Trolls Among Us and the best LCD HD TV

[RockHard]

Given recent events on this board and Daddy's thoughtful "troll reminder," I thought I'd share some thoughts. (Warning: these are long thoughts so make sure your favorite beverage is handy.)

 

Ever since I switched from a PC to a Mac (almost 10 years ago), I quickly turned into a huge fan of internet forums. There are many techie-guru types "hanging out" in cyberland and, if you have patience, their generosity will provide a great resource for trouble-shooting assistance and/or insightful suggestions (as long as you don't mind, sometimes, learning a new language).

 

My list of favorite forums has grown substantially through the years and my interests are diverse: everything from wine to cooking to construction, photography to web design, web hosting to travel, and sex, sex, and more sex with hot, lovable escorts, of course. While playing, searching and learning, I take notes and file them as research for web-business development, my own and for others. I continue to watch and listen for new ideas.

 

No gay man who considers himself a smart shopper would ever purchase a new TV or HTS (Home Theater System) without visiting AVSForum.com. It's not the prettiest site (far worse than Brandon Baker's) but what can you expect from straight-male owners? With over 5.2 million visitors a month, AVSForum does fine without Martha Stewart's touch while it covers just about every subject having to do with home entertainment. Some say AVS attracts the best geek-entertainment-engineer advice on the internet.

 

With over 200,000 visitors a day, AVS makes this MC look like the sandbox that it is. One of the AVS threads for Sharp Aquos Owners in the LCD Forum boasts almost 9000 replies (and half of them are not from Scott Adler :-) ). To date, the Aquos thread has over 800,000 views. And the Sharp Aquos isn't even considered the best LCD HD TV. Some might even call it the BN of Hi-Def; over-hyped, over-rated and "oh-vah" controversial.

 

Even with their seismic numbers, the AVS Forum serves as a good example for comparison to this place:

[ol][li] The majority of its members are men.

[li] A man's TV is no less important than his desire for sex (after all, it's all about pleasure and entertainment).

[li] And for truly great pissing contests, get a bunch of men to talk about their home entertainment systems and dare to tell any one of them that size does not matter. Daddy's size queens can't hold a yard stick to AVS's size queens.[/ol]

 

AVS offers a potential paradise for internet trolls because:

[ol][li] Everyone on AVS is looking for "expert" opinions.

[li] Price points not only provoke state-of-the-art social conflicts, they make the escorts here look like Hershey's candy vendors. [li] Competition for attention is stiffer than my dick at high mast.

[li] There are plenty of products and manufacturers to dog, especially if a manufacturer's sales are lacking (inject damage-control-troll) or your cable cord is called "Monster" (the most expensive "unnecessary" consumer-hype-job in audio-visual-land).[/ol]

 

The owners of AVS took the troll issue seriously when they created their TOS (Terms of Service). It's unlike most others I've seen. For fascinating reading, here are their forum rules: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/rules.html (If you think this thread is long, good luck at the link.)

 

Consider these two stand-out paragraphs:

 

"You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this forum to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violate of any law."

 

"We at this forum also reserve the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you."

 

Now, obviously, Daddy could never write something so limiting, so threatening and/or so probing, especially with no ejaculation in return. There would be no MC members left if he went as far as AVS. Plus, I love the fact that we're allowed to cuss like truck drivers from Texas and, basically, offer any opinion we wish. I'd hate to see any of that change. But I hear AVS has never had the need to prove their TOS words. And the reason is: AVS owners banked on the perception of strict anti-troll control and the perception has worked. The site's members respect, endorse, support and appreciate their clean board and are diligent about keeping it that way.

 

Is the AVS board lively? Absolutely, even without words like "tongue up his ass." Considering it's a straight man's paradise, AVS is one of the liveliest boards on the internet and chock-full of some really useful information. Do AVS members laugh, poke, preen, prance, challenge, and pontificate? You bet, and there's plenty of class warfare to rival any rerun episode of Dallas or Dynasty.

