case, react to movies. that can be very informative, help with communication and empathy skills, give us perspective on our own views and ideas, and be very entertaining too.
And, of course, being knowledgable and perceptive has nothing to do with whether you are a nice human being.

Would you genuinely prefer some cyber-eugenics program installed here?

Sure, if you drop the "cyber" part.

Dan, I think I used the wrong words. I did not mean it in a "I know it all" Judge Dredd kinda way, pointing the finger and thinking I'm better than others. Hell, of course I'm not better than most people in here and I can assure you that I don't take the discussions in here too seriously. Saw the topic, had some time off and wrote a little bit. And not the most honest, serious bit.

See, this forum might be a special exception, but take a look at other message boards. In most of them you find people who take stuff like that way too seriously. Ever got really angry about a message that was posted in a discussion board? That's what I'm talking about. In my time here at CHUD, I experienced a lot of such things, but mostly I don't care. If Joe Smith from Philadelphia thinks I'm an asshole, I skip his entry.It's just not worth it. But now? What am I doing? I take some time to answer you, and if you want my definition of "elite" here, I can honestly tell you that there are a handful of people in here I do have respect for. Including you. Then I might care, and only then - and therefore I write this right now.

I do know people who spend not much, but all of their freetime on message boards and chats, reducing their circle of friends to a virtual one. Those guys are it who are easily offended on message boards, because their existence there means a lot to them. I meant those kind of guys. And it's not always the fat klingon in mum's basement, it's mostly people who are either too shy or too comfortable to get out more often. Actually, I think that's really sad. If I had a daughter, I'd prefer her to spend her weekends with friends instead of her computer.

And about the people in here. I've never met one of them, but I know that Micah, Diva, Nick, Dev etc. and yes you too are kind and interesting persons. I don't say that everyone who likes to post much is an idiot, it's just some people of them who shouldn't take it too seriously. Wasn't it copperlocke who wished someone to be raped and murdered or something like that? That's what I mean. You don't write such stuff if you're a cool person.

Mh. My point is, it's okay to give a little of you into a message board, but one shouldn't reduce his life to it and they shouldn't defend it like their most precious thing. Those guys mostly call themselves elites, and I think they're not.

Real life elite.. hm. Eventually, I wouldn't consider myself a loser, but on the other hand I'm not wealthy and up to now, I haven't archieved something I could be Really proud of, but I'm working on that. Think that gives a better image.


And about Jamie Poole, he handed in a handful of reviews and that's it. Never met him, never talked much to him and actually I don't even really know him.

1. I'm not talking about that thread specifically. The attitudes I am complaining about happen frequently thoughout these boards, and not just to myself. Those attitudes do nothing to promote discussion and makes the atmosphere at CHUD miserable. Maybe its the intention to drive people away, but that usually doesn't happen and just turns threads into giant flame wars.

2. I am flippant with certain people because for some nothing I say is taken seriously so I just don't try. My entire argument was simplified by slater to "nuh-uh". I see no reason to take anyone seriously if they do not afford me the same respect.

3. You're playing semantics. Just because one hasn't labeled themself as "elite" doesn't mean they don't act or think of themselves as elite. There are quite a few Chewers who more than acknowledge that they feel they are superior to others on these boards. Not to mention that an "Elite" message board was created specifically so these same people could stop complaining about how those less than them are destroying the boards and its discussion. Calling people out for saying a spade is a spade is just stupid.

4. In 10,000 plus posts, sure you could find something, but it wouldn't be recent. I have tried in the past few years to be respectful to people because I just don't feel like that type of behavior benefits the boards. I'm sure you could find a few examples of me slipping, but the overwhelming majority of my recent posts are just discussion.

To both CF and 2.0 there is a sense of exculsivity. Because membership is not given freely, hence a sense of elitism draped around it. The original idea behind 2.0 was that there are a lot of people out here now that aren't a part of the community as it once was. Nick wanted to create a haven for older chewers who didn't want to interact with the 137th person to start a "movies you love that everyone else hates" thread, or the 732nd "This is why TPM is an awesome movie" thread. I wouldn't call what Nick did elitist in the slightest.

I don't think choosing who you want to converse with is all that elitist a sentiment, but I guess some people who feel excluded would. That's simply a perspective thing.

Isn't that Sean Bateman Syndrome?

I think the internet has created a new type of elitist. It has empowered an entire generation of overweight, slovenly and socially inept losers to puff our their chests on web site message boards and pretend to have tastes and talents that dwarf that of their peers, which they then believe makes them better human beings. The truth is, if most people saw these internet elitists burning on the streets, they wouldn't piss on them to put out the flames. This is why we can't take this stuff that seriously, because when you do, you've given in to them. The next time you get pissed at one of these people, just remember how pitiful their real lives are, and go about your business.

