Tracy,

RAIDHHI has become a serious hindrance to my efforts. He needs to be banned and I do not have the ability. The users are starting to strongly protest as he challenges my authority with very long winded, belligerent and slanderous attacks. I don't take any of it personally, but it's REALLY pissing off the users. I will not allow this issue to rest with you or leflaw until his account is locked and ip address put on a server ban.

Boycott RIAA is not for lusers to vent on us for the sake of stroking their own egos. It is for trying to fight the RIAA. I've been as patient as I can with RAID. I've tried diplomacy. Diplomacy has failed.

Please do something about this. I will also be posting this email as an article (removing your personal email addy and info from it to keep that information private) to let users know that I am trying to do something about it. This email is also being CC'd to Leflaw.

Thanks in advance,

Dave

If you have a Boycott RIAA account, this means you also have a DMusic account. I woulc suggest that instead of "abandoning ship" with a harsh "goodbue" that you sign onto http://dmusic.com and send a dnote to tracy and leflaw expressing your concerns. Bitching here and threatening to leave doesn't solve the problem, it adds to it. Privately allowing the admins and people in charge know how you feel so they can correct the problem is the way its fixed. Thanks!

So please, ignore RAID's banter and just dnote me, tracy and / or leflaw. We want these types of problems to go away, just as much as you do.

If anyone, instead of getting pissed and walking out the door -- wishes to reply in these coments in a polite and civil manor as to exactly how and why this guy is a problem, feel free. Just know RAID *will* see all this and he WILL flame off. Just ignore him. He will just be adding more evidence to his own conviction and removal.

Also for the record -- I don't even read 99.9% of what he replies to me. I do however pay attention to user protests to his replies.

On a telnet bbs message forum, theres the enter key. In a web forum, theres scrolling and clicking past things. Ignoring his replies and not responding is the best idea. Your only giving him what he wants if you respond.

I just scolded RaidHHI in another thread for about the bazillionth time once again.

Dave, PLEASE learn to either ignore the likes of RaidHHI,

OR,

...learn to live in schizoid "crazy-land" with him.

----

I have been here for YEARS

(so has our pet troll)

You can pet our paticular troll whenever you want to be kind to it.
(It's kinda like feeding a stray animal on the back pourch.)

(But don't EVER let these kinda trolls unfocus the vision.)

Shmoo -- one of the things that has hindered this site is the "schizoid crazy land" effect. If you ignore problems, they just become bigger. They have time to fester and grow. I was brought in to fix things and eliminate problems, was I not? Thats what i'm trying to do. RAID is a disruption, an extreme one. It would be one thing if he had an adversarial point of view in favor of the RIAA only for the sake of trying to get my goat because he doesn't like me. That would at least be constructive. But all he does is brute force attack anyone who doesn't kiss his arse. Thats gotta stop, one way or another. A radical point of view and a lack of tact is one thing. Attacks on our users, is another.

FYI -- people like him were also a part of the reason (people we REALLY NEED HELPING US) ShadowMom always steered clear of BRIAA. She doesn't like falling under constant attack from Trolls. I don't think anyone sort of a masochist actually "enjoys" such things.

I'm currently corposponding with Leflaw in email about this. Apparently he has been too busy to keep close tabs on BRIAA. He asked me how RAID is being disruptive. So i copied / pasted a flood of examples from the comments (RAIDs attacks, peoples replies, mine yours, others, etc..). I figured i'd let RAID make my point for me with his own words. So hopefully i'll have "the ability to back up the threats i make" very shortly.

Oh, and as far as him spinning / manipulating my words and acting as if his word is law, I think i'll quote Obiwan from SW:E3:

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes"

RAID's replies seem to swing left and right when he makes his points. Never any middle ground. Never any logic to anything. And he seems to be very articulate with the "i know you are but what am i" type of responces. Also -- most of his accusations, he has no proof to back them up. It's like two peoples opinions about a band. One person likes the band, the other thinks the band sucks. So they get into a stupid heated arguement about it acting as if their opinions are each some sort of factual law.

Pretty pathetic.

It is a waste of time to rebuttle RAID which is why i just try to ignore him. It's not about fear, or crying out for help, or any such thing. That sort of comment sounds like "come on, do it, i dare you!" "no, that seems stupid!" "what, are ya chicken?!" lol

A closed mind is a closed door and yeah -- i could rebuttle his arguements with valid points. But why? There is nothing, and i mean NOTHING i could say that he isn't gonna spin, manipuate and try to cricify me with. So, you can't have a one-sided conversation. Thats not a conversation.

I respect his skill (which isnt kissing his ass) -- but as a person -- i don't respect HIM. Just like i think Britney Spears is a talented artist (although many would disagree with me there) -- but as a person -- Britney is just a dumb whore. So i can make the differentiation between a person and their talents.

Anyways -- I'll do what i need to do. Not for myself -- but for the site and its users. We've got a good thing going here -- and together -- I think we all (Not me, ALL OF US) can accomplish alot!

With me, what you see is what you get. I'm an opinionated and blunt son of a bitch, and thats just me. It's not an "attempt to impress anyone" just because i happen to speak my mind.

Understand your irritation. this slug is one of the primary reasons I don't get involved as much anymore....I have listened to the "I am a tech genious" crap enough to know its mostly hot air (having been a systems design engineer for some pretty large companies it didn't take long to recognize).

I've been attacked and watched the attacks on others. Many of the folks who have offered up opinions only to have had them met with a blisterring response from this fruitcake. After a while, you simple stop getting involved. I would love to offer commentary and view points, and really enjoy a good debate over the various points of view....after all, how can we grow if are unwilling to expand our thoughts? With individuals like RAID, the concept of any open discussion is squashed before it can start...I can't even imagine how someone who stops by to check out the latest receives all of this. To comment here is almost like being a willing recipient of a drive-by shooting.

Enough said, good luck with this thing...

Thanks! While i'm trying to justify his REMOVAL to leflaw -- please do your best to just ignore him. It doesn't take much effort to just scroll past his ramblings and continue threads on-topic. So in the mean time -- putting him on ignore is your best defense. Try to look at it like this: your responces to his attacks are more trouble than the attack actually is. It's a royal topic derailer. Think of him like you would a computer program coded to just spew crap. You wouldn't be offended because its just a computer program. Seeing as his words are even more worthless, why compliment him by falling for his bait?

In his defense however -- he is extremely knowledgable. He's just an arrogant ass about it. He's got one hell of a superiority complex. So don't think he isn't knowledgable -- he is. But theres millions of others as knowledgeable and even moreso -- but he acts as if he's Gods gift to programmers.

Who else has the courage to speak out about this? The more i can provide leflaw -- the better i'll be able to convince him that this is a serious concern. Thanks!

FYI -- under the new Joomla based site at http://boycottriaa.com -- once it goes live -- I DO have the ability to BAN with that. It's just that the current setup (http://boycottriaa.com) is run by the DMusic engine and i'm a BRIAA Admin, *not* a DMusic Admin. So thats the main roadblock here.

"the current setup (http://boycottriaa.com) is run by the"

http://boycott-riaa.com

Sorry, dropped a chr.

The moment Raid showed up, and it LOOKED like he may have a hand in running things here, I wanted to speak up.

But I didn't.

1. It would have sounded like sour grapes.
2. I KNEW that he would show his true colors, all on his own.

Shmoo, whike I respect your hands off the troll approach .. It ... Doesn't ... Work.

" (But don't EVER let these kinda trolls unfocus the vision.) "

That's is one reason why they do it.
Flooding us with attack posts, ignored or not, does indeed distract and unfocus.


"Understand your irritation. this slug is one of the primary reasons I don't get involved as much anymore. "

"FYI -- people like him were also a part of the reason (people we REALLY NEED HELPING US) ShadowMom always steered clear of BRIAA. "

Reason 2 why they do it.

Drive away the serious members.

You can say ignore it all you want, but
the MATURE members will leave.

Freedom of speech is one thing.
Taking a dump on your host's living
room floor, just because you can, is
something totally different.

Balance is not maintained by all of one, or all of the other.

good lord.

yet again

David, these are the rules of engagement as quoted from some famous movies and personalities. read them. learn them. live by them. and you will be ok.

1 - "if you are going to shoot a man, then shoot him. don't talk about it." Tuco (the ugly), from "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly".

2- "I was sent here to keep you from killing yourself but I can't find a single good reason for you not to do it." Sam Kinison , (as Al Bundy's Guardian Angel) from "Married With Children"

3 - "No, some of us do deserve to be in here. You break the law you pay the price, that's the way the system works." Charles S. Dutton as "Roc" from the sitcom episode "Roc Goes To Jail"

4 - "...The Romulans give no quarter." Chekov, from The original Star Trek Series

5 - "What in the Hell is wrong with you? has it been so long since you been laid that you can't even think clearly anymore?" captdunsel, from boycott-riaa.


if you can follow the progression here fine. if not let me put it this way.

you and raid need to meet each other face to face. I've always been amazed at how differently people behave when the distance between them is reduced to an arms length.

I was pretty small as a kid, and had not a single
athletic bone in body. Thus, I was a prime target for bullies.

They were relentless.
I was told .. ignore them, they will go away.
They didn't.
Knowing that I was not going to do anything at all simply
encouraged them.
Someone who will do nothing is an easy target.
Bullies WANT an easy target.
The more I ignored, the worse they got.
If I didn't give them a verbal response,
things degenerated to me getting beat.

Repeatedly, and by many at once.

It was hell.

Still through the whole of high school , I
stuck to the 'Ignore and they will go away
method, because the thought of hitting
someone was abhorrent to me.

I had hoped, that life after high school would be different.

It wasn't.

2 years after high school, I got sick of it,
and took someone down .. finally.

THAT'S when things changed.


My point .....

Trolls are the internet version of the High School bully.
SOMETIMES, ignoring them makes them
go away, but the ones with real social
problems will stay, KNOWING that no one is going to stop them.
Really, what incentive do they have to
change their ways of there are going to
be NO consequences for their actions ?

In an IDEAL world, ignoring troublemakers will make them
lose interest and go away.
The reality is that the lack of any consequence only emboldens them,
until the damage is done and it is to late to fix
what they have broken.

Dreddsnik

I think we can all see where you are coming from, but seriously, there is a major difference between lashing out at a flesh and blood real live person in front of you, rather than hyperventilating over someones "dumb" written posts.

Trolls seek a response..thats why they stick around... Twarrior responds..simple deduction...(sorry guy...but you do..you know it)....I never used to think of Raid as a troll, but, he sure loves to go after the T-man.

One can be ignored very nicely around here I might add

Anyway, my votes with George...

"you and raid need to meet each other face to face. I've always been amazed at how differently people behave when the distance between them is reduced to an arms length."

That doesn't change what sort of person a person is. All it changes is that a coward will keep his mouth shut more in person -- but it won't change his or her opinion.

I'm from the old school BBS Scene where things were more LOCALIZED back then. I've been to "in person" online parties. I still hold such annual gatherings myself. More than HALF of my friends either 1) i met from online or 2) met through people i've met online

I've met more people through one online means or another than you can shake a stick at. People are PEOPLE. Online, offline, no difference. You are who you are because who else can you be, but you?

"My point .....

Trolls are the internet version of the High School bully.
SOMETIMES, ignoring them makes them
go away, but the ones with real social
problems will stay, KNOWING that no one is going to stop them.
Really, what incentive do they have to
change their ways of there are going to
be NO consequences for their actions ?

In an IDEAL world, ignoring troublemakers will make them
lose interest and go away.
The reality is that the lack of any consequence only emboldens them,
until the damage is done and it is to late to fix what they have broken."

Very true. In the online realm -- if EVERYONE ignored him, he would go away. But the problem is -- you can't control everyone. No mater what you do -- SOMEONE is going to engage him. It's just a mater of time. Free will is a bitch like that.

Yes, if you ignore the troll he will go away. This is true. But it only takes one, and i mean ONE person to decide to dual to the death with a troll -- and it chases EVERYONE AWAY for as long as the sysops / admins *refuse* to rectify the problem.

Who here can control the actions of all of our visitors? Raise your hands! I don't think i'll be seeing any hands go up anytime soon.

Everyone ignoring him would work. So the reason why this does NOT work is because SOMEONE is going to decide not to.

"I think we can all see where you are coming from, but seriously, there is a major difference between lashing out at a flesh and blood real live person in front of you, rather than hyperventilating over someones "dumb" written posts.

Trolls seek a response..thats why they stick around... Twarrior responds..simple deduction...(sorry guy...but you do..you know it)....I never used to think of Raid as a troll, but, he sure loves to go after the T-man."

Most of the time I do not respond -- but when I do -- its more or less to the users about raid, and i try to keep it as short as i can. I'm also trying to get people to see that I do care and am trying to recfify this (he's been a pain in everyones ass here even before i was here or knew he existed) and he has chased users away long before i took an admin possition here.

I'm not posting this thread to debate semantics or any of that. To some degree or another -- ALL OF US -- have valid points about the situation. This is completely true. And in a perfect world -- all it would take is valid points to resolve the issues. But this isnt a perfect world.

Shmoo tried the ignoring effect for a long time. It allowed for serious users to not want to participate.