 

Does AVS have trolls or member fights? It appears they have both but they are extremely limited. When things get out of hand or trolls appear obvious, the community takes a pro-active role, immediately reporting the most offending posts to the owners. Typically, "bating" posts are deleted, offending threads are shut down (members hate when a decent thread goes south) or, in worstcase scenarios, member registrations are suspended. I hear repeat offenders get banned and ISP's get blocked. In other words, insolent, "bating" behavior has consequences. Trolls be damned.

 

In deference to Daddy's announcement reminder, I read Dave Fawthrop's, "What is a Troll?," which appears at the link Daddy provided. I've never see this version before but I've seen others.

 

"The old definition of a Troll is one who posts to generate

the maximum number of follow ups. These are a very minor

irritation, and can be considered to be advantageous to

newsgroups."

 

Advantageous to Scott Adler, too. :-)

 

I've always said trolls who play by the rules are harmless and this troll description reminds me of a favorite travel forum. A very creative writer, with much time on his/her hands, concocted a story to beat all American-woman-finds-love-in-Italy stories I've ever read. It went on and on for weeks, surpassing the board's largest view count, and garnering a response (not all of them kind) from practically all the active users. When the story ended, with the love-torn, middle-aged, plump American woman's accidental drowning in Venice's Grand Canal, the troll disappeared (to the dismay of many). The artisan troll left everyone wanting to know what had happened to the young, hot Italian lover. This troll was humorous beyond belief and a very talented writer. He/she captured the hearts and minds and attention of many readers and brought out several new registrants. Most members suspected a troll but very few members complained. Who could argue with the pleasure of a good, innocent read?

 

I found some of Fawthorp's "Troll" names quite amusing:

 

1. The Irritating Troll

2. The Destructive Troll

3. The Nasty Troll

4. The Evil and Illegal Troll

5. The Drivel Troll

6. The Crosspost Troll

7. The Request for Assistance Troll

8. The Personal Attack Troll

9. The Bullying Troll

10. The "Free Speech" Troll

 

After reading this list, all I could think of is Tom Isern's gall for calling ME a troll. Plus, there are plenty of usernames, customers and escorts, who fit nicely into each category, troll or not, including me.

 

What can be done about trolls? Fawthorp's conclusions are interesting.

 

"Ignore them and they will go away.

 

This is the traditional usenet method of dealing with

Trolls, and is regularly suggested.

It is similar to the method use to train dogs, and very

young children, ignore bad behaviour and reward good

behaviour. Thus it is only likely to work if the, The Infant

or Attention Seeker theory, is true."

 

I guess ValleyDwellerNorth knows how to read.

 

Fawthorp goes on to say:

 

"If you are subscribed to a Target newsgroup, this (ignoring) is

impossible, as up to 90% of posts may be trolls. As the

intension is to destroy the Target Newsgroup, they will

*never* go away.

 

On any newsgroup there are a mixture of subscribers, none of

whom has any ability to control the postings of other

subscribers. Human nature dictates that someone will

*always* reply to a good troll. Arguably this section

should be headed "If *everyone* ignores them and they will

go away," which is arguably impossible to attain."

 

My favorite suggestion from Fawthorp:

 

"A Moderated Newsgroup.

 

A Moderated newsgroup is almost impossible to troll...It (moderating) works and is a traditional usenet method of solving the

problems of troublesome newsgroups. It requires a team of moderators ideally about six to handle posts. It requires a very well written

charter, with specific moderation guidelines."

 

And the most disappointing finding for me:

 

"Changing from a non moderated to a moderated newsgroup is *extremely* difficult."

 

When someone advises me that something I want is "extremely difficult," I tend to respond, "Where there's will, there's a way."

 

I know I'm repeating myself on this subject and, once discovered, I have no problem taking Jack's lead by ignoring a troll. But, like I told Benjamin Nicholas, my MC delusion is over. As long as Tom Isern is permitted to call members an "idiot," as long as Doug69 is permitted to call deej and others "stupid," and as long as members like EuropTravl enjoy a good catfight, this board will remain exactly what it is: a troubled and troublesome newsgroup.

