> Then the board becomes the de facto property of the dominant posters, and with exclusivity they indoctrinate all the newbies with their ways of life and opinions on all matters.
>
> Now comes the question: Is this happening to RinkWorks?

No. And it never will, if I have anything to say about it. I have yet to see anyone even attempt to indoctrinate someone with their "ways of life" or "opinions on all matters" or, for that matter, even "opinions on any matters." Yes, there are some staunch opinions here, but stating them, even adamantly, is not the same as attempting to "indoctrinate."

But you're not really asking if RinkWorks IS that way or not but whether it's GETTING there, right? No. I wouldn't stand for it, and I don't think most of the other regulars here would either.

But does RinkWorks lean in that direction? Possibly. Depends on what you consider to be the other end of the spectrum, I guess.

I'll water down what you said a bit. "The board operates in the manner determined by the dominant posters, and they expect all the newbies to meet that established standard."

Now ask the question again. Is this happening to RinkWorks? Yeah. We're already there, and it's exactly where I want to be. If you're a regular participant on this board, and you've invested time and effort in the community here, why *shouldn't* you get a little more say in what the social conventions are than someone who just stepped off the Google bus?

Newbies are still welcomed. Newbies that disrupt the social dynamic and belligerently refuse to respect the established social conventions are booted out. Newbies that do so unwittingly I try to educate, and I've noticed other regulars doing this also. Newbies that stick around, investing time and effort into the community, establishing relationships, and becoming a productive participant here gradually end up having the voice they are due.

This is how it should be, and the best part is that this happens naturally, not just here but in other types of social circles as well. It's not like they put in their time and, presto, I dub them Regulars with all the rights and privileges thereuntofore (as some people still mysteriously seem to think).

Anyway, my parting word on this post is to reinforce yet again that Brunnen-G's post, which started all this, is NOT about "newbies." If anything, it is a criticism of the regulars here, myself included.