I have enjoyed the confirmations that many of us would like, within reason, most posts to stay on topic. We come here for knowledge, amusement and comradery. I am really glad many
people here have a sense of humor. Laughter really is the best medicine.
I'd had a concern in this area for some time. I'm relatively new here, but not new to forums. Spent almost ten years on boatdiesel.com. Never heard a nasty word there. Everyone's boat was their baby
and you complimented the other guys boats too. And their nice clean engine rooms. And if the engine rooms were a mess, the message got across very delicately that cleaning it up would be a great idea.
But no one abused the poor guy.
I have only been here a year, but I think the number of offensive posters is less than a dozen, and that includes intentional nastiness as well as off the wall folk. And only one hand for people who really annoy me,
because they are constantly negative. Negative people suck. They only have something nasty or critical to say. They rarely compliment anyone. They like to call people names. Like kids.
And yes, I "ignored" one person, but then turned him back on after seeing other worthwhile posts, and perhaps some improved behavior, either in attitude or what was written.
Cigar Face, I will not miss you.
In nautical terms, sometimes I have tried to act like a little tug boat, pushing the conversation back on target. I think we all need to do more of that.
And not take offense if someone reminds us.
Lastly, speaking of memory lane, in the sixties I was one of the first white guys at Brown to take a full Black Studies course, not quite a minor.
And one of the topics I remember vividly, in the discussion of inner city street life was the interesting cultural phenomenon called "doing the dozens".
I wasn't on this forum more than a month when that term/idea came back to me after all those years. The "game" of continually ratcheting up the
verbal abuse, albeit all in good fun. The trick was to remember it was a game, and not go too far. Some folk will always go over the line, seems to be their nature.
The Dozens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It seems the friendly politics and Front Porch discussions really are valued here, and perhaps act as a steam expansion valve for member enthusiasm.
Maybe we could make them even friendlier by having a sub group called "Doing IT". And the guys who need to hurl insults at each other can go at it with gusto.
Considering the creative bunch we have here, I imagine it might be fun to observe.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my last year on this forum. I've learned a lot, and not about just tractors.
