Topics of Interest

[dr_mabeuse]

Jeeeeesus Christ, Dr. M., you need a drink or a joint. Possibly both.

I never meant that we should turn this into "Inside the Writer's Studio". I take a very laissez faire attitude towards this place: people are going to talk about what they want to talk about, and who's going to stop them? I just happened to notice that for several days running, most of the active threads involved people talking about themselves, and that talking about ourselves seems to have become the most popular topic on the board. Possibly that was always true and I just never noticed it before. I have a story I'm trying to avoid so I'm on the AH a lot lately.

But it's not just in the AH either. Activity seems to have slowed to a near crawl on the Story Feedback board and the Story Discussion Circle board too. I think a lot of people who used to contribute there (and here) have picked up stakes for some reason or another.

I honestly wondered if the level of discourse is a reflection of the number of people we have on the AH now; whether once you go past a certain number, the party becomes a crowd and the discussion turns naturally to quicker and lighter topics. The threads with the quickest responses rise to the top, so that seems kind of natural. I certainly didn't mean to sound like I was picking on anyone. It's everyone's board, and I'm sure this too shall pass.

---dr.M.

 

[cloudy]

However since I have caused such a ruckus, I will exile myself to the general boards or perhaps do some community service in "how to". I can pen an article on "How to behave in an adult environment".

It's been fun folks.

I thread jack you no more.

~A~

Awww, c'mon, Abs.....don't leave!

I really look forward to reading your posts, and I'm really quite sure I'm not the only one! Seriousness has it's place, of course, but so does blowing off steam, a la the mob attack on the GB the other day that was a blast for us, and, it seems, lots of other people.

This place wouldn't be the same without you!

 

[McKenna]

.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

One last thing: Does this mean no spanking?

I'm too serious about my flirting to do it in public. PM me and we'll talk.

---dr.M.

 

[shereads]

Deleted.

It's not worth getting into a nose-in-the-air competition, which almost certainly isn't what Dr. M intended here.

Lou, I'm with you.

Min, what on earth are you apologizing for?

Goodnight, pornsters.

 

[damppanties]

...I do appreciate the lovers, clowns and the academics. I could work out which were which if they stayed in one character long enough.

Oh, but so many of us are too many different personalities rolled into one, each personality clamouring to be let out. That's what makes us authors.

 

[gauchecritic]

I've been reading this thread since it's inception and am quite amazed that I haven't posted yet... Oh yes, I remember. I started a similar one not so long ago and then everyone started posting writerly threads (and calling them that) then the AH degenerated again.

Is that word the thing that bothers people? Degenerated?

1. Having declined, as in function or nature, from a former or original state: a degenerate form of an ancient folk art.
2. Having fallen to an inferior or undesirable state, especially in mental or moral qualities.
<>
6. Biology. Having lost one or more highly developed functions, characteristics, or structures through evolution: a degenerate life form.

It bothered me then, it bothers me now.

Who was it who said 'balance'? Lime, Cloudy, Rumi etc. Balance is dynamic, not just adding weights on either end, 'cos then you just break the lever.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you gotta be lighthearted sometimes and Joe and Mab are shining examples of thread balance. Think about this, laugh about that. (still need to thank Joe about the Zoetrope thing even though I'm too chicken to take him up on it)

Flirting has happened in threads for as long as I've been here (you know who you are) but it used to go on in small letters a la McKenna in here, not take over a thread after 6 posts.

Speaking of whom: I freely admit to being one of those pseudo-intellectuals (with the pseudo in bold, italics and underlined) Pseudo because I rarely have any paper basis for anything I say concerning writing and rely very much on those with paper learning to upbrade or berate or simply correct me when I'm wrong. Where are they now?

Intellectual humour. Two words. Stephen Fry.

See. Even humorous threads are below my intellectual capacity, sagacity and erudition (yeah you talk a good game) and skimming through my longer posts will certainly miss the deep, intense and uproariously funny skits and scathing attacks, because I don't use smilies, that's like telling a joke and laughing yourself. I like a good pun too Rumi and malapropisms.

Can everyone please call Abstruse by his/her full name or 'struse, because everytime I see 'Abs' it reminds me of that recently popular beat combo "Five".

Noses in air, I'm 5'11" anybody's nose higher than mine?

I am become CharlieH, and it's not my thread.

Tell you what's nice though. Being mentioned in a thread that you've not posted to yet. Does that make me an old stager? Above the current in-crowd? (Fuck you Brian Ferry)

I can remember when I were a lad, and all round here were fields for as far as the eye can see...

Gauche

 

[CharleyH]

I've been reading this thread since it's inception and am quite amazed that I haven't posted yet... Oh yes, I remember. I started a similar one not so long ago and then everyone started posting writerly threads (and calling them that) then the AH degenerated again.

