The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

So, we're a couple of months into the EDGF experiment, and it's an understatement to say that things are going swimmingly. Certainly, no other poster could've established such a thriving forum based purely on reputation and personal selectivity. This subject is interesting to me. But first, a related and amusing anectode:

A little while ago several posters in OOT discussed a reality-television "star" who was appearing in soft-core pornography. I mentioned this to my wife, who is a fan of the reality TV. She was like "People on OOT watch the Real World?" She was asking me more about 2+2, of which she's aware without understanding it, and later that night I showed her some of my more successful and amusing gimmick accounts (which she didn't give a [censored] about). Anyway, sometime after this I left OOT open on my computer, and my wife apparently browsed OOT for five minutes or so. I was watching TV in the other room, and she walks in and says "Hey, I like that El Diablo guy."

So this story illustrates that El D's appeal, while it may have started with his poker prowess, has certainly grown beyond that sphere. To what can we attribute this phenomenon? His writing? His jet-setting lifestyle? His seemingly limitless knowledge of all things luxurious?

For people who frequent other forums, is there an untouchable El D type on each forum, or is his situation unique? Obviously, there are those who try to do combat with El D whenever they can, like Stuey (although I think Stuey would want to argue with the most popular poster regardless, it's a rebellion thing or something). So, knowing that posters are always trying to knock El D off his perch, does anyone have an example of El D losing one of these battles? I doubt it, not because he's never wrong, but because he's good at equivocating when he's not 100% sure of his position.

Those of you who know the man IRL, does he enjoy such unparalleled popularity off the forum as he does on it? Would you say that his online "persona" is similar to his offline self, or is the El D that has so completely dominated 2+2 a character, a creation? Is there a man behind the curtain?

I've never posted on another message board, so I don't know how unusual any of this is, but I do find it fascinating. El D, please chime in with your opinion of your own ubiquitousness if you wish, I'm very interested in your perspective.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

I think there was some internet forum archetypes link, and Diablo would be characterized as "Godfather" or something - so I think yes, other forums have a Diablo.

My friend is actually writing part of her dissertation on the social culture of Internet forums. She interviewed me since I participate on one - she was especially curious about "very high volume posters". In online community parlance, these "super nodes" are critical to a forum thriving.

-Al

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

this is funny. i've only posted at one other message board in my life, and there was a person like this. like 6 months after i started posting here i went back to the other message board and posted pretty much this identical thread about that other person. so in my limited experience, yes, there is a person like El D at every forum.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

diebitter >>> el diablo

especially wrt to knowledge and execution of growing internet communities

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

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Certainly, no other poster could've established such a thriving forum based purely on reputation and personal selectivity.

[/ QUOTE ]

no slight this forum, but i think several people could have done it.

every forum probably has a diablo. i think i was it at a kinda big tech forum. i didn't realize until i quit posting how much effort i had to put into it.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

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in my limited experience, yes, there is a person like El D at every forum.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
diebitter >>> el diablo

especially wrt to knowledge and execution of growing internet communities

[/ QUOTE ]

When Diablo bans you from EDF, plz come to the AI Forum it is great fun and we could use another analytical mind over there.

-Al

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Certainly, no other poster could've established such a thriving forum based purely on reputation and personal selectivity.

[/ QUOTE ]

no slight this forum, but i think several people could have done it.

every forum probably has a diablo. i think i was it at a kinda big tech forum. i didn't realize until i quit posting how much effort i had put into it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm amazed at how devoted some of you are to the forum. I just don't have the time for it!

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

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I think there was some internet forum archetypes link, and Diablo would be characterized as "Godfather" or something - so I think yes, other forums have a Diablo.

[/ QUOTE ]
Link.

edit: That list is TOO LONG. It's easy to classify the few thousand 2p2 posters if you include a few hundred archetypes.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

If you could "eldiablo" like 20 high traffic forums, and all reccomend a stock, or a particular website to drive traffic too, or some other type of scam, you could make a ton of money. Sort of a super-guerrilla marketing scheme.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
Those of you who know the man IRL, does he enjoy such unparalleled popularity off the forum as he does on it? Would you say that his online "persona" is similar to his offline self, or is the El D that has so completely dominated 2+2 a character, a creation? Is there a man behind the curtain?

[/ QUOTE ]
He's shorter in person.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
reccomend a stock, or a particular website to drive traffic too, or some other type of scam, you could make a ton of money.

[/ QUOTE ]

recommendation results aftermath

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

this thread is absolutely hilarious

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

"My friend is actually writing part of her dissertation on the social culture of Internet forums."

