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May I suggest a new name for BC?
Posted by salomey5 • 10/16/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: bc, drama, forums, internet, message boards
I was thinking about something along the lines of DC: Drama Catalog. Like it?
As I can see, BC is still the peaceful haven of harmony that I learnt to know and love, when I used to spend more time here than I care to admit.
In case you wonder who the hell I am, in a nutshell, I'm Rachel, self-proclaimed sucker for drama (especially drama I'm not stuck in the middle of) and long-winded blogger on an extended vacation (due, among other things, to a growing addiction to Twitter, as well as this pesky nuisance called "life").
Why am I here?
Simple: I smelled drama. And also, summer's over and it's too cold to go play outside, forcing me to find other ways to amuse my wicked self. So I thought, why not swing by BC, see how everyone is doing?
Well, nice to see that some things don't change.
Actually, some things have changed: the cast. The plot, however, remains the same.
But as a drama lover, I just don't get sick of the "I'm leaving BC" threads, "I'm not leaving BC anymore!" threads, the "Pleasepleaseplease, cancel my BC account NOW I want out of this place although I TOTALLY can't stay away from it!" threads...
Simply delightful...!
So I just thought I'd stop by long enough to start this here useless thread, in order to thank you guys for providing me with the lulz I crave but can't find on my usual battlefi... ahem, message board, because everyone there is too busy discussing healthcare to fully engage themselves into petty fights.
As for you, admins, I hope you will seriously consider my suggestion re: renaming BC, since I think that my new name idea is like, totally awesome and stuff.
/snark
And before I get accused of posting this with the sole intention of stirring the pot (which, let's face it, would 100% accurate, but I just can't help myself) I might as well throw a question which may or may not generate a debate (if not, it will likely degenerate into an argument. Personally, I'm good with either outcome).
What is it about internet drama that attracts us so?
And don't you tell me "I don't like drama". There's a reason why the lulz-worthy dramatic threads have a gazillion replies: most of us can't keep away from a trainwreck; I know I certainly can't.
Why do we (general "we", BTW) love to engage in internet drama?
Are we all closet bullies?
Do we crave attention?
Are our lives that boring or empty that we thrive in arguing with complete strangers over crap on message boards?
Does it have to do with the anonymus nature of the internet, which is kind of a great equalizer? I mean, on the web, we're pretty much all at the same level; we're all hiding behind a username and an avatar, and the only information available about us is what we choose to share (or, in some cases, invent).
And why the hell do we take internet drama so damn seriously? I know I've been involved in e-fights that actually affected me in real life (I remember posting a thread about that on BC a few months ago) and everytime, I felt as upset about letting it get to me as the argument itself.
Why? Why do we care so much about what are essentially strangers think about us?
I have been pondering on this for a long time, and honestly, I still haven't found the answer. I think it's a combination of elements, and these elements vary from person to person.
In my case, I tend to be argumentative and smart-assey. The combination of both makes it near impossible for me to keep my mouth shut, be it on or offline. And at times, I can show a great deal of immaturity, which doesn't help.
And you? What's your views on the popularity of internet drama (which is far from exclusive to BC, BTW, and can be found on just about any message board and many a social network)?
Where do you think it stems from?
When you see a big fight online, do you jump in? If yes, why?
Or are you happy enough to chuckle silently at the e-soap from behind your monitor?
As an internet drama afficionada, I'm curious to know your views about it.
User Comments
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Wow. That's a long thread.-
I know, I had to skim it. It's hurts my brain to read that much.
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I think you're trying to insult me!
Stop starting all these drama-inducing threads! -
I think you could have summed that up a little more concisely! I am with the others--that was a long ass post.
I think they will want to keep the BC but perhaps they can change the name to Bore Central. Some of these threads are far from dramatic--they are just boring!-
And yet, we clicked on this thread.
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Twelve days later I finished the post.....
I think it is a whole feast of things, from boredom to hiding behind a veil of anonymity that attracts the particular nasty trolls.
I try to keep to silently chuckling most of the time, but the true WTF moments override my common sense button and I jump in. -
Sorry, I just can't do concise or short. I'm naturally long-winded and English isn't my first language, which doesn't help.
As for my questions, they are genuine. Internet dynamics and relationships have fascinated me since I first started posting on forums, and I've always wondered what it was about them that can have such a strong impact on our real lives.
As I said, I've witnessed drama on pretty much every forum I've ever posted on, and there have been a few, so I'm not specifically referring to BC.-
I have read a bit about group dynamics and most of the forum antics fits into that psychology train of thought.
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Oops, wrong spot.
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Yes, I agree, probably more extreme
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@ crpitt: Group dynamics is another topic that I also find both fascinating and puzzling.
If you know of any good articles on that, please feel free to pass them on to me, I'd be interested in reading them.
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ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... -
HOLY LONG POST BATMAN!
I'm still pretty new here but if I need to be able to read and absorb posts that long, I think I'm going to have to leave BC too!
(j/k of course!) -
People don't go to the movies to see people playing badminton. They want sex and violence. That's what we give them here at BC.-
I'd go see a movie about extreme Badminton if it involved sex and violence. -
Floormodel: Would you settle for Match Point by Woody Allen. Tennis, sex, and violence.