Is that word the thing that bothers people? Degenerated?

It bothered me then, it bothers me now.

Who was it who said 'balance'?

Speaking of whom: I freely admit to being one of those pseudo-intellectuals (with the pseudo in bold, italics and underlined)

Can everyone please call Abstruse by his/her full name or 'struse, because everytime I see 'Abs' it reminds me of that recently popular beat combo "Five".

Noses in air, I'm 5'11" anybody's nose higher than mine?

I am become CharlieH, and it's not my thread.

Tell you what's nice though. Being mentioned in a thread that you've not posted to yet. Does that make me an old stager? Above the current in-crowd? (Fuck you Brian Ferry)

Gauche

A very dimpled smile, no smiley, just for you.

My mention of you, because you are an/a (in)famous mix of diversity, whom I do respect, as I do all who have posted here since last night, and some not mentioned. I recalled quite clearly your thread concerning the same matter, and recall the same thing about the effect despite, or perhaps inspite of my onward senility.

I believe in balance, and the reason the word is so beautiful to me is, in itself off topic and personal. Nonetheless, a cute wink.

I would love to be able to discuss pseudo-intellectual topics (being a pseudo myself) and would love nothing more than to post a thread on philosophy, psychology, semiotics, the fallacy of logic, theory etc . . . because these things are the part of how I think when constructing a story, and which actually 'help' ME when I write, as do different personalities. I would reiterate, yet have aforementioned said.

When in author mode I already know how to write body position, description, setting. I understand, we are not all the same, and try to help when I can for those who need to know. But for me . . . hm.

"I am become." I love that!

I think the subject is important, and this is why I am bumping it, "USING YOU" in this post.

As for your nose higher, well, with my stilletto's, um yep, by an inch!! Never a grand thing to say to a Lit man, but . . . it is the pseudo reality, since nothing is absolute, nor ever beyond contradiction.

As for the ABS thing . . . well, when you decide to spell my name right - LOL - I will gladly spell out her whole name.

P.S. I was looking at a Roxy Music tape, yes TAPE (not 8-track -lol) today by the way, before I ever got to this thread.

A kiss and hug to you.

CharLEY!

 

[McKenna]

.

 

[minsue]

I use the smileys not because I think I'm funny, but because I'm trying to share a smile. You might be kind enough to remember the difference.

To take it a step further, misunderstandings are rampant among message boards because the conversations contain no tone of voice or facial expressions. The use of smilies is, aside from the general fun and fuckery that I misguidedly apologized for at the beginning of this thread, a substitute.

If I say, 'Fuck you all,' it has a different connotation than if I were to say, 'Fuck you all. '

 

[Guest]

I’m sticking with this thread cos it’s here, and cos I just reread the whole thing. I’ve also seen the “old AH” one and others with like posts. I just spent an hour talking real-time with a very grounded (hate that expression) AH woman (she can reveal herself if she wants) cos I was getting upset and confused by all the fallout since this thread began.

Except for a very few not too tactful remarks I don’t see that anyone has said anything outrageous or maligning. As for the complaints—no one has made them up.

This is how we communicate—by threads and postings that make up the only kind of conversation possible in a forum. We cannot speak at once, we can’t really ignore anyone except by not reading them. We can’t all be on a chat line at once.

What I cannot understand is what I called the fallout above. I don’t think anyone wants anyone to leave, or that there be no silliness or flirting, or that only serious topics be allowed. I agreed with Mab.’s first post, my first riposte was merely a thought in reply. I agreed with Gauche’s old post. I personally want more serious ideas to think about and respond to. By serious I only mean not silly or nonsensical, which does not mean I don’t want those too. It seems clear a few people (can’t really say) don’t like hijacks within a few posts of a new thread. What’s the big deal about that?

Gauche was as gauche as always, but I’m glad he plainly stated he’s a pseudo intellectual. I am too. I think we all are, judging by the generally smart minds I detect in most posts. There’s wit aplenty here to be enjoyed or dumbfounded by. I don’t see that anyone thinking themselves any way intellectual means they think others are not. I am sorry that one poster used the term IQ, but I would think no one believes he spoke for everyone. In fact, no one speaks for everyone; that's why we have discussions.

I feel I’m taking a risk writing all this, but I care about this place and all the people in it, even those I hardly know, even those I call names (very occasionally).

What’s a bottom line? For me, just that hijacking be cut down, or become thoughtful even.

As for non-silly (vs. serious) threads, we’ll all have to wait and see what happens*. Sometimes I spend a good half-hour, or near a full hour, on a post or a thread I start. If it’s not evident, please don’t presume it was off the cuff and it doesn’t matter to me personally if no one responds or it gets hijacked. I think others feel this way. Isn’t that normal? If you’re a hijacker, why get irked or sarcastic? Really, I’d like to know.