I've had users appluad at me because "Finally, someone gives a fuck! Finally, someone is trying to get a grip on things!" .. they didn't applaud me because i'm such a great guy or think i have anything to prove or whatever the hell. I'm the only person so far, to date, as far as i know -- that is actively trying to resolve things. Look at how "TotallyFrustrated" spoke up as a result of me showing the users that i WANT to end these problems. How often does he (or she?) coment normally? Not much. Why? In his / her own words: "To comment here is almost like being a willing recipient of a drive-by shooting."

If this was some general chat forum on some non-descript forum run by some no-name whomever, i'd agree with you all. But this is BOYCOTT RIAA -- a *serious* organization trying to take on a very serious and very POWERFUL nemesis -- the RIAA. And THAT is the harsh reality!

" Trolls seek a response..thats why they stick around... Twarrior responds..simple deduction...(sorry guy...but you do..you know it)....I never used to think of Raid as a troll, but, he sure loves to go after the T-man."

Not always ... depends what they want.

Person A posts.
Troll viciously attacks person A.

Everyone ignores troll.

Person A posts something .. not directed at anyone, but on topic.
Troll viciously attacks person A.

This continues until A is sick of it and leaves.

Other posters fear to post, as they don't want to be in the crosshairs.

Ignoring is useless in these scenarios.
The troll has an agenda and a purpose.
Drive away posters.

Ignoring doesn't always work.

"I'm the only person so far, to date, as far as I know -- that is actively trying to resolve things."

With regard to trolls in general, or in regard to RAID specifically? In either case, nope, not the first. Last year, leflaw himself got involved (along with several members) in confronting RAID.

leflaw
Date: April 1, 2006 @ 4:21 PM
"Why don't you just leave if you don't like it here?”

leflaw
April 1, 2006 @ 4:23 PM
"... or do you want me to throw you out (again)?"


Right after that that time, as the record shows, it was brought out how RAID (Dustin Cook) was battling a very serious disease. After that, it seemed he kept a comparatively low profile, until recently.


BTW, the following is another flashback from the past (not in regard to RAID) --
two excerpts from article 14814:

leflaw 
Date: November 3, 2004 @ 2:53 AM
"I don't tolerate problem children."

leflaw  
Date: November 3, 2004 @ 4:07 AM
"There will be no abusive posters on this site."



Going back even further, the archives reveal very significant trouble with a poster known as Kneo24. It seems he finally did get banned, following the change of site ownership from Bill Evans (thumbtack) to Larry Feldman (leflaw).

_ _ _ _ _


This website has some interesting history, if a person is inclined in do a little digging.
I just got through spending a little time, but there's plenty more interesting nuggets to find.

I may be old, but I've still got a little analytical clout left in me.

One last thing:
I did not (and do not) intend to state categorically that RAID's main thrust is being a troll; that's not the case. He seems like it at times, but I consider him far more complex than such a simplistic label like that.
The man is very talented in certain things, but some of his abrasive posts give us cause for concern.

I'm no doctor, but if RAID does have some sort of a medical condition, these sorts of things can leads to emotional breakdown. When some starts sinking that low into emotional hell, often times trying to seek a productive means of feeling better emotionally is not what they are driven to do. Instead, they try to take pleasure in others pain to avoid their own pain.

Whether or not RAID is trying to scare away posters is moot because thats the end result regardless of what he's trying.

I've got some medical conditions of my own, not to mention my life hasn't exactly been peaches and cream either. But a person was two choices: 1) become the thing they hate, or 2) rise above it

I used to be very hostile, bitter flamatory, etc... ask anyone in the BBS Scene thats known me or known of me long enough. In fact, even though that hasn't been the case for a very long time (seeing as i took a good look at myself one day a few years back, didnt like what i saw and set a more positive course for my outlook on life) some people in the scene still think I am who i used to be, and it sucks to be them because all it allows them to do is feel negetivity over it. I've learned to not give a crap either way and just focus on more positive things.

You can see problems as problems or you can see them as challenges that can be met.

Seeing as i've been through alot and have over come it -- if RAIDs reason for lashing out is his disease -- then its a lame excuse.

It's one of those "the devil made me do it" type of things. You may as well say Hitler was really a swell guy and just lashed out at 11 million Jews because he had issues.

Regardless of anyones situation or how bad things are -- you have a choice. Everyones got choices. I choose to solve this problem diplomatically, one way or the other.

I tried reasoning with RAID, it didn't work. Reasoning with the user base here IS working and hopefully reasoning with Leflaw will be just as successful.

RAID still has a choice. If he appologizes and decides to debate rather than attack, then I'll have no reason for wanting him removed because at that point he's not scaring away users.

RAID has made alot of assumptions about me and nothing i can say, no evidence i can provide, is going to change his outlook. The way he spins my words is proof of that. If I thought he had the capasity to be reasonable, i'd have rebuttled. If he had the ability to be reasonable, he'd have addressed his concerns, not launched attacks.

If anyone has any concerns about me, thats fine. Address them. Let me know what they are. But attacks are not nessesary. He says he's pointing out my flaws. He has more than just a few of his own so the pot is calling the kettle black there. No one is perfect so no one has the right to attack anyone else based on flaws -- be them imaginary and assumed, or factual.

But this is turning into more of a rant than addressing anything so i'll stop for now and see what more people have to say.

One last thing -- the reason he keeps attacking is simple. I don't take his attacks personally. They bounce right off me and ignore most of what he says. Thats why he has it out for me. Thats what pisses him off. If a kid is looking for attention and they don't get it -- they cry.

Someone has compared him to a bully, and they added it doesn't matter if you engage him or not, he's going to keep coming at you. I don't necessarily concur with that.

At one point, during a confrontation with a member last year, I have read that he implied he'd relent (quit posting) in a verbal battle if the other side would stop raising the ante, so to speak. I'm fairly sure I can find that episode, BTW.
But the big question you might want to ask is if there's evidence for his point; for that, I'd have to do more research. In the instance I'm referring to last year, the guy engaging him wouldn't stop coming back at him, and things dragged on and on like a protracted fight in the mud. . . with neither actually "winning".
(I put "winning" in quotes because I don't consider either side as worthy of being victorious, anyway, when a debate turns ugly and both sides have resorted to slinging.)

If memory serves me right, I recall Dustin once saying to the effect that as long as a poster he's had a verbal altercation with subsequently makes a remark that could be construed as a verbal chop at him, he's not going to leave that guy alone but continue to come at him again, in strong fashion!
I did notice that occurring. Even though there was a delay of several days before RAID got around to reading what a guy wrote (something which sort of added fuel to a previous fire), RAID shot back with both barrels (figuratively), and it took quite a while before things calmed down again.
The point is, it takes two to tangle.

My perspective:
A person in a position involving computers that lacks a certain level of skill deemed useful if not necessary, might be considered fair game by RAID for an uprovoked disparaging remark — ostensibly justified by disclosure or other evidence of said lack of skill.

grumpygeezer,

"A person in a position involving computers that lacks a certain level of skill deemed useful if not necessary, might be considered fair game by RAID for an uprovoked disparaging remark — ostensibly justified by disclosure or other evidence of said lack of skill."

