Dear JJC,

All right, you might not even be a JJC. You might just be lurking, wondering at all the activity happening in this online community. Why is this guy saying that to that person? Why does this person only appear once in a while? Should I join in, or will I be eaten alive?

Relax. Like everything else in life, it becomes so much easier once you've figured it all out. Yeah, it looks like a jungle out there - but like all jungles, it has its various creatures, who have fairly well defined types of behaviours. When you understand which creature is which, then it all becomes clear.

So if you're ready, I'll take you on a tour of the jungle. Here are some of the different kinds of creatures you're likely to meet:

The Admin. This is the the Big Kahuna, the Oga Patapata or the Alpha and Omega of the community. He has the power of 'Life' and 'Death' - he can choose to ban community members or delete posts that they have made. How he uses those powers has a huge impact on whether it lives or dies. It's a difficult balancing act - if he runs it too loosely, then there's anarchy and people leave because they can't stand the disorder. Or if he runs it like a tyrant, people leave because they can't stand being treated like children.

Elders. These are posters who have acquired a certain status in the community because of the sheer number of posts they've made, or because of length of time they've been around. This status means that their words carry weight and they get taken more seriously. It also means that they can sometimes get away with things that a JJC wouldn't be able to.

The Elders may take on formal or informal roles in the community to help keep things in order. They may choose to be highly visible by posting regularly and frequently. This is important for the continuation of the community, because people are usually moved to join the community or carry on posting purely in response to these regular or frequent posts.

Alternatively, Elders may choose to operate behind the scenes, popping up when their intervention is crucial - for example, intervening to calm things down in an all-out battle between Passionists, Cheerleaders and Bores (q.v.). Sometimes, they'll go all nostalgic and start reminiscing about some episode in the community's history until someone brings them sharply back to the present.

Specialists. Specialists make a point of putting in an appearance in threads dealing with specific topics - whether it's economics, energy, finance, the arts or technology - and providing insights and information. They contribute this information either because of their deep interest in the field (which has led to them to amass a wealth of knowledge), or because they work in the field and are interested in sharing what they know. Typically, other posters pay a lot of attention to the information they give, because it is mostly made up of facts and analysis based on those facts.

Specialists and Passionists (q.v.) both have a deep interest in the areas they contribute to. However, Specialists differ from Passionists in that they are able to remain dispassionate enough to keep their personal opinions separate from whatever information they present.

Passionists. These are posters who (as their name implies) are intensely passionate and emotional about certain issues. So whenever there are threads on those issues, they usually show up to voice their deeply held beliefs on those issues. These beliefs tend to be on issues like race, ethnicity, gender, religion and any other issue that involves grouping people by traits that they share.

Because Passionists hold these beliefs very deeply and passionately, they may express them volubly and articulately but not very diplomatically. This usually leads to many heated arguments with other Passionists and posters who share contrary views. These exchanges sometimes degenerate into very personal arguments that can run on for a loooong time. That's because they're sustained by the same passion that brought the Passionist to the thread in the first place.

Occasionally, a pair of Passionists on opposite sides of whatever belief divides them may make it a point of duty to combat each other so that if one posts something on his belief, it isn't long before his duelling partner makes an appearance to engage him in combat. Sometimes, a mutual respect eventually emerges between this pair, and their duelling sessions even take on a playful air. But it is just as probable that both Passionists end up turning into implacable foes, amassing legions of Cheerleaders (q.v.) to join them in a continuing bitter battle.

Even though Passionists make a point of featuring in threads that deal with the object of their passion, they will usually keep away from threads that don't interest them, or will make contributions no different from a dispassionate poster.

Bores. Like Passionists (q.v.) Bores have a deep and abiding passion for a particular issue. Unlike Passionists, they don't restrict the expression of this passion to threads that are relevant to this issue. Instead they will usually invade any thread and seek to turn the topic of conversation to that issue, much to the annoyance of people participating on the thread. This may be because their passion is many, many more times intense than that of Passionists, and as such they need to express it much more.

Because of this tendency to derail threads, Bores aren't very popular with most posters, and even their fellow Passionists will just barely tolerate them. But Bores don't seem to care very much about this - they will go on and on about their topic of interest irrespective of the response they get.

Cheerleaders. These posters also share a passion for a particular issue with Passionists and Bores (q.v.). Unlike them, Cheerleaders prefer to make posts supporting these posters' point of view rather than initiating posts on their own. Or they could get personal - posting in support of a particular Passionist only.

The reason that Cheerleaders adopt a supporting rather than a leading role could be that they aren't as confident enough about their ability to express themselves articulately as the Passionist is. Or perhaps they feel they lack the verbal firepower that is needed in cyber-battles. Or it could be that they are retired Passionists who no longer have the energy to make lengthy and detailed posts. Whatever the reason, Cheerleaders are dependable allies who make up for in doggedness and numbers what they may lack in expressiveness. Certainly, without them, most online communities wouldn't be as lively (or as anarchic, if you like) as they are.