*It already has happened if you look at some of the new threads of today on pov and settings, love, mortality, etc.

anon, Perdita

 

[minsue]

As for non-silly (vs. serious) threads, we’ll all have to wait and see what happens*.

<snip>

*It already has happened if you look at some of the new threads of today on pov and settings, love, mortality, etc.

anon, Perdita

Threads such as those have always been here. At least, since I started lurking last year. I don't see any more today than on any other day.

Maybe they're more noticible to some since there is much less posting today? To be honest, that's the most charitable reason I can come up with this evening. I'm medicated at the moment, though. If I've been rude, I apologize. My thoughts are a bit disjointed at the moment and there is a disconnect between my brain and my fingers as I type making typing a pain in the ass. That tends to cut some of the bullshit from my typing including politeness.

 

[Guest]

Min., please stop apologizing. You are never rude (except to that Texan who went to Vienna). I can say I'm wrong, or that you're right (I'd prefer someone else to be right); that's not anyone's point (I hope).

with real affection, P.

 

[Liar]

To take it a step further, misunderstandings are rampant among message boards because the conversations contain no tone of voice or facial expressions. The use of smilies is, aside from the general fun and fuckery that I misguidedly apologized for at the beginning of this thread, a substitute.

If I say, 'Fuck you all,' it has a different connotation than if I were to say, 'Fuck you all. '

I hate to plug things in public (no remarks, please), but this was just too appropriate not to.

http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=133418

 

[curious2c]

Hmmm...well for my two bits worth.

I find that when the AH has several types of thread running that at some times, my creative inner self gets a recharge. Perhaps the humor, or straight information, or even the little snippets of sparing back and forth have quite a bit to do with it. Personally, if a thread isn't what I am interested in, I usually drop it and move on. Pretty much what the board is all about in the first place. If one wants to move disscussion into an area they want to see more of...then by all means, they should start a thread that pushs into that interest. Not all the posts will be on topic, but as in the rest of the boards...one can ignore that one and move on to the next.

This seems to be a common complaint over all the sections of lit, and as all others things, it runs in circles, ebbing and flowing in cycle. If I get really upset or bored I move on to other sections for a bit, or even just log off.

My job, keeping me away for fifteen days at a time, tends to let me see Lit freshly each time I get home, so these things do not bother me too much. I just am here to learn, enjoy myself, and have fun too.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I have read much of what has been posted in this thread. This is just my own little view, you may take it or leave it, or perhaps just consider it.

To me the AH has become a place to make friends. All kinds of friends and they have all contributed to the happiness I find in my life.

Some friends here are extremely scholarly, or have precice minds. They have contributed to my craft by starting & responding in serious threads on technical or stylistic issues.

Some friends here are extremely political & they have helped in my life, by opening my eyes to other view points & takes on things.

Some freinds here are silly. They have contibuted laughter and smiles to my life. After some of what I have lived through, an honest open smile is worth it's weight in gold some days.

Some of my friends here flirt. Some subtly, some outrageously, and many shades in between. They too have helped my craft. How you might ask, well simply put they provide an idea of others. We are mostly authors and mostly authors of the erotic. In our characters we may one day try to write a flirtation scene. Perhaps the character will be as subtle as Sub joe, as sweet as Mindy, as fun as Tatelou, as no nonsense as pops or as up front as Des & the Mrs. And where will I draw inspiration to write this character? My own experience is drastically limited. Yet here, in words, I have seen so many different styles.

As a writer, it is incumbant upon me to draw upon evry resource avialable to breathe life into my characters. What better resource than other writers? As a person it is incumbant upon me to live this life and enjoy it as much as I can. What better place than among friends? Here at the AH I can develop my craft, by asking serious technical & stylistic questions and paying atention to the input of other writers. I can develop myself, by taking in the wide range and breadth of knowledge & opinion expressed. And i can laugh at a good joke, smile at a silly thread or blush with some of the flirting.

Old AH. New Ah. Does it really matter? I am among friends & my life is richer in many aspects for those friends. I'll probably never flirt with Doc M., but his honest input on a story has left me feeling as good as I do after sex on occasion. I'll probaly never gain the wealth of knowledge on cluture & other sophisticated tastes Dita has, but when she chooses to share, I do get a glimpse of the richness that is out there. I may never ask Des for technical advice on a piece, but her flirtation is flattring to me & well worth my time. From Lou Lou, Pops, Lucky, Mindy, Rumple, Ogs, Flicka, Sher, and a host of others here I generally will find something in each day I can take away from here that enriches my life.

How much more could any of us ask from an electronic medium?

-Colly

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Can you say 'misunderstanding'?