And it figures, an older fellow would be the one here to figure out what it takes to get in my cross-hairs. Bravo on you sir!

Pepe,

"Trolls seek a response..thats why they stick around... Twarrior responds..simple deduction...(sorry guy...but you do..you know it)....I never used to think of Raid as a troll, but, he sure loves to go after the T-man."

Yes, I do tend to go after him. And I can explain why. The kid is trying to pass himself off as some kind of expert on the history of the bbs scene. Where is he listed in the bbs documentary then? Boards I ran are in it, wheres his if he's so knowledgable? He just basically talks alot of shit, like kids who watched the first hackers movie and thought you really could use a tape recorder to play into a payphone and make free calls.


Totally,

".I have listened to the "I am a tech genious" crap enough to know its mostly hot air (having been a systems design engineer for some pretty large companies it didn't take long to recognize)."

Hmm. Anytime you'd like to have a battle of the wits, let me know. In public, I have no problems with it. Anything in particular I've said that you think is hot air? What exactly did you do as an engineer? I know a guy who calls himself a systems design engineer, and he codes in visual basic. I do hope this isn't what you intend to defend yourself with...?

Seriously man, anytime you think I'm full of shit and you want to compare notes, please, by all means, lets do. When it's done and over with, your system design engineer isn't going to be worth the bytes you wasted even mentioning it.

Twarrior,

"RAID has made alot of assumptions about me and nothing i can say, no evidence i can provide, is going to change his outlook.

I made the following assumptions about you:

1. Your younger than myself (true)
2. You are not a programmer (true)
3. You claim to be from the bbs days, but you seem to have slightly above newbie level knowledge (true).
4. You started talking shit to me when you got here, thinking you knew who the hell I was. (true)


If you disagree with those, please state so.

"The way he spins my words is proof of that. If I thought he had the capasity to be reasonable, i'd have rebuttled. If he had the ability to be reasonable, he'd have addressed his concerns, not launched attacks."

Ehh, No, kiddo. No spinning of your words has been done or will be done. I don't resort to that. I don't need to.

"'m no doctor, but if RAID does have some sort of a medical condition, these sorts of things can leads to emotional breakdown. When some starts sinking that low into emotional hell, often times trying to seek a productive means of feeling better emotionally is not what they are driven to do. Instead, they try to take pleasure in others pain to avoid their own pain."

Twarrior, If it's your intention to have me banned then, stay on the fuckin topic. Rambling about a persons medical condition has nothing to do with your cause.

Your no doctor, your no coder, shit kid, you aren't anything....

"RAID still has a choice. If he appologizes and decides to debate rather than attack, then I'll have no reason for wanting him removed because at that point he's not scaring away users."

Apologies for and to whom? I don't have any problems debating. I've already offered to take Totallyfrusted up on his claims of my talking hotair. You'll probably see that as another attempt to run somebody off tho. Would be a good excuse for him to turn the offer down. I admit, I do take enjoyment in seeing a person wiggle and squirm.

"Regardless of anyones situation or how bad things are -- you have a choice. Everyones got choices. I choose to solve this problem diplomatically, one way or the other"

It is diplomatic to start a bitch thread about a member whos been at this site for years longer than yourself? That's what this is ya know, a bitch thread. With only a few voicing their opinions....

Now, that either means I intimidate many of you, or many of you have nothing to say with regard to this. Which is odd, if I've offended as many as Twarrior would like to claim...

And if I do intimidate so many of you, there has to be a reason for it: You know I'm not full of shit and it scares you.

It's strange, I don't have problems with everyone here, just a select few... The ones who have demonstrated an obvious lack of computer knowledge, yet act as if they should be respected for the little tidbits they do know... BBS scene, systems design engineer.. blah blah blah.

You all know I'm not a troll, that I do not work for nor support the riaa; I hate them just as much as you do. But! You shouldn't be happy to be ruled by a moronic twit like twarrior. If ignorance is truely what you want, than the entire site should just be closed.

And Dreddsnik, I'm not bullying anybody, Your just sore over the last time you went a round with me.

My perspective with all due respect: This site is not about who knows more, Twarrior or RAID. It is not about mud-slinging one year old. It is also not a popularity contest. It is about working together to achieve a common goal. We all have things to add, ideas, knowledge, experience. But it must be done in a civil fashion by all involved. Differences can be stated in many different ways. I see way too much of the wrong way here lately. Yes, I still read as much as I can. But this childish name-calling and one-up-manship makes me wonder why sometimes.

Twarrior,

"RAIDHHI has become a serious hindrance to my efforts. He needs to be banned and I do not have the ability. The users are starting to strongly protest as he challenges my authority with very long winded, belligerent and slanderous attacks. I don't take any of it personally, but it's REALLY pissing off the users. I will not allow this issue to rest with you or leflaw until his account is locked and ip address put on a server ban."

I'm a serious hinderence to your ability to lead? Hmm, I think your comparison of hitler better suites you than it does myself. He had hinderences to his design gassed, you just want me banned.

Which users is it I'm pissing off? The only ones voicing their opinions are the ones I've had long standing problems with anyway. IE: Biased users... Unf...

You will not allow this issue to rest? Hehehe, you little dictator you. Why did you feel it was necessary to turn an email you sent requesting my removal into a discussion topic? In what possible way could this even have anything remotely to do with the riaa?

Waiting to see how you justify this immature move as an Administrator, one of many you're likely to make here.

ShadowMom,

" I see way too much of the wrong way here lately. Yes, I still read as much as I can. But this childish name-calling and one-up-manship makes me wonder why sometimes."

In my own defense, I haven't emailed anyone asking for anyones removal, and I haven't abused admin controls to post said email and turn it into a discussion...

Ya know, It's been several hours since my last post here.. Everyone has gotten quiet regarding my removal? Strange...


I suppose your hoping somehow that I will make a post that offends leflaw or something? LoL. I told you already, leflaw knows where I'm coming from. It won't be so easy to fool him into thinking i'm trolling you.

I'd like to ask this of the place tho... Do you really feel safe with our new dictator in command already wanting to ban people? How long has he even been here, a few months at the most? What do you suppose is going to happen if one of you say something he doesn't like?

He's been questioned by others, and I'm not the only person who has asked questions of him, but I'm the only one who he calls a troll, because he has limited support from a few of you. Tomsong didn't buy his bullshit, then or now. Or have you forgotten that?