 

Makes me wonder why escorts, charging $250+ per hour, and their customers who pay $250+ per hour, don't demand better. I guess getting and expecting less is the nature of this beast.

 

Sorry to see you go, Lookin. I don't think the grass is much greener elsewhere.

[MindThe Gap]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/chgo/Laughing_hard.gif

 

Tune in tomorrow when Rockhard puts on his investigative reporter's cap yet once again, to uncover for everyone the horrors of daycare learning centers K-3, only to once again segue into his personal rants of hatred for those who so easily make him look like a pompous ass and hypocrite. It's a show you just can't afford to miss.

 

Has anyone else ever noticed how Rockhard edits his posts, yet changes nothing at all within his posts, just so he can keep his thread name on top of others in the forum? LOL!

[Guest EuropTravl]

There's a saying I love from AbFab where Eddy is just going on and on about something and getting all upset and Patsy just puts the champagne bottle down and takes the cigarette out of her mouth and says "C'mon, Eddy...tuck in! Tuck in!"

 

Don't know why I'm mentioning it, it just came to mind.

 

 

 

 

 

ps....Tuck in!

[SAdler]

>There's a saying I love from AbFab where Eddy is just going

>on and on about something and getting all upset and Patsy just

>puts the champagne bottle down and takes the cigarette out of

>her mouth and says "C'mon, Eddy...tuck in! Tuck in!"

 

AbFab quotes in response to RockHard ... you are my new best friend.

 

"These gloves don't have any fingers! Oh, no, they put the fingers in this other box. Quite silly isn't it?"

 

"Bloody hell OLD WOMAN!"

[Guest zipperzone]

What I find so amusing is the about turn we have witnessed in good old RockHard (probably a misnomer)

 

For months he was the scrappiest and most acidic of the name callers on this board - and now he is trying to appear as a Mary Poppins look-a-like.

 

Could it be that someone whispered in his ear that his conduct could get him kicked off if he didn't stop.

 

Perhaps someone could explain to me how he has time and energy to post such lengthy views when he must be simply exhausted from having his driver propel him up and down the avenues looking for the perfect pair of knickers before dashing off for drinkie-poos with Madonna and BN.

 

Oh God.... the stress of it all

[RockHard]

Ooops, I forgot to mention another favorite part of Dave Fawthrop's, "What is a troll?" Why do trolls do it? Think on this:

 

"Why do they do it?

 

No one knows why the Trolls act as they do, but there are

several theories. Clearly an individual Troll may be in

one, or several of these groups, or indeed in none at all.

It is difficult to believe, but possible, that a totally

normal person would become a Troll."

 

Normal? Does such a person exist on this board? Maybe that's part of the problem.

 

I love the names Fawthrop uses to describe various troll groups:

 

"The Infant or Attention Seeker theory.

 

Some believe that the trolls are just adults whose brains and

morals have not developed beyond childhood, and they are

just behaving as attention seeking children."

 

Again, thank you ValleyDwellerNorth.

 

"The retired bitter old person theory.

 

There is evidence that some Trolls are retired persons,

with a good pension and little to do with their lives.

They may have suffered a personal loss such as the death of

a much loved spouse which warped their outlook on life.

 

This type is particularly dangerous, because they may have

ample funds to buy computer equipment, own multiple domain

names, and multiple access to the internet. Worse, they

may have 8 hours per day to invest in their "hobby"."

 

Again, if an old guy has nothing better to do with his time, money, and energy, I see nothing wrong with his being a troll, just as long as the guy isn't hateful and out to DESTROY. It's the hateful trolls that need to be shot, banned, whatever.

 

"The insane person theory.

 

Some Trolls may be clinically insane. If someone posts as

BrainGap, this may indicate that he/she has a serious gap in the brain, or it may just be a joke." (Quote slightly paraphrased.)

