As good an argument as any.

2/8/03 7:52:47 PM

"the way his face is laid out" ???

"Oh, look, he has his nose BETWEEN his eyes and his mouth -- he MUST be French!", or what?!?

Ashton and Peter are right, Norm: Think first, then post.

And since you OBVIOUSLY DON'T THINK very much, it would be one heck of a lot better for everybody if you could just post a little LESS than you're doing.

HTH... Though I'm not holding my breath.

[link|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode|Christian R. Conrad]
(I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.)

Your lies are of Microsoftian Scale and boring to boot. Your 'depression' may be the closest you ever come to recognizing truth: you have no 'inferiority complex', you are inferior - and something inside you recognizes this. - [link|http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=71575|Ashton Brown]

Post #80,370

by hnick

2/8/03 9:06:30 PM

So... who implemented the post ranking?

Somebody has slipping ratings and starts idiotic rejoinders to fucking everything.
Can you say "idiot empowerment" ?
Can you say "fuckwit" ?
I knew you could...

Post #80,422

by orion

2/9/03 2:23:15 PM

My ratings weren't slipping

they were growing, in fact BP posted that Marlowe and I were about to pass him up in the rankings.

Besides don't blame me for the pictutre, I didn't draw it, I just made a comment on it that the guy looked a bit French to me.

My thinking is impaired due to my illness, but I am trying to do better.

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #80,431

by pwhysall

2/9/03 2:40:45 PM

babble

Post #80,436

by orion

2/9/03 3:23:53 PM

2/9/03 3:26:23 PM

Keep it up

you might actually rank up more posting points by posting "Babble" after every single post I make. :)

Less than ten more of them and you'll pass up kmself.

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Edited by orion Feb. 9, 2003, 03:26:23 PM EST

Expand All History

Post #80,459

by tuberculosis

2/9/03 6:30:30 PM

He's trying to tell you something

You can go on and on and on without ever making a POINT.

Example: User says - US launches Nukes at Iraq (as a fer instance).

Your likely response would be something on the order of:

"Wow, that George Bush sure doesn't like Saddam Hussein. I mean, do you think he's using real nuclear weapons or is this figurative and they're battling in a private Unreal Tournament Arena and nuked is just a figure of speech?

Some people think video games are a waste of time. I kind a like to play them though. I mean sometimes when I'm not posting here. But I prefer the classics like PacMan and Gravitar. Gravitar rocked - it had a really excellent physics model so things really felt like they were falling and I felt like I was falling - kind of a dizzy feeling or do you think that might be from my medication?

Maybe I should have it checked?"

Note that the first thought was likely triggered by a word in the original statement but from there on its a stream of consciousness that has nothing at all to do with the topic being replied to.

Babble bubby.

Please stop and think. You are going to get the award for most letters typed per fewest things said.

I think that it's extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot of fun. Of course, the paying customer got shafted every now and then, and after a while we began to take their complaints seriously. We began to feel as if we really were responsible for the successful, error-free perfect use of these machines. I don't think we are. I think we're responsible for stretching them, setting them off in new directions, and keeping fun in the house. I hope the field of computer science never loses its sense of fun. Above all, I hope we don't become missionaries. Don't feel as if you're Bible salesmen. The world has too many of those already. What you know about computing other people will learn. Don't feel as if the key to successful computing is only in your hands. What's in your hands, I think and hope, is intelligence: the ability to see the machine as more than when you were first led up to it, that you can make it more.

--Alan Perlis

Post #80,477

by orion

2/9/03 8:23:15 PM

So what IS your point?

That I don't make a lot of points, is that some hidden rule here to make as many points as possible in a post? There are points in my posts, just unclear and hidden ones. Just because you don't get my points, don't try to lecture me on what I should and should not post. Since when did you join the IWETHEY Mafia? Or the IWETHEY NAZIs?

I am trying to be as clear and percise as I possibly can, but I seem to be having difficulties doing that.

All I originally said was that the guy on the photograph looked French to me, and I found it strange. But then to be honest that may have been a mistake on my part, seeing him as French and not Iraqi. I just figured that the way the eyes were shaped, the nose, and the mouth, that it looked more French than any other nationality. Maybe the artist couldn't draw an Iraqi but instead drew a Frenchman? How should I know, it is not like I see Iraqis or French people every day? Much less tell the difference between them, they both seem to hate the USA.

My point is that I make some points in my posts, true that some may be off-topic, but they do relate in some way to the discussion at hand. If you have a problem with that, then please feel free to ignore my posts. Thank you very much gentlemen and ladies, it has been a fun time posting with you here, but I feel like this topic must come to a close.

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #80,482

by tuberculosis

2/9/03 9:04:54 PM

Holy freakin cow with a lemonade stand

is that some hidden rule here to make as many points as possible in a post?

One would be a good start. Fundamental to DISCUSSION is the EXCHANGE of POINTS of view. Not EXCHANGING POINTS of view is not DISCUSSION. It is particularly gratifying when the exchanged POINTS of view are DIFFERENT views of the SAME topic.

