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How to join barbelith?

  
  

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All Acting Regiment
16:53 / 25.06.06
Right, a friend (someone we can trust, don't worry) is after joining Barbelith. Now, I'm sure this is really irritating, and I'm sure we've been through this laods of times before, and I'm sorry, but, how does one join Barbelith?
 
 
All Acting Regiment
16:57 / 25.06.06
Because it's not immediately obvious to me, and I've been here for years...
 
 
Smoothly
17:26 / 25.06.06
It's at the top of the front page of the wiki, Legba.

Basically, send an email to barbelith.apply@gmail.com

Do one of the following:

Email from an account based at an established, verifiable institution (business, school, college etc).

If you are using a free or ISP-based email, demonstrate that it can be connected to an established web presence elsewhere (eg, a blog).

If an existing Barbelith member is vouching for you, include their Barbelith username so that that can be confirmed via PM.

It's quite straight-forward really, but can take a bit of time to get processed.
 
 
All Acting Regiment
19:19 / 25.06.06
Ahh. Cheers Stoats.
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
19:24 / 25.06.06
Was Mr Weaving, not I.
 
 
Triplets
19:30 / 25.06.06
That wasn't immeadiately obvious.
 
 
Smoothly
20:03 / 25.06.06
I think it goes some way to making the point that Stoatie is trying to make elsewhere, that people really don't read the Policy as much as you'd think.
 
 
Olulabelle
21:19 / 25.06.06
Yes I think it probably does.
 
 
All Acting Regiment
22:56 / 25.06.06
Oh piss off. Their names start with "St" and I was in a hurry. I read the policy all the time, I just wasn't clear on this.
 
 
All Acting Regiment
23:00 / 25.06.06
And don't anyone call me Leba and say "it starts with Le".
 
 
ONLY NICE THINGS
23:18 / 25.06.06
Right you are, Lesbian Risk.
 
 
All Acting Regiment
23:32 / 25.06.06
I can't stay mad at you after that.
 
 
Shrug
08:56 / 26.06.06
What follows is the direction offered to a prospective member upon clicking the register button:


Barbelith's membership is currently by invitation only

Due to various problems over the last year or so with trolling and abuse, Barbelith has fallen back on slightly less technical registration processes. If you're like to join the board, then you can find out how by reading this thread: The practical facts about our new system for membership by 'invitation only'. This membership approach does take a while however, so don't expect to gain immediate access to the board.

If you are a representative of Ars Electronica, then you can get in touch with the board's adminstrator directly by e-mailing tom {at} barbelith {dot} com to gain access to the board.

We have been working on several new schemes to deal with abuse and new methods of registration that use some of the behind-the-scenes approaches to running communities that are unique to Barbelith, but at present do not have the resources to get them up and running. If you are interested in sponsoring this work in some form, get in touch with Tom at the above address.

The prospective member is then (via the above link) brought to Lula's post:

IMPORTANT: If you are reading this thread because you wish to join Barbelith please note the following:

We are receiving a lot of applications from free email addresses. Do not apply using a free email address such as hotmail, gmail or yahoo unless you have a blog or website, make a regular contribution to another messageboard with a profile that features your email address, or appear in detail on a work/college/school site. We will not be able to consider you, regardless of how much you write, or how interesting it is!

If you do not have any web presence at all, you must apply using an email address using your real name which belongs to your work, college or school. Currently we cannot consider you if you don't.

Thank you. Please also read the rest of the thread.
[ADDED BY OLULABELLE, 27TH MAY 2005.]

I thought I should start this thread for information on the collating of potential new Barbelith members which I am undertaking for submission to Tom on a (probable) fortnightly basis. I've put it here as threads stay near the top for longer than Conversation and also so we can discuss what reply messages should say.

Amended as of 4th August 2005: please email barbelith.apply@gmail.com in order to apply for barbelith membership. Please put the name of the applicant (whether that is yours or someone else's) in the subject of the email. Thanks.

*******************
 
 
grant
13:09 / 27.06.06
I proposed to put Weaving's brief summary (up there, in this thread) at the top of the invitation thread.
 
 
Z. deScathach
09:09 / 28.06.06
Has anyone noticed that this policy is possibly discriminatory to the non-working disabled? These are persons who seldom have the money to afford a web presence. Insisting that such persons have an email addie associated with work or school essentially shuts them out.

As far as the unemployed, that can be argued against from the assumption that they tend to be trouble anyways, (I would disagree strongly with that viewpoint, but it can be argued), but certainly the unemployed disabled should not be shut out. Isn't there some sort of policy tweek that can prevent this?