 

Well, we all have at least one experience with clinically insane escorts, don't we? It stands to reason there must be a percentage of gay, brain-gapped, misfit customers who could NEVER find sex with another man unless he paid for it. I pity the poor escorts who have to fuck the clinically insane. No wonder escort fees are reaching toward the sky.

 

"The just evil theory.

 

There are people in this world who enjoy destruction. Some

enjoy murdering children. Some enjoy sexually abusing

children. Some Trolls may be in a similar category."

 

Surprise! Just when you thought I might mention a certain pedophile-sympathetic escort. And that bitch has the nerve to call me a troll.

 

"The sad git theory.

 

There are unfortunately people with such restricted lives

that they cannot think of anything useful or constructive

to do with the powerful and expensive kit which they are

using."

 

I've always said I can smell contempt a mile away.

 

"The loser theory.

 

This theory is that the Trolls are just losers who cannot

succeed in anything in their real lives. They can however

disrupt forums with relative impunity."

 

If I had dime for every troll who called me a loser, I could treat all the non-trolls to an hour with Josh Weston (provided he'd return my call). I've been to enough gay bars in my day to know that losers do exist. It's a shame we have to tolerate and "ignore" them here. Pretty soon we may end up ignoring everyone and, poof, there goes the board.

 

And my all-time favorite:

 

"A Sockpuppet

 

A Sockpuppet is when a poster has several forum identities,

either just different names and email addresses from a single

account. Alternatively several email identities with valid email

addresses and email accounts."

 

We all know customers aren't the only Sockpuppet players on this board. I'm not sure what to say about any escort who strives to be a Sockpuppet. Maybe it's time to start looking for more fulfilling employment. As for Sockpuppet members, I'm happy not to be one.

 

Btw, if anyone thinks my use of Scott Adler's name was anything but affectionate, you'd be wrong. I could have used other well-known board names but I'm confident Scott is endowed with a strong sense of security and a great sense of humor. If I didn't believe he was capable of laughing at himself, I would have offered another name.

 

The basic point of using anyone's name is too illustrate the fact that, the longer you contribute to internet forums, the more likely you'll one day share troll-like attributes. Again, I have no problem with trolls until they display their hatred. The hateful ones don't deserve a place at any table and they should all be shot and/or banned. Just my gentle opinion, of course.

 

Thanks for reading, everyone. :-)

 

ps "For months he was the scrappiest and most acidic of the name callers on this board"

 

Never once have I called any non-troll-member a derogatory, hateful name with direct reference. And the only time I creatively slam acidic words on another member directly is when that same member has attempted to slam me with acid first. Feel free to prove me wrong and I will be happy to respond to every charge. (The trolls can go fuck themselves.)

 

I have no desire to be Mary Poppins and I haven't a hateful bone in my body. But I do know how to throw acid back if its slung my way.

[Guest EuropTravl]

>>AbFab quotes in response to RockHard ... you are my new best friend.

 

Well, it's not for Rockhard - here's my favorite exchange of the whole series:

 

(Eddy, Patsy and Saffy in the kitchen. Eddy and Patsy heading to Morocco, Saffy wants to go)

 

Saffy: "I'm studying the indigenous peoples of that particular region of Northern Africa for an anthropolgy module at college this term."

Eddy: "Well you don't go to Morocco to study."

Patsy: "No you don't!"

Eddy :"You go for drugs and dirt cheap rugs..."

Patsy: "...and sex with gorgeous underage youths."

Eddy: "So, darling, you don't go there to study some ingenuous peasants for an anthology molecule!"

 

 

 

 

:7 (can a person get banned around here for the crime of "thread drift"?)

[Rick Munroe]

>(can a person get banned around here for the crime of

>"thread drift"?)

 

If that were true, I would have been out on my ass a long time ago.

 

Btw, EuropTravl, I love your avatar. I've never seen AbFab but here's my favorite Maude quote (I'm paraphrasing, because I only saw it once on TV Land a few years ago): She and Walter are having a fight in the living room, and he says something about wanting his dinner, and Maude just walks out into the kitchen and then right back again into the living room, loudly drops a Saran-wrapped package on the table and says,

"Here's your dinner, Walter. And if you think that's a frozen chicken, wait 'til you see what's waiting for you in bed tonight!" :7

[RockHard]

"(can a person get banned around here for the crime of "thread drift"?)"

