I think people who stay here for more than a week or two go through phases. How the phases work out depend on what sort of person you are but there are definite phases, which I think condition you into tending to identify with soul mates, which I'll come to later.
The first phase is one of uncertainty and some bewilderment. An introvert will read and watch (wisely) and gradually be drawn out into the next phase. The less judicious (like me) will shoot their mouth off and cause a bit of a stir.
The second phase is one of starting to make connections - often little sparks of appreciation (sometimes mutual) which warm the heart and start to make it fun. This usually extracts effusive expressions of bonhomie of orgasmic proportions - good SH currency.
The third phase is one of occasional contrast which can disappoint and attract the odd rant 'Am i being ignored here? Why did he/she say it like that?' (been there - done that!). Won't dwell on it but it is an important phase because it makes you think so you can enter the fourth phase.
The fourth phase is one where you realise that this place is not here for your benefit or to appreciate you and you've got to put in some quality to get some out. This is actually quite a good phase because you start to think about who really is the sort of person you wish to maintain contact with and then you do it through the Forum in one fashion but through PMs in another. Yup some real friends emerge.
The fifth (and final?) phase is when you're Godlike and you can appreciate all the newcomers coming in and going through the phases.
Anyway the purpose of the thread is that I think people tend to identify with those going through the same phase as them and so if you look at the joining date chances are those with whom you identify will have joined at roughly the same time. Not strictly true but a tendency.
Told you it was Bollox - still I enjoyed running through the phases
)