Of course I think that there are places to start blogs for free. I've never had one, (I personally hate to journal), so I'm not too sure as to whether this is a solution for the disabled poor....can anyone enlighten me on that?
 
 
Z. deScathach
09:14 / 28.06.06
OOOPPPS. My memory leaked the part about the message board. I would suppose that would be a solution, if that is still an option. Sorry, it's late.....
 
 
Olulabelle
10:28 / 28.06.06
Technically I am unemployed because setting up your own business and working your arse off for all hours making stock does not currently constitute work, or at least it doesn't as far as this government is concerned.

Does that mean that I am 'trouble'?
 
 
Tryphena Absent
11:56 / 28.06.06
If someone cited extenuating circumstances we'd take that into account but we haven't encountered a problem like that as far as I'm aware.
 
 
Z. deScathach
11:59 / 28.06.06
Apparently you failed to read my post completely, in which I stated that I strongly disagreed with that view. Not surprising, since I am disabled, chronically ill, and presently unemployed in a country with no national healthcare. A country where losing that disability insurance means, sometimes, (and in my case), that you die..... it is my suggestion that you read posts more completely before taking things personally. I thought that putting in a paragraph with, "I STRONGLY DISAGREE with that view was enough to let my feelings be known, but apparently, that wasn't good enough.
 
 
Z. deScathach
12:02 / 28.06.06
Above ost referenced to Belle O' Ze Barb.
 
 
Z. deScathach
12:38 / 28.06.06
Note to anyone reading this. As in parenthesis in my previous post, I DO NOT believe that the unemployed are trouble. I stated in my post that I STRONGLY DISAGREE with the view that the unemployed are trouble. I have requested that the misunderstood sentence be removed. That's the best that I can do here. If anyone wants to start a thread in Policy, they may do so. I've been here three years, and I've never been anywhere where it's easier to offend someone. I will not defend myself, nor make any other statements about the matter from this point on.
 
 
Smoothly
12:40 / 28.06.06
I think Belle probably did read your post completely, and I don’t think one needs to ‘take it personally’ to pick up on your comments about the unemployed.
It's particularly notable that you draw a distinction between ‘unemployed disabled’ (which you identify with) and the regular unemployed whose membership of Barbelith can be argued against from the assumption that they tend to be trouble anyways.

It’s heartening to hear that you wouldn’t countenance that argument, but who *does*? Why suggest it? What do you mean by 'it can be argued'?
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
12:42 / 28.06.06
Considering we've argued about most things, it surprises me that there's something that "can be argued" that we haven't got to yet.
 
 
ONLY NICE THINGS
13:23 / 28.06.06
I've been here three years, and I've never been anywhere where it's easier to offend someone.

You ought to get out more.

To clarify: There is no desire or justification to exclude the unemployed, able-bodied or no. Barbelith, I think I can say with confidence. does not believe the unemployed to be "trouble" in any way, shape or form, nor does it feel that such a ridiculous opinion needs to be ascribed even theoretically to our mechanisms.

it is an unfortunate fact that the simplest way to establish online identity without the use of credit card details or something else oogy is with a work or paid-for address, a personally hosted site or similar. In those cases where somebody does not have such a thing, the examiners, at least ideally, will work with them to find some other way to substantiate their identity. This is not a perfect system, but other possible systems were felt to be either technically too complex or socially too dramatic.
 
 
Smoothly
13:35 / 28.06.06
I have requested that the misunderstood sentence be removed.

Just for the record, I disagreed Z’s request to remove the offending line, because it had already been challenged in-thread by Belle.
 
 
Z. deScathach
13:53 / 28.06.06
I've been for the rights of the unemployed through most of my life. I said that OTHER people may argue that point. I said that I STRONGLY DISAGREE with that point. I'm old and sick, and I don't need this crap. I've watched people work themselves up into a lather in this place where there was NOTHING to work it up for. I've been for social justice my whole damned life, and I can tell you that you folks have a problem, and it's about time that you DEAL with it. You want a fight so bad that you'll go after ANYONE to have one. I've been here for three years, and have bent over backwards to try not to piss any of you off. The reason that the core of Barbelith always posts so much more is that everyone is constantly afraid of their words being taken wrong, and getting a new backside orifice torn. They try to tell you this, but you NEVER listen. Instead you'll spend 200 posts tearing them down. 200 posts tearing someone down to make your point. I've read through these threads, and I swear that if anyone actually said to someone, "I think we all agree that we misunderstood what you were trying to say, we're sorry..", I'd crap diamonds! If you think that I'm going to argue the point that the unemployed are trouble....WRONG! No fun for you! It's not what I believe! If you think that I'm going to beg and plead for understanding while you tear me a new asshole like I've seen you do with others....WRONG! It's not happening. If you want to ban me, go for it! This is THE LAST thing I'm saying about this, (and I really mean it, I'm not one of those wishy washy members that will keep up the joy joy for you, if you think that I am, then you've sadly misjudged me). You want to start Policy on it, you play in your own damn sandbox! You want to start a thread on my "attitudes" about the unemployed, knock yourselves out.