This is a DISCUSSION board which has an organizational theme based on TOPICS.

By posting SPEWAGE not on the TOPICS you are not joining the DISCUSSION. You are only FLAPPING YOUR LIPS IN AN ATTEMPT TO APE PARTICIPATION IN THE DISCUSSION.

It is annoying. Please engage brain before pressing keys and clicking mouse.

Post #80,489

by boxley

2/9/03 9:30:47 PM

bookmarked thanx,

will work for cash and other incentives [link|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html|skill set]

questions, help? [link|mailto:pappas@catholic.org|email pappas at catholic.org]

Post #80,498

by orion

2/9/03 9:47:35 PM

So you don't like my posts

I still haven't violated any rules that I know of. I know I have made at least a point or two, even if you cannot see them clearly. But I see now that the Anti-Norman movement is in full swing again. That is my current point of view, that you guys hate me enough to accuse me of making pointless posts, etc. What next?

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #80,505

by bepatient

2/9/03 10:02:41 PM

Ok...please check the forum title for a refresher..

...then get one thing abso-fucking-lutely straight...

This is NOT some anti-norm cabal in action...this is the FUCKING FLAME FORUM YOU NINNY

Turn your sensi-fucking-tivity meter off here.

One thing I find annoying....you seem to be completely unable to take criticism of any type...instead attributing anything negative said toward you as some "oh shit here they are out to get poor poor pitiful me".

Take the criticism...think before you post to make sure you have a POINT TO ADD instead of a random thought to interject that hangs there out of place all by its lonesome...and for fucks sake drop the anti you conspiricy shit...its really fucking tiring.

You were born...and so you're free...so Happy Birthday! _{Laurie Anderson}

[link|mailto:bepatient@aol.com|BePatient]

Post #80,510

by boxley

2/9/03 10:06:44 PM

Well this is a bar, ignore the man talking to his hand

will work for cash and other incentives [link|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html|skill set]

questions, help? [link|mailto:pappas@catholic.org|email pappas at catholic.org]

Post #80,512

by folkert

2/9/03 10:13:24 PM

Getting back to semantics again....

No, you haven't broken any rules... we are a self-sensure type of group... when a kick in the butt to make 'em right again is needed... we "thoughtfully" apply it.

I've had it done to me, Bill Patient, Scott Anderson, Ross Lunsford, Peter Whysall, LOTS of others... most everyone here, Ashton included, Christian too...

Just take it for what it is... and quit complaining about it. Swallow it and breathe.

And for the love of Mike, stop trying to get the last word in, Norman.

[link|mailto:curley95@attbi.com|greg] - Grand-Master Artist in IT

[link|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry/|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] [link|http://pascal.rockford.com:8888/SSK@kQMsmc74S0Tw3KHQiRQmDem0gAIPAgM/edcurry/1//|ED'S GHOST SPEAKS!]

[link|http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,857673,00.asp|Writing on wall, Microsoft to develop apps for Linux by 2004]

Heimatland Geheime Staatspolizei reminds:
These [link|http://www.whitehouse.gov/pcipb/cyberstrategy-draft.html|Civilian General Orders], please memorize them.
"Questions" will be asked at safety checkpoints.

Post #80,553

by orion

2/10/03 6:04:26 AM

But it could have been done in a better way

than the way it has been done, couldn't it?

As I said, I haven't borken any rules, and I am sure that I have made at least one point in my posts if any. Just hard for some people to see it/them.

Nitpicking if you ask me, making a mountain out of a molehill they are.

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #80,555

by pwhysall

2/10/03 7:45:12 AM

Shut the fark UP.

It's a continuous stream of verbal diarrhoea from you, and it's markedly reducing my enjoyment and inclination to participate here.

Every time I join a thread I'm wondering if you're going to pop up, just posting for the sheer bloody hell of it with yet another disjointed self-pitying rambling pile of wank that has little or no bearing on the topic at hand.

Stop it.

Post #80,563

by folkert

2/10/03 9:01:51 AM

Please re-read my previous message...

...then read it again... and again... and again...

Sleep on it... Take a deep breath and realize what I said. We are a self-sensure type of group... peer pressure type of thing... you have multiple people asking you to cease the action.

Please understand, we *ARE* being polite... this *IS* the FLAME QUARANTINE after all. Make sure you Keep you Asbestos clothes on. You do KNOW what a FLAME FORUM is for right?

We asked Ross to stop spewing across the board for a while... he has obliged... why can't you?

Your humor or cute comments are not funny to most of us, and your rambling on is like:

Someone shifting gears on a 2 mile race course with 32 turns and 32 elevation changes, for 500 laps.

It takes ALOT of shifting and it takes an extrememly long time to see the ending point.

And Just for the Record, I usually PREVIEW my postings 5 times, sometines completely re-write them, 4 times, in the process.

[link|mailto:curley95@attbi.com|greg] - Grand-Master Artist in IT

[link|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry/|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] [link|http://pascal.rockford.com:8888/SSK@kQMsmc74S0Tw3KHQiRQmDem0gAIPAgM/edcurry/1//|ED'S GHOST SPEAKS!]