Fuellists. These posters are usually to be found near the scene of a violent argument - but rather than taking part in it, they are either usually responsible for starting it (by making inflammatory statements insulting an ethnic group or a religion) or by propelling it along when it looks like dying down.

Even though Fuellists and Passionists may both be responsible for starting arguments, there is one key difference - Fuellists deliberately go out of their way to encourage and facilitate heated arguments. This is possibly because they find the insults that are thrown back and forth particularly entertaining. While newer community members may react to Fuellists' posts in the way that they intend, other more seasoned posters recognise their game and ignore them altogether, although when their posts become too outrageous they petition the Admin (q.v.) to sanction them.

Jesters. These are posters who aim to lighten things up by making humorous and witty posts. Usually, they do this in threads about light hearted topics, but sometimes, they may do this elsewhere with the intention of defusing a tense situation. At other times, their posts may be deployed in a sarcastic manner on serious threads as a form of attack. However, they don't have the tenacity and intensity of a Passionist, so they rarely make more than a few of these kinds of posts in a cyber-battle.

Regulars. There's nothing particular remarkable about this poster, except that he contributes often enough not to be confused for a JJC, but not specifically or often enough to be regarded as any of the previously mentioned groups. He'll make the odd insightful comment or issue the odd insult, but he doesn't do anything to stop the traffic and call out the emergency services. 

One-liners. These posters usually make posts of very few words. I don't know why - perhaps this is because everything they want to say has been said, leaving them with not much else to add. Or perhaps it's because they're the kind of poster who won't say a hundred words when ten will do. Either way, because of their brevity, their posts tend not to be memorable, although occasionally they will surprise with a pithy post that captures a lot even in its terseness.

Random Occasionals. The posts of the Random Occasional are completely irregular and unpredictable. They may disappear from the community for a long time, only to show up and make a flurry of posts before disappearing again. And there's no discernable preference in the kind of threads they choose to post in - they are as likely to make a post in a thread on jazz music as a thread about romantic relationships. This doesn't mean they don't have preferences - it's just that they post so irregularly it's hard to tell what those preferences are.

One-timers. As the name implies, these are posters who make one (or a few posts) and disappear forever. Typically, they might be a JJC who dipped a toe in the water, found it too hot (or cold) and withdrew. Or more obviously, it might be someone who joined to ask a specific question of the community, and having got his answer, withdrew. Some regular posters view such persons with irritation, because they feel that if someone is going to get information from the community, they should be prepared to invest some time in participating in the community as well.

Well, hopefully, that's a useful enough list to help you navigate the online community jungle. I should point out an added twist - unlike a real jungle, posters may mutate from creature to creature. For example, a poster may be a Passionist in one thread dealing with Christianity but may change into being a Regular on a thread dealing with architecture. Also, it's possible for someone to be a Passionist about more than one issue. But you'll soon quickly get to know who's who in which circumstance. And I wish you a great time while you yourself mutate from being a...

...JJC. This is someone who's recently joined the community and is still getting to grips with the strange personas in it. Fortunately, there's this guide that's just been written to help in this - it's titled:

A Guide to JJCs: Navigating the Online Community Jungle

and it goes:

Dear JJC,

All right, you might not even be a JJC. You might just be lurking, wondering at all the activity happening in this online community. Why is this guy saying that to that person? Why does this person only appear...

Robot  Villager

# 1 Dear JJC, All right, you might not even be a JJC. You might just be lurking, wondering at...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 23.03.2007 22:50

Abraxas  Villager

# 2 Hi, Shoko Loko Bangoshe! Thank you very much for taking the trouble to prepare this guide for the benefit of the curious JJC: i.e.someone who has recently acquired a genuine temporary transit visa into our Village of origin, and is still getting to grips with the strange personas in it. Interestingly, this guide that you have just written to help is titled, A Guide to JJCs: Navigating the Online Community Jungle, and it goes something like this::D:D:D:D:D Dear JJC, All right, you might not even be a JJC. You might just be lurking, wondering at all the activity happening in this online community. Why is this guy saying that to that person? Why does this person only appear... Muchas gracias. Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Posted by Abraxas| 24.03.2007 01:19

Mikky jaga  Villager

# 3 Thanks for describing the various creatures in the village jungle. Verry funny creatures I must say. You failed to describe some very visible inhabitants of the village - The Villager. Why are they different from the JJCs. How does a JJC become a villager if it is possible. Who is the Robot. Why is he/she referred to as JJC. The Village square is very interesting. Much more than I thought when I decided to join. I hope it will continue to remain interesting. Posted by Mikky jaga| 24.03.2007 03:41

