Ye' Ole' Skills-o'-Icon-Catchin'
by Ed Thompson
Note from the author:
Regarding a post that I had set up (for response in a previous thread), I wrote the following. However, just as I was about to hit "Post," I thought, "Dayam, this'd be a good sense-of-SOLO article! ...." It was written in response to a new member, who was unnerved by the fact that he had not yet obtained Atlas Icons, and concerned about how this might restrict his posting on SOLOHQ.
Though you may not, at the moment, "favor" the restriction of Atlas Icon knighthood (to enter this section of SOLOHQ)—you may have not yet been empowered with the skill of icon-capture. If true, this would explain your present predicament. Here are some skills to learn which will increase the likelihood of icon-capture:
1.) Study some Rand. We're pretty sharp around here—and we don't reward ignorance (even when it comes in the pretty packaging of otherwise-intelligent rhetoric). It has even been said that the level of discourse, so often achieved here, is unprecedented, as far as online forums go (we may very well be the world leader for intelligent—and passionate—online discourse).
2.) Like a hungry wolf, seek out those who've already captured multiple icons (sanctioning power is linked to the icon level of the sanctioner). After you've identified these "Icon Giants" ... totally kiss their butts (hehe, just kidding!). No, instead of trying to kiss up, study their responses. Think about their responses. Do friggin' research regarding their responses, if you need to—and then respond to them intelligently and respectfully.
3.) Like a rabid dog, seek out those who've been wrongfully insulting to someone else. I'm talkin' real spite here. Once you've found a benevolence-violator—LITERALLY ... GIVE ... THEM ... HELL (no ... I'm not joking this time!). I'm talking about a real thrashing. Don't mince words—go straight for the throat.
If your words are biting enough, to the point, and timely posted, then I would bet my left "nard" that you will get sanctioned (a passionate strive for justice is something which is highly respected around here—again, perhaps there is no online forum equal to SOLOHQ, in this respect as well). Timing plays a role in this particular skill, but so does quality—so think before you type.
4.) Back to the Icon Giants—get a feel for what's important to them. Folks seek what they deem important to themselves. If these Giants got their icons by seeking these important things, then you might get icons by seeking similar things.
5.) Now that you've studied what it is that must be important to the Giants (in order for them to have said the things they did, at the time they did, with the prompting they'd received, etc.), begin to study how they formulate their responses. I'm talking about the manner in which they communicate their ideas. I'm talking about tone, style, grammar, use of rhetorical tools, etc.
Now, if you're just too damned ornery or arrogant to even look at what must be important to others' success, then I've wasted my time writing to you (and you can go f#$% yourself now). But if you begin to realize the literally incalculable value of SOLOHQ (for humans living on earth), then take these things sincerely. Adopt some of these skills of success—and refine your own responses appropriately.
6.) Much of the above is about learning and growing, and makes little exception for the individual uniqueness of each person's soul (or, that makes each person's soul). A disclaimer is needed for just about everything that is said above: Don't go too far in copying others. Another way to say this is: stay authentic—when drawing closer to the light of others, don't let your light go out. The shortest way to say this sounds a little funny, but is remarkably poignant: Be you.
SOLOists have a remarkably keen sense of authenticity and, at the same time, a remarkable tolerance for individual diversity (again, SOLOHQ may be a world leader here). It is almost as if we appreciate that you are letting your unique light shine (as if we feel that self-expression is evidence of egoism and, therefore, of morality)—even while simultaneously disagreeing with the point made!
Here endeth the primer on Ye' Ole' Skills-o'-Icon-Catchin'.
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