— Eh, I don’t see how the “glee” portion makes any sense.
Aww, I’m just makin’ it up as I go, you know?
I agree that the situation here isn’t anywhere near as powerful as what some of these men have been through, but some of the strings of posturing and rough talk, combined with the obviously military nicknames, built an image in my mind of what it might be like.
- - - -
Long, boring days or weeks filled with petty tasks. Everyone is on everyone else’s nerves and nobody can do anything right. Mischief alternating with recrimination becomes a daily pattern.
Then the call comes in, and the mood changes quickly and everyone looking out for each other’s backs. Then, suddenly, the air is charged with adrenaline and testosterone and shouting and gunfire and smoke and dust.
Then it’s over, or is it? Uncertainty slowly gives way to consensus: all clear. Now it’s time to check on each other and see who is OK, who needs help, and who is beyond help.
Then relief sets in, and there is the telling and reliving events, congratulating of the successful, arguing over the credit—but nothing too serious, yet. There is also remembering the missing—a sometimes unkindly reminiscing.
Finally, a solemn, uneasy quiet settles in and lasts until boredom takes over again.
- - - -
Looking over the first 9,000 posts of this thread (a marathon session to be sure), I saw that pattern repeated several times.
FR is a serious thing to many of these folks, and seeing someone they’ve swapped barbs and wisecracks with get banned is...what? A little frightening? Yes, a little. So yes, there’s a little relief when it’s over. And yes, there’s more to it than that, but it’s in the mix, how much I don’t know.
Some of the old-timers on this thread seem to alternate between flirting with suspension or banishment by abusing their fellows, and then seeking reassurance from JR that they haven’t gone too far, and then making up, sort of, a little.
Of course there is a lot of brash cheerfulness to be rid of a jerk.
I wonder how many thesis have been written on the sociology of message boards?
Aren't you the guy who was talking to himself post after post earlier?
Just kidding...
lol...
Good night!
— I agree that the situation here isn’t anywhere near as powerful as what some of these men have been through, but some of the strings of posturing and rough talk, combined with the obviously military nicknames, built an image in my mind of what it might be like.
There was another image, too. An image of a TV commercial from the black and white ages...
- - - -
Exterior scene: Spanish castle, pennant flying, troops in armor with flags, swords and spears.
Troops: (shouting) El Cid! El Cid!
Interior scene: El Cid, half-dressed, hair stringy, hung-over, sits at a table covered with empty wine gobblets and chicken bones. He holds his head in his hands. An aide enters...
Aide: (loudly and confidently) El Cid! The men, they are ready!
Exterior scene: Troops waving flags and lifting swords and spears in time to their shouts...
Troops: (shouting) El Cid! El Cid! El Cid!
Interior scene: El Cid, green complexioned, stands swaying in the middle of the room still holding his head as squires try to fit armor to his elbows. An aide enters...
Aide: (impatient) El Cid! El Cid! The men, they are ready for battle!
Exterior scene: The troops are still raising their swords and spears in time to their shouts, but there are some discordant shouts, too. There is some pushing and shoving in the foreground.
Troops: El Cid! (Hey!) El Cid! (Watch it!) El Cid! (No, YOU watch it!)
Interior: El Cid stands in the middle of the room wearing steel pants, but still holding his head while squires try to fit armor to his elbows. An aid enters...
Aide: (whining) El Cid! El Cid! The men, they are fighting each other!
Exterior scene: Troops in full combat with them selves.
Troops: Yeeeaaah! Aieee! Grunt!
Voice-over: Alka-Seltzer—relief is on the way!
- - - -
Yeah. Saw that repeated during the first 9,000 posts, too.
If I ever get serious about writing again ( doubtful, at best ) I would pen an essay about forums, boards, blogs with comments, and their denizens.
Specifically, the sub-boards that depend from them made of banned members, and how the most obnoxious get bumped on down the layers, from one to another...
...but that would be for a time, other than this.