There are times...

[AppleBiter]

I'm sorry -- to all of you unhappy w/the AH, that you feel that way. Genuinely. I, personally, haven't really seen that much which upsets me. To me, it's a nice little message board w/mostly nice people chatting and having a good time about this and that.

I never expected the AH to be a place of only literary discussion and learning. Had it been, I would've still hung out here, because those things interest me. But, I'm certainly not disappointed that there are more topics being discussed. It adds flavor, humor, a break from the ho-hum day, and a chance to get to know my fellow posters outside of just one aspect of them.

As far as cliques, I haven't been here long enough to notice one . . . but, then, it's been my experience that in any online community, there are people that have been there a long time that get along really well and may not notice new people as much. This also doesn't bother me. As I've said, though, I haven't noticed one on the AH. If there is one that I'm unaware of, I haven't noticed because everyone has been nothing but welcoming to me from my first post. This is, in general, a great group of people. IMHO.

Regarding Political Correctness, I -- for one -- am certainly not offended by it because there are people on the boards from all different cultures and backgrounds. I think being PC is a way of being respectful to everyone. But, that's just me.

Predictability is inconsequential to me. Sure, there are going to be some predictable responses to some things posted. There can also be responses you didn't expect, sometimes not. So what? People can be predictable in certain instances. That's the way it is. I have no issue with this.

I agree that the Brinnie thread went on waaaaaaaaaaaay longer than it probably should've . . . but, apparantly the people involved felt like it gave them something to do, so who am I to say? They were being entertained, I didn't read the thread because I didn't want to, and so it didn't effect me at all. Que sera sera.

All in all, I would say that (once again) I'm sorry to everyone so unhappy with everything. I don't pretend to understand your POV, but I respect it, nonetheless. As for me, I'm perfectly happy and content here at the AH. I consider myself a pretty easy-going person and one that avoids drama at all costs. But, some thrive on drama and I guess that's okay too. Whatever floats your boat.

My 2 Centavos,

AppleBiter

 

[BlackShanglan]

I rather like this apple-y person, even if it has bitten into all of the best apples.

 

[AppleBiter]

I rather like this apple-y person, even if it has bitten into all of the best apples.

Aw, thanks BlackShanglan!

 

[EmeraldKitten]

Hey honey.....
I will admit, I haven't read any post but yours in this thread.

Everyone is free to their own opinions. Pleasem do not take this as a personal slam or attack... I don't mean it as such.
Take it as a friend giving an opinion. I respect you, and I respect your opinion.
The fact of the matter is, you can't please everyone, all the time.

There are going to be threads and comments made that are always going to piss someone off, or just out-right offend them.
Hell, I've been pissed about stuff before, but ya know what? It doesn't do any good to bitch and moan about it; it's going to get said and discussed no matter what.
I choose to skip over the threads or the poster that bothers me, and it keeps my blood pressure at a normal rate.

I'm not here to beg you to come back, because it's your choice.
I am here to ask that you just ignore the shit, and only click on things that interest you.
I know thats hard to~ sometimes if the thread interests someone, an ass ruins the entire thread.


Before I started posting here, I was posting on a drug abuse board because of my father.
Most of the posters are addicts themselves, and there are only a few that are loved ones of the users.
I'd go rip tearin through there, bitching, moaning, complaining, and tearing addicts up one side and down the other. It was from my own personal frustration.

One day, a poster asked me why I was there, if I hated addicts to much.
I don't hate addicts... but I was certainly coming across that way.
I had to tone down, and chose my words wisely.
Regardless of how I came across, these people- the druggies that occupy the board- offered me as much help and advice as they could.
Reading their everyday struggles made me think that maybe my dad was a person after all, not just a junkie.
The highlight of my time there, was when a poster said that I made her think. And that she hoped her kids didn't feel about her, like I felt about my dad.

Anyhow, I'm rambling. The point is, even if you don't want to hear it, you can't run away from it. Either look it in the face, or move on. It's your choice. Your decision.
Almost everyone can be accused of putting up a thread of shit at one time or another.
Just skip over and move on babe!

Even if you leave here, I hope you message me once and again, because I'd definately miss you.
Have a great one.

~K

 

[dr_mabeuse]

If you'd said what you'd said and then stuck around, maybe we could discuss it. But with you stamping out and slamming the door behind you, it just makes it seem like a hissy-fit.

---dr.M.

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

And directly above...

 

[minsue]

And directly above...

It was a valid point.

Counter points are a bit more effective than eye rolls, dimples.

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

It was a valid point.

Counter points are a bit more effective than eye rolls, dimples.

I'm counter pointed out, frustrated, irritated, and sort of seeing scheh's point on certain issues.

 

[Op_Cit]

Oh, and Op_Cit, it is stupidity, not stupidness.

That was yet another lame attempt at subtle, self referential humor. One of these days I'm going to learn how to actually be funny...

 

[minsue]

I'm counter pointed out, frustrated, irritated, and sort of seeing scheh's point on certain issues.

See? That works better than an eye roll.

 

[jfinn]

Gee, I thought the board was a lot better now than it used to be.

I've been around off and on for about three years now (not as one of the big posters as my numbers show, but I'm a champion lurker) and there're a lot of reasons why I think this:

There aren't nearly as many hijacks as there used to be. Even when someone does go off topic it seems to swing back pretty quickly. Time was when you were lucky to have three or four legit responses before the whole thread went to hell.

People are a lot nicer, especially to newbies. If you don't believe me go back a couple of years and see how snarky it could get. There was a reason why so many people posted once or twice then slunk away never to heard from again.

Even with all the fluff (which I like--don't get me wrong)there are still a lot of posts about writing. At least one or two everyday from what I can see. There was a time when you could go weeks without seeing something that didn't have to do with sheep and bad inside jokes.​

I know that what went on before has nothing to do with how you're feeling now, but hell, I'm in a reminiscent mood and since it appears you've already flounced off you won't be reading this anyway.

I do know how you're feeling however so in case you're reading this here's my advice. Go find something else to do for a while. Don't even think about coming back, not even to lurk. Then when about six months or so have passed come on back and take a look around. I think you'll be amazed at how many of the people you took exception to will have moved on themselves and the board will have changed directions again. You might even finded it fun. At least you'll have a whole new group to get used to before they piss you off.

Jayne

 

[Brinnie]

I agree that the Brinnie thread went on waaaaaaaaaaaay longer than it probably should've . . . but, apparantly the people involved felt like it gave them something to do,

• exactly.
• these "authors" have nothing to do,
• not even write.
• and since i pointed that,
• they scorned me,
• because the truth is painful.
• almost as painful as that one song...

http://www.taylor.org/~argus/all/incountry/missouri/steve_cheryl_%20wed_5_2003_columbia/robs_long_awaited_pictures/YMCA,%20sorta.jpg

 

[BlackShanglan]

I love when people get drunk and dance badly. At my brother's wedding, his very large and very enthusiastic friend treated us to an all-singing, all-dancing rendition of "Copacobana." The joke, alas, was on him - the track was an extra-long instrumental version. He handled it with grace, aplomb, and visible exhaustion. He clung on through it all, although some of the last lyrics were "This song is LONG now / I'm getting tired ... "

He really seemed quite charming. I love someone who's not afraid to get up and have fun.

Shanglan

 

[LadyJeanne]

I love when people get drunk and dance badly. At my brother's wedding, his very large and very enthusiastic friend treated us to an all-singing, all-dancing rendition of "Copacobana." The joke, alas, was on him - the track was an extra-long instrumental version. He handled it with grace, aplomb, and visible exhaustion. He clung on through it all, although some of the last lyrics were "This song is LONG now / I'm getting tired ... "

He really seemed quite charming. I love someone who's not afraid to get up and have fun.

Shanglan

There's something about that song that never fails to get the toes twitching...

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I guess I'm the one who drove Sheh out when I posted to her Mythology Thread that I didn't think that volcanoes were the inspiration for dragons. Well Mea fucking Culpa.

I went through my hissy-fit stage too once and stormed out of the AH because people weren't acting the way I wanted. But it was pointed out to me that that's the way this place works. In a free speech zone, people pretty much act the way they want. The alterntaive is to have a moderator who decides what we can and can't talk about, and how many people want that? Show of hands?

People are free to come and leave whenever they want, but I think leaving and flinging comments over your shoulder on the way out is nothing more than laying a guilt trip. And cowardly.

 

[Black Tulip]

*shrug*

I find it sad people feel they have to leave because they are annoyed, fed up, angry, hurt or whatever by other participants. However, it's their right to do so.

It does not mean we, who stay behind, have to feel guilty. It's never due to one person. If it was you could put that person on ignore, right? The only thing we can do, is take a look at how we act and perhaps think for a moment, or two, on our behavior or the way we formulate our opinions.

I've been shocked by the way some people can tear into each other with obvious relish. It's human nature but I do not want to take part in it. So I avoid the clearly political threads. (Unless I want to vent my own agression.)

If I feel silly, I'll jump in on something nonsensical. For the rest I enjoy myself at the SDC and a more or less serious thread every now and then.

I think I have to be glad I missed that Brinnie thing-person-thread.

 

[scheherazade_79]

Over and out

I just wanted to say thank you very much to all the people who’ve posted on this site. I also received sixteen PMs from well-wishers. One or two were just to say goodbye and good luck; others echoed supportive sentiments they’d already posted on this thread; but worryingly, the majority of the PMs I received were along the lines of “I agree with you so much, but I don’t want to put my opinion up on a thread, because I know I’ll be shouted down.”

Interesting food for thought and, judging by some of the comments on this thread, I can perfectly understand why.

It seems it’s been a busy weekend for me in the AH, where I’ve been

• ranting
• bashing everyone in here
• stamping out and slamming the door behind me
• having a hissy fit
• sulking because people aren’t acting the way I want
• leaving and flinging comments over my shoulder
• laying a guilt trip
• being cowardly

Unfortunately, the truth is a lot less dramatic. I left before the temptation to call someone an arsehole got the better of me – although there are certain people, as quoted above, who seem to be pushing me dangerously close today.

My feelings are my own. Discussing the reasons and engaging in endless debate over why I like or don’t like something isn’t going to change the way I feel. I could easily have said nothing and never come back, or made up some lie about being too busy with work to post – but I prefer to be open when it comes to my feelings.

I’ll admit – there’s a part of me that wants to jump on a table, shout “Liberté, Egalité et Fraternité!” and lead some kind of crusade against the things I believe are wrong with this forum. But I’m not going to, because I don’t think it would be fair on the people who’ve already exhausted their stockpiles of derogatory terms to describe my actions.

There are some fantastic people in the AH, and I’ll be keeping in contact with as many of them as I can.

I don’t want this to turn into the next Brinnie thread, so please, let’s just leave things as they are. I won’t be responding to any further comments for the simple reason that I won’t be around.

I’m now turning my back and walking away with my dignity intact.

 

[Liar]

I just wanted to say thank you very much to all the people who’ve posted on this site. I also received sixteen PMs from well-wishers. One or two were just to say goodbye and good luck; others echoed supportive sentiments they’d already posted on this thread; but worryingly, the majority of the PMs I received were along the lines of “I agree with you so much, but I don’t want to put my opinion up on a thread, because I know I’ll be shouted down.”

Interesting food for thought and, judging by some of the comments on this thread, I can perfectly understand why.

It seems it’s been a busy weekend for me in the AH, where I’ve been

• ranting
• bashing everyone in here
• stamping out and slamming the door behind me
• having a hissy fit
• sulking because people aren’t acting the way I want
• leaving and flinging comments over my shoulder
• laying a guilt trip
• being cowardly

Unfortunately, the truth is a lot less dramatic. I left before the temptation to call someone an arsehole got the better of me – although there are certain people, as quoted above, who seem to be pushing me dangerously close today.

My feelings are my own. Discussing the reasons and engaging in endless debate over why I like or don’t like something isn’t going to change the way I feel. I could easily have said nothing and never come back, or made up some lie about being too busy with work to post – but I prefer to be open when it comes to my feelings.

I’ll admit – there’s a part of me that wants to jump on a table, shout “Liberté, Egalité et Fraternité!” and lead some kind of crusade against the things I believe are wrong with this forum. But I’m not going to, because I don’t think it would be fair on the people who’ve already exhausted their stockpiles of derogatory terms to describe my actions.

There are some fantastic people in the AH, and I’ll be keeping in contact with as many of them as I can.

I don’t want this to turn into the next Brinnie thread, so please, let’s just leave things as they are. I won’t be responding to any further comments for the simple reason that I won’t be around.

I’m now turning my back and walking away with my dignity intact.

Ok, now I'm confused. I know shehz is not going to enlighten me, if she indeed just left. But someone else might get it. Is she talking about the responses here in this thread? Because whenever I see a post like this, I tend to go back and see if something I said might have caused it. And nobody (except maybe DrM, who was just being equally honestly frank) have said anything that could even remotely been intepreted as derogatory. What am I missing?

 

[elsol]

Ok, now I'm confused. I know shehz is not going to enlighten me, if she indeed just left. But someone else might get it. Is she talking about the responses here in this thread? Because whenever I see a post like this, I tend to go back and see if something I said might have caused it. And nobody (except maybe DrM, who was just being equally honestly frank) have said anything that could even remotely been intepreted as derogatory. What am I missing?

I read your other post in this thread... it wasn't you.

Mostly it seems to be DrM's response.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

I read your other post in this thread... it wasn't you.

Mostly it seems to be DrM's response.

Sincerely,
ElSol

Agreed. With elsol and scheh.

Wish you the best babydoll...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

You know, the inane things that do occur here are part of why I keep coming back. It shows that we're all human, and we, as the rest of humanity, have our faults. I've not seen anyone in here that tries to pretend they are perfect.. even with all the things you just posted Sheh, none of those people believe they are perfect. THey might think they're right about an opinionated topic, but that's their right, to believe in their opinions. If you don't agree with them, that's your right too. Argue about it, ignore it, or bitch and whine about it. Those are your choices really, here and anywhere in life.

Yes, we have a lot of people who chose to argue about topics, but that's been explained: We're writers, we have big egos There will be the occassional clash, and all hell will break loose. But really, that will also happen almost everywhere in life. Groups of friends in real life have the occassional squabble, but they tend to pull back together after it (not always)

You feel that posting all these reasons for you to leave justifies your leaving? If you want to leave, that's all it takes. "Oh, the AH pisses me off lately, I think I'm going to put down one last rant and bash everyone in there, maybe in the hopes of knocking some sense into the place." that's what it seemed like, probably not how you meant it, but it is how it came off to me.

I too will be sorry to see you leave, I know it probably doesn't sound like it thus far, but I shall. It's just such a silly reason to leave.. I mean, I would understand "It bores me", but that the AH pisses you off? I mean, doesn't that make leaving just running away from the problem? (No, I'm not trying to accuse you of anything, I'm just rambling.)

Remember the Anger thread? How someone thought that all anger came from within, about us being discontent with something in ourselves (or something like that), have you analyzed the anger and know exactly where it comes from? Which people, which circumstances within a thread... if so, avoid those people or outright ignore them.. stay out of the political threads, they're all marked with the word Political now, so we know before even going in them.

I've never seen this clique that everyone refers too, perhaps because I've been a social outcast most of my life and I don't really understand how groups of people function.. but the people here don't seem any different then people I would encounter in real life.. and real life is much more annoying You can't press an ignore button to get rid of stupidity in RL.

Exactly. And nicely worded.

• exactly.
• these "authors" have nothing to do,
• not even write.
• and since i pointed that,
• they scorned me,
• because the truth is painful.
• almost as painful as that one song...

Actually, Brin, your case was very different. You said a lot more than just one comment about how much time we spend writing, and posted some pictures which caused the real problem. You acted like a child. Period. Yes, someone provoked you, but you attacked all of us, and a fair number of us tried to befriend you anyway. What else can we do?

And more importantly than that, in scheherazade_79's case, a regular, who actually dealt with us, has earned the right to her own opinion and viewpoint of us. Not someone who read a couple posts and bashed everyone on the forum over them.

Sorry to see anyone go, scheh, but choices are choices. We respect yours.

Q_C

Sorry

 

[yui]

Goodbye, Sche. I wish you much luck.

Yui

 

[minsue]

Ok, now I'm confused. I know shehz is not going to enlighten me, if she indeed just left. But someone else might get it. Is she talking about the responses here in this thread? Because whenever I see a post like this, I tend to go back and see if something I said might have caused it. And nobody (except maybe DrM, who was just being equally honestly frank) have said anything that could even remotely been intepreted as derogatory. What am I missing?

Agreed.

I like Scheh very much and will miss her, but I'm confuzzled by that post. I suppose it's because I agree with most of the posts on here, even those that appear to contradict each other.

Yes, there are some threads that are quite silly, some that are annoying, some that are venomous. And yes, that's life and it is, IMnsHO, very childish to spew and leave. What's the point? That we'll all see the error of our ways and suddenly make this the perfect board for you even though you won't be here to enjoy it?

 

[impressive]

I happen to CARE what color everyone's underwear are.


Scheh

 

[Black Tulip]

So? I'm not going to tell you.