Choosing who you want to converse with is fine. I have no problem with that. I have a problem with people attacking others. If you don't like someone or their thread, ignore them. Coming into a thread to bully people around is uncalled for. Some say they do it because its amusing, but the very reason its amusing is because it makes the bully feel smarter and more important. That has been my point all along. I don't care who anyone chooses to interact with. I have a huge problem though when people treat others like shit because of an inflated sense of entitlement. That's when I utilize the word "elite".

So says the guy living in his mother's basement dressed up as 7 of 9 (sans pants) listening to blooper reels from Xena Warrior Princess and posting on CHUD.

I kid, I kid.

Sure there are always people who are going to use the power of anonymity to make themselves into Living Gods, but I don't think that's exclusively what this conversation is about.

Elitism is a healthy thing in life. I define becoming elite as working hard or learning great gobs of things towards a particular state that will isolate you from others if you take it far enough. Case in point, if you start writing and you get good at it, you will hang with writers who are at least as good as you or better so that you can continue to learn. To writers who are worse than you, you may seem snobby or "elite", but you are really just devoting yourself to your craft and making the tough decisions necessary to get from point A to point B.

Diva, if people are feeling insulted, I think they can speak up for themselves. Or is it that just YOU feel insulted by Devin et. al. ? No one else seems to be complaning or caring. If you don't like what people say, call them on it or ignore them, but don't presume there is some epidemic of insulting going on and that you have to speak for everyone here. Star Chamber doesn't exist anymore, remember?

Why not just utilize the word "bully"?

this is a slight derailment, but nevermind, at least these are important topics.

Andre, that sort of attitude can throw the baby out with the bath water. it implies (at least as you phrase it here) an awful lot about those not in 2.0 - that they are all on the level of 'star was rulezzz' posters for one thing.
if 2.0 is a social club for old friends then what is wrong with that? But in the quote above you imply it is there to weed out undesirables. A lot of your posts verge on coming over as judgemental like that.
'it's a perspective thing' implies that others should take care to see your side. Perhaps you should tak care to see theirs too.

It is unlikely you actually are massively judgemental - so you should be careful, and understand how your posts can come across sometimes.

also - reducing the gene pool can lead to all sorts of problems with inbreeding. if the real purpose of 2.0 is as a 'haven' then the exclusion works both ways. you could lose the perspective of those whom you would demand see your perspective.

the very act of creating a seperate place for some automatically creates 'sides'. it is in the nature of a wall. it seperates people - which makes your assertions that those who you have seperated from yourself do not see your persepctive a little arrogant. it makes assumptions about which perspective is more valid. which is dangerous or, at the very least, will rile a bunch of people up.

Again, i think these criticisms mostly come from some of your phrasing than any genuine intention behind the words, but i would suggest not being so blind as to dismiss those who only have those words to go on.

Anyway, it's fun here in 'general population'.

What the hell, man? Why in the hell would I care about Xena? It's Hercules, please remember that.

Straxboy, how many times have you been educated by running a gauntlet of abuse? Or you, Devin? Hypothetically speaking, are you a better man for having been humiliated by someone giving you a 'harsh lesson'?

Well if that isn't circular reasoning I don't know what is.

The real question is do you want to surround yourself with a relatively small community because they think and act the right way and oh yes...made it to the boards at the right time? Don't fool yourself. This is elitism at it's finest. Elitists have a huge problem of continually narrowing their worldview so they end up becoming what they hated. The passion that they came to whatever subject they are in to is now supplanted by a desire to maintain their view and maintain their "in" status.

No one can force you to open up your clubs and you can reside in the happiness of knowing you are a part of an elite internet group.

Here's the thing. When you know a lot about something, sometimes you'd rather just converse with people who know about as much as you, or are able to articualte their thoughts with a precision closer to yours. That's not elitist, that's just common sense. Not all opinions are of equal merit when you do know a lot about something, because often the unschooled are inarticulate. And if you know a lot about something, it's harder to suffer fools gladly. (Note: that's not nevessarily "the naive or needing to learn.")

I think the reason why saying this offends some people is because it means when they are excluded they may feel the fool. I don't get this though, which is why it's a perspective thing to me; you can choose to feel excluded, when in actuality you may not belong in the first place.

I guess for me it boils down to that I know a lot about certain things, and not that much about others. I wouldn't dare try and assert myself around jazz or wine buffs that my opinion on their interests were as developed as theirs. But if I'm surrounded by people who know more than me, I tend to try and glean as much as I can instead of talking to make my presence known simply to feel I was more a part of the conversation. Or be around witty people and have my only response be "That sucked, but I'm not going to say why."