As the muns plot ((Compy post))

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

So, yes, the muns are plotting. Poor Maddie, the target of that plotting. Little does she know that as she goes into the Compy Lab to see what horrorswonders await her.

Behold, the shiny technology.

Behold, the intrawebs.

Behold, the BBS, which, only occasionally like the BBC, is calling her name.

Actually, I don't believe the BBC called Maddie.

The mun has a disgraceful habit of following bunny trails in Maddie's posts. Let us get to the point, if you please.

Maddie goes into the Compy Lab and after registering the very clever screenname of "MysteryAuthor" posts the following:

As one who is new to this bulletin board service style of posting,
I was wondering how does one integrate this into normal social gatherings? 
Is it an adjunct to mixers and face to face contact or a replacement for them?

Maddie really doesn't know much about these things.

Comments

Wanderer

[adm-zex.livejournal.com]

Zex's curiostiy was piqued. He typed

"I am unsure of these things myself. So much around here is new to me, and it's so easy to make social blunders."

MysteryAuthor

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

The mun now thinks that "MysteriousAuthor would have been cooler...ah, wells.

A lot of this is new to me and I am still on the same island I've lived all
my life. But, this place brought me forward 10 years.  That was and still is
quite an adjustment. And, even when you do know all the rules, it is still
easy to make blunders.

Re: MysteryAuthor

[adm-zex.livejournal.com]

"That's fascinating- you're a native to this place? I know even little changes can be dramatic. Perhaps even only ten years.

You're right about rules- I am an explorer. I love visiting new places, but sometimes you can make extremely embarassing errors- such going to an open bazaar and picking up a sex-toy thinking it's a drinking glass. Such is life."

Re: MysteryAuthor

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

I can't say that's an error I've ever made, though I haven't been to many
open bazaars. I've been to a few boot sales, but people generally sell old clothes
and velvet paintings at those. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you can find some real
treasures at boot sales.

Yeah, that sex toy thing...probably a faux pas...but funny.

GogglesDS

[12panelwonder.livejournal.com]

Well, for some, mainly hikkomori and people in rural places, yeah, it is a replacement to meeting people. There are others though that do use this to get to know people, and sometimes that leads to a face to face meeting.

MysteryAuthor

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

Ah, no the assault of the foreign language concepts!

Hikkomori? I don't understand what that word means.  Is it a new word for shut-
ins? And, can you really get to know someone well over these things, without
seeing them. Communication is only partially what we say. And, there may be
some who are better at writing and present a far too positive picture off themselves.

And, there, she starts on the hiding of criminals.

GogglesDS

[12panelwonder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, hikkormori's the Japanese term.

Well, no, it's not perfect, and you're right, someone could easily be lying on the internet. But someone could just as easily be lying in public as well.

Kimawari

[omg-sunflora.livejournal.com]

I like these things! I can talk to a lot more people than I would meet!

MysteryAuthor

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

But, everyone who posts on these are in this school. You could meet them without
resorting to typing at them, couldn't you?

The internet was still extremely geeky in Maddie's time, but then, most computers still came without a built in modem, much less a lan.

Kimawari

[omg-sunflora.livejournal.com]

It's a BIG school though! I've been exploring it since I came here and I STILL haven't seen all of it.

{Personally, the mun thinks Hogwarts is a giant TARDIS}

waterdancer

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

RE liars: "Life is just a leap of faith; so close your eyes and hold your breath, and always trust your cape."

Being vague is River's greatest skill.

MysteryAuthor

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

Cape? I don't have a cape, though I can see that you may have a point.
However, what do you do when you are confronted with someone who has misused
you at the cost of other's lives?

Re: MysteryAuthor

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"These boots were made for walkin' and they're gonna walk all over you." _{Of course, one hopes you will be the one doing the walking.}

Adam

[ancient-adam.livejournal.com]

Methos hated politics. He had every intention of ignoring the prefect debates and spending the afternoon in the bar, until a certain name had wound up on the list of nominees. While Gryffindor wasn’t his house, he would at least attend and offer his support to Brienne.

Once the debates dissolved into a rather amusing brawl between two of the nominees who seemed to know each other, he slipped out and headed to the computer lab with the intention of getting some funds transferred around from one of his many hidden accounts. The posting left on the BBS intrigued him enough to respond.

“I suppose it could be considered a little of both. Personally I prefer face-to-face interaction, but some do prefer the anonymity that the computer can offer.”

Re: Adam

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

I find face-to-face preferable, however, I can think of a few
that I would rather not meet face-to-face, or at all.

Like Lezard.

Re: Adam

[ancient-adam.livejournal.com]

Some do, some avoid the computer labs entirely. I suppose it all depends on what you're comfortable with, especially if there are people you'd rather avoid for whatever reason.

FallenRed

[drunkexguardian.livejournal.com]

Depends. My students love the hell out of shit like this, but they're teenagers and weird.

They also tend to use weird codes like "ttyl" and "bff" and fuck knows what else, so I wouldn't take what they do as a good idea. Clearly being online too long rots your brain.

Re: FallenRed

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

Those are weird.  What are they supposed to mean, if anything at all. And, yes,
teenagers are weird.  Though, I don't recall being that weird.
What do you teach?

Re: FallenRed

[drunkexguardian.livejournal.com]

I think "ttyl" means "talk to you later"... though why they couldn't just come out and say that, I don't know. I swear, kids get dumber and dumber with each generation.

I used to teach girls' physical education. Not so much anymore.

So, come to any great conclusion on the internet or the compy lab yet?

CicadaCries

[fatedjune.livejournal.com]

MysteryAuthor

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

I can see how they would be useful for gathering information, though, I do
have to wonder at what cost. It seems that the experience would lose some flavor
when distilled into words on a screen. Though, I suppose the same could be said
about books, for that matter.

CicadaCries

[fatedjune.livejournal.com]

[arrogantmage.livejournal.com]

Not knowing Maddie to be the original poster, Lezard posts anonymously for his own reasons:

It is neither an adjunct nor a replacement for face-to-face contact. It is, quite simply, a fabulous way to meet atrocious people. Trust no one you meet this way, unless you like women who turn out really to be men.

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

If Maddie knew, she'd be enjoying schadenfreude pie (http://whatever.scalzi.com/2006/09/26/how-to-make-a-schadenfreude-pie/).

But, she does not, so she will reply innocently.

Why would someone pretend to be a woman? And, I think I don't want to know
how you found out.

[arrogantmage.livejournal.com]

Shielded by anonymity, why not gripe? Lezard decided to indulge himself.

Why would someone pretend to be a woman? That is a question I cannot answer. I imagine it must amuse such a person. How did I find out? You can picture that sordid little episode easily enough.