How to put this? But can't we just be nice to one another?

[82_28]

I just posted an OT in GD about the Nixon Tapes and I felt for some reason the need to throw in a little bit of passive aggressive barbing to some members who heretofore I thought were cool and I thought were also cool to me and other members. But apparently, there always must be some who have to make someone else feel like their ideas or approaches to said ideas are worthless. I feel like I have far more friends here than anything even approaching an enemy of any kind of sort. I actually am quite indifferent, however, I cannot stand being spoken down to by anyone. I also don't like to see it happen to other members. Some here seem to be stoked on doing that. I can't stand that kind of shit. It's basically the only reason this place is stop 1 through 100 on my daily websurfing habits. I don't take any of it personally, but a dick is a dick is a dick. Quit being a dick. Argue, debate, disagree, agree, share, but quit being dicks. Be funny, be clever, joke a bit, but don't hurt feelings, don't personalize shit to the point where some get scared off, strike back, get into some weird cyber-funk. It ain't just me and I know this for a fact. I'm not even gonna say that you know who you are or that this is some unforgivable sin, just let's keep this place cool, not a place we feel dread even posting a comment to.

I still believe we can all swarm upon the trolls and show them the door -- nothing's stopping that -- I'm all for it and when I have spotted them early, early in the morning, sometimes I have been the "first line of defense" before the moderators get to it. Just wanna say and reiterate that I love this place and respect it and all members. Happy Holidays to all and all the best. Thanks for being my favorite website in the galaxy.

[Montag]

[Simulist]

Not sure what's going on with people exactly, 82_28, but it seems to be happening pretty much everywhere this year, both on the internet and in real life. I've been putting it down to the abnormally high levels of stress people are undergoing this time of year — and this year in particular. And I think it's going to keep increasing in the coming months, until the dam breaks.

So yeah, we should try harder to be patient with each other — I'm as guilty as anyone though: I had words with a lady in the parking lot yesterday, who backed into my car.

(By the way, to a lot of us, 82, you are one of the cool kids — and in a good way. Cheers.)

[Elvis]

Nicely said, 82_28, and lemme just say I think there's plenty of room here for your style and I'm sure your heart-on-your-sleeve "stream of consciousness" contributions are appreciated by many. And the Nixon post was gold to me (anything but w_k_l_e_ks! LOL)---I might have missed that story otherwise.
...on the other hand, football talk makes my eyes glaze over...

Montag, no serious hard feelings between you and me, I hope. It's too easy to get snarky on here---I wouldn't have said certain things across a cocktail table---and we're all just calling things as we see them. (and in the spirit of this thread I do hope you'll similarly revisit your remarks to JR, who, by my measure, is a sincere, valuable and highly esteemed contributor here.)

[KudZu LoTek]

82, if you come up with any solid answers please share them because I sure as hell would like to know. I just bailed from another forum that went from being a place for mature, reasonable discourse to a haven for paranoid, racist, serial trolls in about 48 hours. Un-frickin'-believable. The switch happened so quickly and uniformly that I've started wondering about options like maybe Mercury went into super-ultra-mega-retrograde or there's a secret trollnet they use to co-ordinate their actions. Whatever, I'm over it, but it was definitely odd in it's consistency.

Anyway, this is my first post over here, but I've been reading RI for a little while now and have been generally impressed with the level of the conversation. Y'all have a pretty specialized vocabulary of abbreviations/acronyms that I'm still picking up on, but I'm looking forward to joining in once I get a little more familiar with it. Cheers!

[82_28]

I'm just a meager member in the outlying reaches of this virtual village of thinkers, but let me be the first to welcome you LoTek.

Out of curiosity, what site was it that went all 28 days later and shit on you?

I spoke to Twyla tonight and she mentioned that there is currently an alignment in the planets which points to folks being more aggressive and generally lame where they need not be. I'm not really into astrology, but this isn't the first time this has come up today. I am willing to listen to anything.

With all undue certitude: Nobody has any fucking idea. I would like to know who does.

Twyla brought up fractals tonight on the phone and that is exactly right. It's nothing to worry about as long as we maintain our connections.

Here, have a Rush song again. I've posted it numerous times here before, but it is always worth repeating.

Natural Science. . .

[1. Tide Pools]

When the ebbing tide retreats
Along the rocky shoreline
It leaves a trail of tidal pools
In a short-lived galaxy
Each microcosmic planet
A complete society

A simple kind mirror
To reflect upon our own
All the busy little creatures
Chasing out their destinies
Living in their pools
They soon forget about the sea...

Wheels within wheels in a spiral array
A pattern so grand and complex
Time after time we lose sight of the way
Our causes can't see their effects

[2. Hyperspace]

A quantum leap forward
In time and in space
The universe learned to expand

The mess and the magic
Triumphant and tragic
A mechanized world out of hand

Computerized clinic
For superior cynics
Who dance to a synthetic band

In their own image
Their world is fashioned
No wonder they don't understand

[3. Permanent Waves]

Science, like nature
Must also be tamed
With a view towards its preservation
Given the same
State of integrity
It will surely serve us well

Art as expression
Not as market campaigns
Will still capture our imaginations
Given the same
State of integrity
It will surely help us along

The most endangered species
The honest man
Will still survive annihilation
Forming a world
State of integrity
Sensitive, open and strong

Wave after wave will flow with the tide
And bury the world as it does
Tide after tide will flow and recede
Leaving life to go on as it was...

