What Kind Of VIOL Forum Member Are You?
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:02 pm
A few days ago CTBeachGirl posted about studying this Forum as part of a project for a class on social media. And it got me to thinking...
What kind of VIOL St. John Travel Forum Member are you?
THE PARROT FISH: This mild-mannered poster typically swims with the current bringing bright, insightful, thought provoking content to the Forum. His or her contributions are often timely, informative, helpful or hopeful, and most importantly, show a mutual respect for his or her fellow reader/contributor. Much like STJ wouldn't have its beaches if not for the consumption habits and regularity of the Parrot Fish, without these type of commentators pooping out a multitude of responses, there would be no Forum.
Most Common Response: "Don't forget to say, 'Good morning' before ordering and it's not St. Johns, it's St. John."
THE LOOSE MONGOOSE: AKA, the Hot Mess or the stream of conscious commentator. He or she gets a thought in their oxygen deprived head and time can't stand still long enough to post it. These guys usually come out of nowhere, when you least expect it. Even though they usually mean well, their non sequitur-style postings often confuse or offend and get run over by other posters who misconstrue their true intentions. But they do serve a purpose, scaring snakes away and generating an abundance of responses and site traffic.
Most Common Response: "What, no way, you're crazy...I have to have a villa with A/C in the hot tub...and I love driving on the left side of the road in Conrad Sutton's diminutive parking lot and this one time, I saw an Eagle Ray and does anybody know where the Pine Peace grocery store is and what's up with the bathrooms at Skinny Legs..."
THE SEASONED LOCAL - Our eyes on "the Rock" and a real legitimizer for the Forum (even better than a destination expert, shhh, who said that?). True, they may view social media as a means for indirectly promoting personal enterprise, but they never hesitate to lend firsthand knowledge to an unquenchable crowd who often asks the same questions again and again. In my opinion, their biggest contribution to the Forum is the uncanny ability to continuously see the island with a wanderlust normally reserved for only the most exuberant of vacationers, thus creating bonds and friendships with readers who can normally only afford to visit STJ in their dreams. In a way, the Seasoned Locals are simply the tourists that loved STJ so much they forgot to leave.
Most Common Response: "My electric bill looks like a second mortgage, but it's worth it."
THE RED HOOK-ER: The St. Thomas temptress struggling in vain to prevent you from getting on that ferry to Cruz Bay while seeking acceptance in a web community hopelessly and unabashedly enthralled with St. John. But like the Parrot Fish, the Red Hooker provides rich and thoughtful content. And the passion with which they dispense their knowledge gives readers a deeper appreciation for the underrated island, even converting a few readers to spend more time there. Unfortunately, their Sisyphean quest is all uphill, as the majority of the forum still thinks St. Thomas is a gas station owned by ginormous cruise ship lines.
Most Common Response: "Believe it or not, St. Thomas has beaches too."
THE RAIN CLOUD - You could literally post an image of a perfect sunset on St. John and this poster's response would be, "the mosquitoes would kill you at that time day." Honestly, I don't believe their intentions are to go all Debby Drowner on your posting parade and in an odd way, I think this is just their way of being helpful. Unfortunately, the Rain Cloud's choice of words typically come off with the sincerity and couth of a cancelled flight announcement and the response usually begets a myriad responses detailing just where they can go drink their half empty glass of shut the hell up.
Most Common Response - "There's a 50% chance it will rain every day."
THE MOST INTERESTING MAN AT THE BEACH BAR - The aging hipster Lothario, the TMI King. After reading one of his comments or posts, you usually feel an unnatural urge to return to your ignorant, blissful childhood while disinfecting your keyboard. His posts are always rife with innuendo and inappropriate puns. In his world, sex is not only a sport, but a language, a currency, and a defense mechanism. That being said, his clever whit is literary cleavage and he always gets the better of your prurient curiosity with a mastery of diction that would make even the most secular of Forumites repent.
Most Common Response: "Much like my villa, I also have an optional tan lines policy."
THE CORAL BAY REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE - Somehow even on an island that is only 8 miles across at its widest point, we have developed something of an, all be it friendly, East Coast - West Coast rivalry. Where as posters who prefer to rent villas in and around Cruz Bay are partially viewed as more cosmopolitan and dependent on modern conveniences (like 5 minute commutes to restaurants and microwave safe ramekins), the Coral Bay Rebels purport themselves as more provincial and perhaps more in touch with nature. Did I mention that the island is only 8 miles at its widest? Seriously, here in Texas we call the guy who lives 8 miles down the road a neighbor. Regardless, Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, as far as I'm concerned, there's no wrong way to St. J.
