Sideshows and Grandstanders

It seems to come in cycles. Every so often a mysterious writers blows into this board from some far off forum. Claims of grandeur and tales of legndary literary deeds follow but are rarely substantiated. Often after strern questioning the interloper comes clean or rides off into the sunset. Who has time for this kind of stuff?

The odds are that Rowling and Dan Brown are not lurking. Drop the smoke screens and come in like everyone else here who is trying to reach their definition of success. Honesty is the best way to foster civil exchanges.

You said it, DT.

I find if we ignore such folks, they disappear quickly. If we engage them in back-and-forth banter it diminishes all of us.

Come on Merri,

Let us have our fun--they start it.

merrihiatt wrote:

I find if we ignore such folks, they disappear quickly. If we engage them in back-and-forth banter it diminishes all of us.

No one is diminished by exposing nonsense and its practictioners. Those folks need to be called down and put in their place. It's your perogrative to ignore them. Few others do.

What I meant by diminishing everyone is that folks end up resorting to rudeness, name calling, and general mean behavior that isn't normally displayed on this site. I suppose it is more interesting to some folks. It just makes me not want to come here and read posts.

Yes, I know what you're thinking!! "You don't have to come here and post." And, you're right. I enjoy the other posts where people have interesting points of view, share information, and show their great sense of humor.

Solution: when you're put off by a post, stop reading.

Merri,

You know these people are asking for trouble.
It would be incredibly rude of us to ignore them.

I am quite amazed at their great powers of concentration.
What is probably no more than a blip on most folks radar screen has them down and out of comisssion for years.

We are performing a valuable service --we are running a counter crusade and saving them from themselves.

It is all for their own good.

W. Lane Rogers wrote:

Solution: when you're put off by a post, stop reading.

That's exactly what I do. It means I view fewer and fewer threads here on the site, though.

Alice, you always make me laugh. Thank you!!!

Merri,

Glad I make you laugh--did you sense that I went by Everett twice today?

I hope you were well-guarded--must have been-- you are still here.

I did not sense that you were in Everett as I spend Monday's at my mom's home in Marysville.

We have to think of DT too..

He always has wonderful threads and this one is no exception.

It would not be fitting or proper to be dismissive of this highly appropriate topic.

After all AW devotes pages and pages to this subject. How can we do any less?

merrihiatt wrote:

I did not sense that you were in Everett as I spend Monday's at my mom's home in Marysville.

Ah ha! I went by Marysville twice too. Eeep!

Well, then I really should have sensed you, Alice. ** giggling madly **

Merri,

How come you are so sensitive here and so thick skinned over on the PA threads at AW? -- where you are surrounded by the rudest members on the AW forum. Give me a break.


...and stop reading the posts pasted from the PAMB -- that is a disgusting thing to do!

merrihiatt wrote:

W. Lane Rogers wrote:

Solution: when you're put off by a post, stop reading.

That's exactly what I do. It means I view fewer and fewer threads here on the site, though.

Conflict is inescapable. The real world is more than pithy slogans about love, peace, and smiling faces.

W. Lane Rogers wrote:

[Conflict is inescapable. The real world is more than pithy slogans about love, peace, and smiling faces.

Boy, you can say that again.

Lane and Dick are both right. So are Shelagh and Alice. Sometimes posts get me tied up in knots inside, and then I keep saying over and over "it is only a messageboard" which doesn't work but it better than dwelling on the negative.

Merri, you have left here several times. One time I thought it was because you thought you couldn't speak freely here. But most do speak freely here and most accept they really aren't going to convince anyone of anything, but having a voice is important. You and I agree on that. And I've always thought you've come back because a part of you likes the people here, quirks and all.

Carol

Merri,

Stay away from the PA section of AW. Read the posts about it here--you will have a more balanced view.

The attitude exhibited here is no match for the lack or civilty dished out there.

You must toughen up --why you are even afraid of me. Carol is still alive after meeting me and we are going to England to see Shelagh.

Alice,

We did give Shelagh a whole year's notice to prepare herself for meeting us, getting out the red carpet, notifying the queen, etc.

Carol

Carol,

She can get Scotland Yard involved also. This ought to be fun.

One time two daughters, my husband and I went to London for about four days. The first day my wallet and glasses were pick-pocketed from my purse by Picadilly Circus.

I was upset. My daughters insisted we go to Scotland yard. We did. They didn't get my money back however, but they did listen and my daughters thought it was interesting!

I tried to teach my children to make good things from bad but that was a little ridiculous.

Carol

Ya all remember the tale of Shelock Holmes and his camping trip with Dr Watson?

They pitched their tent under a star- filled sky, crawled in and fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Holmes nudged Watson awake , pointed to the starry sky and asked, " What do you make of that?"

Dr Watson sleepily replied, "I see a lot of stars, I wonder if there could be life up there."

"Shut up,`vou fool !" Homes snapped. "Somebody stole our tent!"




Sorry DT--back to the grandstanders-- they seem to have evaporated.

Maybe they are in Crusaders brush- up classes. Only time will tell.

As long as we're off topic, I loved Alice's story.

Carol, think how few people ever get to pay a visit to Scotland Yard. In that sense it was a good thing. Having your money and paying the vist would have been better, of course.

Back on topic. My mood changes. Sometimes I see these "in your eye posts" and feel like Shaka Zulu and jump in swinging. Other times I feel like the griot and just want to sit under a tree and tell a story. It usually depends on if I see the post before or after mowing my lawn.

Having the energy to expend on the fight is the key and is the fight worthwhile is the other matter.