OCELOTS and the return of the old list members

[Dicentra spectabilis]

--- In HPFGU-Feedback at yahoogroups.com, "KathyK" <zanelupin at y...> wrote:
 
> I'd like to echo the sentiments of Annemehr and wish that some of 
> the older listmembers who haven't been posting would come back and 
> do so.  If only because I'm so new, I feel I've missed out on a lot 
> of the fun.

In message 80924, Remnant coined the acronym OCELOTS (Once-zealous
Crew of Elder Listees Oddly Taken Silent) to refer to those oldbies. 
I've heard quite a few queries and comments about when these OCELOTS
will return to the main list and recapture their former glory.

What you might not know is that the OLD listmembers aren't usually
writing the good posts: it's the NEW ones. To take the example of the
now-legendary Elkins, she joined the list in Dec 2001 (and before
posting read the *entire* archive, which at the time comprised 33,000
posts).  She delurked on 21 Jan 02 with post 33804, <fangirl> in
response to *my* post </fangirl>.  Elk posted like a madwoman for the
next year or so, but then RL stuff and stress-related fatigue from
being a Mod caused her to slow, then stop her posting.  (I don't know
if she's coming back, but one can always hope.)

Many other OCELOTS followed a similar pattern: they jumped in with
both feet, posted like crazy, then slowed way down and sometimes
stopped.  There are *tons* of OCELOTS that y'all don't know about
because their glory days were back in 2000-01, right Amanda?  Their
posts formed the theoretical foundation on which the later OCELOTS built.

Why is this?  

1) The kind of mental and emotional energy required to write those
types of posts (especially TBAY) inevitably runs out -- they're only
human, after all.  Sometimes folks get a second wind, sometimes not.

2) When one is *that* involved in HPfGU, one's RL interests and
obligations tend to get neglected.  After awhile, the little bitty
weeds in their flowerbeds become shrubs, new life spontaneously erupts
in their refrigerators, clean underwear runs out, and spouses and
children put their faces on milk cartons.  Eventually, RL demands win
the day, and the Legendary Poster has to cut back or be declared
legally dead.

3) The "good" posters often end up as List Elves, which takes up much
of their time and energy.  Unfortunately, some become discouraged over
the occasional Elf Squabbles and quit the list entirely.  On the other
hand, some just keep on posting as before.

4) Some of the OCELOTS really didn't like OoP.  I don't get that at
all, but there you are.

5) Like many obsessions, HPfGU can wear off after awhile.  As Heidi
said, sometimes you do HPfGU until you've had your fill and then turn
to other HP-related pursuits such as fanfic, the convention, or other
HP discussion lists.  Or you do Buffy.  Whatever.

6) Some OCELOTS had the time to post prolifically because they were
out of work, in school, or otherwise had sufficient free time.  Then
they graduate, get a job (or a new job), have a baby, get married,
move, or have health problems.  So much for that free time.  It's a
drag, but it happens.


In short, don't wait for the return of the OCELOTS to have fun on the
list: create your own fun.  It's not taboo to revisit old theories
from a year ago.  If you want to re-evaluate the Memory Charm
Symposium (52858-60) in light of OoP, go right ahead.  One thing I've
noticed after being on the lists for nearly two years is that every
time an old theory gets rehashed, it's done slightly differently. 
Sometimes it's being explored from different angles, or the discussion
that led up to it (or away from it) adds other implications than were
evident the first time around.  Any time you get new people
participating, you get new perspectives.

It's the constant influx of new members that keeps HPfGU interesting,
not the OCELOTS.  After all, they were the most interesting when they
were new, too.

--Dicentra, speaking in her own, unofficial capacity