- Karma
Don't talk about karma. Karma doesn't matter. We already know that. Hell, that's OOT 101 right there. However, there's another part. Karma matters. You bet it matters. You may not see the words "rate" or "karma" mentioned but when you watch somebody's post rating move in one direction or another be prepared to watch the sparks fly.
Occasionally, somebody will rate one side of an argument down and the other side up just to see them get that much more angry. This is completely normal, not to mention hilarious.
- Arguments
Not a regular? Low postcount? Don't try. You simply won't win. While guts are respected to a certain extent around here they don't mean anything without a reputation and a bit of notoriety. Be funny/smart before you need to grow a pair.
- The Double Standard
This is a practice more easily recognized in the offline realm but remains prevelent even on the internet.
Women get extra points for having a ****** or being males who convincingly play females online. While there are exceptions to this rule (See: Niobia and AdorableDorkette) they generally recieve favor. I believe Niobia was once a Sage and even Dorkette was a Scholar for an hour.
Just so you know, all that hot sex we're always talking about? It really happens and we only post about it because we know it burns your ***.
The double standard is not only seen in gender, but also popularity. Notice how when you have a gripe it is "whining" but when a more prominnt member of the OOT has a gripe it is a "legitimate complaint." Does this mean your gripe is invalid? Unfortunately it does. Too bad, so sad. Go make up your karma in your server forums and regroup to try again next week.
- Trolling
There are generally three versions of Troll.
1) The BOT Troll. Generally it's just an ad spammer (usually RMT) trying to pawn off their junk to the weaker willed among us. Best to dish out a few red arrows and report it to the admins. Done and over with.
2) The quick-in-quick-out Troll. This breed generally comes in looking for a fight and, even if they arn't, they find it quickly. Sub-Default is all they're posting at after about an hour or so. You'll know them because they're the ones who keep claiming their posts are deleted because they havn't figured out how to set the filters.
3) Long time trolls. I'm not sure how this breed manages to thrive. It's an utter mystery. All I can suggest is not to make any attempt at replicating their styles even if that style is one you share naturally. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work.
[ul][b]*****************
One big mistake I've seen over the last few months is the transition from people being comfortable with their sexualities to overbearing with them. With the success of NixNot finding his own niche in our group, others have sought to copy that feat with disastrous results.
Your sexuality is not something that makes you unique unless you're the only one in a crowd. Last I checked we have 3 homosexuals and no fewer than 3 bisexuals (that I know of) You are not a unique snowflake and when you get flamed it won't be hate mongering. It will be for being an idiot like any other jerkoff on the web.