Most Common Response: "I love the laid back, free spirit of the Coral Bay area...no big city stuffiness for me, no sir."
THE PLANNER VS THE FREE SPIRIT - Where as the Planner attacks the rock like a scavenger hunt on crack, trying to visit every beach, restaurant and ruin by planning the entire 8-day adventure down to the tiniest detail, the Free Spirit abhors planning and prefers to vacation at a "stop and smell the Frangipani" pace. Both enjoy starting the morning by Kissing The Jumbie (shameless plug, STJ Spice), but the Planner uses it as a mild stimulant to escape the gravitational pull of their villa while the Free Spirit sees it as a mild sedative and succumbs to the weight of relaxation with a second cup.
Most Common Planner Response: "Okay guys, I'm leaving for the STJ in six months and I can't get my ticker to work. Also, what kind of bug repellent works best during low season on a south shore beach with a Hurricane approaching? And PM me and tell me where the hidden beach is."
Most Common Free Spirit Response: "Um, what's a ticker?"
THE WILD DONKEY - The jackass advocate for the silent majority (AKA, "the lurkers") whether he is appointed or not (yep, that's me). Often times this poster will take an opposing viewpoint, whether he believes in it or not...much like a donkey standing in the middle of Centerline Road. Frustrating to be sure, yet we can be quite droll and even, dare I say it, endearing at times. Our posts are almost always in jest and never meant to hurt or offend, only to provoke laughter and illicit levity in a Forum created to facilitate premeditated relaxation, not societal redemption.
Most Common Response: "Why do you keep going back to St. John? I don't get it."
In merciful conclusion, I just want to say that it takes all kinds and I hope all visitors to the Forum, longtime members and first time posters alike, appreciate each and every type of contributor we have here. In truth, there is a bit of every one of the archetypes mentioned above in all of us and to attempt to purge or mitigate one type would lessen the impact and redeeming qualities of the rest.
The anticipation of another visit to the Rock is often half the fun of the actual trip itself. For many of us, this Forum serves as a mini-vacation from our everyday grind by facilitating our constant need to stay connected to place we hold so dear. In an odd way, I guess this is my way of saying thank you to everyone who participates, giving me a safe harbor and a daily respite from the storm.
June, soon come,
54b
PS. If you feel your style of commenting has been underrepresented or misinterpreted on the aforementioned list, by all means, please enlighten us by throwing me under the bus...just don't run me over too
What kind of VIOL St. John Travel Forum Member are you?
THE PARROT FISH: This mild-mannered poster typically swims with the current bringing bright, insightful, thought provoking content to the Forum. His or her contributions are often timely, informative, helpful or hopeful, and most importantly, show a mutual respect for his or her fellow reader/contributor. Much like STJ wouldn't have its beaches if not for the consumption habits and regularity of the Parrot Fish, without these type of commentators pooping out a multitude of responses, there would be no Forum.
Most Common Response: "Don't forget to say, 'Good morning' before ordering and it's not St. Johns, it's St. John."
THE LOOSE MONGOOSE: AKA, the Hot Mess or the stream of conscious commentator. He or she gets a thought in their oxygen deprived head and time can't stand still long enough to post it. These guys usually come out of nowhere, when you least expect it. Even though they usually mean well, their non sequitur-style postings often confuse or offend and get run over by other posters who misconstrue their true intentions. But they do serve a purpose, scaring snakes away and generating an abundance of responses and site traffic.
Most Common Response: "What, no way, you're crazy...I have to have a villa with A/C in the hot tub...and I love driving on the left side of the road in Conrad Sutton's diminutive parking lot and this one time, I saw an Eagle Ray and does anybody know where the Pine Peace grocery store is and what's up with the bathrooms at Skinny Legs..."
THE SEASONED LOCAL - Our eyes on "the Rock" and a real legitimizer for the Forum (even better than a destination expert, shhh, who said that?). True, they may view social media as a means for indirectly promoting personal enterprise, but they never hesitate to lend firsthand knowledge to an unquenchable crowd who often asks the same questions again and again. In my opinion, their biggest contribution to the Forum is the uncanny ability to continuously see the island with a wanderlust normally reserved for only the most exuberant of vacationers, thus creating bonds and friendships with readers who can normally only afford to visit STJ in their dreams. In a way, the Seasoned Locals are simply the tourists that loved STJ so much they forgot to leave.
Most Common Response: "My electric bill looks like a second mortgage, but it's worth it."