[link|http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,857673,00.asp|Writing on wall, Microsoft to develop apps for Linux by 2004]

Post #80,727

by tuberculosis

2/10/03 6:09:24 PM

Not in the flame forum

Post #81,977

by kmself

2/15/03 9:23:31 PM

We've tried

I'm one of a large number of people here who make a point of avoiding\r\neither reading or responding to your comments here wherever possible.\r\nI'm doing so now against my better judgement. We've dropped major clues\r\nfor years. Of the people here least likely to\r\ncriticise another's writing style, both Ashton and boxley have taken to\r\ncriticising you. Believe it or not, I've argued strongly to several\r\nfolks who would both bait and respond to you, not to, if not for your\r\nsake than for the rest of us.

\r\n\r\n

You've already been kicked from one IWE board for failing on three\r\nrequests to keep your loggorhea in check. You're a net detraction from\r\nthe community, despite our repeated attempts to help, and to the point\r\nof making more than one of us wonder if the clue has finally wandered\r\nfrom IWT. The only reason you're still allowed to post\r\nis that Scott's aversion to censoring and booting users is stronger than\r\nhis pathological disgust of your actions. This despite the fact that\r\nyou've cost both of us more admin time than the rest of the group\r\ncombined. Time that neither of us has any to spare, nor is compensated\r\nfor.

\r\n\r\n

Clues small, large, kind, rude, gentle, harsh, and any other variety,\r\nhave been dropped, lobbed, shot, delivered on silver platters, and\r\npackaged with offal. You simply refuse to change. You've been shown\r\nyears of tolerance. YOU ARE THE PROBLEM.

\r\n\r\n

I've written you off as a hopeless clinical case, and I'm not the\r\nonly one. If you're going to change, it's going to have to come from\r\nyou. It's not particularly you, it's your actions and behavior, and if\r\nyou make a consistent, sustained effort to clean up, you might regain or\r\nattain some stature in a year or two. You've really burnt\r\nthrough tons and tons of goodwill though, and it's going to take a hell\r\nof a long time to work your way back. This isn't a 30 day thing, it's\r\nnot a three month thing. It's years. Your fault.\r\nYour problem. Deal with it.

\r\n\r\n

And here's the reward for doing so: you'll be seen in a positive\r\nlight. Your comments listened to. Your questions answered. Your\r\nofferings appreciated. Your calls for help responded to.

\r\n\r\n

Otherwise you'll remain the outcast you are. Get help, Norm. I mean\r\nit and I wish you both recovery and wellness. But this ain't your\r\ntherapy group; especially not if you crap all over it.

\r\n\r\n

That's my last word here.

\r\n

--\r\n Karsten M. Self [link|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com|kmself@ix.netcom.com]\r\n [link|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/]\r\n What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?\r\n [link|http://twiki.iwethey.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/|TWikIWETHEY] -- an experiment in collective intelligence. Stupidity. Whatever.\r\n \r\n Keep software free. Oppose the CBDTPA. Kill S.2048 dead.\r\n[link|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html]\r\n

Post #82,275

by orion

2/17/03 3:08:10 PM

Change will take some time

you cannot expect me to just change overnight, wish that I could but that is apparently not an option. It may take more than three years for me to get at a level that you deem as "Normal" or whatever.

I suppose I am "the problem" as you've stated. I am doing what I can to get better, but failing. Conscience efforts don't seem to work on my part, apparently. I must work on the unconscience parts, improve my memory, and try to get a better cognative system going. This may take years to get working, I sure cannot seem to do it in a few months as I tried. But you can see that in some cases I am doing better in some posts more than others. Yet I seem to slip right back into another mode in different posts that seem to upset people because I am apparently "babbling"? Can't win them all you know, I tried, I admit to having problems, and I am doing what I can to work on them.

Hopeless clinical case, maybe by your terms, but I think over years I can improve to a better poster.

Thanks to Scott for not deleting and banning my Orion account, I was going to just quit at one time, but I seem to keep on coming back for some reason. Mostly due to people I know here who are decent and I have no other way to contact or communicate with them. So if you want to get rid of me, I am not so easily gotten rid of that way. I will try to keep the number of my posts down and see if that helps any. Best I can do for now.

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #80,485

by folkert

2/9/03 9:07:03 PM

Norman... Norman... Norman...

[link|mailto:curley95@attbi.com|greg] - Grand-Master Artist in IT

[link|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry/|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] [link|http://pascal.rockford.com:8888/SSK@kQMsmc74S0Tw3KHQiRQmDem0gAIPAgM/edcurry/1//|ED'S GHOST SPEAKS!]

[link|http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,857673,00.asp|Writing on wall, Microsoft to develop apps for Linux by 2004]

Post #80,426

by orion

2/9/03 2:35:21 PM

Less posts, why want to catch up with me?

Try to pass me in the rankings?

I post when I think about it, and sometimes some posts are better than others, but that is normal.

