Which Online Discussion Archetype Are You?

by Simon 10 Replies latest forum suggestions

• 

  Simon

  Taken from CodingHorror Blog, funny but insightful as well:
  

  If you've participated in usenet, mailing lists, or web forum discussions for any length of time, you're probably familiar with Godwin's law:

  As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.

  The Flame Warrior website offers deeper insight, based on a particular all too common forum incident.

  Some years ago a minor spat ignited a searing flame war that threatened to consume a once-placid discussion forum. While the forum burned I amused myself by caricaturing the chief antagonists. Confounded at seeing themselves thus revealed, the combatants fled the field in disarray.

  Over time the roster of online belligerents expanded and eventually congealed into the netizen's guide to Flame Warriors. My own bad Internet behavior would certainly have provided sufficient material to populate an extensive rogue's gallery, but suggestions and comments from astute observers continue to enrich the Flame Warriors collection.

  What Mike created is a brilliant deconstruction of the various archetypes you'll encounter in any long running discussion group, along with some great caricature art:

  • Acne
    
  • Admin
    
  • ALLCAPS
    
  • Android
    
  • Archivist
    
  • Artful Dodger
    
  • Artiste
    
  • Atheist
    
  • Big Cat
    
  • Big Dog and Me-Too
    
  • Bliss Ninny
    
  • Blowhard
    
  • Bong
    
  • Capitalista
    
  • Centurion
    
  • Coffee Klatch
    
  • Compost
    
  • Crybaby
    
  • Cyber Sisters
    
  • Deacon
    
  • Diplomat
    
  • Duelists
    
  • Eagle Scout
    
  • Ego
    
  • Enfant Provocateur
    
  • Ennui
    
  • Ent
    
  • Ethnix
    
  • Evil Clown
    
  • Fanboy
    
  • Ferrous Cranus
    
  • Filibuster
    
  • Fragile Femme
    
  • Furious Typer
    
  • Garble
    
  • God
    
  • Godfather
    
  • Godzilla
    
  • Grammarian
    
  • Grenade
    
  • Grunter
    
  • Howlers
    
  • Ideologue
    
  • Imposter
    
  • Innocence Abused
    
  • Issues
    
  • Jekyl and Hyde
  • Jerk
    
  • Klaxon
    
  • Kung-Fu Master
    
  • Lamer
    
  • Lonely Guy
    
  • Loopy
    
  • Lurker
    
  • Nanny
    
  • Necromancer
    
  • Netiquette Nazi
    
  • Net Rat
    
  • Newbie
    
  • Nitpick
    
  • Palooka
    
  • Patois
    
  • Perv
    
  • Philosopher
    
  • Picador
    
  • Pinko
    
  • Pithy Phrase
    
  • Profundus Maximus
    
  • Propeller Head
    
  • Rat
    
  • Rebel Leader
    
  • Rebel Without a Clue
    
  • Rottweiler Puppy
    
  • Royals
    
  • Stealth
    
  • Strumpet
    
  • The Swarm
    
  • Sycophant
    
  • Target
    
  • Therapist
    
  • Tireless Rebutter
    
  • Toxic Granny
    
  • Troglodyte
    
  • Troller
    
  • Typhoid Mary
    
  • Weenie
    
  • Whisper
    
  • Xenophobe
    
  • Yuk Yuk
    

  I'm sure we can all see ourselves in these at different times. Sometimes it's painful to recognize, sometimes it's funny. Maybe if we see any of the more destructive behaviours being manifest in ourselves or others we can consider why we're doing it.
• 

  Simon

  I'm obviously Admin and, ehem, probably some others too:

  Admin is the janitor, the cop, the mayor, the judge and sometimes even the forum doctor who tends to Warriors injured in battle - in other words,Nanny on steroids. Because he runs the forum and sets the rules Admin has the power to pull the plug on any Warrior who gets a little too frisky. Sometimes his efforts are appreciated, but like any authority figure he is also resented - especially by Jerk, Evil Clown, Enfant Provocateur, Ego,Rebel Without a Clue, Yuk Yuk,Troller, and other Warriors who would like to turn the forum into their personal playground. Most Admins are generally fair and even handed, but the adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely is as true on the internet as it is anywhere else, and it is a rare Admin who can resist bringing the hammer down if seriously pressed by a determined foe. Sycophant and other suckups will also attach themselves to a strong Admin to form a defensive perimeter around him, and more often than not Admin's enemies will be driven off without him ever having to brandish his ax. CAUTION: Admin is the most powerful of all Warriors and drawing him into direct battle invites almost certain defeat. Rebel Leader does pose a limited threat to Admin's power by fomenting a revolt and causing forum members to jump ship
• 

  Brokeback Watchtower

  I'm Bong
• 

  Vidiot

  Aww...

  There's no entries for "smartass", "goofball", or "class clown"...

  The closest I come to is "fanboy".
• 

  Simon

  I find the stereotypes interesting because too often people make the assumption that certain forum behaviour is JW or ex-JW specific. While I think some of the mindset can create a tendency toward certain actions, it shows that ALL online communities have the exact same issues due to the exact same set of personality types.

  Yes, admins act like admins simply because they are admins, not because they think they are the WTS. That's probably the only difference - everyone else get's compared to hitler, but we have an even worse bogeyman ...
• 

  Fernando

  Much easier to recognise in others than in ourselves...
  
• 

  wifibandit

  Stealth trying to become an Archivist.

  Atlantis and Paul Grundy are my heroes! :-)
• 

  cantleave

  I refuse to be pigeon holed.
• 

  Wild_Thing

  I'm  a lurker most of the time.  But when I'm not, I guess I'd have to be the cat.  Because I like cats.  I guess. 
• 

  talesin

  When I saw "Big Cat" ..... I couldn't help but think of Brummie!  :cat:

  
  

  Just a thought, he was so dear and missed.  xo

  
  

  t :sunglasses: