furtive explorations

Thanks to the smash success of hits like "Dancing Queen," "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "Money Money Money," ABBA was he most commercially successful pop group of the 1970s. Regardless, $1 billion is a lot of freaking money.

The theory goes, in a group of five or more, one person will make themselves the "Official Leader" though a better title for the role they will actually take would be "Spokesman". In the group there will be another who's opinions and social behavior will lead to their being the "Secret Leader" or "Mentor". The sales lecture dealt with selling the secret leader and letting his respect sell the group. Another type that always crops up is the "Counselor" or "Peacekeeper". If you make yourself too much of a nuisance to the group and get in his way as an outsider, he will cut you out. He mediates arguements and keeps people in line. Another type is the "Dissentor", or "Complainer" who honestly doesn't just bitch in the group but always announces what everyone else hates. In the group he is a listener and a blowhard but to the outside world, he is the main channel to their distress. The fifth type that always pops up is the "Scapegoat" or "Touchstone". In any peer group there is a kick-turd who takes most of the social abuse from the group. They tend to act as a touchstone to the outside world, picking on the "Touchstone" from the outside of the group is sure death, the whole group will turn on the outsider.

In smaller groups the roles mix, and often one is missing, in larger groups there are other common types that pop up but in any group that has been together for even a week these rolse are always there and usually well defined. Often some of the roles have backups if the primaries are missing, even.

I tend to wind up being the Complainer or the Counselor I've noticed. I rarely speak for the group unless it is negative and my opinion is usually fractious enough that I'm not the last word on anything. I can't stand too much infighting that gets no where and in groups of people I respect I have a hard time dealing with people picking on each other. I have occcasionally been the Scapegoat as well but my wit is harsh so I tend not to roll over enough to get that roll.

In terms of TV shows with group casts (they moved around a lot character wise, but often...):

Before you send me mail on these picks, think about them once. The roles aren't personalities. Johnny Fever was a trouble maker, but in the end, he had to sort out all the personalities, but what Jennifer said, went, even the boss didn't argue. Andy was never a boss, only a peer. =)

If you watch these shows or notice this in groups, make especial note of the scapegoat. For all the ribbing they take, they are clearly a part of the group, not an outsider and the sparks that fly when they weather an attack from the outside is something to see. You'll see this on M*A*S*H in spades, think of the episodes when Frank or Winchester are in trouble or hurt by an event, Hawkeye and BJ/Trapper are never more dangerous. These show ring so true because the characters are so real, in part because they fall into real human roles. The scape goat is always an easy pick but I was even surprised by who I picked for the Secret Leader role once I really thought about it.

Jargon note: most parts of the IETF are referred to by their acronym, not by their name. For instance, you almost never hear anyone saying "Internet Engineering Task Force": it's almost always just "IETF". In this document, both the name and the acronyms are used, but be aware that the acronyms are often used much more extensively on the mailing lists and in verbal discussion. That's just the way dweebs are.