You've called my posts idiotic for years now, so I guess I am just following tradiation? But say what you will, that guy looks French and I do not know exactly why! I didn't draw the picture, so don't blame me!

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #80,755

2/10/03 7:21:53 PM

2/11/03 11:02:25 AM

I'm going to try the positive approach

Norm, it seems this post is causing some reaction from the group. I'm certainly not a perfect poster but I'd like to recommend some things to you; I hope you can take them for an effort at providing you another perspective and some tools to do your own damage control.

Anyway, what I would say is: all forums are different and have their own "tone". Personally, I enjoy the very highly-maintained signal-to-noise ratio here: it's extremely rare to find something like that in a forum with such a broad scope. So when I post, I try to reflect that. I will only post under the following conditions/circumstances:

1. If I feel I have something to say that is new to someone, I will say it. If I truly believe everyone already knows/agrees with what I have to say, it's defined as "noise" and best left unsaid.
2. If I feel that someone else can and probably will say it better, I let them.
3. If I feel I'm not yet able to articulate my point clearly, I'll wait until I can.
4. I try to limit my introduction of ideas to those that directly serve the topic at hand. I have zillions of ideas and mental connections and even showtunes running through my head when I read someone else's post, but that doesn't mean they all serve the topic.
5. When I bring up an issue, I do my best to be explicit in how that relates to the topic.

So, if you'll permit me to apply those rules to this example:

Why does that guy look French? Coincidence or not?

This is contrary to guideline #5. It's not clear what that observation has to do with the topic. If you have an idea of why he looks French and wish to discuss it, tell us your idea and back it up. If you have no idea and want an answer (which I doubt), rephrase it: "What's the importance of the Frenchman on the picture?" If you want to emphasize a national stereotype (which violates #1), don't post.

Also if you have a girlfriend or wife, why masterbate when you can get the real thing? :) Make love not war!

See #4. This adds nothing to the topic. Why verbally masterbate [sic] when you can discuss the real thing?

Should we really visit: [link|http://www.masterbateforpeace.com/|http://www.masterbateforpeace.com/] or does the site not exist? I did not visit it yet.

This violates guideline #3. Go visit the site, draw a conclusion about its merits, and then post that.

Not sure why I would do so?

This is the only "discussion" I would want to have on this issue. I'm not sure either why marlowe decided it was worth posting, so I filtered it out and moved on. If you truly want to discuss the merits of his post and/or link, I recommend (next time) you start with this line, and then sign your post immediately afterward. The rest was noise drowning out the signal. But if you did that, you'd run into guideline #1 again (you have to assume you're not the only one who wondered why it was posted), and IMO it would just be better to not post until you go research and get some more information on the link. Let inscrutable posts drift on by if you can.

Again, this is meant in a spirit of analysis, not attack. Therefore, I expect a discussion from you, not a defense. If all I get is a defense, I'll have no recourse but to treat it as noise and filter it out. This took me probably twenty minutes to compose; if you don't take at least ten minutes to compose (and edit) your response, expect the same filtering from me. Just want to be clear on my expectations.

Edit: obviously some of this flexes depending on the forum. The Water Cooler, in particular, is a bit more free-form to me.

Many fears are born of stupidity and ignorance -
Which you should be feeding with rumour and generalisation.
BOfH, 2002 "Episode" 10

Edited by tseliot Feb. 11, 2003, 11:02:25 AM EST

Expand All History

Post #80,859

2/11/03 7:16:04 AM

Shit that was inspirational - we can all learn <g>

seriously.

I like it but it is too bloody good for FLAME Quarantine forum <g>

Cheers Doug

Post #80,908

2/11/03 11:01:09 AM

Would've put it in flame off but I hate that branching crap!

There. A little flame. Better? ;)

Many fears are born of stupidity and ignorance -
Which you should be feeding with rumour and generalisation.
BOfH, 2002 "Episode" 10

Post #80,919

by admin

2/11/03 11:30:10 AM

Bite me.

Spawn of Right Shift. Go back to the pit of Long Thread Load Times from whence you came.

BTW, due to enhanced security measures here, you will now have to answer the following question in order to post:

What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow?

Regards,

-scott anderson

"Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."

Post #80,926

2/11/03 11:55:06 AM

Get bent.

Right shift is vastly preferable to having to mark two forums read now every time drook CCLRPD.

ObWhat do you mean? An African or European swallow?

Many fears are born of stupidity and ignorance -
Which you should be feeding with rumour and generalisation.
BOfH, 2002 "Episode" 10

Post #80,928

by drewk

2/11/03 11:59:18 AM

Besides the fact that you just got kicked ...

ObWhat do you mean? An African or European swallow?

"Aaaaaaauuuuuuuuuugggh ..."

Well you *could* just mark the suggestions forum read without reading it.

Must

not

branch

reply

===
Microsoft offers them the one thing most business people will pay any price for - the ability to say "we had no choice - everyone's doing it that way." -- [link|http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=38978|Andrew Grygus]

Post #80,930

by admin

2/11/03 12:00:40 PM

You know you love it. (new thread)

Created as new thread #80929 titled [link|/forums/render/content/show?contentid=80929|You know you love it.]