 

Hey, I was kind enough to warn everyone of this thread's length. Or, does "drift" refer to the ab-fab hijacking?

 

"I've never seen AbFab"

 

Make that me, too. Colleagues insist the British have humor. I just keep smiling. :-)

[Guest EuropTravl]

>"I've never seen AbFab"

 

My God, I thought this was a gay forum! I can NOT be the only one who can quote every

line of every minute of every show. Next I'll be quoting "Mommie Dearest" and you two closet heteros will be asking "What's that?"

 

(Edina when recently reunited with her gay son living in New York: "But sweetie, I WANTED you to be gay! Why do you think I blasted my tummy with Donna Summer for nine months?"

 

As an introduction to the series, and to keep the "drift" here for going too far off course, I suggest viewing the "Orgy" show from the first series where Patsy and Eddy hire male escorts for the evening, courtesy of Eddy's "pimp", her gay hairdresser. Of course Eddy's chosen escort is a bit on the fey side; he's more interested in her Channel boots than her, and the hairdresser has to pull him aside and scold "Oh, for heaven's sake, could you PLEASE try to butch it up a little!!??"

[ValleyDwellerNorth]

RockHard,

 

Sometimes fortune cookies give us little frivolous nuggets that we can chuckle about as we are gathering our currency to pay the bill. Sometimes fortune cookies deliver such poignant phrases that one is driven to save the fortune.

 

After reading your verbose post, and terribly realizing I can never gain those moments back again, I was forced to open my desk drawer and pull out a fortune I saved. I share that fortune with you now.

 

Four basic premises of writing: clarity, brevity, simplicity, and humanity.

 

I now hope you reflect on this fortune. Hopefully, after you reflect on these words of wisdom via a small piece of paper in a confection, we can all be spared your message center terrorism.

 

Oh, and your lucky numbers are 5, 14, 34, 28, 6, 4 and your "LEARN CHINESE" word is Children: Hai-zi.

 

Wishing you no MSG,

VDN

 

PS: In an attempt to recover from this horrific experience I give you all Romano Denneboom, naked on a horse.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1182/uniqueeroticanudemanonhuw7.jpg

[Rick Munroe]

>I can NOT be the only

>one who can quote every

>line of every minute of every show.

 

My parents used to watch AbFab and rave about it and quote from it, so I stayed away. I generally avoid stuff that makes my parents happy.

 

>Next I'll be quoting

>"Mommie Dearest" and you two closet heteros will be asking

>"What's that?"

 

I know what that is! It's the Joan Crawford movie, and I can even quote from it: "But'cha AAH, Blanche, ya AAH in that chair!" :+

[Guest EuropTravl]

>>I know what that is! It's the Joan Crawford movie, and I can even quote from it: "But'cha AAH, Blanche, ya AAH in that chair!"

 

Hmm, I know some smartass who needs to be sent to bed WITH dinner. Now will it be the pet bird-on-a-platter or the VERY rare steak?

[Rick Munroe]

>Now will it be the pet bird-on-a-platter or the VERY

>rare steak?

 

Let's go with the rats-in-the-cellar special, followed by ice cream cones on the beach. :9

[RockHard]

"Hopefully, after you reflect on these words of wisdom via a small piece of paper in a confection, we can all be spared your message center terrorism."

 

Does this mean you didn't like my Troll Review? Or aren't you in the market for a new flat-screen TV?

 

Well, as Fin might say, maybe you should have skipped the class, dear.

 

Verbose? But half the words weren't mine. No wonder none of the trolls have taken advantage of reading Daddy's link.

 

Message Center Terrorism? Oh, honey, you MUST have me confused with someone else. Like I've said, you get the board you ask for.

 

I don't do Chinese or fortune cookies. No thank you. But thanks for the photo. However, you lied. The man isn't naked, he's wearing shorts. Maybe you should try Fin's Photoshop Course. I hear students are running from that room naked and screaming. :o

[ValleyDwellerNorth]

Mr. R,

 

>Does this mean you didn't like my Troll Review? Or aren't you

>in the market for a new flat-screen TV?

 

I am waiting for the technology for flat-screens to improve. So many have what is called the "screen door" effect. It's annoying to me. Right now, traditional tube televisions are fine with me.

 

>Verbose? But half the words weren't mine.

 

Well, at least you recycle.

 

>I don't do Chinese or fortune cookies. No thank you. But

>thanks for the photo. However, you lied. The man isn't naked,

>he's wearing shorts. Maybe you should try Fin's Photoshop

>Course. I hear students are running from that room naked and

>screaming. :o

 

Not naked indeed. After adjusting the pitch of my monitor's angle I was saddened to see he was with some covering. My mind's eye is always disrobing what is before me.

[RockHard]

"I am waiting for the technology for flat-screens to improve. So many have what is called the "screen door" effect. It's annoying to me. Right now, traditional tube televisions are fine with me."

 

If by "screen door" you mean motion blur, word is Sony's new 2007 models are equipped with Sony’s Motionflow-120Hz motion compensation technology. Apparently, Motionflow creates 60 unique frames between each of the existing 60 frames, doubling the frames displayed per second, effectively eliminating image blurring and motion artifacts like “judder.”

 

In my circle, I'm the last to jump on board to HD. Being a Mac user, one learns not to upgrade too soon. So, I hear ya, VDN.

 

"Well, at least you recycle."

 

Recycle I do. Plus, I have a feeling none of the trolls here pay any attention to Daddy's "Beware of Trolls" announcements so I thought I'd give Daddy an extra hand.

 

I've done my best to support this board. Hell, I've even offered to throw money into the pot to help improve things. But, alas, after two years and the current influx of ugly new/old trolls, and those who respond to their posts and encourage the feed (guilty), I've come to the conclusion I'm just a one-man-band-a-Merrily-Poppin.

 

"My mind's eye is always disrobing what is before me."

 

I'm with you there, VDN. I appreciate your visual gifts (and way with words) nonetheless. :-)

[ValleyDwellerNorth]

Dearest R,

 

>If by "screen door" you mean motion blur, word is Sony's new

 

Yes! That's it.

 

>2007 models are equipped with Sony’s Motionflow-120Hz motion

>compensation technology. Apparently, Motionflow creates 60

>unique frames between each of the existing 60 frames, doubling

>the frames displayed per second, effectively eliminating image

>blurring and motion artifacts like “judder.”

 

Thanks for the new vocab and for this info. Do you realize you are turning into the message center kiosk?

 

>In my circle, I'm the last to jump on board to HD. Being a Mac

>user, one learns not to upgrade too soon. So, I hear ya, VDN.

 

I wonder if my life/personality would have been different if I was a MAC user from the beginning. Minimal to no fear of viruses, no crashing, streamlined hardware, not being overwhelmed by wires ... I think seeing so many "blue screens of death" has made my an inpatient person.

 

>Recycle I do. Plus, I have a feeling none of the trolls here

>pay any attention to Daddy's "Beware of Trolls" announcements

>so I thought I'd give Daddy an extra hand.

 

You are a human highlighter.

 

>I've done my best to support this board. Hell, I've even

>offered to throw money into the pot to help improve things.

>But, alas, after two years and the current influx of ugly

>new/old trolls, and those who respond to their posts and

>encourage the feed (guilty), I've come to the conclusion I'm

>just a one-man-band-a-Merrily-Poppin.

 

This is the most introspective, kind, and calm I have ever seen you. Did you have a near death experience? Did someone tell you not to go into the light? I need to correct my perception of you. Oh my ... is Rockhard going ... soft?!