I am so pissed, and so tired. So tired of having to worry myself have to death that something I post will be taken wrong. I can tell you one thing dammit, "I" know who I am and "I" know what the hell I stand for! Will I get banned? Of course, I read you all off, and I figure you just won't take that well. Why have I not bothered to be civil? Because you're not! You see, if I'm civil, you'll get your jollies off "educating" me. I've been on this planet a long time, and I don't need educating from any of you!

Just get one thing straight, and get it damn straight. I'm for the poor, and for the 50 f'in years I've been on this planet I've been for the poor. You want to make me out to be a conservative asshole, you can all take an f'in jump! This from a crotchety woman that's fed up!
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
14:06 / 28.06.06
Given the clarification, I don't think anyone's saying that you personally believe that the unemployed are trouble- I think we're all a little more defensive over the suggestion that we as a board may hold that view, or that that's even likely. I get that it's a misunderstanding, and that you're probably not even saying THAT, but the way I read it that was the part I bridled at, anyway.
 
 
ONLY NICE THINGS
14:10 / 28.06.06
Will I get banned?

Of course not, you big silly. You phrased something unfortunately while raising a valid concern, I and others attempted to explain why the policy you highlighted is in place, and how it seeks to ameliorate the unintended but possible discriminatory nature against the less well-off generally, which may include the unemployed (or, for that matter, blue-collar workers without work email addresses, people with restrictive email policies at work, and so on).

However, the only person I can see overreacting, shouting, being insulting, "tearing people down" et hoc genus omne around here is you. Please calm down.
 
 
Olulabelle
14:22 / 28.06.06
Z. deScathach, I absolutely do know that you did not mean the unemployed were trouble, I saw that you were very clear to point out this was not your belief. I'm sorry if you think my post was suggesting you did, because I really didn't mean it to come across that way.

I was interested that it 'could be argued' that the unemployed are trouble and I just wondered where, or by whom. I was so suprised to read that sentence, that's all.

I'm so sorry if you feel I was attacking you. Brownie's honour I wasn't.
 
 
*
22:23 / 28.06.06
If someone cannot afford a web presence of any kind— such as by having a free blog or livejournal for awhile— might they not be able to afford regular Internet access to keep up with the site anyway? Libraries are great, and all, but it's a pain to try to use the site fully from a library— I know, I used the lith exclusively through my campus library for awhile, and I could only do that because I was a student (thus privileged).

The INTERNET is inherently, at least right now, more difficult to access for people who are not financially privileged. This is a bad thing. But Barbelith lives on the Internet, and as such, until we hand out <$100 laptops to prospective members who can't afford a computer and an Internet connection of their own resources, we're going to be as discriminatory as the rest of the web. I really don't see any practical way of ameliorating that.

There are also email addresses which you get for free but through an application process which verifies who you are. Would those be considered acceptable for application purposes?
 
 
Ganesh
22:33 / 28.06.06
Go have a fondant fancy, Z deScathach. Have two.
 
 
Smoothly
22:49 / 28.06.06
There are also email addresses which you get for free but through an application process which verifies who you are. Would those be considered acceptable for application purposes?

I think it depends on how easy it is to obtain more than one. Although the mechanism to ensure that we don't get more than one application from any given email address is imperfect, we need to take some measures to protect against multiple applications.
 
 
Tryphena Absent
23:57 / 28.06.06
Back to the original post-

Insisting that such persons have an email addie associated with work or school essentially shuts them out.

If someone explained their situation as you have suggested then basically I'd approach their application with a will to get them onto barbelith.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that we're willing to stop and talk to people who want to be part of this space and can't provide any of the criteria. They might have to exchange emails with 10 of us though. If someone really, really wants to be a barbelith member and is polite and nice then they're going to end up on barbelith, it just might take a bit longer.
 
 
Less searchable M0rd4nt
06:08 / 29.06.06
If someone really, really wants to be a barbelith member and is polite and nice then they're going to end up on barbelith, it just might take a bit longer.

We might want to add something to the wiki to that effect.
 
 
grant
18:35 / 29.06.06
Done.
 
  

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