Regards,

-scott anderson

"Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."

Post #81,065

by orion

2/11/03 11:22:32 PM

Thanks much better.

Just that my attention span is usually a few minutes, after that I lose focus of what I was trying to write. If I spend 20 minutes on a post, I am going to get really confused over it. I usually spend no more than 3 minutes on a post in looking it over and thinking about it. If I have to spend 20 minutes, I might as well not post and watch some TV instead.

#1 I don't always know what other people know. Sorry I am not born with ESP nor did I develop it over the 34 plus years of my life. Sometimes I don't read all the forums before I make a post, ala the news about the Dell Dude on the Open Forum posted by me before I read the News Forum where someone else posted it. When I took a writing class, I was told to assume that the reader knows nothing about what I am writing about. Really hard to break that habit.

#2 How do I know if someone else could say it better? Again no ESP here. I tend to forget who knows what and trivial details about the other posters. So then it is up to me to make the post as I forgot if there is anyone who can post it better than me.

#3 I can articulate the point, just that in a way that few people can understand. I guess my 6th grade redderick isn't good enough for some people? I make points that apparently a dozen or so people out of 350+ on here cannot understand or find.

#4 I try to stay on topic, I really do. There are some sidebar issues, and related topics that I do wander over to from time to time.

#5 Relativity is relative, if I didn't think it relates to the topic somehow, I am not going to use it. Why should I explain something that even a six year old can comprehend as relating to the topic? It just seems to me that explaining how something relates to the topic is just more noise.

I don't fully understand these five concepts, but I did make remarks to them in ways I think that I understand them. By tomorrow I'll have forgotten them. No joke, my memory is just that bad.

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #81,069

by boxley

2/11/03 11:43:04 PM

This is not a flame and I am breaking my rule of talking to

you. Pay attention

Just that my attention span is usually a few minutes, after that I lose focus of what I was trying to write. If I spend 20 minutes on a post, I am going to get really confused over it. I usually spend no more than 3 minutes on a post in looking it over and thinking about it. If I have to spend 20 minutes, I might as well not post and watch some TV instead.

with this disability how the fuck can you think you can write computer code for a living? This explains issues with employers. I am not saying you were always like this but am saying you need to stay on disability or find another method of making a living. Coding is just writing a novel on guidelines presented and demanded by others in a language other than english. If you have dificulty writing a post you should not be writing short stories in a language that is not your primary. Take it for what its worth.
thanx,
bill

will work for cash and other incentives [link|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html|skill set]

questions, help? [link|mailto:pappas@catholic.org|email pappas at catholic.org]

Post #81,180

by orion

2/12/03 12:38:13 PM

Once again your wise wisdom rings true

I am trying to write computer code, but I can only work a few lines at a time. This seems to take me longer than I had been able to do before. It also explains why I am having problems reading up on Smalltalk and Delphi/Kylix.

I am looking for another field, but I am not sure what I could do for a living. Once I get accepted into to a college, I am going to take an aptitude test with them and find a new major and see if I can get a degree in a different field. See if I can hanlde at most half-time courses.

By writing code for myself, it won't matter how long it takes to get it done. I can take as long as I want to. Then later on after it is done, I can sell it if I want to. But so far, writing code has been very difficult for me.

Thanks for the tip.

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #81,214

2/12/03 4:04:46 PM

Hardest thing I've ever written on this board

#1 I don't always know what other people know. Sorry I am not born with ESP nor did I develop it over the 34 plus years of my life.

I didn't intend that in the meaning of ESP quite so much as a shared social history. You've been here long enough that you should have a handle on the particular expertise and even pet peeves of the more active posters, at least. If it's an issue of memory, well, see below.

When I took a writing class, I was told to assume that the reader knows nothing about what I am writing about. Really hard to break that habit.

Once you have decided to write something, sure, apply that rule. It's a great one. It's the decision about whether to write or not that's at issue, here, which obeys different rules.

#2 How do I know if someone else could say it better? Again no ESP here. I tend to forget who knows what and trivial details about the other posters. So then it is up to me to make the post as I forgot if there is anyone who can post it better than me.

Same as above.

#3 I can articulate the point, just that in a way that few people can understand. I guess my 6th grade redderick isn't good enough for some people? I make points that apparently a dozen or so people out of 350+ on here cannot understand or find.

Rhetoric is a factor, but given your self-description re: memory issues and such, perhaps it's more an issue of taking the time to compose and edit, which exceeds the attention span? Just a guess.

#4 I try to stay on topic, I really do. There are some sidebar issues, and related topics that I do wander over to from time to time.

I've noticed in the past couple of days you've had some very on-track posts, and complimented you on one at least. Hope it gave you some encouragement and perhaps a concrete positive example.

#5 Relativity is relative, if I didn't think it relates to the topic somehow, I am not going to use it. Why should I explain something that even a six year old can comprehend as relating to the topic? It just seems to me that explaining how something relates to the topic is just more noise.