[Louis]

I guess we get Trolls here from time to time. People do get passionate when discussing certain topics, however that's better than having no discussion at all. Its also easy to get side tracked. I think if I started a post that got side tracked I would just try to bring it back on topic myself, however some threads are just hillarious, and to be overly strick might change that spontaneity, and I would miss out on Rick M's or SA's sense of humor.

I belong to a few Yahoo groups, which are moderated, and sometimes the moderator can get a bit carried away. One person got banned once, because he was just being himself. Many people know him in person, but he said something that the moderator didn't like and got banned. So then people started coming down on the moderator, and the guy is back, but he's just more carefull about what he says.

Moderating is a real pain, and consumes a lot of time.

[RockHard]

"Do you realize you are turning into the message center kiosk?"

 

That's funny. I'm sure deej will remind you there's plenty I don't know. :-) I am, however, the "go-to" guy in my circle (I'm sure I've said that before). I've always enjoyed doing research, especially if it's a subject I care about, plus, I have assistant help. I'm never without attractive 20-year-olds running around here trying to impress me with how much they know. (They do surprise me on occasion, especially when they disrobe.)

 

"I wonder if my life/personality would have been different if I was a MAC user from the beginning."

 

I can tell you there's NO panacea, that is for sure. Macs have their own frustrating issues but their OS is much more attractive and more user friendly (see the recent commercial). I hear Vista is an attempt to copy Mac's OS aesthetic. Design work requires being cross-platfrom these days and my office has both Mac and PC. All design work is done on the Mac and spreadsheets, writing, and invoicing are done on the PC. The PCs are as virus-proof as one can get but that means, no pop-up windows, no cache, no history, no bookmarks, no clicking on unknown links and no ISP mail accounts. At the office, we're strict about protocols. So far, no virus.

 

"This is the most introspective, kind, and calm I have ever seen you. Did you have a near death experience? Did someone tell you not to go into the light? I need to correct my perception of you. Oh my ... is Rockhard going ... soft?!"

 

Very funny. Going soft? Oh, honey, can we talk? Hey, I thought I was the light.

 

I've always been introspective. That comes from a mother who taught me to follow my heart. Mostly, I am kind: I find that works best in business. But I'm not a pushover and I can fight mean if you force my hand (not very common in reality). It's the fat-child syndrome: I've learned how to fight back and annihilate (especially with words). And calm? I'm always calm, especially when no one else is. That's why when things go wrong, folks come to me for help.

 

MC members (especially escorts) who write me privately can vouch for another side to my online personality. But I don't expect anyone to admit this publicly. And I don't have a problem with that. Privacy and discretion are good things. I don't feel a need to prove anything to anyone. The men I care about know that I care. They also know who they are.

[MindThe Gap]

>>Next I'll be quoting

>>"Mommie Dearest" and you two closet heteros will be asking

>>"What's that?"

>

>I know what that is! It's the Joan Crawford movie, and I can

>even quote from it: "But'cha AAH, Blanche, ya AAH in that chair!" :+

 

Rick, I hate to bust your movie trivia cherry....but....The quote you reference "But'cha AAH, Blanche, ya AAH in that

>chair!" is not from "Mommie Dearest." It is from "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane." Could you please try to get your pyscho movie stars and their roles correct in the future? Geezzzz! :7

[Rick Munroe]

>Rick, I hate to bust your movie trivia cherry....but....The

>quote you reference "But'cha AAH, Blanche, ya AAH in that

>>chair!" is not from "Mommie Dearest." It is from "Whatever

>Happened to Baby Jane."

 

I knew that; as EuropTravl said, I was just being a smartass. I am very familiar with the movie "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" but I didn't like that they re-cast Patty Duke Astin in the role made famous by Mia Farrow: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074815/#comment

[ValleyDwellerNorth]

R,

 

>(I'm sure I've said that before). I've always enjoyed doing

>research, especially if it's a subject I care about, plus, I

>have assistant help. I'm never without attractive 20-year-olds

>running around here trying to impress me with how much

>they know. (They do surprise me on occasion, especially

>when they disrobe.)

 

Sounds like sexual servitude. Therefore, it sounds delightful!

