Yurt Latest Red-Ringed Tupperware Party with Tin-foil Wigwams (12)

Woolburr wrote in post #6230204
Run Mark....run fast....

mtnphtgrphr wrote in post #6230228
Boy you're on a roll this evening Mark!!!! hehehehehe

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6230238
[not political]

I just saw a picture of McCain's running mate, Gov. Palin. She was sitting at a desk, flags in the background. It was a very sharp shot. All I kept thinking was, "Wow, nice bokeh. I bet that was with a 1Ds and a 85L f/1.2. Great IQ."

I'm a camera nerd.

[/not political]

In2Photos wrote in post #6225160
Yup, really. Must be an old timer's thing. We youngins say "What's up?"

In2Photos wrote in post #6225475
Mine is thinning on top, but gray on the sides is my main issue. It won't be long, I am afraid, until the razor will come out. My wife is not happy about that, nor am I. And then the sunscreen will become a daily requirement. <sigh>

belmondo wrote in post #6226149
Old timer status is achieved when your brain is the first thing to go to sleep at night, and the last thing to wake up in the morning.

poppie guy wrote in post #6226738
Do any of you have feedback for me about this printer?

http://www.shopping.hp​.com …uct_detail/CB01​5A%2523A2L

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6229248
OK, thoughts, ramblings and musings over the events spanning the last 24 hours.

Merging of the two large chat threads.

1. At first blush, this seems like a logical approach. As was mentioned, there are many that frequent both. However, upon closer inspection, those that participate on both threads rarely catch up on both. They generally devote serious catching up to one and the other is usually skimmed or they just jump into it cold.

2. In the beginning, POTN wasn't all that big. I'm stepping out on a branch here, but I'm going to say that POTN did not start out with 162,000 members. Obviously, POTN has become somewhat of an Internet Boom Town. The addition of so many new mods is a testament to this fact.

I believe that the dynamics that operate within a large city will also apply to the Digital City that POTN has become. If you were to look at any metropolitan area, e.g. New York City, you'll find that the city is not not a HUGE conglomeration of people, but actually a collection of smaller communities. Smaller even than the five Boroughs. Like Little Italy, Uptown or Chinatown, POTN, in its vastness, has within it's borders a collection of communities, smaller even than the specific Forum Titles. The two threads in question, RRTP and TPBM chat, come with their own distinctive culture and feel. To combine them together would, in my worthless opinion, remove that characteristic found in each.

Being sensitive to this unique style of both threads, I have even found myself posting photos and comments that are aimed for that particular audience.

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6229251
Continued:

Welcoming and Hospitable:

To put things into perspective, this particular thread is huge. We're on our 12th iteration, with over a million views. We've had many, many people come and go over the last year and a half, some have stayed, some have moved on, others do fly by postings. We have people that participate on this thread that live in various time zones; meaning that while some are posting their morning posts, others are asleep and still others are at work. I come to this thread, usually, after putting in a ten hour workday. Many of the people that drop by do so while I was "gone". By the time I show up, they've already come and gone. My thinking this is usually, "Why respond when there's NO chance that they'll see it?" If they're here when I'm here, I make the attempt at welcoming them and engaging them in conversation.

There are times, however, when this isn't the case. Like many here, I work a full time job, and POTN isn't my all consuming pastime. Many times, POTN is on the proverbial back burner as I spend the evening drawing, researching, writing, corresponding or, heaven forbid, processing photos. During those times, I don't sit in the office pressing the "User CP" link over and over again with the intention of responding to every post that someone makes. I may take a break occasionally, check in, respond to the pertinent bits, and go back to what I was doing. To expect someone, anyone, to hover over every post and poster is, simply put, insane.

There are many times when I stumble into an ongoing conversation and my "Moo, All" is blindly stepped over. Heck, I've posted TR's and had them completely ignored for hours. Usually this is because I've posted something while others were gone, or in the middle of a "give and take" conversation, or while others are trying to assist someone with a question/problem. I don't see this as offensive, but rather as the normal flow of societal living. To expect everyone to stop what they're doing to recognize my entrance is a bit arrogant. Do I feel ignored? Sure! But that happens even in the real life experiences. If I were to walk into a party at someone's house and everyone there is engaged in their conversations, I don't expect them to drop all that to come to me. I make the effort to engage in conversation, knowing that I'm coming into that conversation in the middle or end.