I'd simply ask that you be more intentional about your reasons for writing. We live in a society that is becoming more linguistically, culturally, and yes, even educationally more diverse every single day. Our legal and financial systems, for example, have become much more verbose as a reaction. This is commonly referred to as a "low-context society", meaning the amount of life experiences we all share is at a low level. A communicator, therefore, is forced to either make his discourse more explicit or live with a reduced audience. I would hope you choose the first option, but it's up to you.

In addition, I'm of the opinion that if you can't write out how your comments relate to the topic, then they probably don't relate as well as you think they did. I've had this happen to me more than once.

I don't fully understand these five concepts, but I did make remarks to them in ways I think that I understand them.

Thank you for your considered response. Really! Thanks!

Just that my attention span is usually a few minutes...If I spend 20 minutes on a post, I am going to get really confused over it...If I have to spend 20 minutes, I might as well not post and watch some TV instead...By tomorrow I'll have forgotten...No joke, my memory is just that bad.

Then, nothing personal, but I'm not sure this is the board for you any longer. I know you've made some friends here and that's fine. But your current abilities seem opposed to continuing a healthy dialogue in *this particular* setting. I'm not trying to put you down or make comments on your personal worth, but suggest that you have changed (as I think you'll agree, and have said so in many posts), and no longer have a good fit with this community. Trying to force that issue is not turning out very well. It's not a personal issue, its a technical one. It's like being a newlywed and talking to a singles group--both have valid lifestyles, etc. but simply aren't gong to go out for pizza a lot. I have this same issue with my own sister; she has a five-year-old and we don't have the same conversations anymore--she doesn't have the same attention span, interests, or interpersonal toolkit she did while she was getting her Master's in speech pathology: those were some good conversations! I consider you a friend, but there's a difference between being a friend of mine and being someone with whom I enjoy conversing daily. Sorry, this sounds harsh, but please believe it is said in an effort to serve your best interests, as a friend. I'd like to continue on for another sixteen paragraphs, but they would all say the same thing. If this drives you to anger or frustration, I apologize; it's not meant to. I want you to be happy, but I'm convinced that IWETHEY is not a place where that's going to be easily acheivable for you. Call it Norman-bashing if you can't see it any other way; I hope you see it as advice from a friend. If you decide to stay and glean nothing else from this post, at least think about finding some way not to wrap your own self-image/self-worth in our responses; find something else, something better, to invest in in that way...

Regards,

Bob

P.S. I'd appreciate it if some of the other participants here gave their comments, even if it's just an agree/disagree.

Many fears are born of stupidity and ignorance -
Which you should be feeding with rumour and generalisation.
BOfH, 2002 "Episode" 10

Post #81,222

by Silverlock

2/12/03 4:25:35 PM

Well said.

I'm not sure I agree about this not being the place for Norm anymore though. I would rather he just not try so hard. Post one or two sentence messages. Don't think it needs to be an essay. And ferchrissakes, stay on the meds.

How many lives per gallon?
--Sign outside of various churches

Post #81,223

2/12/03 4:26:51 PM

Maybe so. Thanks for the input.

Many fears are born of stupidity and ignorance -
Which you should be feeding with rumour and generalisation.
BOfH, 2002 "Episode" 10

Post #81,229

2/12/03 5:07:04 PM

I would of course not have said it so nicely, but...

...it basically amounts to the same thing, anyway, IMO.

To be specific, I was thinking about replying to Norm's first paragraph (Hmm -- should I do it in another post? Naah, can't be arsed to; began writing this one already.), something along these lines:

[Quoting Norm:]
Just that my attention span is usually a few minutes...If I spend 20 minutes on a post, I am going to get really confused over it...If I have to spend 20 minutes, I might as well not post and watch some TV instead...By tomorrow I'll have forgotten...No joke, my memory is just that bad.
[CRConrad's reply:]

Well, then fucking well DO THAT, THEN: Go watch some TV, and DON'T fucking post your drivel here! If you're too lazy, stupid, or loony to take the time to *write* a decent post, then we *don't want* to fucking SEE it. So, fer fuck's sake, piss off, and stay off!

Now, you may or may not think that's the same as your immediately following quote... But the way I see it, it *is*, in its actual intent, the same as these bits:

...I'm not sure this is the board for you any longer. [...] your current abilities seem opposed to continuing a healthy dialogue in *this particular* setting. [...] and no longer have a good fit with this community. Trying to force that issue is not turning out very well. [...] I'm convinced that IWETHEY is not a place where that's going to be easily acheivable for you. Call it Norman-bashing if you can't see it any other way...

Same thing, only more nicely put, innit?

The only difference being, that I don't subscribe to these nobler feelings of Bob's:

...I consider you a friend, but there's a difference between being a friend of mine and being someone with whom I enjoy conversing daily. Sorry, this sounds harsh, but please believe it is said in an effort to serve your best interests, as a friend. I'd like to continue on for another sixteen paragraphs, but they would all say the same thing. If this drives you to anger or frustration, I apologize; it's not meant to. [...] I want you to be happy...