"My perspective with all due respect: This site is not about who knows more, Twarrior or RAID. It is not about mud-slinging one year old. It is also not a popularity contest. It is about working together to achieve a common goal. We all have things to add, ideas, knowledge, experience. But it must be done in a civil fashion by all involved. Differences can be stated in many different ways. I see way too much of the wrong way here lately. Yes, I still read as much as I can. But this childish name-calling and one-up-manship makes me wonder why sometimes."

Exactly, Shaddowmom. Which is why I won't engage in his pointless debates. I could easily defeat his points, but why? All of his "this is exactly how and why i think Time Warrior sucks" rants are irrelevent. This site is about fighting the RIAA. Nuff said.

lookit here man, I'm going to spell this out for you and everybody else.

"Do you really feel safe with our new dictator in command already wanting to ban people?"

feel safe? are you joking? safe from what? this is a freaking internet site. it is not a shady bar where someone hanging out in the back is going to carjack me or tie me down and remove my organs to sell on ebay. if the day comes when I don't like the site or can't stand the bullshit I'll go to another site and no one there will be able to tell my ones and zeros from anyone elses.

banning people because you don't like them or they piss you off is not usually a good idea. it will cause problems for months and drive away users and cause the sky to turn red and the ground to crack open and plague and pestilence and all that other stuff. I normally don't advocate it (although gadfly needed to go away long before dave got here.)

that said, there is a chinese proverb that goes something like this...

"if your friend had a fly on his face would you use a hammer to kill it?"

a quick diplomacy test here.

person A is stupid and says something which validates their stupidity.

person B could respond with statements ranging from totally inflammatory like this...

"you are the most stupid f***ing moron alive. you don't deserve to breathe you rancid bag of cat s**t. do the world a favor and choke to death on your own vomit."

to something more family friendly such as this...

"dude, you're killing me. go to ebaums world or something."

one will start topics about banning users. the other will go unnoticed.

which do you choose?

ROTFLMAO

Y'all are taking yourselves much too seriously. I tip my hat to the immortal words of captdunsel:
"This is a freaking internet site."

RAID, I agree with you that this site would run much better with a professional person/people equipped with all the necessary certifications and knowledge to do this site justice. But I suspect that most of those type persons would expect to be paid for their work. Do you know anyone that would be willing to take the job for free?

Until such time as such a person of that caliper will volunteer here, Boycott-RIAA must do the best with the people and tools that it has. The admins here are a dedicated group of people who volunteer and do the best they can given the skills and tools that they have.

I don't mean this in any derogatory way, but it might be helpful to think of Boycott-RIAA as the "special olympics" site in the DMusic family. You wouldn't criticize a disabled person for not being able to perform to the caliber of a non-disabled person would you?

Twarrior, you did jump in here like a bull in a china shop. You even got on Shmoo's nerves. I give you credit though for toning down a bit and being more diplomatic now. You appear do be doing your best to help improve this site the best you know how, and kudos for that.

But RAID is right in that this thread should not even be here. It is a totally inappropriate front page article. Boycott-RIAA does have a forum page you know. Not that anyone really uses it so of course it is unappealing to post anything there. But that is exactly where a thread like this belongs, if it belongs here at all. I suggest deleting this thread off the front page and moving it to the forums.

And maybe you could put that on your ToDo List as well ... revitalizing the forum page too and making it viable again.

* caliper=caliber in the first instance.

Damn, where is that edit function!

Time out for an informal observation/assessment.

I deduce that this is a "bitch" thread about RAID. That aspect is not easy to miss.
Its purpose . . . well, let's examine some of the following quotes:

"Privately allowing the admins and people in charge know how you feel, so they can correct the problem is the way it's fixed. Thanks!"

"I will not allow this issue to rest with you or leflaw until his account is locked and ip address put on a server ban."

Alright, your mind's made up (taking you at your word), and you are using this thread as a kind of notification about what you'd like the members to do?


And then there's this quote:

"If anyone . . . wishes to reply in these comments in a polite and civil manner as to exactly how and why this guy is a problem, feel free. Just know RAID *will* see all this and he WILL flame off. Just ignore him. He will just be adding more evidence to his own conviction and removal."

RAID's response:
"I suppose you're hoping somehow that I will make a post that offends leflaw or something? LoL."


And, finally, let's consider this one:

"RAID still has a choice. If he apologizes and decides to debate rather than attack, then I'll have no reason for wanting him removed because at that point he's not scaring away users."

Okay, could this be one other ostensible purpose for the thread?
Yet, you know that the chances for obtaining an apology in the current scheme of things is QUITE remote! However, the guy IS saying he doesn't have any problem with debating. . .


So, where do we go from here?

P.S.
Actually, I just now saw kyodylee's message before I started to hit the "post" button. Kyodylee has good ideas, no question.
The only caveat I would take minor issue with is:
I'm not so sure that this thread, NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN STARTED, should be aborted before more members are offered a longer opportunity to respond, or before some sort of resolution can be determined in public fashion (because of so many issues already having been broached here already).
Notwithstanding, I will defer to majority opinion, so I'll shut up now.

" NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN STARTED, should be aborted before more members are offered a longer opportunity to respond, "

" Which users is it I'm pissing off? The only ones voicing their opinions are the ones I've had long standing problems with anyway. IE: Biased users... Unf... "

Any one who responds negatively about Raid is obviously biased and should simply be ignored or flamed.

I think that is related to the "You're just jealous " defense.

Anyway,

" So, where do we go from here? "

This is Raids site,
I no longer care.

Hello All,

Damn, can't say I miss this kind of thread. There usually is a posting in Restaurants that reads, "We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service." I say to the Admins, if you don't like some patron, just refuse service, END OF STORY!!

CnJ

The genius behind the Boycott RIAA website was Thumbtack, who quit the movement because he could not stop the 24-hour-a-day terrorism skills of Neo24. And we lost the community blogging efforts of Code Warrior.

I say--God bless the life journey of Bill Evans. such as he chooses to travel.

Here is the history of super troll Neo24/RAID. This is a young man who lives in his parents' basement. Leflaw made bigtime alpha-male threats, but nothing would stop Neo24/RAID. This has been ongoing for 6 years. And our boycott has been ruined because he is a cancer.

It's time to declare the winner. Neo24/RAID wins. I hope he is happy.

Many theories abounded: was Neo24/RAID's writing the work of a RIAA scumbag like Neal Turekwitz? Is it actually the anonymous authorship of ASCAP monkey Dean Kay? Why would someone wake up in the morning just for the purpose of being a 24-hour-a-day pain in the anus?

My response is--who cares--let Neo24/RAID shout into a vacuum.

Let the boycott-riaa site die.

Thumbtack is no longer around. I beg you, Leflaw, put the boycott website to death. Why did you listen to Schmoo's recommendation to bring in this Dave Kelso character? Ddi he claim to have some code writing skills?

I say--- it's time to close down the website. Thumbtack invented it. DAVE KELSO IS AN EMBARRASSMENT. HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO USE A SPELCHEKER.

