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Articles: The Story of the Mother Confessor |
Posted by
Schizo on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 05:05 AM PST
Let me tell you a story...
Once upon a time, long, long, ago, I, yes I, Schizo, Mother Confessor, was once a newbie. A dismal little wide-eyed, wet-behind-the-ears, nervous little newbie. This was back in the days when Shmeng was bran-spankin-new, and most people stuck to the older Gothic Enlightenment (like Bettie X, who was one of the last to succumb!)
I wandered through the dark halls, I took the goth test, I read the words and I looked at the pictures, every single one of them. I made a couple posts, but mostly I stayed fairly quiet. I got to know these people before they got to know me.
Then, there came a troll. A big, bad, nasty troll. Even worse, a religious troll, who thought it was his duty to bring these evil, suicidal goths out of their misery and into the light of God. And it pissed me off. Because he never bothered to find out if these people were evil or suicidal in the first place. He just saw the colors and the make-up and jumped to a million conclusions, just like any know-it-all fanatic. I saw red.
Well, I raked that bastard up one side and down the other. I was raised to be a super-christian, and I knew that man's Book better than he did. I turned his attention to myself, and told him just what I thought of someone who judges someone else without getting to know them first. I told him a lot of things he didn't want to hear. And finally he left.
This is how I gained the attentions of the powers that be. Who was it back then, anyway? Devin, Ickgirl, Vampcourt, Callei, Bettie, I know I'm missing some people. I gained their attention and their approval. Even though I was a Christian, and didn't hide the fact, even though several of them have gone through horrors at the hands of those who called themselves Christians. I became their exception to the rule, their example of what a Christian should be.
Shortly thereafter, the cult of Devin was born, and I received my title and duties. Why? Because I took the time to educate myself on the ways of the site before trying to get attention, and because I gained attention by doing something exceptional, intelligent, and cool. I projected my persona in a way that benefitted the existing members of the website. And I also showed myself willing to learn.
I've had my trials by fire, too. Anyone who doesn't think so can read "A Resident Christian's Personal Rant". But those trials were gained by a daring and thought-out presentation of an unpopular stance. You agreed with it, or you didn't, but you definitly thought about it.
I've mellowed out since then, and no longer even claim the title of Christian, although it still seems to cling to me. But I've survived years, and tumult, and months without computers, and personal upheavals, and I'm still around and kicking, and submitting articles when I have the time.
Why are the great ones great? How do the personalities separate themselves from the newbies? It is not through numbers of posts, or through amount of time spent on Shmeng. It is through developing a personality that attracts others, stimulating people's minds, adding beauty and intelligence to the website, helping others grow, learning from other people, and above all, having something interesting about you that stands out from the crowd. It helps to be a brilliant photographer, to write amazing fiction, to have the gift of the eloquent flame, or some other such talent, or you may just have some quirk to your personality that makes you stand out among the crowd.
There have been people here who have shed the newbie name since day one. There have also been people who have been around forever, and who are still essentially newbies.
And that is my story - and advice.
And they all lived shmengily ever after.
The end.
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Note: Every once in a while something is posted elsewhere on the site that is good enough for us to snatch it and make it an article. (Sometimes without even telling the author) |
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Average Rating : 5.0
Total ratings : 5
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The Story of the Mother Confessor | Login/Create an account | 21 Comments |
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Re: The Story of the Mother Confessor
by Schizo (Aranea@spidersdance.com)
on Apr 17, 2004 - 07:56 AM
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Wow. I feel honored to be an unwitting author. Cool.
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Re: The Story of the Mother Confessor
by IamSquid (undisclosed)
on Apr 17, 2004 - 09:15 AM
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http://www.goodandevilgoround.com
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See, this is why Schizo has been deified.
For all yoo out there who are genuinely interested in joining our Shmengy little group (and I don't mean start an account on the site) this is the first thing yoo should read when yoo sign up.
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Re: The Story of the Mother Confessor
by MystryssRavynDarque (MystryssRavynHI@wmconnect.com)
on Apr 17, 2004 - 09:54 AM
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http://kauai.vibechild.com/~amanda/
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This is a really amazing article. I remember reading it in the forums and thinkning about how well written this is and how it should be an article.
I don't think I ever really questioned being a newbi until this whole forum popped up and everyone started trying to explain what defined a newbi and how one was no longer a newbi, but I think you hit it on the head with your explanation and story. I really don't care if I am still a newbi and I really don't care if I always am. I don't care if I ever become a deity (trust me, there are people more worthy) or achieve a title like yours (again, there are more deserving people), I am just happy to be a part of such a wonderful family. I am thinking I am going to be around a long time, and so I hope our family stays happy and I hope we are always strong enough to kick out the icky trolls.
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Re: The Story of the Mother Confessor
by Jesi on Apr 17, 2004 - 02:39 PM
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I, too, first read this in the forums. I thought it was an excellent story...one that every newbie should read.
I hadn't really asked myself "am I still a newbie?" until the question was posted in the forums. I felt right at home from day 1, and even though many didn't know me and still don't know me, I know that I have yet to "prove" myself and go through that famous 'baptism by fire'.
I am only glad that I had the chance to read this...as it is very much worth reading to anyone who is new here, as is all the advice everyone generously listed in the forums. Thanks to everyone for sharing their little pieces of wisdom over there.
And thank you for taking the time to write this.
Jesi
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Re: The Story of the Mother Confessor
by Dolorosa (SixOfSwords@IU.zzn.com)
on Apr 19, 2004 - 01:13 AM
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Yeah! This was boss-awesome the first time I read it...and it's about time Schizo landed on the main page again. Theres a reason everyone likes you Schizo...your the gothmommabomb. Even if you aren't goth...which I can't remember if you are or not, but I'm going to say yes just for color...
Props and yahoos!
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Re: The Story of the Mother Confessor
by Arthegarn on Apr 19, 2004 - 04:03 AM
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http://http://
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Actually, we all know it was you that attracted me to Shmeng... You and that post of yours.
I can't remember when it was the first time I stopped feeling a newbie. Perhaps when Devin asked for data for the Titles and Duties section. Until then, every time Callei or Bettie slaughtered the "you-know-who-you-are", I thought it meant me.
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