I'm sooooo freaking close to leaving you guys to get on with it.... why? 1. I've just looked through the last 100 posts. In 6 YES JUST 6 me and Pascale have passed comments back and forth consecutively. (add another couple if you want to include where a 3rd person joined in for all the reples) One of those was my thread anyways. 5% of posts.... hmmm 2. I get accused of 'attacking' people.... yet only once have I done it without provocation - a certain person, some of you have defended me completely for that one. I know the answer..... I'll let you guys stand by your accusations and see what the number really is. 3. I give Newbies a hard time... uh huh. Ask the likes of Zacko who have slipped in here without a scratch.... and Sheila who I've attacked mercilessly.... The only time I get uppity is when someone comes along and expects US to mould the forum to Their expectations. Even then I start off nice. The evidence is there, guys. 4. I don't know when to stop. Now you've read those 3, don't you think I'm allowed to get a tad upset? 5. No-one wins against the authorities whether they're right or not. What am I saying? The Authorities are ALWAYS right. Today is gonna be a day of wondering whether it was really a good idea returning, Considering what a sh!theap this place was a few weeks back before it jumped back on it's feet. I heard somewhere you can't polish a turd..... Oh, and this might be my post, but I'm not gonna reply to any comments. I don't really care if a minority of you wish to be negative towards me any more. You say I over react.... hell, the facts are above. reaches for RR plug (",)

Hmmm...darn that stupid school-english...it only covers so much. From what can understand youve been "scoldered" for your behaviour or something. I am, like you said, a newbie, so i really cant relate to all of above mentioned statements. I do however remember that specific "incident" mentioned under section 2 and i cant say anything other than i support you fully on that one. And like you said, I also know alot more people do as well. Number 1, i dont really understand....aint it okay having discussions back and forth or something...if so maybe someone should delete my W.I.P-picture of that little girl, LOL. I probably posted like 15 replies on that one #:op As far as number 3 goes, I can assure you I have no scratch other than the ones my wife and cat provides...sigh...stupid cat.. I find you to be breeze of fresh air around here...hmmmm or maybe my english is so poor so I just dont get when youre being mean towards me, LOL. So to sum this up i can only say that i hope you dont leave...it might be dull around here if you do ;o) Good luck with whatever you descide!!! Andreas (oh and if i by any chance got that rant completely wrong...do me a favor and let me know so that i can delete this reply before it gets known just how "swedish" i am...)

How come we say 'It's colder than hell outside' when isn't it realistically always colder than hell since hell is supposed to be fire and brimstone?
____________________

Andreas

Mystic Pic

In the last few weeks you folks seem to have been having a lot of fun. Several new folks have joined, despite any light-hearted joking they have survived and stayed. Challenge participation is way up, and causing much discussion. There have been several excellent tutorials. Advice is being shared on techniques and equipment. There is Dandi and Simon. And occasional appearenced by Smuglugs and floating bandaged heads. Not sure what the issue is????

I am away for the weekend and I come back to find this. Hey Mike, I'd miss our wordplay too much if you left, so don't even consider it. I don't know what was said to you, but rise above and keep being who you are, wether we like it or not! ;o]

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

about #1: i don't see what the problem is. i've read yours & Pascale's chit-chat back and forth on a few threads. so what? big deal! did someone tell you it was some kind of problem? well, if so, i don't understand what the problem would be. i believe you and i have had the same back and forth like that from time to time. You guys are just having fun during the course of talking about photography. and....?????? what exactly is the problem? about #2: i read every thread. i don't recall you "attacking" anyone, and have no idea what you're talking about here. Hmmmm. You'll need to IM me about that one too if you're not gonna discuss it here. You certainly do say what's on your mind, and sometimes the way you say it a bit blunt and to-the-point. i can be like that sometimes too. about #3: you attacked me mercilessly? Really? i didn't know!!! LOL! You say what you think & feel and i do the same. i have no problem with that. and i never thought you were at all rude to me. We all have different ways that we interact. Your way is like that boy in school who is always trying to dip some little girl's pigtails into the inkwell. and with the boys...well, you're just as mischevious!! for me, i agree with Andreas on this one...I find you to be a breath of fresh air. i have no problem with you & never have. But if i do you're certainly gonna know about it 'cause believe me i will kick your skanky butt!! about #4. you "don't know when to stop." there was one time i came close to IM you because i had some concern something might get out of hand. i just watched and listened, and in the end, i thought you handled yourself quite appropriately. about #5: "the authorities are always right." Definitely NOT the case, Mike. I think "authorities" can listen to both sides and be objective & fair. Not all "authorities" are the same. I don't know for sure which authority you're referring to. I also don't know all the information, Mike. I don't know what was said to you. Like Misha, i don't know exactly what the problem is. i only know what I've seen and heard. All i can say is i don't have a problem with you, and i never have. and i don't see you as a problem in here, but apparently someone does. there will NEVER be a social situation where everyone is gonna agree and get along 100% of the time. NEVER. I don't want to see you leave, Mike. I hope you'll stick around and see this through. You've made a stand. Don't back away. you feel like you've been scolded or admonished and you don't feel like it was justified. Well, you brought it out into the open, and I'm glad you did. i have to go to work now. i guess i'll have to "tune in" on my break between jobs and see what you-know-what is going on. hang tuff, Mike. hugz

Look Mike...before you make this one get out of hand...the main reason why there was an annoyance was the fact that we get all these ebots.I and others want to see what another member has posted in relation to a question they/me have about an image...or a question about a method. What do they find after numerous ebots? I know what I found...absolutely gibberish totally off topic to what the thread was intended for.
Why not just start a new thread if you want to rant away or banter back and forth. At least it doesn't ruin a thread for someone. Be even worse if that person had a dial up connection.
No one is scolding you in any way...Just saying what I know and my thoughts
I just ask that you use common sense when using another thread to go off on.

I 'm sure people don't mind a little off topic conversation in their thread, but not on and on and on.

I let it slide when you made the slander towards me being Canadian on the coin shot in Simon.
And all the Yank slurs.
You know those could really affect someone if they were proud of their country.

So go ahead remain yourself, but please, if you feel that what you are going to say is a way off topic mention something like see new thread...
We are seemingly doing a good job here having fun and collecting new forum members all the time.
Remember too... I am a person before anything.Just a guy who likes to have some serious learning and fun from all this.
The Moderator part comes because I also like to give back.

Message edited on: 03/21/2005 09:41

"The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions."

Mike, I agree that it does get more than a little "politicaly correct" in here, and some folks takes things wrong or even completely out of context. I also acknowledge that you and I may have even ruffled each other's feathers on a few threads, but isn't that part of life in general? Don't go, you are indeed " a breath of fresh air" as has been put, but I see where you are coming from, and it's your choice whether to discontinue your being a part of RR. But I for one would hate to see you leave....Jack

Note to myself..."breath of fresh air"...appearantly its NOT "breeze of fresh air"...stupid of me...

How come we say 'It's colder than hell outside' when isn't it realistically always colder than hell since hell is supposed to be fire and brimstone?
____________________

Andreas

Mystic Pic

whatever :P... live & let live... one big happy family... if you can put up with me then i guess i can do the same, ...what is that smell btw, sure it's fresh? :]

LOL@Andreas!! I'm not quite sure what to add here! I agree with Mike on this one since I've had the feeling (but maybe it's just me) that there was some...let's say, past stories which I don't know anything about since I'm a newbie in this forum too, that apparently left some people sour and that each time he says something a 'lil harsh (honest?) he's told off! It's just a statement that I've made but I don't know the reasons behind it. That said, I also agree with Doug about the fact that it might be annoying to see too many off subject answers in a thread, especially for the one who posted it! I understand that, and once again, apologize for it! And that's about all I have to say about this! :)

Oh yea, and Mike, don't u dare leaving!!!

Sighs..... and I thought everything was going along swingly.

And every one said, 'If we only live,
We too will go to sea in a Sieve,---
To the hills of the Chankly Bore!'
Far and few, far and few, Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, And they went to sea in a Sieve.

Edward Lear
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ns/jumblies.html

Sigh.

"More than a little 'politically correct' in here" seems to put it mildly these days. I remember the raucus, carefree fun we use to have here. These days, it at times feels like I've walked into a rules heavy, Brady Bunch version of the Photography Forum's former self. Don't know if many have noticed, but even before leaving a couple weeks back, I'd cut back quite a bit on participating in most threads and commenting in the gallery (and I had been really proud of myself that I was actually going in and looking at all the photos and commenting). God forbid you give a constructive criticism these days. Half the time I was getting an e-mail about how what I said wasn't very nice or not appropriate. So now, if I do it at all, I tend to only give a critique to someone I know and who knows me.

Mike has been a lightning rod for criticism for as long as I can remember. Some of it brought on himself and, IMO, many times not. I will say one thing, I'll take his honesty and sense of humor over a hundred glad-handers any day. I don't know who, if anyone, is right. I think I just wanna know if we'll ever get back to the point that people aren't seemingly looking to be offended, when you can make an honest comment without having to sugar coat it and I can come in here without feeling like I'm walking across a minefield.

-=>Donald Edited for grammar

Message edited on: 03/21/2005 13:24

I think u said that beautifully Donald! ;)

I sincerely hoped I would have the self control to not post, but. sigh "...before you make this one get out of hand..." Once again, straight in implying that I'm the trouble maker. Thanks for the vote of confidence Doug. Off topics : Once again, go through the last 100 threads.... see how few of them end up on the same topic as where they start. Not many, is there? It's not just flipping me, it's EVERYONE!!! Even you, Doug. EVERYONE. If you really want me to get bitter and start a feud over it, why do so many aliens have to be posted into pictures where they have no relevance? Thanks for singling me out. (Tedz, I want to apologise profusely for using the reference to the alien pics above. I am NOT degrading what you do there coz it's funny as fook and even I have to laugh, I was using it as a direct equivalent reference for the treatment I am receiving. As for you personally, I want to say I don't shre the dislike that you seem to have aquired for me and my style, and think your "pretty ok."...) On and on and on? You missed point 1 Doug - it happens a few times and then 'appears' to be happening constantly... Ah, Canadian slanders? US Slurs? I've only been doing jokes about them for the past 4 years that I've been here. Jeez. I've probably posted 100 times with reference to the difference in UK/US spellings. I've also took the mick out of the Irish, English, Geordies (like me, y'know?), Soft Southerners, Australians and New Zealanders. You're the first person that has taken it to heart or mentioned it, and a little IM letting me know you find it offensive would have put an end to it. You keep expressing to me your dislike of 'creating trouble' in public over petty issues, yet you mention that Here. Now. At what point does a thread become "Off Topic"? Each of our posts had relevance to the previous post, so it's more of a sideways 'drift'. And if we all start new threads when we drift off topic, can you imagine what it would end up like trying to follow a conversation? Is it JUST ME you want to single out to do this, or will this rule apply to everyone? I guess with some powers it's not what you are but who you are. I do the same as everyone else here, I just happen to be a bit more open and blatant about it, and tend to mix all of your bad habits into one nasty little package. I guess that's turned me into an easy target as Don says. I want to say thanks to everyone above who has offered me support and the kind words, they mean a great deal to me. Please, carry on whatever is good that you give me credit for, blame me for the bad. Shit happens. (",)

* bahhhhhhhhhhhh! :( *

Thanks Cyn - that actually made me smile. :-) (",)

i just read this between jobs. going to work (AGAIN)... i guess i need to be a little careful too about off comment stuff. i know i do it. i didn't think about the ebot thing. i never check them or get them (unless i forget).and i forgot about dial-up people having to contend with them. i'll try to be a bit more careful about that stuff. personally for me, i like the laughs. i like the causualness of being able to be yourself and be silly. and i like how that off comment stuff is a way for us to get to know each other and be more cohesive as a group. But that's only MY opinion, and i realize not everyone shares it...either because it clogs their email, they have dial-up, or they're just plain not interested. donald, yes, i know what you mean about sugar coating. and i just wanna say i want ya'all to tell it to me like it is. no sugar coating. i don't need it. i try to be verrrrrry gentle with my words and in giving feedback & suggestions. i don't wanna hurt people's feelings. i'm scared of doing that. if i know someone pretty good, i don't worry to much though. that's all i have time to say. hugz to everybody!

I totally agree with u Sheila, once again! :)

GEEZ...work got in the WAY of the important stuff again. Oh well...I think when it really comes down to it, ya got to ask yourself, WHY do you come HERE? Hmmmm? Let's see... off the top of my head, top of the list...could it be...THE PEOPLE....DAMN right! You can't find a more interesting and diverse group than RIGHT HERE! It's what gives this place its CHARACTER! We all have our little idiosyncrasies that add to the general vibe of this forum! No-one should have to CHANGE to meet anothers person view or expectations. (Unless its threatening or abusive in nature) I tend to agree with most of what was said above! Worrying about ebots...going off on tangents...seems like low priority stuff (IMO). This forum has been running this way for so long now...its just the nature of the beast! if anything else, I feel the forum has GROWN quite a bit! There's more interaction and sharing of ideas, which is a result of the people who come here! Lets get back to shooting the breeze, enjoying each others company and sharing our pics! Nuff said by me! Joe

Awwwww Brenda!! Ur words are going straight to my heart!!! U just put such a huge smile on my face!! Thx u for that, a bunch! :)

JORDYART - REBORNEUK you need help. Lots of it. I mean really. Dude this is why I teased you concearning you changing you name. What was the point. You, I think made an effort to calm down and act your age but you couldn't keep it togeather for two months. COME ON MAN get your act togeather. What is bothering you this time? You are upset that you and someone else has an exchange online? You are upset that the conversations threads ramble some? You are upset that you herassed some newbies and they said you did it? You are upset the mods are moderating things?!!!! When you last left you were upset that the mods performed their actions. Before that you were attacking people who photographed cats. ( Which I never understood as you had done that also. ) I think part of your problem is that you get amped up on sugar to say the least then get on the 'net. Please don't use the 'net is you are frustrated. It's hard enough to understand people when they are calm. -REBOUNE? :-P HA! I don't see how you are reborne and as what? You are acting exactly like you always have. What's a sad thing is that although you can be fun guy to talk to. There are time when I don't think you realize how unnescessarily(sp) rude your coments are. Just a couple of weeks ago you supported a new mod ( when the forum could really use one ) by saying that you were glad that the mod was not the *unt you had expected them to be. HUNH? Was that some sort of shock value comment? Are you aware that at best you mildly used profanity in saying what you expected of them. At worst it meant that you still don't like them. Do you act like this at home? I can't imagine you making statements like this at work then keeping a job!!! It's ironic that you say grafitti is wrong for this months challenge but then publicly continue to perform so antisocially. Are we expected to feel sorry for your leaving? Sure you have much you can add but when one includes your random abrasive attitude. Are we supposed to care? Would you?? Bsteph

"You are upset that you and someone else has an exchange online? You are upset that the conversations threads ramble some? You are upset that you herassed some newbies and they said you did it? You are upset the mods are moderating things?!!!!"! Did u actually READ what Mike said in here?? All ur above statements are the contrary of what was said!! OTHERS were upset at all these things, NOT Mike!! "Please don't use the 'net is you are frustrated" I thought the net was for everyone to use as they pleased! Why on earth souldn't he come on the net just to please YOU?? Now that's interesting!! I know that Mike can defends himself on this one and I'm not trying to do that for him, but ur comment here really pissed me off so I add to respond to that! I don't see why u should be free to post such message while he shouldn't be free to post whatever he wants!!! "It's hard enough to understand people when they are calm." indeed, so imagine how hard it is to understand u right now! U sound like a real lunatic to me and surely u're the one who should calm down here before telling others to do so! Best regards.

Hmmm...read through everything...seems time for a change of topic...anyone seen Dodge Ball? The movie sucked, I thought. Ooops - sorry - go toff topic. Back to the topic - wipe your nose and get over it - guess that's all I had to say.

All this talk of fresh air has me thinking that the rest of us must be pretty damn stale? Pass the Febreeze Joe...... Previous post deleted. I'm too polite to say more.

I am, therefore I create.......
--- michelleamarante.com

Brian - oh yea ... that should pretty much calm everything right down. I'm sure with that, this'll all be over before I wake up in the morning. sigh ... is seriously thinking about taking a long, long vacation away from one of the things that's supposed to help you relax considered normal? I didn't think so.

I appoligize for writing an essay. OK. REBOURNE, you know me and my temperment. As we used to chat and IM each other. So you know the tone of my statements. If not you can e-mail me or IM me at any time. OR you can reply to me in this threat if you want. Tibet-It's good to know you and REBORNE are friends. I'm not sure if you are a recent friend of his or if you have you known him for three or four years as I have. If you do know him as well as you seem to think you do; can you answer for me? Can you explain why a likeable guy, with some wit, good photographic ideas, a steady lady friend, and a father of a female child would describe someone as "Not being the CUNT he expected them to be?" Do you feel that was unnescessarilly harsh? Do you think he would be allright with some stranger calling his child a cunt? Do you think REBOURNE would be allright with a teacher saying "Wow missie when I heard that you were related to this other guy I expected you to be a cunt but you are not the cunt I expected you to be." How do you think REBOURNE would respond to that? Do you think that is supportive statement? REBOURNE said just that in this forum. Were you here when Then Joardyart was venting weekly in the forum that people were photographing cats and that he hated it. Were - are you aware that he has photographed his own cat?!?! Have you noticed his vent at the world then decision to leave pattern that he goes through every so often? I have. I have no problem with him deciding to do what he wants. As he apparently does. Unfortunately, both of you think it's alright to make acerbic comments whenever one wants after all the 'net is here for all of use. I don't agree with that belief. I believe that unnessary rudeness is verboten. REBOURNE I thought felt the same way. Which is why I wonder if he realizes how rude some of his statements are. Tibet, yes the 'net is free. We can all do and say more or less what we want. But are you really saying that it's alright for me to use for example profanity because I want to. Are you saying that if I want to chain mail viruses I should I be allowed to after all the 'net is free and I can do as I choose. Is that what you are advocating? I hope not. Do you have a mom? How would you feel if she was the moderator and that is what a person says about her deciding to help out? That she is not the cunt they expected he to be? How would you feel if you had decided to become the moderator of this fun photography forum with an active fan base and one of the oldest members automatically treats you with skepticism? If you regurly observed this person who has some ginuine good ideas but seems to spend equally 50% of their time making cruel comments and jokes as well as helpfull ones? Would you ask this person "What are you doing? Why? What are you attempting to prove? Are you venting? Do you come here to vent? Are you aware that this is not solitary confinement and everyone sees you venting, calling people names, attacking their work, makeing noncreative and cruel critiques? Do you think you are helping things around here? Is your intent to help things or to tear them down? And if it is to help how has these actions helped so much?" I can tell by your reply that you like REBORNE as do I and as a friend I was doing my duty in asking him to reevaluate himself. What is he doing? Why is he angry? If he was in a forum and another person acts like he does what would he think? Would he care if they said they were going to leave? No Tibet I am not a lunatic. Thank you for your kind comments. It's good to know you are the calm voice of reason. I don't care what the others have said. I try to think for my self regarding post and often ignore the replies. I read REBOURNE's comment and maybe three others. I replied to REBOURNE not to anyone else's. I didn't say for him to enter the net to please me. Which is apparently what you think. I did urge him to not to enter the net and comment when he is upset. I don't think that's unreasonable. I tried to explain why in case it's not. Let me put it this way. Do you relish the angry drunk for example joining the conversation when they are mad at the world? If you have ever experienced someone staggering in to a conversation with unnessary statements and ideas then you know what I am saying. Conversations can be heated and troublesome enough. Without someone joining in with extra emotional baggage. When all one is seing is text then things are harder still. I'm sure you have heard of the idea not to discuss issues when you are angry. That's what I suggested. As he works at a job and has family this can't be new to him. I hope this is not new or unreasonable to you either. I thought REBOURNE was pro reason. Maybe I missed something? Bsteph

Brian, Thanks for your reply. If you are anything like me, you'll sit editing bits a few times, so I really appreciate the time this must have taken! Sometimes some of the things I write get over-emphasised, sometimes even I put things the wrong way. My comment that you refer to was meant in a humourous mode, though now I can see why it may not be interpreted as so. Like we have said before, so much interpretation is lost here, we're all guilty of it at times. Doug, I sincerely apologise if that comment was taken more seriously than I intended - obviously Brian interpreted it that way, and I therefore concede that others including yourself may have done so. As to my reason for even typing it? It was because as a co-ordinator there had been times when it seemed that the move to Mod'ship may cause you to act 'less human' than you did as a regular member. But, I maintain, it was not meant as an 'evil' gesture, and I definately typed it with a wry grin on my face. I think at this point I would like to request this thread be locked. We have all had either said our piece or had ample opportunity to do so. The support I see here for me is amazing... not one "Sod off, then!" which I frankly expected... and I thank you ALL for I really do see you as friends. Those who didn't post, well, you didn't say you liked me, but you didn't hate me enough to make it shown. I'm going to stick around (sorry Doug!) but please, treat me as fairly as others. No doubt threads will continue to sidetrack a bit, people will want to add funny comments to existing comments which they KNOW will get answers straight back, people will still make alterations to pictures without asking, some people will go off on complete tangents confusing others, and some of our opinions will still differ. All of these have annoyed people in the past, and no doubt people will continue to get up other people's noses. I've never said I was here to be popular, but I've always been honest with you guys. I guess I'll never make a good politician ;-) peace all (",) btw, Bri, it's REBORNE!!! No 'U'... lol ;-)

excuse my tangent: move to modship... less human... it's a shame there are a few that have become just that if anything it's even harder to overcome that dislike for authority & having to keep the peace & be diplomatic & try & see stuff from everyone's viewpoint & decide is it worth losing a few other members because a member wants to act up, having to be as fair as one can without compromising one's own beliefs... i know, i've been there, obviously i couldn't handle it & i miss the ones we have now lost :(

Bsteph, u're right, I'm a newbie in this forum and don't know all the story as I said in this same thread earlier and my concern wasn't about that but about the way u came out with it! I found it very aggressive! But u've got a point! ;) And Cyn, I understand ur point of view, definitely not an easy position I can imagine!

I apologize to everyone for comming across as aggressive or offending anyone. Mike you know I have your best interests at heart. Tibet no hard feelings. Bsteph

definitely not! ;)

clear the air... ok, since we're being sooo honest...
& I'm not too polite to say more...

I am going to try & do my best to explain my feelings,
if it's taken the wrong way then fine, I have nothing to lose that I feel I haven't lost already & will try not to say anything I'll regret later & feel I have to delete

but all this is still bothering me & am sad that we've lost a few members (do I really have to say who? notice whole posts have been deleted) because it's obviously alright to joke around & hurt people's feelings & chalk it up to being thin-skinned, taking things too personally, just having fun (at other's people's expense), a load of BS, being too politically correct & then scream about being censored if you can't say what's on your mind

If you haven't read all the threads then how can you honestly agree that all is just fine & dandy & I really don't understand how you Mike can act like the injured party, throw a fit & threaten to walk away... it's the ones that walk away without saying anything that hurt me

a breath of fresh air? what a hoot... like 'chelle i guess that leaves the rest of us pretty stale & maybe feeling like they've overstayed their welcome

already in your first statement Mike you've insulted newbies & authority (mod), in your 2nd, & i don't care how much you try to sugarcoat it, you've once again insulted someone who's very dear to my heart & worth 10X the person you are, has never gone out of their way to hurt people, ever!!! ...unless provoked!

I really don't care about threads going off topic & the number of ebots I may get, having dial-up is my problem not yours... but showing a little respect for the poster of the thread is not asking that much

I don't feel bsteph has anything to apologize for & agree with most of what he said

The backhandeded insults that have been flung around I don't find all that amusing... & maybe I read too much into them & have become too sensitive & should just shut the f* up while I still can & think about that vacation away from here too

I really do care for you guys & have spent quite a lot of my time here but I care for a certain someone more :( so I don't know how much I'll be around here... off & on i guess, i can be somewhat fickle... carry on

...this too shall pass...

oh & here's another alien post that has no bearing on this conversation, just for good measure! ...from a loyal PDA, xoxo

I typed a reply and deleted it all. 5 times.
I hope you rejoin us soon, you're a good person to have around.
(",)

posts crossed, but I took too long and it didn't take it anyways and no, I don't mind it, I never have minded posts going o/t. Makes some of them kinda interesting, and I think that's where we find out most about each other... If I get beamed up, mind, I still wanna be beamed back male.....

Message edited on: 03/23/2005 14:25

i will be really honest too, Cindy. i read most of the threads but i don't read them all from beginning to end so i miss stuff. and even when i do read things, a lot of times i don't get it. i don't always see the "insults" that may be there. i guess i've taken what has been called "rude comments" as joking or teasing. i get confused when people are being rude or teasin'. i don't think we need to be calling people names like a_s, c_nt, etc. if we're mad or upset with someone, then IMO we need to express it without the profanity. i didn't realize some things were being said in seriousness here. i think i'm pretty sensitive person most of the time, but apparently i'm not as sensitive as i think. i don't ever wanna see people hurt; i'm sorry people have been hurt around here. and if i've done or said anything to hurt or offend anyone, i'm truly sorry. i hope you will tell me either here publically in the forum or IM me. i don't want there to be bad feelings. if i've been insensitive, rude, or upset you in anyway, just let me know. i will apologize and try to make it up to you. i guess we all interpret things different ways. a lot goes over my head these days. i don't understand it all. i'm tired of trying to figure all this out. i think misunderstandings happen a lot without the nonverbal communication that we have in face-to-face contact. and then we have language and cultural differences. and people differences. as for backhanded insults, Cindy...maybe i didn't read ENOUGH into them. i care for you guys too, but i refuse to spend all my time trying to figure out what's an insult and what's not. i'm sick of it! LET'S STOP INSULTING EACH OTHER!!!!!!! i don't think people should be permitted to SERIOUSLY be calling other people names. Teasing is one thing, but intentional name-calling is another. I thought that if that kind of thing was going on, the moderator would step in and say something. but i don't know all the rules. Are we seriously allowed to call each other names in here? i didn't think we were. i'm not one for rules, but i think we need to have a rule that we don't call people names. jeesh. Pascale, i luv you to death, but if you were seriously calling Wolf an ass yesterday, then IMO, that was rude. If you're mad at him, fine. tell him you're mad. tell him, "I'm angry because..." but don't call him a name. i don't think that's nice. i'm sure you will be mad at me now, but oh well. someone will get mad at me. i will be honest and direct as i always am. IMO, it's just not nice to call people names. i thought you were joking around. i think i was wrong about that. Mike, i think it's been great having you around here. I've found you to be fun. others apparently haven't. I've taken a lot of what you've said as teasing. Maybe it has been; maybe it hasn't been. If you were seriously calling Doug a C_UNT...well that was rude and uncalled for. If you are seriously calling people names and intentionally saying things to hurt people, then i wish you would stop doing that. I just have a hard time figuring out what's teasing and what's being rude. I guess i'm stupid and insensitive...at least that's how i feel. fine. i'll accept that. Anyway, Life is freakin' painful enough without intentionally TRYING to alienate people. I'm NOT saying that's what you're doing. I'm saying if you are doing that, then i wish you would stop. I have absolutely NO idea what's going on between you and Tedz. No idea! i guess i read stuff and it and goes over my head. or i haven't read the whole thread. i dunno. i'm lost. Guys...it sounds to me like we just need to stop the name calling altogether...even in jest. I don't know when the "F" you guys are serious and when you're not. I understand something one way, and someone else understands it another. So I'll try to be clear here what I would like to see happen. If you're mad at someone, tell them. but don't call someone a name. Can we try to keep it at, "I feel angry because...." or "I feel hurt because..." Yes, we have freedom of speech, but i don't think we need to be rude. I know it's not always easy. I'm probably being rude here. if i am, i'm sorry. half the time what ya'all say goes over my head. that's not your fault. i don't wanna spend too much time in the forum if there's gonna be all this upset. what's the point? I guess i'll stick around and see how things go for awhile. i think you guys are awesome! there's NO ONE here i dislike. NO ONE!!! As usual, i've written a novel. i'm sorry. i did my best. sigh. sorry for everyone i've offended.

Ah, dear Shiela, I'd like to answer your first question last.... I honestly don't know why Tedz changed in his attitude towards me, he never said. As I've stated loads of times, when I wrote the c* comment, it wasn't with malice, it was with a grin on my face..... as I'm sure everyone has noticed, when I get angry I say it. I KNOW there has obviously been a couple of comments I shouldn't have said. I've aplogised publicly for them, both in general and directly stated towards the person(s) I offended. Anyways, for the last 2 days I've wanted and tried to put this down, chill with everyone and start afresh. I for one want this to stop and for us all to start getting back on with the forum, but it seems that it's gonna be dragged out further. sigh Mike.

don't worry so Sheila, just wanted to get that off my mind instead of letting it stew on the back burner I for one won't be dragging it out any further... ya'll have a good day

thanks for replying mike. i agree. i just want all this to stop too. still friends? i hope so! i hope i hope i haven't lost any friends here. i hope i have not been insensitive to anyone with my honesty and with my inability to make sense of all this. sigh

we crossed cindy. good to get it off your mind. i did the same. stewing isn't good. i don't have any pictures of stew...LOL