In an alternate universe where I care about school, I would love to do this.

There's other forums that have an El Diablo type, but nothing exactly like him. It's a combination of personality, intelligence, and an investment in the community. It's reasonably rare because more people with the first two qualities, especially the 2nd, tend not to get into the 3rd.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

Something feels really gay about this thread. Seriously. I'd like to participate but my heterosexuality won't let me.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

LFS,

You exposed your wife to the super-sexual-tyrrrranosaur that is El Diablo? I can only assume that you were looking for an easy way to get her to divorce you. If not, my condolences.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

Pete,

We're not talking about how much we like El Diablo, we're talking about the phenomenon of how incredibly well-liked he is. Like, we could talk about all the women that like Brad Pitt's ass without liking Brad Pitt's ass. That's just an example, though, I'm not saying I don't like Brad Pitt's ass. Or El Diablo. You see the difference?

Hope that helped,

LFS

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

But the reason I like the El Diablo *forum* is that it doesn't (ordinarily) have threads like this.

[img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

pj,

Couldn't think of a more appropriate place to discuss El Diablo than the "El Diablo's General Discussion Forum".

But seriously, I'm genuinely fascinated by the social constructs we've all established in this online "world". If the fact that I made it specifically about El Diablo makes it too gossipy (and I do hear where you're coming from), think of this as a general discussion of our little society on 2+2. I just started with the Alpha Dog, that's all. Hell, Al knows somebody doing their freaking dissertation on this stuff, there's got to be a fair amount to it.

LFS

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

Im still very curious to the answers of his real online persona compares to his on 2+2.

also, personally im not a big el d fan (compared to other posters i like) but that is b/c i havent been around a long time

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

S,

My real life personality is very much like my online one, except I'm much less of a dick because I tend to avoid people who irritate me rather than get involved in stupid arguments like I do here. In a lot of ways, my online persona here is like a caricature of me in real life with lots of parts hyper-exaggerated. I also use this place to vent a lot, which reduces my stress IRL.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

All,

I'm gonna lock this soon unless it expands into a broader discussion of online communities beyond simply restating how much I rule.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
But the reason I like the El Diablo *forum* is that it doesn't (ordinarily) have threads like this.

[img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

The reason I like The El Diablo forum is because we can have this discussion without anybody accusing people of being gay (oops) or talking about Diablo's [censored].

The thing that makes 2p2 slightly unquire in terms of poster status is that it's a competative thing where you can somewhat objectively measure results.

Rather than just being founded on reputation and a cult of personality, respected posters get respect because they are very good poker players. It's much harder to keep score on say, a hip-hop forum. Folks like Schneids have a somewhat implied gravitas when they speak that has very little to do with how good they post (although Schneids does post good).

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

El D,

I think it would be in your best interests to start hiring interns from the annals uNL/The Dorm to mentor into millionaire, awesome, super neat people.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
Rather than just being founded on reputation and a cult of personality, respected posters get respect because they are very good poker players.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dids/Anyone,

Do you think this holds true now as much as it did a couple of years ago? I personally don't play much poker anymore, and hardly ever read the strat forums. That's not to say I was ever a good poster there (I wasn't), I'm just pointing out that the "community" of 2+2 keeps people around sometimes even when the poker does not. I doubt I'm the only one this applies to.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

James,

It doesn't in the same way it did 3 years ago, obviously. However, I think it's important in understanding part of why El D is perceived the way he is.

I'm trying to think of OT posters that I really dig that were never active strat posters, and it's not coming that easy.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

Im fairly positive good strat. posters get some breaks and slack where other posters dont. And thats a good thing. This is a poker site after all.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

I think this thread has potential. I have been a part of 2 other forums to about the same extent that I have been a part of 2p2. Im mostly a daily lurker who posts once in awhile. Both of the other forums that I was a part of had an "El Diablo" type of poster. The difference is that the El Diablo from 2p2 is real. I feel like he is who he portrays on 2p2. At the other forums I felt like those guys who were playing the role of 'El Diablo'were just putting up an act, because they were lacking IRL. Of course these are just my observations from a small sample size.

However I will admit I'm a fan of the masked man. Even though we had our feud back in the day, which was mostly due to my instigating. He is an icon, a legend, a man and not a myth. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

I'm wondering whether since 2+2 isn't just a poker site, but a site that stresses a statistically sound approach to cards, whether there are a higher percentage of people here that place a high value on logic and reason than other places on the internet. I'm continually amazed by the incredibly sharp people around here, that can't be true about other message boards, can it?

