Now, I know that, probably, you aren’t reading any of this. That’s how it was with me. I left and stayed gone, no backturned eyes, for a long time. But on the off chance that you’re suffering from withdrawal and have come back for one last look, I ask, selfishly, on my own behalf, please stay. I have always liked you: your incisive wit, your big heart, and your sensible outlook. Since I don’t have your email or anything, this is the only contact point I have, and I have genuinely missed you.

Leaving is the only choice if you don’t like who you are when you’re here. I was there, so I know. If that’s how it is for you, well, do what’s best for yourself.

On the whole, with distance, this place is Mostly Harmless as long as you remember to keep your towel with you.

Best wishes, McFly.

The Zone has given me a lot to think about over the years regarding communities and individuals. I tend to credit the format for making the conversational interplay more visible, and monkey brains already attuned to social dynamics by a couple of million years of evolution latch right on to that tool.

Seeing the tree grow in real time is one thing, but because it forms a permanent record, it also encourages thoughtful individuals to ponder the resulting structures, and to replay the interactions and study them. It encourages monday-morning quarterbacking and self-criticism. Over the long term the feedback creates “more highly evolved” community members.

We haven’t had a True Troll here at the HZ since…who? Crank? EP? Smyth? That was years ago.

You are right about this being a microcosm. Been musing all day about the individual’s role in a community, and vice versa, all day long.

My thought wasn’t to treat Tom separately, and without regard to the community’s needs. Part of this thread was a conversation comparing Tom to a troll and discussing techniques for dealing with trolls, and I wanted to make the point that Tom cannot be treated that way. He’s such an integral part of the community that we have to (or would be well-advised to) find a solution to our problems that doesn’t involve ostracizing him or sacrifice others to keep him happy.

A community-based solution, in other words. We’re on the same page, but my words were awkward.

It’s reassuring that you see potential in the blog/forum hybrid. The blog is a more “egocentric” form than a forum, and having it available may provide a safety valve to the urge to dominate a forum.

WordPress right now generates those automatic author listings, but they need a makeover to be more than a curiosity at this point. A RealSoonNow software update will let me make those pages presentable (stuck in the lab while I debug a feature the Zone doesn’t need, but the client has first priority). As soon as I can I’ll get ‘em fixed up.

The name “Proscenium” originally referred to the stereotypical Web page layout that, to me, resembled the classic proscenium arch theater stage: sidebars=stage right and left, header=overhead scenery, footer=orchestra pit, all framing the stage. Over time it’s grown way beyond just generating that style of page, but it’s a pain to change the name in midstream.

Besides, I think “proscenium” is kinda classy. I’d rather hang on to it.

However, to fully pass registration and truly become one of use, You must pass Zone initiation! Listen to this and watch this at the same time