Uche Nworah  Villager

# 4 Good Job Shoko, perhaps a classification of the type of villager you are would also have done nicely, or don't you think so? or should we like the Igbo proverb says 'we re ire anyi guo eze anyi onu'? - Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo (Alias 4.30) and 'the Honourable palmwine powerless' of the New Masquerade fame would translate this proverb thus: 'Use am for your tongue to count am for your teeth'. Posted by Uche Nworah| 24.03.2007 06:01

Abraxas  Villager

# 5 Hi, MikkyJaga! =MikkyJaga;163366>Thanks for describing the various creatures in the village jungle. Verry funny creatures I must say. You failed to describe some very visible inhabitants of the village - The Villager. Why are they different from the JJCs. How does a JJC become a villager if it is possible. Who is the Robot. Why is he/she referred to as JJC. The Village square is very interesting. Much more than I thought when I decided to join. I hope it will continue to remain interesting. Congratulations! First of all, let me thank you very much for quickly metamorphosing from a JJC into a full-blown bona fide honorary Villager. Please note very well, and comply with the conditionalities attached to the issuance of your elongated temporary shopping visa, vis-à-vis your stay in our Village of origin, given the pressures of the pending tourist season. Ahhemmm! Err... em …mmhhhhmm, make I see sef: … Ehen, first of all, I want make you rememba say na exacty, 65 days, 12 hours, 25 minutes, and 3 seconds wey remain make Ogbeni Atata, Balogun General Matiyu Segun Okikiolakan Aremu OBASANJO (GCFR), go com’mot finally (pata-pata) from Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, by 12:00 noon sharp, go siddon, cool-e, for ‘im fillage wey dey for Ibogun, wey dey near Owu, via Abeokuta (Rock City). I beg, make you no forget-o! Now, proceed immediately to the 97th floor of the Village Twin Towers, and book an appointment with the Senior Special Assistant to the Adviser General on JJC Admission Matters, to enable you go through the due process of retroactive introduction to our Village of origin. Kindly submit details of your biometric data and other partykolas to the Director General of the Village Security Service (VSS) at the 69th floor. Please ensure full compliance with the admission protocol, before bothering to "blow advanced 'tory" any further with the Senior Girls and Big Boys of this our very beloved Village of origin. Muchas gracias, mi amigo. Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III) (Welcomer-in-Chief of all JJCs in the known universe) (His Eminence, Sheik Sadiq d’Fcuk of Sakkwato Caliphate, Darfur & Dubai Emirates) Posted by Abraxas| 24.03.2007 06:37

truthsayer33  Villager

# 6 in other words "different strokes for different folks" or "talking loud and saying nothing" or worse still "educated fools from uneducated schools"...thats my village ! Posted by truthsayer33| 24.03.2007 06:46

akuluouno  Villager

# 7 Dear SLB, To believe all you have written is to believe that Robot is a JJC, male and have not made any posting in this Village in spite of the fact that Robot is always the first. You omitted people like Don Carlos Abraxas, Fcuk, Welcomer in Chief and by the Grace of God, Good Byer in Chief to Aremu after May 29, 007. :D :D :D BTW where would you classify my humble self because I did not see any pigeonhole for Women elders or is SLB feminohobic. :lol: :lol: :lol: Posted by akuluouno| 24.03.2007 07:22

Chidi Giniji  Villager

# 8 Na waa for you-o T33. Abi you be one of them fuellists? Anyway, I jus wan tell Shoko say I de kampke even though I no fit find my corner for him show yonder. Na good job sha. Posted by Chidi Giniji| 24.03.2007 07:25

ithinkbetter  Villager

# 9 ...i look right...i look left...i look back...i look front..i no see my person for all this masterful scientifical and academical classification of alofty villagers...SLB, which one you dey now...abeg put my humble self inside this your classification..na wetin i do you self! :confused1 :confused1 :confused1 :confused1 :confused1 :confused1 :confused1 :confused1 Posted by ithinkbetter| 24.03.2007 07:50

Shoko Loko Bangoshe  Villager

# 10 All, Thanks for the comments. Mikky Jaga, The JJC/Villager titles are formal titles used to describe villagers who have made less/more than ten posts on the board. But the personas I describe in the article are more 'informal' - you need to study someone's behaviour before you can decide whether they are behaving like a Passionist or Specialist. Also, as I said towards the end of the article, people's personas can change as well - someone may behave like a Passionist on one thread and change his behaviour on another thread, depending on what that thread is all about. Robot is just an artificial villager whose purpose is to create threads based on articles that are posted. It is not a real person. Uche, As I was just telling Mikky Jaga, my persona can change from thread to thread. I guess right now, I'm just being a Regular. Akuluouno, Well, I didn't genderise the 'Elders' tag in the article - an Elder can be a man or a woman. There are certainly female villagers who I would put in the 'Elder' category, but I'll keep my thoughts about that to myself. :) Ithinkbetter, Feel free to put yourself in any of the categories that suits you. Even better, remember that the list is not exhaustive - you (or anyone else) can add extra categories if you like! Posted by Shoko Loko Bangoshe| 24.03.2007 08:26

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