As for being helpful, c'mon. I've never met a group of people that seem to literally RACE to be the first to post an answer to a question, or provide a link, or give an example. I've often thought that the title to this thread should be changed to the "POTN Service Desk".

Is there room for growth? Of course. Can I be more engaging and gregarious to the new comer? Sure. Is this a good time for a wake up call? Yup. We can all use the occasional rattled cage to make us realize that we've become too familiar with one another and that it might be a bit off putting for someone coming in for the first time.

I would like to add, however, that there are some of us that have been typing at each other since, and even before this thread's inception. I've come to know the participants in this thread well, some in real life. Some friendly banter is to be expected.

The problem arises when we forget that we cannot truly interact with each other. You and I cannot see our body language, or hear the inflections in the voice. I may say something one day, have it very funny, but then, on another day, say something very similar and have it fall flat. This is because I don't know your day, I cannot see your face, I cannot hear your voice. I assume that you are the same as before, but factors in life change constantly creating different reactions. In those cases, a friendly correction via PM is all it takes to correct the infraction.

I recall the incidence when I was drawing and posting the "Adventures with Jim" TR series in which the characters found themselves in the hostile land of "Weddingzakistan". This all took place during the time when the Wedding Forum was in the midst of a total decompression. In those sensitive times and with emotions running high, I received some friendly advice that the TR should be posted elsewhere until that series was over. For about three weeks, I did not post TR on POTN, only on the TR site. I rushed to finish the series well before its time and out of script due to the feelings on the matter. A couple of PM's was all it took. I say this to illustrate that this is not a group of insensitive clods, but that we're keen to correct any area of real or perceived insensitivity.

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6229254
Finally:

I hate it when I discover that I've offended someone. I don't like to be unkind. I try to be as open and funny as I can. On those days when I don't feel that I can fulfill that motto, I make myself scarce. I can only say that if my lack of response as hurt anyone, or if my futile attempt at humor has injured instead of cheered someone, I am sorry. I think I can honestly say that I've never intentionally set out to be cruel.

Except maybe to TD.

I hope that this is just a speed bump and that the future of RRTP will all the better because of it.

Woolburr wrote in post #6229262
The enzyme found in green kiwifruit also makes for a natural meat tenderizer. Simply peel and mash a kiwifruit and spread the pulp on a tough cut of meat. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes; then, lightly scrape the kiwifruit off the meat, discarding the kiwi.

So if you have tough salmon...adding some kiwi will soften it right up!

Permagrin wrote in post #6229886
Hey Jen (name this tune)

In the eyes of a Ranger,
The unsuspectin' stranger
Had better know the truth of wrong from right,
'Cause the eyes of a Ranger are upon you,
Any wrong you do he's gonna see,
When you're in Texas look behind you,
'Cause that's where the Ranger's gonna be

mtnphtgrphr wrote in post #6229922
THE THEME TO WALKER TEXAS RANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I read the first three words and KNEW IT! hehehehehehe

Permagrin wrote in post #6229935
guess what I'm watchin? betcha can't guess...

puddlepirate44 wrote in post #6230238
[not political]

I just saw a picture of McCain's running mate, Gov. Palin. She was sitting at a desk, flags in the background. It was a very sharp shot. All I kept thinking was, "Wow, nice bokeh. I bet that was with a 1Ds and a 85L f/1.2. Great IQ."

I'm a camera nerd.

[/not political]

theflyingkiwi wrote in post #6230252
it's still day time???

umm yep

Permagrin wrote in post #6230382
look! He can make TR playing cards.

http://www.yourplaying​cards.com/

though they are spendy...but he can make the characters into the kings/queens/jacks/jok​ers...yeah... this could be fun.

T.D. wrote in post #6230402
Lisa, he can do them on MPix as well, but that might just be for photos. Not sure if the faux-toons would work.

Permagrin wrote in post #6230410
I couldn't find any on mpix. I just looked.