Music Banter - Spill Your Guts: What You Really Think About MB members

I usually categorize people I meet on MB very simply into "safe" and "unsafe" categories, depending on whether I feel safe from harm with them. Recently I've also enjoyed thinking of single adjectives to summarize for myself my sense of people on MB.

Below are my thoughts and feelings about several people with whom I've interacted here during the last couple of months:

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Trollheart - passionate. When I first noticed Trollheart in a thread last month, I was surprised that he was so upset by, and critical of, another member's personal music preferences and opinions. I felt Trollheart, in the heat of his emotions, jumped to conclusions and sometimes missed points that were made, and tipped too quickly to feeling disrespect for people whose opinions irk him.

Yet I also appreciated that he spoke his mind and his "heart." I saw he is passionate about music and people. He is very sincere and shares his opinions openly and vocally, which I find endearing. I appreciate that TH is so giving with music on MB, such as when he offers music suggestions, and I like that he is eager to interact with people using humor. I also have something in common with Trollheart that gives me a sense of affinity with him: like he, I am a "Carer" (which sounds spookily like a character in the book/movie "Never Let Me Go" ;)), although I am only a part-time caregiver for a family member.

I think that if a person were Trollheart's friend in 3D life, he would be a devoted supporter and source of support...a truly loyal friend. One would be fortunate to have his friendship. So I do view him as "safe."

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wisdom - self-controlled. I have never observed anyone on MusicBanter who was as capable as wisdom at withstanding attack after attack without lashing back!

Although I'm sure he's able to react aggressively if it were necessary, I observed that wisdom, like I, wants to discuss opinions about music without the discussion becoming a confrontational attack on the person who holds those opinions. I watched as he restrained himself from making personal putdowns even in the face of snarky comments, taunting, flagrant off-topic posting, untrue accusations, and name-calling...and that by five of the mods, not even including the mocking comments made by other members!! It takes maturity to ignore intentionally nasty comments, and wisdom showed that maturity again and again.

I feel very comfortable in wisdom's presence because he is open to questions about music, whatever they might be, while some other members seem to feel that certain questions should be off-limits. I like watching how wisdom's thoughts about the answer to a question inspire him to think of another question, which I can see reflected in the topics of threads he has started. I like his way of offering a hypothesis, seeking input and evidence, and refining his hypothesis as he goes along. I'm familiar with that sort of playful freedom of thought and exploration from the world of science and I *love* it.

Hardly a loudmouth teenager, wisdom voices his strong music opinions while keeping his cool in the face of those who sometimes don't hesitate to stoop low. Watching wisdom's choices and responses reminds me of a comment I remember was made by a survivor of a Holocaust concentration camp: she said that in the camp, some of the inmates went "animal," but some kept their humanity about them right to the end. Wisdom strikes me as someone who would keep his humanity even in the most trying of situations. I also like the glimpses he gives of his personal reasons for liking certain music and I thank him for sharing those. I view him as "safe."

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ribbons - loving. Always a bright spot on MB, Liz offers a gentle comment for everyone with whom she interacts. I admire her greatly and love her honesty and sensitivity. She has been so very supportive of me when I've wished for that the most, and I am thankful to her for that. I'm glad I get to interact with her, even if it is just long-distance through the Internet. Safe!

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lisnaholic - generous. Like ribbons, he offers the gift of his time, attention, and friendship to others on MusicBanter through his eloquent appreciation of music. Lisnaholic reminds me of the reason I love music: I don't love music itself, but I love the creative spirit of people that moves them to make and enjoy music. I was touched that he once said visiting a thread of mine felt like coming home (I think those were his words), because I am happy and flattered to think I would make him feel welcome. Safe!

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Zaqarbal - romantic. I love his translations of Spanish music that he offers here and there around MusicBanter. I like his passion for music, movies, cats, beautiful women... ;). I like the glimpses of Spain and Spanish culture that I obtain through Zaqarbal's posts. I also love how organized and careful his posts are, leading me through links to additional information to satisfy my curiosity about various topics. I like him. :) Safe.

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jackhammer - lovable. I have a lot of thoughts about him, his family, his humor. I view him as sensitive, strong, supportive, open. I like his warmth. He's simply a very nice person. Safe.

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Howard the Duck - playful (and also tough). He is attentive to detail, always quick with an amusing comment, and doesn't mean ill toward anyone (with the exception of a few misanthropic moments that we all have). I love his fun photos of himself (even the aged one! ;)) and his life. I hope he has like-minded people with whom he can interact outside the Internet. He's a very unique individual, and that's a good thing. :) His posts make me smile a lot. I'm glad his profession as a lawyer lets MusicBanter benefit from the quirky workings of his mind. Safe.

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And leaving the worst for last...

right-track.