[barracuda]

Ha! - you just wait, good ol' Charlie Brown 82_28. If you ever get kewlsville enough, maybe people will treat you with the awesome kind of respect I command around here. You know, the kind where people routinely refer to you as an asshole, or a butt-licker, or - like the one I got today - a man-whore.

C'mon, a what? This guy's got all day to sit around and think of an insult to deliver on a silver platter on the internet, and that's what he burps up? I'm telling you, it's proof positive that the standards around here have gone to shambles, if I've ever seen it. Makes masturbation look like a Richard Feynman lecture. The paltry quality of the insult itself is somewhat insulting. I mean, can you imagine actually saying that out loud to somebody? Doesn't the dude even know how to say pinche puto? I learned that in, like, third grade. Say it with me: peen-chay poo-toe.

Naw, I figure until you've been called a butt-lickin' man-whore in some context within the RI brain trust, ya really haven't lived, dude. Mind you, I'm not complaining! I think it's kinda cool. Ya know why? 'Cuz I'm a dick. Hells yes I am.

But you're alright, man. Just don't mope around too long, draggin' your long face all over the carpeting. Perk up!



That's enough, now.

[KudZu LoTek]

I'm just a meager member in the outlying reaches of this virtual village of thinkers, but let me be the first to welcome you LoTek.

Out of curiosity, what site was it that went all 28 days later and shit on you?

Many thanks for the warm welcome. The owners/admin of the site I left are decent folks, they're just really busy IRL right now, so I'll leave the name of their forum off the table for the time being. Hopefully they'll decide to clean things up a little bit, and if not, better to just leave it behind. Don't feed the trolls, etc...

Makes masturbation look like a Richard Feynman lecture.

Bwhahhahhaahaahaa! Absolutely classic. "If there's any wanking going on around here, it's gonna be graduate level wanking!"

[82_28]

LOL, cood. hahaha.

I hear you. I was about to revisit Mykeru's go around with a certain right-wing asshat in General Discussion. I may as well throw it up there.

Not saying anyone is right wing here or anything. No member I was vaguely writing of has done anything wrong. I certainly ain't the arbiter. I just don't wanna see people here be dicks to one another.

[Montag]

82, if you come up with any solid answers please share them because I sure as hell would like to know. I just bailed from another forum that went from being a place for mature, reasonable discourse to a haven for paranoid, racist, serial trolls in about 48 hours. Un-frickin'-believable. The switch happened so quickly and uniformly that I've started wondering about options like maybe Mercury went into super-ultra-mega-retrograde or there's a secret trollnet they use to co-ordinate their actions. Whatever, I'm over it, but it was definitely odd in it's consistency.

Anyway, this is my first post over here, but I've been reading RI for a little while now and have been generally impressed with the level of the conversation. Y'all have a pretty specialized vocabulary of abbreviations/acronyms that I'm still picking up on, but I'm looking forward to joining in once I get a little more familiar with it. Cheers!

Kudzu welcome! Enter the firestorm, haha...

[Montag]

Nicely said, 82_28, and lemme just say I think there's plenty of room here for your style and I'm sure your heart-on-your-sleeve "stream of consciousness" contributions are appreciated by many. And the Nixon post was gold to me (anything but w_k_l_e_ks! LOL)---I might have missed that story otherwise.
...on the other hand, football talk makes my eyes glaze over...

Montag, no serious hard feelings between you and me, I hope. It's too easy to get snarky on here---I wouldn't have said certain things across a cocktail table---and we're all just calling things as we see them. (and in the spirit of this thread I do hope you'll similarly revisit your remarks to JR, who, by my measure, is a sincere, valuable and highly esteemed contributor here.)

Ok well I think Wintler and I had patched things up, glad to hear what you're saying. Sorry, if I insulted you in any way... If you see Jack around tell him sorry if I insulted him. I should probably assume he is sincere in the beliefs he has and not trying to throw a wrench into things. I have noticed him putting the kibosh on a lot of stuff, but if those are his genuine beliefs then fine.

[brainpanhandler]

'Cuz I'm a dick. Hells yes I am.

Not like back in the day. You've gone all soft.

[barracuda]

You're right about that. I'm a little too nice these days. I oughta go back to working my way up the food chain.

[marycarnival]

Howdy all, week-long lurker, first time poster...

Yeah, I like to think that I'm joining a forum free of asshattery, but that's just not realistic. That being said, I can tell that the vast majority of folks on this forum are here for thoughtful, lively debate and discussion, and I'm excited to throw my hat (non-ass) into the ring.

And since ol' Mercury is totes retro, this year's 'Christmas Tizzy' looks like it's shaping up to be a doozy! I work in internet retail, and the last couple of days have been, uh, interesting to say the least. All kinds of miscommunications are happening. Watch what you say, even if someone is rude to you and deserves a tongue-lashing! I almost let a co-worker (who happens to be my boss's wife) have it yesterday... I wouldn't mind a nice cave to hide in for the next couple of weeks, but I gots to get paid! I'm waiting for machines to start breaking down, or the computers to blow up.....no, I MUST NOT THINK BAD THOUGHTS!!

[justdrew]

welcome aboard