Sorry, nope, I don't consider Norm a friend any more (if I ever did), and as such, don't give much of a hoot about his best interests vs his anger or frustration; and I certainly don't apologize for that. (Why, am I somehow *required* to feel friendly towards him?!? Naah, didn't think so...) I tried to impart a clue or two, in an at least *somewhat* more friendly fashion, for what felt like sixteen *hundred* paragraphs, a year or so ago... It didn't help, so I wrote him off. Still hasn't, AFAICS, so he'll stay written-off in my book. (Sorry, but if anyone was looking for any "Christian Charity" from me, they must'a got me mixed up with some other guy...)

P.S. I'd appreciate it if some of the other participants here gave their comments, even if it's just an agree/disagree.

OK, *I* think I'm agreeing with *you*, at least on the major point of your post... Now it only remains to be seen whether *you* think that's what I'm doing.

And, hey, don't blame me -- you *asked*.

[link|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode|Christian R. Conrad]
(I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.)

Post #81,235

2/12/03 5:25:24 PM

I think you're absolutely correct on all points.

Many fears are born of stupidity and ignorance -
Which you should be feeding with rumour and generalisation.
BOfH, 2002 "Episode" 10

Post #81,238

2/12/03 5:33:59 PM

There's some semi-heavy sarcasm embedded in that, right?

Not that I have any problem with that; the points you only slyly -- or, inadvertently? -- imply are quite appropriate and true.

On the contrary: As something of a connoisseur of sarcasm, I only wanted to let you know I appreciate it. :-)

[link|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode|Christian R. Conrad]
(I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.)

Post #81,241

2/12/03 5:40:14 PM

Hahaha. No, I was completely sincere.

I don't have any problem with your point-of-view. I think you and I said basically the same thing with regards to the issue of posting-style and -content. We simply have different interpersonal attitudes toward Norm, which color the way we express those central points. If I didn't care about him or didn't see him as a friend, I might've expressed it more similarly to the way you did.

But thanks for inferring cleverness on my part. :)

Many fears are born of stupidity and ignorance -
Which you should be feeding with rumour and generalisation.
BOfH, 2002 "Episode" 10

Post #81,275

by Ashton

2/12/03 9:07:18 PM

Believe these two POVs cover the range quite well. 0 to add.

Post #81,233

by boxley

2/12/03 5:13:45 PM

All are welcome, some are read

will work for cash and other incentives [link|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html|skill set]

questions, help? [link|mailto:pappas@catholic.org|email pappas at catholic.org]

Post #81,323

by orion

2/12/03 11:21:49 PM

What would be a forum for me to participate in?

I don't seem to fit in well at Slashdot or Kuro5hin either. If I leave here, what do I do about my addiction to post to a group of people and try to fit in? I obviously don't fit in here anymore? What forums could I possibly fit in with?

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #81,326

by boxley

2/12/03 11:28:53 PM

goto sleazyboard

[link|http://www.ezboard.com/|http://www.ezboard.com/] use the find function on topics you like. Join also feel free to post here as freedom of speech is important. Do not be surprised if people do not respond as you wish see freedom of speech is important.
thanx,
bill

will work for cash and other incentives [link|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html|skill set]

questions, help? [link|mailto:pappas@catholic.org|email pappas at catholic.org]

Post #81,417

by orion

2/13/03 12:21:08 PM

I am there

I even created my own Sleazyboard, but only a few wanted to join it. Nobody posts in there. I joined up with other Sleazyboards but it just didn't feel right, like nobody wanted to read what I posted. I'll keep on trying.

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #81,470

by rcareaga

2/13/03 2:48:08 PM

Pay no attention to the floating lightbulb

"I joined up with other Sleazyboards but it just didn't feel right, like nobody wanted to read what I posted."

Anyone else would have a sudden moment of illumination here, but this one has not, I fear, drawn the obvious conclusion (and please--enough about your "addiction" to posting. Do people really take that kind of cheesy pop-psych seriously anymore?).

[link|http://www.despair.com/demotivators/dysfunction.html|http://www.despair.c.../dysfunction.html]

cordially,

"Die Welt ist alles, was der Fall ist."

Post #81,487

2/13/03 3:34:48 PM

Uh, well, actually, uhm, to be perfectly honest...

Post #81,442

2/13/03 1:19:46 PM

If memory is the issue

Fundamental disconnect I am seeing (and I believe you are stating, correct me if I'm wrong) is that you have a problem with memory. This is one of the longest-term memory boards around. I'd recommend finding a board with either 1) enough turnover, or 2) so many people, that there is no expectation of remembering what any given poster has written from day to day. Shorter conversations. Some of the trade rags' forums operate this way, especially the bigger ones.

Many fears are born of stupidity and ignorance -
Which you should be feeding with rumour and generalisation.
BOfH, 2002 "Episode" 10

Post #82,141

by orion

2/16/03 9:48:18 PM

Memory is an issue

this may be my last post, my DSL got dropped anyway and I had to use Juno to get on to check my email. I should be switched over to a new DSL as DirecTV is getting out of the DSL business.

