Verbal Juggernaut
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
Posts: 907
Location: Alaska
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BEGONE, FOUL SPAMAS!
Essence of Excellence (for lack of a better word)
"So yesterday I did this and this and this, and it wasn't too bad if I do say so myself."
Ever seen that guy who just plain exudes excellence - to the point where it's obnoxious? You know the type. They achieve every conventional measure of internet success, a feat usually reserved for complete no-lifers, and yet somehow their real life looks perfect as well. Almost too perfect. If you work with one on a project or just by sharing information, you'll come away felling awed and overshadowed by their epicness, as if you just exchanged posts with some kind of digital superhero. Everything they do is several cuts above everyone else's.
But there's a dark side to this. You see, Essence of Excellence thinks he's da man and wants everyone else to think so too. If you criticize him, he'll defend, explain, and justify, with all manner of truth and falsehood, to protect his ego. They constantly puff themselves up while deflating others - one reason for the sense of awe they instill in the less-savvy. If a mod or admin is this guy, you'll be expected to sit on the floor looking up at him. If you don't, brace yourself, The Marginalizing is coming!
Given enough time, this guy can ruin a community, as his almost-Communist callousness causes people to become paranoid and guard their best ideas.
To start with, he may try to win over members who apprear to be good stepping stones. Unfortunately, by the time the bruised, betrayed egos begin to pile up and people realize what's happening, Essence of Excellence will probably have been promoted to a site staff position, or become such a friend of the staff that it's the same thing.
WARNING:If you're a mod or an admin and one of these reveals himself on your forum, it might pay to go with the paranoia. He probably entertains fantasies of being your successor, and he may not be above trying to speed up the process.
Rebel With a Small Piece of Clue
"Rules are just the man's way of keeping you down, man."
This guy is born to be wild. Unlike Rebel Without a Clue, he doesn't jump in all guns blazing and try to justify his nonsense with misinterpetations and half-information. He just doesn't follow the rules because HE DOESN'T WANT TO. Rest assured, he'll go out of his way to break the rules and snub site staff "in a cool way". He'll disregard a fundamental tenet of board philosophy just for the lulz. He may even be sporting his Santa hat avatar from January 2nd to December 23rd, then put up a normal one for Christmas, just to prove he doesn't have to do what people think he should. He's somewhat above Enfant Provocateur, more hostile than Troller, and slightly more intelligent than Rebel Without a Clue (hence the name). In other words, he's Troller with a big chip on his shoulder.
Most likely, Rebel with a Small Piece of Clue does what he does because, like a classic Troller, he likes negative attention. Maybe he thinks it's the only kind of attention, or it's the only kind he can get. He claims to push for change, but he hasn't really done due dilligence, and probably doesn't understand the implications of his actions. In that way, at least, he's still clueless.
If one of these washes up on your green and pleasent shore, go condition red immediately! About the only thing RWASPOC likes more than pouring gasoline on a smoldering fire is getting other posters to do it for him. The moment this warrior picks up on some simmering discontent, he'll begin warhawking, trying to convince someone that they were wronged and they should go to the mods or make a stink about it in public. His target will often oblige, and those involved are soon screaming and swearing at each other once again.
Most forums cannot abide the RWASPOC for long, and will show him the door as soon as there is evidence of him stirring up trouble. Typically, he leaves with a great deal of fanfare, but no one laments his passing. Beware that the first ban is rarely the end of this guy. If he's decided that a point needs proving, he'll fight you to the end of Earth to prove it, whatever the cost. Such fights can cause a lot of collateral damage, as alliances, friendships, and callous comments drag one poster after another into the war.
Despite his simplistic motives and low general credibility, RWASPOC has the potential to cause long-term or even permanent forum damage unless he is detected and seen off quickly.
(to be continued) |
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