[pretty_dumm_guy]

This sounds rather strange and sad. I had assumed that their account creation method was motivated by avoidance of creation of spam accounts. If there are other more reasons they should probably mention it in their website. I hope someone from lobsters' moderation team sees this and I hope its not some "exclusive club" since I like some aspects of their website like tags, "what are you working on this weekend" thread etc.,

[Normille]

  >...I had assumed that their account creation method was motivated by avoidance of creation of spam accounts..

Me too. But it seems that, at least some of their members [viz. the person I chatted with on IRC] are using their ability to hand out invitations as a bit of a power trip and to mess people about.

To expand on what I wrote before [I was on my phone then, so keeping the typing as brief as I could]. My IRC conversation with the Lobste.rs person, who I shall henceforth refer to as 'XXX' [not for any reasons of anonymity --I've just forgotten their IRC handle!] took the form of:

* Some discussion about the lobste.rs site [presumably to show I actually knew what it was about] and had frequented it.

* Some discussion as to whether I had any examples of 'stuff' I'd written to show them. I posted a link to one of my blogs and XXX disappeared for a few minutes, then returned and said something along the lines of "You have some interesting stuff there".

* XXX then asked how I could prove that I was the author of that blog. After a bit of back and forth suggesting different possibilities, we agreed I'd put a message on the blog in some way.

* So, I went off and updated my blog, adding a "Hello lobste.rs!" message in an X-Header

* I then asked XXX to check the blog again and look for the message in the X-Headers, which s/he did.

* XXX then [as mentioned before] then returned, thanked me for the conversation, added "..but I'm still not giving you an invitation!", said goodbye and left the channel.

I felt a bit humiliated. Almost like I'd sat through a job interview and then been rejected without explanation. I also felt annoyed with myself for having jumped through hoops to try and persuade some anonymous person on the internet that I was good enough to join their club.

On the face of it, the concept behind Lobste.rs seems to address some of the shortcomings of the "benevolent dictatorship" of HN by giving admission and moderation power 'back to the people'. But, in practice, this also gives significant powers to every member of the site, irrespective of their being mature enough to be worthy of this trust.

[pretty_dumm_guy]

Wow! This sounds like a nightmare and honestly very disrespectful. I have nothing to show for since I keep my presence on the internet to a minimal. I guess i will be denied an account in a manner worse than you(This may sound like a knee-jerk reaction. However, it is one of the many possibilities and I am rather willing to be pessimistic than optimistic).

On the personal side, here is an hug(or a professional equivalent if you prefer that) to you stranger. I hope you have a great day.