 

>spreadsheets, writing, and invoicing are done on the PC. The

>PCs are as virus-proof as one can get but that means, no

>pop-up windows, no cache, no history, no bookmarks, no

>clicking on unknown links and no ISP mail accounts. At the

>office, we're strict about protocols. So far, no virus.

 

Our computers at work are locked-up tighter than a convent on prom night as well. They are very hard to get into and near impossible to have fun with. I rely on my trusty Flash Drive to bring fun with me.

 

>I've always been introspective. That comes from a mother who

>taught me to follow my heart. Mostly, I am kind: I find that

>works best in business. But I'm not a pushover and I can fight

>mean if you force my hand (not very common in reality). It's

>the fat-child syndrome:

>MC members (especially escorts) who write me privately can

>vouch for another side to my online personality. But I don't

>expect anyone to admit this publicly. And I don't have a

>problem with that. Privacy and discretion are good things. I

>don't feel a need to prove anything to anyone. The men I care

>about know that I care. They also know who they are.

 

My stars! Did I Barbara Waltered RockHard!?! I do respect your honesty and sincerity. Thank you.

 

V

[RockHard]

"My stars! Did I Barbara Waltered RockHard!?!"

 

It appears you did. (I'll have to ask Ms. B if she knew she could be a verb.) :-)

[RockHard]

RE: A Call for Manners...

 

Of course, I celebrated the recent death of a pesky, psychotic troll by reading, "A Call for Manners in the World of Nasty Blogs," by Brad Stone in today's NY Times.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/technology/09blog.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp&adxnnl=0&adxnnlx=1176127273-4TptqUTgbOCRXi2Vl8dA0w

 

Here are some standout quotes:

 

"Tim O’Reilly, a conference promoter and book publisher who is credited with coining the term Web 2.0, began working with Jimmy Wales, creator of the communal online encyclopedia Wikipedia, to create a set of guidelines to shape online discussion and debate."

 

"Chief among the recommendations is that bloggers consider banning anonymous comments left by visitors to their pages and be able to delete threatening or libelous comments without facing cries of censorship."

 

"“If it’s a carefully constructed set of principles, it could carry a lot of weight even if not everyone agrees,” Mr. Wales said."

 

"Distraught over the threats and manipulated photos of her that were posted on other critical sites — including one that depicted her head next to a noose — Ms. Sierra canceled a speaking appearance at a trade show and asked the local police for help in finding the source of the threats. She also said that she was considering giving up blogging altogether."

 

"In an interview, she dismissed the argument that cyberbullying is so common that she should overlook it. “I can’t believe how many people are saying to me, ‘Get a life, this is the Internet,’ ” she said. “If that’s the case, how will we ever recognize a real threat?”"

 

"People who disagree with his politics frequently leave harassing comments on his site. But the situation reached a new low last month, when an anonymous opponent started a blog in Mr. Silverstein’s name that included photos of Mr. Silverstein in a pornographic context."

 

""I’ve been assaulted and harassed online for four years,” he said. “Most of it I can take in stride. But you just never get used to that level of hatred.”"

 

"Ms. Trott has scaled back her public writing and now writes a blog for a limited audience of friends and family. “You can’t force people to be civil, but you can force yourself into a situation where anonymous trolls are not in your life as much,” she said."

 

"“Any community that does not make it clear what they are doing, why they are doing it, and who is welcome to join the conversation is at risk of finding it difficult to help guide the conversation later,” said Lisa Stone, who created the guidelines and the BlogHer network in 2006 with Elisa Camahort and Jory Des Jardins."

 

"A subtext of both sets of rules is that bloggers are responsible for everything that appears on their own pages, including comments left by visitors. They say that bloggers should also have the right to delete such comments if they find them profane or abusive."

 

"Mr. O’Reilly said the guidelines were not about censorship. “That is one of the mistakes a lot of people make — believing that uncensored speech is the most free, when in fact, managed civil dialogue is actually the freer speech,” he said. “Free speech is enhanced by civility.”"