I am the person who brought Thumbtack's investment to Leflaw.

I introduced Jon Newton to Leflaw.

Neo24/RAID wins. That's it. This is no longer a case of "ignore the troll."

God knows where Neo24/RAID would transition after the death of Boycott-RIAA and P2P. net. The RIAA has never had a better friend.

That;s not my problem. Dave Kelso and RAID will get together in a perfect world in the parents' 'basement and leave the rest of us to the task of fighting the corporate rape of the music business.

But I don't have any gaydar. What do I know.

I've only been around here since the RIAA began making good its threat to sue music lovers (summer 2003), so I must admit I had no idea that Kneo24 and RAID might be one and the same! Tomsong, I gotta admit, it hadn't occurred to me. So, THAT'S been the nemesis of this website, damn.

When i started, if I recall correctly, CodeWarrior was exiting from being an admin here (late summer 2003), and a number of us members (including myself) were lamenting his departure.
Of course, he still drops in as a kind of commenting visitor periodically, but he has his own website endeavors as well as other irons in the fire.

Ah, I can muse ... about a better world without the cartels' control and a better shake for music artists. That's the dream, after all.
I wonder if it's going to turn out to be one of those elusive dreams. Somehow, I feel a bit of loss of encouragement about things.

ditto tomsong

Raid said:

"It is diplomatic to start a bitch thread about a member whos been at this site for years longer than yourself?"

Twarrior, as mad as I am at him, I can't deny his point.

I think it was bad form for you to have created a thread specifically attacking him.

----------------------

Tom, I am very sad to hear you are so jaded about Boycott Riaa. It is very discouraging to think that you of all people may have given up on our site.

However, even though you may think Twarrior will never "grow" in his duties as admin to a level that reaches your satisfaction, why not attempt to encourage/nurture/teach him anyways?

At least for a while, give it a try! (Hell, I know I could have used a little more from ya, especially when I was first starting out.)

Bill, you, George, and CodeWarrior were awsome as our "fearless leaders" during the halcyon days of Boycott Riaa. That can't be denied.

But damnit, it pains me to see you take such a "fu*k-it-all/just let it die" stance.

Despite all the ugly flamewar crap and other problems, I still think the site has value and is still useful in our war against the RIAA and the mega-media cartels.

Either join back in with us, (and be a mentor if nothing else) ...or leave it alone.

I'm in the camp with tomsong and gfmlcka and other like-minded folks.
Realism rules!

What a shinny happy example you set by saying that...

You might just as well say: "life is hard, let's all put the gun in our mouth and pull the trigger."

...for shame.

RaidHHI and all the other pseudo he is giving himself is an RIAA agent!

Ignore Him!

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win
-Mohandas Gandhi"

Sound Familiar?

Oh...

Tomsong, upon a 3rd or 50th re-read your comment above, and, although my replies that relate to the obvious parts I was pointing out/criticizing still stand...

I think I grok some of what you were saying.

But all that is/was stuff between us and leflaw.

Please don't just take it out/beat-up on the "new kid"...

"Despite all the ugly flamewar crap and other problems, I still think the site has value and is still useful in our war against the RIAA and the mega-media cartels."

no it isn't. as long as you are fighting each other you are not focusing on the enemy.

the flamewars crap needs to stop. I don't like the idea of banning people but I don't don't think users should be attacked when they say something someone else doesn't like.

I would hope people could govern themselves but they have no reason to do so here.

"no it isn't. as long as you are fighting each other you are not focusing on the enemy."

...um, SOME of the "you all" who are causing the fights amongst "each other" are deliberately doing it for the purpose of trying to draw attention via the "Jerry Springer" effect.

Although it sorta "works" (...Notice that our argumentative "flame-filled" threads always draw LOTS more comments than important ones that NEED to be read...)

IMHO, leflaw just needs to hire a PR firm and/or spend some money on advertising instead.

"I still think the site has value and is still useful in our war against the RIAA and the mega-media cartels."

"No, it isn't ..." [followed by qualifying phrase]

Thank you.


"I would hope people could govern themselves but they have no reason to do so here."

Right.


Also, I would refer us to what tomsong wrote several weeks ago. You recall?
He had even more to say at that time.
(I may re-post a big chunk of it on this thread when I get the time tonight.)

"... then you win"

guru pipe dream?

" ...um, SOME of the "you all" who are causing the fights amongst "each other" are deliberately doing it for the purpose of trying to draw attention via the "Jerry Springer" effect. "

Only one.
And brilliantly.

" "no it isn't. as long as you are fighting each other you are not focusing on the enemy."

Yup, that's why they do it.

" I would hope people could govern themselves but they have no reason to do so here. "

Precisely.

No one to stop them, why stop.

After all, according to some, it;s the
fault of the abused they get flamed, after all,
if they weren't stupid, they wouldn't get hit .. right ?

It's never the abuser that's at fault.

It takes two right ???

Even if a user can be made afraid to post,
regardless of what they say .. it's their
own fault for not having a 'thick skin' ..
right ??

Take you're y'all and shove it sir.

"You might just as well say: "life is hard; let's all put the gun in our mouth and pull the trigger."

1) tantamount to committing suicide is not my intention or recommendation
2) life being hard does not justify suicide
3) but when a function of life (like the function of this website and how it has rather hopelessly deteriorated in impact) has reached the point of futility, then somebody needs to stand in the gap, be a realist, and call a spade a spade.

I'll stand convicted of harboring no elusive dreams. You can continue to dream on all you like; it's a free country.
So, pleasant dreams, my friend.

My apologies Shmoo,
That was much more harsh than I
intended to be.

No excuse, but ..

This IS upsetting, and those 'in charge'
just don't seem to get it.

The only reason it continues is because
it is ALLOWED.
For whatever reason, no one is willing to
actually .. moderate.

every excuse possible is being laid on the
table to show just why it's ok to bash
people over the head here, and the
one that galls me the most is the 'blame the victim crap'.

I will shut up and wait for the new site to finally be fixed, and hope it is as well
moderated as it was the last time.

This wasn't allowed to happen there.

To IndependentMusician --
I'm going to defend my realism/pessimism position just a little further.
Call this my rationale, Part I:
Okay, you've heard the expression "All good things come to an end", right?
So, tell me, why isn't there a parallel saying, "All bad things come to an end"?
Could it be that people are considerably less confident about the prospect of bad things changing for the better (rather than good things changing for the worse)?
Oh, yeah. Intuitively so.
I simply take things to the next level and overtly express it, that's all.

Pessimism reserves a wait-and-see attitude (I'll believe improvement when I see it).

Low expectations are not fraught with disappointment like high expectations.
But, in some cases when things do turn out for the better, then a realistic person can be pleasantly surprised (and that's nice).
This is not theory to me; I really do live my life that way.
And you know what? I'm more satisfied with a little than some I know who have a lot.