I think it's that general respect that I have for a lot of posters here that makes being a part of the community worthwhile.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

Dids/JB/etc,

The poker part of 2+2 is still significant in this stuff because there's a big area here where superior logic, reasoning, and intelligence can be displayed in pretty objective discussions with a bunch of experts in the field. It's tough for dumbfks to maintain respect in the strat forums for very long. And the effect of having lots of top players in the strat forums respect your posting carries over to other forums here.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
Pete,

We're not talking about how much we like El Diablo, we're talking about the phenomenon of how incredibly well-liked he is. Like, we could talk about all the women that like Brad Pitt's ass without liking Brad Pitt's ass. That's just an example, though, I'm not saying I don't like Brad Pitt's ass. Or El Diablo. You see the difference?

Hope that helped,

LFS

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I understand. I think the forum phenomena very popular people is interesting I guess, but I still think a thread about it, especially a specific person, *feels* very gay. Just like a thread called "Why is Brad Pitt's Ass So Great? No Really, We're Talking Objectively About the Phenomena of Great Asses" would.

Consider this a post about the phenomena of interesting things being difficult to talk about because of cultural taboos.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm continually amazed by the incredibly sharp people around here, that can't be true about other message boards, can it?


[/ QUOTE ]

Same here. I'm amazed at the general level of intelligence here and not to mention there are a lot of really funny people here as well. I've never really participated that much at other forums, this one is definitely the one I frequent almost exclusively. But there have to be other forums that have some pretty sharp people as well on whatever the general concept of the forum is.

One thing I've taken from this whole idea of internet forums is that I'll now go look for a forum on a specific topic, say home recording, instead of just seeking out sites that simply publish useful information. Something about the actual interaction of people, being able to ask questions and get serious and informed replies is awesome.

I guess I have seen a few of what we're calling 'El Diablo' types. I think a few seem like the real thing and others seem to be personas adopted by people, for whatever reasons.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
"My friend is actually writing part of her dissertation on the social culture of Internet forums."

In an alternate universe where I care about school, I would love to do this.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's pretty interesting what she's uncovered to date. She's been lurking a bunch of prominent / high traffic internet message boards (I brought 2p2 to her attention, but it's a little too narrow a focus I think for her study), and the interview she gave me was fairly generic (why do I post, what do I get out of it, what is my perception of the dynamic, "social strata", what's my posting volume etc.).

I don't read any other message boards but my guess is the signal to noise ratio on 2p2 is very good compared to others.

-Al

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

Al,

Could you get her to send you a list of the questions she asked and then post it? Sounds like it might be interesting.

LFS

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
Al,

Could you get her to send you a list of the questions she asked and then post it? Sounds like it might be interesting.

LFS

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I'll ask her, but since we are good friends it was more of a free-flowing conversation. She was most focused on my motivations for posting, and what I got out of participating, so it was questions along those lines. The issue of "IRL" vs. "online persona" came up too. Oh and she also was intrigued by high volume posters, and my opinions of them and their reasons for posting so much.

The thrust of the paper is online communities in general, it's for a Psychology phd.

Personally, I actually learn a decent amount of stuff reading these boards, and kind of formulate / sharpen thoughts and ideas I have. Also there are some hilarious people who post here. Sometimes I even read strat forums, but since I've only really been playing tourneys recently... it hasn't been that helpful [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

-Al

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

Al,

Do I have permission to rock this girl's world?

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

Ana - I don't think internet love triangles is part of her thesis.

-Al

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ana - I don't think internet love triangles is part of her thesis.

-Al

[/ QUOTE ]

Could it not be tacked on? Could her research not take her deeper than she dared to imagine?

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ana - I don't think internet love triangles is part of her thesis.

-Al

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Could it not be tacked on? Could her research not take her deeper than she dared to imagine?

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL. Yea, maybe she needs to be involved in a real trainwreck to get the real feel of it all. Actually take a step into the murky waters of internet intrigue.

Re: The Universal Appeal of El Diablo
 

does anyone else wonder how their own real-life persona compares to their online persona? i do. i know a few people from 2+2, perhaps i should ask them.

*edit to say* i think most people will believe that their online personas accurately reflect their real-life personas, but that is generally a personal bias towards your own honesty. so what i am wondering is how other people perceive it. for example, when you read a book and get pictures of the characters in your head, then they make a movie out of the book, you get to compare the characters with your initial impressions of them.