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I don't see forums as that much different from real life. I mean, you've got your fights, your drama llamas, your manipulators,fakes, peacemakers,butt kissers. Sounds like a regular day at work at most places.
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@ nothingprofound
That's a pretty good parallel, actually.
@ hatingtherain
Don't you find that we're more extreme on the internet though?
Speaking for myself, I think there are many "feuds" that I engaged in on the web, that I would have dismissed as silly in real life and would have shrugged off.
In a post, there is no tone of voice, no facial expression, making it easy to misunderstand what someone might have meant as a joke or light banter. We only have punctuation and emoticons to add colour to what we write.
That might be one reason why I find myself over-reacting a lot more on the web than I do in real life.
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Just remember, behind the computer is a human being. Wherever there are humanoids, there'll be drama, whether online or offline. -
I tend not to leap into the drama unless I see a place where I think I can actually clarify something or help.
But in terms of reading it, yes-- it's fascinating in some ways because it's such a concentrated amount of personality and the human condition.
It's like those condensed fabric softeners where you only need a little.
It's pain and illness and the need for attention and all of peoples' insecurities painted in broad brush strokes for the world to see.
As a writer with an interest in what makes people tick, it's interesting to see all the interpersonal dynamics.
It's how we think we portray ourselves versus what others see.-
"But in terms of reading it, yes-- it's fascinating in some ways because it's such a concentrated amount of personality and the human condition."
"It's pain and illness and the need for attention and all of peoples' insecurities painted in broad brush strokes for the world to see."
Very well said, I'm very much on board with you on that.
Thanks for you imput.
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/snark
that's funny.-
Thanks! I saw that "tag" on Twitter and shamelessly stole it. It's a useful one, very versatile!
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Let everyone include the info before posting a reply whether they read the question fully or not
Myself: read the first half sentence of all paragraphs
I have this to say: Let's rename BC as NC - Novel catalog-
My OP, a novel? Oh, come on, that was barely an essay, and a short one at that!
As a novelist though, I could easily give Tolstoy and his "War and peace" a run for their money.
Kind of tempting, when you think about it. I could get my name into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest novel ever...
Hmm, food for thought...
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I think the reason there is drama on some of these blog forums is that you have some people who were not in the "in crowd" in High School who band together and suddenly think they are cool enough to bully other people and to impose their way of thinking on others. It's probably because everyone is really "tough" online and this sense of empowerment actually makes them think that their opinions are above those of others. They are just closet megalomaniacs who are still as uncool now as they were back in school. Just my two cents.-
Ooh. ToughCookieMommy dishing the dirt. Online for sure gets nerds the balls to talk tough. -
For sure, DBR.
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@ ToughCookieMommy
Yes, the "mean girls" syndrome, I absolutely know what you mean.
And of course it's easy to be tough on the web. We can say what the hell we want without fear of getting punched on the nose.
Many people wouldn't get away with saying to someone's face a lot of the things they post online.
Thanks for your two cents!
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Why in the world should BlogCatalog change their name? They have a great reputation and have allowed us bloggers and artists a wonderful place to gather.
That there are those who would wish to try to tear down something good is the ugly side of human nature.
I'm sending out a mental telepathy message to have many of our members partake in our discussions, to return and for the good times to proceed.
Time for everyone to bring their best attitudes, conversations, talents, ideas and camaraderie here, so we may experience joi de vive the "Joy of Life."-
@Theresa111 - Well phrased. I second that motion!
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Am I the only person that read the first 7 sentences then fell asleep?-
I wasn't stupid enough to try reading
// jumps like jackass -
I'm sorry I started. I'll never regain that time. Where's Superman when you need him to fly against the earths spin to turn back time.
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Thats ok .. the sleep is any day worth it
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hhaahaha omg Drew are you in my brain I just wrote that lolz
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Peoplez is peoplez.
And, for what it's worth, I enjoy discovering that rare occasional post that takes more than fifteen seconds to read, digest and... well, you know the rest of that story.
Nice when someone takes the time to include some back story.-
@DaneMorgan - You're right, we rarely get a long post which gives some hx. to newbies especially.
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too long...did not read
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I prefer kabuki or a good opera, but since neither are available where I live I'm thankful for good old BC and this colorful cast of characters to keep me entertained.-
@offendedblogger - and you did have some entertaining discussions.
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Yes but they went unappreciated, until now. Thank you.
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@Theresa111
The title of my OP is a joke. There is a minuscule "/snark" tag somewhere in the middle of my never-ending-sleep-inducing post.
I think BC is a great site. I wouldn't be back here otherwise.
@ DaneMorgan
Thanks!
@ offendedblogger
I hear ya! Plus e-drama is easier to find than kabuki (not a lot of it in my neck of the woods) and so much cheaper than opera!-
Opera can be cheaper if you attempt to open my infamous "Baking Soda is Amazing" thread and your hard drive catches fire and then it in turn catches the cat who was sleeping peacefully on it on fire and in a fit of panic he runs under the drapes and they catch on fire and...
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I think I saw that thing up on page one again yesterday or the day before... It falls off a lot faster now that half of the computers in the world can't actually load the freeking comment form. lol.
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Hmm, maybe Bloggers Unite needs to band together to provide suitable computers to the world so my thread will live in infamy on page 1!
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now There's a worthy cause. so glad I kept reading all the way to the end.
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