THE RED HOOK-ER: The St. Thomas temptress struggling in vain to prevent you from getting on that ferry to Cruz Bay while seeking acceptance in a web community hopelessly and unabashedly enthralled with St. John. But like the Parrot Fish, the Red Hooker provides rich and thoughtful content. And the passion with which they dispense their knowledge gives readers a deeper appreciation for the underrated island, even converting a few readers to spend more time there. Unfortunately, their Sisyphean quest is all uphill, as the majority of the forum still thinks St. Thomas is a gas station owned by ginormous cruise ship lines.
Most Common Response: "Believe it or not, St. Thomas has beaches too."
THE RAIN CLOUD - You could literally post an image of a perfect sunset on St. John and this poster's response would be, "the mosquitoes would kill you at that time day." Honestly, I don't believe their intentions are to go all Debby Drowner on your posting parade and in an odd way, I think this is just their way of being helpful. Unfortunately, the Rain Cloud's choice of words typically come off with the sincerity and couth of a cancelled flight announcement and the response usually begets a myriad responses detailing just where they can go drink their half empty glass of shut the hell up.
Most Common Response - "There's a 50% chance it will rain every day."
THE MOST INTERESTING MAN AT THE BEACH BAR - The aging hipster Lothario, the TMI King. After reading one of his comments or posts, you usually feel an unnatural urge to return to your ignorant, blissful childhood while disinfecting your keyboard. His posts are always rife with innuendo and inappropriate puns. In his world, sex is not only a sport, but a language, a currency, and a defense mechanism. That being said, his clever whit is literary cleavage and he always gets the better of your prurient curiosity with a mastery of diction that would make even the most secular of Forumites repent.
Most Common Response: "Much like my villa, I also have an optional tan lines policy."
THE CORAL BAY REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE - Somehow even on an island that is only 8 miles across at its widest point, we have developed something of an, all be it friendly, East Coast - West Coast rivalry. Where as posters who prefer to rent villas in and around Cruz Bay are partially viewed as more cosmopolitan and dependent on modern conveniences (like 5 minute commutes to restaurants and microwave safe ramekins), the Coral Bay Rebels purport themselves as more provincial and perhaps more in touch with nature. Did I mention that the island is only 8 miles at its widest? Seriously, here in Texas we call the guy who lives 8 miles down the road a neighbor. Regardless, Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, as far as I'm concerned, there's no wrong way to St. J.
Most Common Response: "I love the laid back, free spirit of the Coral Bay area...no big city stuffiness for me, no sir."
THE PLANNER VS THE FREE SPIRIT - Where as the Planner attacks the rock like a scavenger hunt on crack, trying to visit every beach, restaurant and ruin by planning the entire 8-day adventure down to the tiniest detail, the Free Spirit abhors planning and prefers to vacation at a "stop and smell the Frangipani" pace. Both enjoy starting the morning by Kissing The Jumbie (shameless plug, STJ Spice), but the Planner uses it as a mild stimulant to escape the gravitational pull of their villa while the Free Spirit sees it as a mild sedative and succumbs to the weight of relaxation with a second cup.
Most Common Planner Response: "Okay guys, I'm leaving for the STJ in six months and I can't get my ticker to work. Also, what kind of bug repellent works best during low season on a south shore beach with a Hurricane approaching? And PM me and tell me where the hidden beach is."
Most Common Free Spirit Response: "Um, what's a ticker?"
THE WILD DONKEY - The jackass advocate for the silent majority (AKA, "the lurkers") whether he is appointed or not (yep, that's me). Often times this poster will take an opposing viewpoint, whether he believes in it or not...much like a donkey standing in the middle of Centerline Road. Frustrating to be sure, yet we can be quite droll and even, dare I say it, endearing at times. Our posts are almost always in jest and never meant to hurt or offend, only to provoke laughter and illicit levity in a Forum created to facilitate premeditated relaxation, not societal redemption.
Most Common Response: "Why do you keep going back to St. John? I don't get it."
In merciful conclusion, I just want to say that it takes all kinds and I hope all visitors to the Forum, longtime members and first time posters alike, appreciate each and every type of contributor we have here. In truth, there is a bit of every one of the archetypes mentioned above in all of us and to attempt to purge or mitigate one type would lessen the impact and redeeming qualities of the rest.
The anticipation of another visit to the Rock is often half the fun of the actual trip itself. For many of us, this Forum serves as a mini-vacation from our everyday grind by facilitating our constant need to stay connected to place we hold so dear. In an odd way, I guess this is my way of saying thank you to everyone who participates, giving me a safe harbor and a daily respite from the storm.
June, soon come,
54b
PS. If you feel your style of commenting has been underrepresented or misinterpreted on the aforementioned list, by all means, please enlighten us by throwing me under the bus...just don't run me over too
Im not sure which type I would be...I agree with Pia...you should just label us...lol