So, that's why I posted what I did back at 9:29 this morning.

A simple meal with contentment is better than a feast with contention.

And while I'm making do with ordinary food, I don't covet or hope for sumptuous fare with undue optimism.

Most of you are "crazy" and have worse "issues" in your live than I do...

But gun IS in mouth...

You won't get to hear the "bang" because when I pull the trigger here in a few minutes, I will be GONE! (Thus, won't be able to report it.)

BANG!

(Dream on stupid fucks)

Tom, no disrespect to you but, RaidHHI and Kneo24 are not the same people. But don't take my word for it, Leflaw can confirm this himself.

Kyodylee is right. I know Kneo, and they are not the same.

Shmoo, I'm sorry you feel so frustrated. But this place still needs you. Take a break if you need to, but please come back.

I'm still here kyodyloee.

I'm pissed off at my enemies, I'm pissed off at my friends.

I'm mad as hell at everyone, I'm still pissed off.

But, I'm still here.

I'm still with stupid hope that the true PURPOSE of Boycott Riaa will continue.

(even if need be, without a spel checker.)

=============

Dave, do you see what you are up against?

=========

Sink, swim, or FLY!

what you need is called a jack n zac cocktail.

you take a bottle of jack daniels and a bottle of prozac and put them in a non breakable glass (so you don't cut yourself when you hit the floor) and count backwards from about 30 or so while you drink. if you wake up you will find whatever problems you had are nothing compared to what you will be up against now.

1. Raid and kneo were not the same person to my knowledge.
2. I temporarily banned raid without notice for a 48 hour cooling off period. My version of a stun gun.
3. I didn't hate kneo, I just showed up one night with the night watchman gone. Evans had apparantly run for the hills when confronted by anti-riaa extremists led by Kneo24 pissed off at his or the site's perceived inactivity or moderation. They were criticizing Evans or the site, not me personally).
4. Evans, not Barger introduced me to Jon Newton.
5. I offered to donate this site to a group of concerned citizens including many of you on this thread. I fee like William Wallace in braveheart.
6. Raids incessant carping againt twarrior is "knocking down a straw horse" - Twarrior is not trying to bring back dial up bbs, he is advocating expansion of the personal server concept, but adopted to broadband, if I I understand him correctly. He is definitely a young dedicated amateur server operator, not a programmer, and I know he is not a programmer. He wanted me to hire a programmer. I figured some of you might want to chip in and hire a programmer. Then you can all stop bitching and blame yourselves if you don't like the site. I will still supply the server and bandwidth. What the fuck more do you want?
7. This space reserved for future use.

"I'm still with stupid hope that the true PURPOSE of Boycott Riaa will continue."

Hope isn't stupid. It's the actions of people that are intelligent or stupid.

"Raids incessant carping againt twarrior is "knocking down a straw horse" - Twarrior is not trying to bring back dial up bbs, he is advocating expansion of the personal server concept, but adopted to broadband, if I I understand him correctly. He is definitely a young dedicated amateur server operator, not a programmer, and I know he is not a programmer. He wanted me to hire a programmer. I figured some of you might want to chip in and hire a programmer. Then you can all stop bitching and blame yourselves if you don't like the site. I will still supply the server and bandwidth. What the fuck more do you want?"

You are mostly correct. As per is explained here:

http://www.boycottriaa.com/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=32&Itemid=107

The BBS Scene is a type of community, not a type of technology. It's people, not programs. We've had similar goals to BRIAA before the Internet as we know it existed and even before I ever knew what the hell a BBS even was. As a little kid I grew up with an Atari 2600. I wasn't always a tech. Didn't always know about this stuff. I remember when I didn't know the difference between a hard drive and a ride to grandmas house. People aren't born with a keyboard and mouse in their hands.

The BBS Scene and the private network Arpanet slowly merged to become the Internet of today. The dialup BBS Scene is refered to as "the heydays". We enjoyed them, but no one is trying to bring them back. There is no point in trying to bring them back. The scene went to broadband just as ISPs have gone from dialup to broadband. The BBS Scene isn't a bunch of amatures living in the past refusing to embrace modern day technology. That is a very incorrect stigma and nothing more than a myth.

The modern day BBS Scene just realizes that it's not hard to run a home server such as a modern day BBS platform. It realizes that running a home server is no more or less "dangerous" (from a network security standpoint) than existing on the Internet as a user. And doing it yourself is definately better than paying the corporate whores for hosting and other services at the highly inflated prices they like to charge you. Either that or these pathetic excuses for pay hosts plaster ads all over your site -- alot of which are filled with spyware, scams and other dangers.

The BBS Scene is a part of the Internet. Boycott RIAA is a part of the Internet. The RIAA, unfortunately, is also a part of the Internet.

This shouldn't be a "battle of the scenes" in a pointless debate about "my skillz are better than your skillz" .. people skills are simply DIFFERENT and if we ALL WORK TOGETHER we can take care of problems on the Internet -- the RIAA being this sites "problem" that we're trying to take care of. We can't do it without your help -- and fighging amongst ourselves certianly isn't helping anything.

Also -- i'd like to thank everyone for voicing their opinions here. I hope this proves than instead of fighting -- and instead of running away at the first sign of an Internet troll -- that we will work with you as long as your willing to work with us.

Can we start talking about something relevant to the RIAA like this
http://www.ilrweb.com/viewILRPDFfull.asp?filename=elektra_santangelo2_070130answercounterclaimrobert

Pay special attention to the SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE

"Can we start talking about something relevant to the RIAA like this . . ."

Okay. (Soon.)
But since this thread is titled what it is, the current topic is still fair game.

Several things to get off my chest, because I haven't posted on this thread for about 24 hours (wow).

Re: "running away at the first sign of a troll" —
I perceive Dredd and a few others as having reached their saturation point (in other words, things have really gone beyond "the first sign", on a number of occasions, from their point of view); it's more like a perennial problem that can't stop rearing its ugly head.

I perceive getting members to "work together" at this site is tantamount to what Shmoo and Shadowmom have referred to as herding cats.

Shmoo: You're basically a good guy at heart. Please don't take things quite as seriously, though. You can only do your best with limited time to work with, and then the rest is up to others, right?
And if someone thinks pessimism is a valid approach, hey, let 'em. (The guy can't, or doesn't intend to, STOP a dream -- even an elusive one! He's just a critical realist, but you can still be an idealist.)

And it IS kinda like captdunsel said, "This is a freaking internet site. it is not a shady bar" where someone hanging out in the parking lot might be preparing to make a physical attack.
Captdunsel would say that we should lighten up a bit and allow some water to just slide off a duck's back.
Sounds reasonable to ME.