K5, they hate me there, USENET will just get me spammed. I will conotnue to look for other places. Nobody seems to mind me posting to the IWE Forums so far as "Orion Blastar Jr." (Someone took Orion Blastar there already!) so maybe I can post there from time to time?

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #81,908

by Another Scott

2/15/03 11:02:12 AM

Post to your K5 diary or USENET.

If you want to get your thoughts out there for people to read if they want, that's the perfect place. It'll give you a persistent bit of storage for your posts and maybe let you see how you change over time. It'll be a benefit to you even if no-one else reads it. It'll let you talk about whatever you want whenever you want. No-one will care if you flip into stream-of-consciousness mode for page after page. That's what a diary is for in many cases. :-)

If you want to participate in back-and-forth discussions with people, you need to find a discussion board where you fit in with the people there or you need to find a board where you can stay on topic. Have you tried USENET recently? There are thousands of places where you can have detailed, focused discussion if you want (e.g. soc.support.depression or microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion) or catch-all general discussions that are all over the map (and occasional dumping places for OT rants e.g. misc.misc, talk.bizarre).

I'd recommend your K5 diary myself. Just exercise some appropriate restraint and you'll be fine anywhere (even here).

My $0.02.

Cheers,
Scott.

Post #81,884

by tablizer

2/15/03 3:34:48 AM

Mime question #4

When mimes masterbate, do they actually touch it, or just pretend?

________________
oop.ismad.com

Post #80,365

by boxley

2/8/03 8:01:49 PM

how come he's not squinting?

will work for cash and other incentives [link|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html|skill set]

questions, help? [link|mailto:pappas@catholic.org|email pappas at catholic.org]

Post #80,423

by orion

2/9/03 2:23:54 PM

2/9/03 2:33:08 PM

"Turning Japanese"

Or maybe I will get in trouble for saying that phase as well? :)

Slang for well, visit this website:
[link|http://www.80smusiclyrics.com/artists/vapors.htm|http://www.80smusicl...rtists/vapors.htm]

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Edited by orion Feb. 9, 2003, 02:33:08 PM EST

Expand All History

Post #80,433

by altmann

2/9/03 3:14:58 PM

Y'all sure he isn't Iraqi?

They've been known to wear berets (and mustaches).

[link|http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2002/WORLD/meast/08/28/iraq.eu/link.saddam%5B1%5D.jpg|http://i.cnn.net/cnn...saddam%5B1%5D.jpg]

--
Chris Altmann

Post #80,435

by orion

2/9/03 3:23:13 PM

Could be, maybe I was wrong?

He just looked French to me for some reason. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

[link|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey|
New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]

Post #80,817

by Silverlock

2/10/03 11:13:39 PM

A question for Marlowe

Ehh?

You never seem to respond once you post here in flame forum.

Doesn't really matter. Forge on Chickie, we're all watchin'.

How many lives per gallon?
--Sign outside of various churches

Post #81,002

2/11/03 7:44:10 PM

Asking Chickie Questions takes planning man

1) You have to remove all the 'big' words

2) You have to keep the question to a minimum (recomm max 3-5 words)

3) You have to spend a min 30-90 mins eliminating *any* ambiguities in the question

4) If you dream of any rational answer, don't include any mention of M.E.

5) Always be prepared for Box to actually answer instead

6) Prepare to spend hours looking for signs of intelligence in the answer should one appear

Post #81,041

by boxley

2/11/03 9:56:33 PM

hey fuck you

I resemble that remark :-)
thanx,
bill

will work for cash and other incentives [link|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html|skill set]

questions, help? [link|mailto:pappas@catholic.org|email pappas at catholic.org]

Post #81,077

2/12/03 3:31:50 AM

Bill, you ain't my dream FUCK, morph into M Douglas's wife

Loved her since the day she 1st appeared on Brit TV in 'Darling Buds of May' - oohhhh what an erotic name for a debut .......................

yeeeeaaaaahhhhh <grin>

(as 4 u you old wizened fart - Don't invite me in for anything other that a beer <g>)

Post #81,981

by boxley

2/15/03 9:49:56 PM

May the loverly zeta dump the rel old fart and move in with

you, with all her chalkboarding whining bitchin white woman style. Aftere the first go round you will push number 2 pencils in yer lugholes or choker to death without using your hands.
be careful what ya wish for.
thanx,
bill

will work for cash and other incentives [link|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html|skill set]

questions, help? [link|mailto:pappas@catholic.org|email pappas at catholic.org]
\ufffdOmni Gaul Delenda est!\ufffd Ceasar

Post #82,120

2/16/03 8:51:37 PM

Yup don't really want today's version of her

Just gimme the young, fresh, sweet, delicious, young her as she was back in 'Darling buds of May'

Cheers Doug

Post #81,192

by marlowe

2/12/03 1:23:42 PM

That's right.

Therefore the post you are reading now does not exist.

Post #81,355