All right, I had walked away from the computer but kept thinking to myself, people still aren't going to get what your point is, they'll see it as choosing sides. So let's take names and specifics out of it and create an analogy:
I find a message board about pets. Most of the forums have to do with pets but there's a general section and in THAT section is a forum for more controversial subjects. I join this board at a time there is some intense argument going on whether they will make the site colors orange themed or purple themed. The first thing I do is jump into that thread and make it known purple theme is the best way to go and I fight tooth and nail with anyone who says otherwise. I make a signature right away in which I promote the purple theme vigorously. These people who are part of the pet board are looking at my posts, they're looking at my signature, and they are thinking "This person joined just to argue and fight over this hot controversy. She really isn't interested in talking about her pets or participating in the thing this whole board is truly about. She's not one of us."
They are going to be less civil to me, less tolerant of me. They will be more dismissive of my arguments. They are going to have their preconceived notions of what I'm about, that I'm only here to argue and prove my own views to be the correct ones.
And so that was my point: The things you say and do when you first meet up with a group of people, whether in person or on a board, influence the reception you will be received with. Just some food for thought.
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Originally Posted by K9soul
. I'll be keeping an eye out 
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