The realist can say, "Crap happens."
The pessimist can say, "Brace yourself, the worst may be yet to come."
The idealist can say, "Even site admins can have a dream."


"Sink, swim, or FLY!" [advice to administration]

Or even crawl (as a last resort), but hang in there, folks. Do your thang, and try to have some fun once in awhile. (And remember, a little humor or satire goes a long way, for yourself and others!)

Credit where credit is due:
Kudos to kyodylee for the lighten-up suggestion yesterday.

Alright, on to CodeWarrior's recommendation to consider the 7th affirmative defense offered by Santangelo's attorneys:
Some of the points under that defense appear to have solid merit, while others may be viewed as questionable.

misc. stuff - - -

"Also for the record -- I don't even read 99.9% of what he replies to me."

Probably none of us believe that to be true.


re: calling RAID "long-winded"

He can't hold a candle to you.
(Let's see, and weren't you the one talking about an instance of calling the kettle black?)
)
Not that I'M short-winded or anything (chuckle).

Zounds, that grumpygeezer being so balanced and everything, I could almost get down on myself. Too many good writers around here...gdZiemann, CodeWarrior, kyodylee, ... the list seems to go on and on.

I'll cope by closing my usual critical post
with a genuine compliment:

In regard to leflaw's remark about
"temporarily banning RAID without notice for a 48-hour cooling off period. My version of a stun gun."

Okay, I must admit -- that was cool, and cleverly stated.
"My version of a stun gun." --
Yeah, I still laugh to myself when I think of that.

P.S.
Hmm, now I presume that slap on the wrist is supposed to make RAID more, ah, civil when he's able to return to the fold?
As usual, I'll reserve a wait-and-see attitude about things.
Likely the best you anti-RAID crowd can hope for is that he refrains from posting much, that he lays low.
Actually, I would expect that to happen...
but life is a package that comes with lots of surprises, doesn't it, so who knows.

Pessimist, thanks for the kind words.
You're ok in my book. BTW, ever heard this joke about an optimist?...
Optimist falls from a 6th story roof...Guy sticks his head out a third floor window and hollers to the Optimist falling ...
"How's it going?" Optimist says "So far so good!"


~Code

Everyone: Thanks for your support and i agree with most everything that most everyone has said. I'm happy to see that you guys wanna help, and i'm gonna hold ya to it!

RAID: I don't hate you, i'm neither mad nor offended -- and I don't mind it if someone has a problem with something i'm doing and speaks up about it. Hell -- i'm human -- so sometimes i'm wrong and I need to be told that I am. But belittling attacks -- though I allow them to roll off my back -- really detour the site's mission and makes the users fearful of replying to anything.

If you don't chill, your gonna keep getting banned. Over and over. For longer durrations each time. I now have the ability to "make good on my threats" as you've put it. However -- if your capable of being rational and civil -- you can address any issue with me that you want. If you think i'm doing something wrong -- you can fill me in without acting like an ass.

So hopefully when 48 hours are up -- you can reasonably and in a civil manor inform me as to what you think my errors have been. Otherwise -- the next ban will be 7 days. The ban after that, 14 days. The ban after that, 28 days. You get the idea.

"Pessimist, thanks for the kind words.
You're ok in my book. BTW, ever heard this joke about an optimist?...
Optimist falls from a 6th story roof...Guy sticks his head out a third floor window and hollers to the Optimist falling ...
"How's it going?" Optimist says "So far so good!""


Hehehe. I've got one.

There was a religious man in a town where it had started to rain. An Army Reserve truck drives up and the driver said to the man "hop in, we'll drive you to safety!" .. the man replies .. "no thanks, GOD WILL SAVE ME!"

Now the flood waters have risen to 5 feet high and the man is on his porch. Some guys in a cannoe float over and say to the man "come on in, we'll bring you to safety!" .. the man replies .. "no thanks, GOD WILL SAVE ME!"

The water is now 20 feet high and the man is on his roof top. A helicopter flies over head and the pilot says on the PA speaker .. "grab the rope ladder! we'll fly you to safety!" ... the man replies in a yell back to him .. "no thanks, GOD WILL SAVE ME!"

The man drowns.

So he passes through St. Peters gates and approaches God and asks .. "God, why didn't you save me?" .. God chuckles to himself, slaps his forehead, looks at the man and professes ... "What do you mean, why didn't I save you?! I sent a truck, a cannoe and a helicopter!"

The moral of the story? God helps those who help themselves!

10 Ban_Days = 7;
20 GOSUB USERBAN(Ban_Days);
30 IF (User = @sshole)
THEN (Ban_Days = Ban_Days * 2)
40 GOTO 20

"Pessimist, thanks for the kind words.
You're ok in my book."

You're welcome.
(It's relatively easy to acknowledge the obvious.)

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
Waiting for a shoe to drop.

THUD!
There it goes . . .
(No, wait. That was just the sound of one of the neighbor kid's snowballs going astray and hitting the outside wall of my house.)

kinda quiet around here now


peaceful


serene





boring

I'm sure the "Jerry Springer Show" will be back all too soon grumpygeezer.

Everybody is simply exhausted and needed a break.

(At least, I know I did.)

You're right.
Anyway, I goofed;
I MEANT to write:


kinda quiet around here now


peaceful


serene


uneventful

boring or uneventful?

Yikes! That's a hard choice if all you care about it instant gratification and entertainment.

---

Hey, I AM NOT the guy who "suspended/banned" anyone.

I work here VOLUNTARILY because I believe in the Boycott Riaa MESSAGE/AGENDA.



I refuse to take responsibility and "heat" for ANYTHING anymore. PRO or CON.

Talk to leflaw or Twarrior from now on. ALL I provide is my OWN opinions.

I am NOT "beholden"

I'm just a "regular participant" now.

I am only an "admin" in regards to the fact that leflaw still allows me to post articles.

(I don't mess with anything else that gets posted.)

AND (perhaps most importantly) I am in a 12 step program right now to kick my addiction of trying to herd all you cats.

You over-reacted (kind of like TrueAudio did in the aftermath of his posting of an article).
I'm not criticizing you, or anyone else, actually.
Just reporting in the way of taking a weather check on things.
Sometimes serene and uneventful is good. This is probably one of those times!
No problem, man.
Chill.

For the record: None of you admins, past or present, need to obligate yourself to a task tantamount to herding cats. It's not in your job description.

But I can understand it if you thought we should be content with tranquility
in the sense of us having needed a break.
That's what I meant when I said "You're right."

So, okay. We'll likely let this traumatic article just sort of slide off the front page
without further adieu.


[preparing to wave a good-riddance goodbye to it
as it slowly slinks behind the sunset-hued horizon]

merciful death of thread?

kudos, fwiw, Mike. You were a cool admin.

(gotta bro named Dan?)

Good luck and godspeed. It's been fun.