Mailing lists, message boards etc...

I mean, is it through being more personal when they post, that kind of thing? In other words, why do some people end up the natural leaders of these things?

i'm always half-in/half-out of everything.

hmm, sounded dodgy there, but you know what i mean (no not that)

tsk ..."this country"

Its all about feeling the place out.....if I know it's not for me, I book it quick......of course, I must do this a lot.....my tolerance for unoriginal or corny people is outrageously low.....I'll be straight, ILM/ILE are the smartest and coolest boards I've ever been to....I feel comfortable here......I don't have to explain my fucking jokes, I don't have to curse out and clown the kid that types out the entire "Fitter, Happier" lyrics as his bloody "signature" because that kid is not present......I am involved because the people here are highly delicious and rugged and I do not pass up quality interaction........I guess you get your foot in the door by coming original and crazy but staying friendly and never crossing certain lines......call nobody's mother an astronaut.

We wuv you too,
http://members.aol.com/dubplatestyle/mase.jpg
Your Pal,
Ma$e.

Some people lead, some don't. It's hard to pin down. Some get their alpha-male position through brains (Mark S), some get prominent through funniness or uniqueness, or jusy being around and taking part lots. I've found that I drift in and out and wander off on lists where I only half click with the main players or overall ethos and direction. And I dare say we all leave lists occasionally because some person or people or thing has really pissed us off - or we've pissed them off, so might as well leave. I feel pretty at home here, but I might have wandered/run/been driven off by next weekend.

It occurs to me that the gaining of a prominent or respected position might be a Darwinian, natural selection thing - in which case I'm off to a decent start by finding my own specialist niche. I'm getting slightly known as, I dare say, "the arsehole with all his music on some database". I'd rather be known as the cool, sexy, exciting guy, but let's stay within the bounds of possibility here...

i am kuriously waffle.

A large amount of it is down to narcissism, egotism, attention seeking, all of which I have in spades. If you are pushy, make your presence felt, and do it all with confidence, then odds are you're going to appeal to a portion of the list, if not all of it. I can't really answer this without referring to Sinister (apologies to those sick to death of the bloody thing), but there, I feel under no pressure to perform, I feel confident, I *understand* it, I know I have a number of good friends who appreciate me, so I can be my confident self. On ILE, I don't have any of these things in nearly such comforting amounts. I am more defensive here, more awkward, more aware of my failings, and I'm sure it all shows to make me a less attractive proposition to you all.

So confidence and a sense of superiority, I guess, is my input to your question.

The main reason I'm on this board now is because a large number of the people I've enjoyed reading on Usenet post here. I kind of wish GB would show up, just to complete my nostalgia rush.

MENTION NOT THE DEMON BY NAME. Or his little elves, if he has any.