Poor Doc. All he wanted to do was talk about people talking about themselves and ka-blamo, all hell breaks loose. I appreciate what everyone here has had to say and can understand how things got weird. What I can't understand is why we're still talking about it. The point has been made that heed should be paid when replying to threads of a certain nature. Any other time, be yourself and enjoy those around you. (No one should feel that they are going to be burned at the stake for seizing a window of opportunity for a fun comment during a serious thread...only that continuing the fun for too long is not cool when it causes the thread to derail.)

All I can say about this melting pot is that it bubbled over, it's under control now and let's move on. Change is inevitable, sure. But I don't think things here have really changed for good. Fluctuations are going to occur in all matters. I would liked to have seen a new thread started so that opinions on the actual topic of thread-jacking (in its most general sense) were addressed, instead of a window of opportunity seized in a moment of haste that led to finger pointing, etc...

This has happened before and will no doubt happen again. No one needs to leave or hold a grudge. People just need to cool out and get back to the business of enjoying this place for what it is. And I think it's a tremendous writer's resource, support network, laugh factory, flirt funhouse, knitting circle, gardening club, pub gathering, recipe chain, think tank and all around great place to be.

~lucky

 

[Liar]

What Lucky said.

I'm just a little grumpy that she got the idea first to say it instead of me, and look all wise and shit.

wait...

Knitting circle?

#L

 

[oggbashan]

Words on a screen

One thing is clear from much of the posting on the AH.

It is very easy to misinterpret words on a screen.

What you intend to say may have a completely different meaning to the reader. That can start unpleasantnesses that were never intended. One wrong word; one wrongly placed word; one turn of phrase that does not translate from your use of it to another's - any of them can annoy, irritate or even insult. I have been guilty of it.

This is picking up from Perdita's long post a few above this one. She thinks and works out what she wants to say and the precise wording - before she posts. I tend to do the same. I would recommend it to others.

I'm not just referring to the serious threads, or the political threads. Even the flirting threads can have misunderstandings and cause hurt. I am very fond of some of the flirts in the AH but I am sure that some of the things written to and about them have caused 'tears before bed'. They are human and therefore vulnerable.

But on the positive side, we are all writers, even if writers of posts. The interchange, the fun, the badinage; they all contribute to our use of language. The misunderstandings are part of a learning process because they show the limitations of the written word. We can achieve much with words yet can turn tragedy into farce by using the wrong word at a critical moment.

One final word. I enjoy the lovers. Sometimes they make me feel as old as the long dead King I pretend to be. Other times they give me a warm glow and the feeling that this world can't be such a bad place if love like that can be felt and the lovers have the desire to share that love with us.

Og

 

[SlickTony]

I began to understand what Shereads was complaining of when I remembered that I quit going to the "How did you get your LIterotica name?" thread months and months and months ago, because it had disintegrated to page after page after page after page of fliirtatious banter among people who were more interested in bantering with each other flirtatiously than talking with me, and we 3rd or 4th generation Scandinavians with Aspergerish tendencies are not noted for their being able to keep up with flirtatious banter for very long at a stretch.

But geez, that's no reason to leave the whole damn hangout. You got something you want to talk about, you go start another thread, like I did with the one proposing to run biodiesel in all our cars. I learned that I didn't know as much as I thought I did, but learned new stuff in the process.

 

[CharleyH]

Can you say 'misunderstanding'?

Poor Doc. All he wanted to do was talk about people talking about themselves and ka-blamo, all hell breaks loose. I appreciate what everyone here has had to say and can understand how things got weird. What I can't understand is why we're still talking about it.
~lucky

We talk about it because we actually care about it We actually care that some here are not completely happy - hence - the sudden and temporary writerly threads. If we didn't, we would not post here.

P: Are you talking to me? Are you? TALKIN' to me? Or are you not 'talkin to me.

'Cuz ya know I love to be talked about My angel wings flutter.

Happy you posted

and if there was a hug, I'd send that smilie too - just to irritate . . . um, fingers to chin again, and a smile burst.

 

[Guest]

I am always talking to you, Charley. Yeah, they haven't invented smilies for what we need. P.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

We talk about it because we actually care about it We actually care that some here are not completely happy - hence - the sudden and temporary writerly threads. If we didn't, we would not post here..

'Cuz ya know I love to be talked about My angel wings flutter.

I hate when she makes sense

angel wings????? hmmm? cant picture that one.

 

[NoJo]

You got something you want to talk about, you go start another thread, like I did with the one proposing to run biodiesel in all our cars.

Damn. Missed that. That's just the kind of thread I like to trample. I mean participate in meaningfully.

 

[SlickTony]

It still exists somewhere; it's just that once it drops off the AH list I don't know how to get it back. Maybe you do.