Stirrings in the Three Mooned Sky
It's interesting to see the fluctuations in message traffic in the various online communities that center around the beloved world of Dragonlance. The two most popular would be the DL mailing list (DLML) and the newsgroup alt.fan.dragonlance (afdl). These lists contain many subscribers, from lurkers and newbies to rabid fans and authors themselves. Both groups have their good times and their bad, from disagreements and arguments to all out flame wars and trolls. I must admit, the concept of a moderator on the mailing list is appealing to some degree, but the sheer wildness of usenet also has it's attraction.
Through the years, people on both lists have observed how their communities work. An interesting observation is the inverse relationship in the number of messages and activity on one list compared to the other. When afdl has a lot of postings (averaging 30 a day), traffic on DLML falls. When the mailing list has an influx of posting, the messages on afdl die off. For those that post to one or the other, the respite is usually welcomed. Imagine the havoc if you post to both!
Another interesting phenomena is the mixing of memberships between the two. There are a goodly number of people that are members of both lists, but there's also a fair number that stick to one group only. What's actually fascinating about this is the lack of animosity between the membership groups! Many times I've seen similar groups that wind up as rivals and animosity flows between them. Those that are members of both find themselves caught in the middle of fights and arguments between the members of one or the other. Their loyalties pulled, twisted and manipulated as fights escalate into outbursts, name calling, keyboard throwing and monitor bashing! Pulses pound as fingers bang out words intended to attack, hurt, maim, and tear apart already fragile egos! Points are awarded for each person you drive away from a site! Some are pushed over to the dark side and *gasp* switch groups!!
Urm. Ahem. <straightens robes> As I was saying.
I'm not saying that tempers don't flare up on the Dragonlance lists. On the contrary, when you gather a group of DL fans together, there's bound to be sparks and flaring tempers, as debates rage about canon vs non-canon and which author deserves the golden lance to be stood on the mantle and who deserves the DLU smelly cheese award (which is made from particles found in Raistlame's socks). But contrary to other groups the majority of fights end in hurrahs and back slaps all around. Many of us have formed long and lasting friendships through these DL communities online.
(I've also heard vague rumors about some noble British person who travelled to the US to meet the love of their life and were subsequently married! Imagine that! "afdl and the DLML: if you don't want to kill the other person, you're sure to marry them!")
Some of you may wonder why I'm dedicating an entire editorial to the mailing list and newsgroup. Because another interesting phenomena I've noticed lately is something being shared between both groups. "What is it Lady Raist? Is there a blossoming relationship going on between two people again? This time one from the DLML and one from afdl instead? Imagine that! Two people who have no list in common and they've fallen in love!"
No you silly lovestruck git! Cut it out with the cheesy romance! I don't care if it's Valentine's month! Go visit some of our articles that deal with lovey dovey stuff! I'm talking about the interesting phenomena of traffic! In other words, posting! Since the beginning of December I've noticed a complete drawback in posting! What is it with people? Sure, December I can understand. With Christmas and all going on, I'm sure everyone was just as busy as we were, with family, work, updates and everything else planned. But it's February now people! Get with the program! What's with these three messages a day? Oh look! Today must've been busy! Four messages were posted! Ha! Fooled me, didn't you, smarty pants?
Um... was that another outburst? Something tells me I need to stay out of the chocolate covered coffee beans... doctor says something about nerves or something or other... *grumble*
So... my point is, where's all the postings? The fights? The discussions, debates, hot topics and budding friendships? We've just went through some serious changes and events in the War of the Souls, but it seems that after a week of discussion *poof*. It all died. Hey! Just like you-know-who at the end of "Vanished Moon"! Maybe that's what happened!
This isn't an attempt to draw attention to either DLML or afdl but just some observations. Oh heck, start writing people! There has to be more entertaining posts out there than the dribble we slop around here. (Speaking of dribble and slop, where's the Guardian when you need him? I just spilled my coffee.) Write! Entertain! Debate! Make love not war!
Ok, my rant is done for the day. I'm going home to sleep off this caffiene buzz....
Why won't you talk to me
You never talk to me
What are you thinking
What are you feeling
Where do we go from here
- Pink Floyd "Keep Talking"
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