The Universal Appeal of El Diablo

[Los Feliz Slim]

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.

[Aloysius]

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

[NorCalJosh]

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.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

diebitter >>> el diablo

especially wrt to knowledge and execution of growing internet communities

[astroglide]

[ 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 to put into it.

[milesdyson]

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

[/ QUOTE ]

[Aloysius]

[ 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

[Freakin]

[ 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!

[SamIAm]

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[guids]

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.