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Post by bazfaz on Mar 2, 2009 16:33:31 GMT
I think lawyers (or is it philosopers?) who would say there was a distinction without a difference. (I don't think I have broken the no-one-line rule)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2009 17:57:53 GMT
Perhaps the subtitles of the branches contain a certain amount of information. The Free Trade Zone might be a place for people to make first contact and discover a few things about the site with a variety of interesting miscellaneous posts. The Waterfront Park might be a place for people to relax and make idle chatter about nothing, if they only want to talk to each other temporarily, while they get ideas for useful contributions.
Of course we know there will always be freeloaders who only want to take things and give nothing, but that is a given anywhere.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 2, 2009 18:09:15 GMT
Let’s pretend ~~ let’s pretend that I come to your house to visit. There will be other people there, and you want me because you think of me as someone who will contribute both to serious conversation and to merriment.
So, I walk in, throw my coat over the head of one guest and jostle coffee over another as I push for a place on the sofa, meanwhile talking loudly over the extant conversation.
My first words are, “Sheesh – can’t you take those curtains down? They’re too busy!” Next I say that there is far too much furniture in your house. Hey, a sofa and one armchair are more than enough for me, why do you want that ugly loveseat and that useless rocker? As a matter of fact, you’ve got too many damned rooms in this house. In case you fail to understand my wants and needs, I helpfully provide examples from other places I know.
Around me flow conversations about the arts, about cooking, sports, travel and other things. From time to time I butt into a conversation and randomly reference acquaintances unknown to those talking and not present at the gathering. Luckily there are some people here I know already. I’ll just talk to them -- I want to know what happened with that boyfriend situation last year and what’s-his-name there and I used to keep some funny banter going at that other place.
When you bring out the refreshments, I loudly mock them, even as I pick and choose the ones I like. What were you thinking serving these vol au vents – pretentious! And the paté? Heavy – no one likes that shite. Many of the other guests seem to think that the living room is attractive. They’re enjoying the conversations and are trying to get to know each other. Pretty shy, some of them! The people next to me are discussing poetry. I lift a haunch and emit a fart as I recite an amusingly smutty limerick. What’s their problem? Obviously no sense of humor.
Looks like some of the guests are hastily leaving. Why are they rolling their eyes at my host and shooting dirty looks at me? Well, who cares. Now there’s more room for me and my friends to spread out. This is more like it! Now we can use our special vocabulary from that other place we used to hang out and talk about people and neat stuff only we know about. Our host seems distressed – what a nazi!
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Post by onlymark on Mar 2, 2009 18:29:33 GMT
And your signature line is what?
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Post by bazfaz on Mar 2, 2009 18:38:55 GMT
I should have learnt from real life: never criticise someone else's child. But like others here I was suggesting one small improvement. Suddenly I am spilling people's coffee and making them roll their eyes. I am suggesting combining the first two branches. When you've had a shower try to see what we the users are talking about.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 2, 2009 18:46:12 GMT
Well I think you are going against human nature if you try and avoid one line posts or chat, on or off topic, within any thread whatsoever, be it a thread on bodily functions or philosophy. I can't post intelligent relevant things every time. In fact, like any here, those posts are in the minority. I also cannot have the enthusiasm to read, digest, take in and reply to all long thought provoking posts with a relevant thought provoking reply. Certain forum rules should stand, those on abuse and lack of respect etc. If you want a free exchange of ideas and comments you have to live with those posts that aren't up to your opinion of what is acceptable.
You can't have it both ways. Besides, it takes a lot of intelligence to summarise, deflate, counter and inform within a one line comment.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 2, 2009 18:47:54 GMT
And when I can, I do.
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Post by bazfaz on Mar 2, 2009 18:52:46 GMT
In a nutshell.
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Post by gyro on Mar 2, 2009 18:58:09 GMT
It seems to me that the main problem with making suggestions or comments, or having the forum organised the way it is, is that some people involved in it would appear to have chips on their shoulders about the past. Which is a shame.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 2, 2009 20:33:03 GMT
And we both are well balanced. Chips on each shoulder.
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Post by palesa on Mar 3, 2009 4:00:49 GMT
What Mark said in 35.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 3, 2009 4:48:58 GMT
What palesa said in 40.
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Post by happytraveller on Mar 3, 2009 6:13:44 GMT
I agree with Mark, Palesa, Baz and spindrift.
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