Whenever I explain to other people about what the TheRoot42 is, they become confused why I, a seemingly normal person (Note! I said seemingly — anybody who really knows me would know that I’m an uber geek), would have so many “internet friends” — and not just “internet friends,” but “really good internet friends.”

Of course, I expect this reaction and it doesn’t bother me one. I explain with a smile that it’s not just “any” internet forum, because not just “anybody” is allowed in. I don’t see this as an elitist statement at all. I don’t become friends with “just anybody,” so why in the world would I want to spend (a large portion of) my time with a bunch of “anybodies” on the internet? I don’t.

Our membership has been built through application and/or invitation. Though I am strongly +1 on the application method, it is kind of true for either way — you either had to 1) prove yourself as somebody who could become a worthwhile contributor, or 2) garner the trust of one (and with the voting system, I suppose it would be more than one) person.

I, for one, would have never known TheRoot42 existed if Colin had not recognized me as somebody he wanted to include and strongly encouraged that I apply. I would guess that not many of us went searching on Google with the sole purpose of finding a forum that would become a part of our lives, with the kind of people on it who would become friends, both online and the rumored “IRL.” Which means that there is a good chance that somehow, one of our existing members saw something in you that he sees and wants to continue seeing in his fellow members of TheRoot42. Although I’m sure there are exceptions and special cases to what I’m saying here, we are, for the most part, “hand-picked.” And I think this shows in the way that this internet space has developed into a ‘real’ community.

When I tell people about my involvement with TheRoot42, I speak of my fellow users like we’ve been friends for years — and in the cases of many of them, this is true — but still, for just an ordinary person, listening to somebody speak with great conviction about a bunch of “internet friends” is disconcerting and not a little bit unsettling. Who is this weird person with all of these internet friends? Moreover, internet friends that she likes and trusts and confides in and seeks advice from? I reassure them with everything I’ve just written here — and suddenly it makes a lot more sense.

This is why it pains me to think that Rooters would dishonest with each other and/or are treating each other with anything besides respect. Part of respect is trust. Naturally, the Rooters who I trust most are probably the ones I’ve met and spent time with in person. And it is certainly not as if I completely abandon my regular due process and trust all Rooters implicitly, but STILL — I certainly have a heightened sense of trust with people on this site that I do not have with other people whom I “only know on the internet.” So it is a bit upsetting to hear any conflict between Rooters, as minor or major as the people involved seem to think they are.

And this is where my issue lies — I am torn, as I personally believe these sorts of issues should be dealt with privately, because we’re all adults here. Especially because if business is going to be done, then it’s no longer personal, it’s business. Contracts and caution and all the normal rules should apply when entering a business relationship with anybody, Rooter or not. However, if I was doing business with Rooters, then I suppose I would want to know if a Rooter is conducting themselves less than professionally. I’d want to know so that I could avoid ending up in the same situation. Which just makes this a very complicated problem for our community to solve.

With all of this said, I think that I am in general agreement about starting threads that air out issues between Rooters, at least after they have first attempted to resolve the issue between themselves and not had any luck. This is contingent on both parties involved remaining respectful and professional. AND I also think that it is contingent on the Rooters who participate in said ‘airing out’ threads to maintain the same level of respectful and professional conduct. It’ll do no good for the involved parties to be cordial with each other if the other Rooters are taking respective sides and letting unnecessary insults fly.

Please note that in the above statement I said “I think I am in general agreement” — this is because I haven’t had enough time to thoroughly grok the issue at hand, but that is my initial reaction. I mean, this topic has certainly sparked a good deal of valuable discussion on TheRoot. But I can also remember an instance where the same member currently in question started a thread about $50 dollars owed to him — which I believe was in EXTREMELY poor taste and totally uncalled for. I don’t want TheRoot to begin to resemble those stupid “people’s courts” that you see on TV. That is NOT what we are there for.

kthxbye<3