Datalounge — Page 2

I agree, midtown, but the range of ages and life experience levels here is pretty great, ranging from kids barely in middle school to senior citizens. There's a good gender mix, and an even better personality mix. This board isn't perfect (what board is?) by any means, but I think it hasn't collapsed into complete cattiness because of the diversity of points of view presented.

I could name a few boards that have disappointed me and devolved from fun communities to dead, troll-infested, or overly acidic ones in a matter of months or even weeks. That's why I like this place- it's changed, but it hasn't died.

Updated On: 9/9/04 at 06:19 PM

I'm trying to find a better way to put it, actually. :P

Here's what I mean- you get too many people from a narrow range into the same room together, and eventually they'll just be repeating each others opinions back at each other in a stupid self-congratulatory manner. That helps their "courage" and makes them feel more free to say nasty stuff about others- because they know everyone else there will be in the same spirit. And so entire boards become devoted to bashing and spreading rumors without any consequences.

"Jodi Benson...for being a total homophobic fundie **** during all of her broadway runs."

Is this true?

I really like her...

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It is true that Jodi Benson and her hubby are "Born Again" Christians and basically now only do Christian music and theatre.

I have found the "Industry People We Hate" and the "Who here has slept with a Broadway actor" threads incredibly entertaining. And I'm straight!

By the way, they have a thread there making fun of this board.

you could accomplish the same thing, governor, by jumping into a cesspool.

Plum, if you haven't visited Datalounge, you may want to dip in your toe and lurk just to look at some of the discussions in the forums. There are lots more trolls there and a lot of really vitriolic comments about other posters and about celebs. It's rather mean spirited. Every once in awhile someone balances it with some well conceived ideas and a well composed post but for the most part it's gossip central frequented by people who seem to be mad at life.

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DGrant: I agree that there can be an ugly side to human nature at times but I do believe that message boards and the internet in general allow an anonymity that encourages those of us with a less than vital conscience to snipe, lie and be cruel without any accountability. If these same people have to face someone and say the same thing I'd bet most would be too cowardly to do it.

This board (BW) may not be perfect, but it does seem to have a mix and best of all, to my knowledge, we have never...not once in all the time I've been reading posts...dissected, discussed and graphically described another person's genitals :)

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Sam - I agree that the boards provide a fairly distinct environment - I have a tendency to mentally respond more to the posters that I have formed a more personal interaction with, as the anonymity doesn't really jive with my normal sensitivities.

And the reason you haven't seen some discussions is because Rob and Craig do an amazing job trying to keep our heads above water.