small suggestion

[MsMary]

Whether or not BBF is LF, the trolling that BBF has been engaging in is not healthy for the forum.

[Savor Dam]

BBF is a pet peeve of mine because of his behavior back in early 2011, much less what he is doing now. However, one of the things he did in March of last year that most offended me also served to convince me that he could not possibly be LF.

Lord Foul, like many of us on the Watch was the beneficiary of the sweet mercy and grace of friendship with Furls Fire. Not just the acquaintanceship we share here on the Watch, but interaction outside of this forum. While LF is a complex person, from all I know of him, I really believe he honors Furls memory as much as any of us whose lives she touched.

Last year, a prominent Watcher who was then going by a different name than now was sporting an avatar that featured the blue flame of Furls Fire close to his heart. This Watcher had taken exception to some bit of nonsense BBF was spouting and BBF responded in a way that disrespectfully referenced the flame. It was clearly the act of someone who had no idea what the flame meant. I, among several others called him on that and it was a factor (along with a lot of his other misdeeds) that got BBF censured back then.

LF would not have gone there. Therefore, I really doubt BBF = LF.

BTW, for any Watchers who have joined in the last couple years and do not know who Furls Fire was and why she is held in such esteem, please click on the flame in my signature. You will not regret it...and maybe you will be moved to read some of the relevant Hall of Gifts threads.

[lorin]

I really really regret this thread morphed into a thing about LF/BBF. That was not my intention. Over my last three years I have encountered several incidents where I believed/know that an identity was false. But I had to temper my beliefs with the understanding that I am hypersensitive about this subject and could be making wrong assumptions. I wanted to discuss the policy on the board regarding multiple identities, not a specific person/people.

In the end Fist has it right. I have a need to believe people are real. My response to people is based on who they are and how honest they are with me. Right or wrong, that is who I am.

So, apologies to anyone that may have been harmed by this post, it was not my intention.

[DoctorGamgee]

Lorin,

It is always tough in these types of boards to know who to trust and how much. I don't doubt that on certain aspects your hunch has been correct. I can only tell you I have never used any other name on any other forum. I am who I am, warts and all.

Usually, given enough time and a certain sense of preservation, most duplicity will become apparent. Reagan's "trust but verify" is a good rule of thumb on boards like these.

On a different board, where I am a moderator, we have a yearly round-robin exchange that anyone who wants to can participate in. I have been in charge of it for about 8 years. It has grown smaller, but we have had very few bad eggs (who received but didn't send). And we also have had a few meetings where folks can come and get to see each other in person. We bought a wedding dress for one member who met her groom on the boards, and I have received a virtual shower when our first child was born. Some really great things can happen in an environment like that. And, of course, some not great things can happen too...we had to ban a few folks. Not much fun.

Spend enough time watching how folks react and you will quickly learn whom you can trust and whom you should be polite but distant from.

Sorry to hear you had a rough time. May you find peace about it.

Doc

[sgt.null]

i have never used an alter ego to be malicious. i have always been upfront about that sort of thing. (the alter and the malicious. heh.)

i do realize that some people were dreading me coming to the last Watcher Fest.

I will say I didn't think I was that bad.

i know the large amounts of posts i have seem to have driven a wedge with some.

i apoligize whenever i have been an ass. i think i have matured whilst onhere. i can even post on the tank in less than a blind fury. or even a blind furry. (that would be a sight to see.)

maybe more folks should show at the e-fests. i love our community here. even if i don't love all aspects of our community.

the issue with bbf should be addressed a bit more proactively. as it was with Zeph. seems i was attacked by bbf on the Man thread. even though the posts were deleted before I ever saw them.

this site is a refuge for many. from the daily grind. from family that may be too distant. from from friends that we have grown away from. until we get the notice that they passed.

their are people here that i love in a strange, fierce way. (you may not know who you are) but i reference the day at the river a lot. i was truly happy that day, so thanks to those who were there. i miss you still.

who expected such honest, emotional output from one such as me?

[lorin]

who expected such honest, emotional output from one such as me?

I did.

[babybottomfeeder]

It looks as though the "Red Scare" has hit the watch and all of you are beginning to become paranoid of each other. I would point you to the episode of The Twilight Zone entitled "Monsters on Maple Street" for a quick dose of ethical reasoning.

Ladies and gentleman, I came here two years ago to find a place to talk and discuss but so far, only Ananda has shown me any good will. I'm sure most people (cause that's what we all are just people) would give up but I have something in me that wants everyone to like me. I like the Watch in theory and love some of the discussions I've had, they have strengthened my religious resolve in so many ways.

Echo Cave
by babybottomfeeder

The bus they just exited smelled of coffee and morning air conditioning. They were ready for their hard earned trip down into St. Mark's national forest echo caves.

For six months they had worked so hard to keep the small vitamin company afloat and as a result, business had just recently been better than ever. Their boss, Adam Tarr, was pleased to present them with a spelunking trip as a thank you and as a reward.

There were 9 of them that went, happy as clams and ready for the days adventure.

"Watch your slack!" Cried Anorld Leal "You get that snagged and you can get a fray in your ropes!"

"Yeah, I need to be a bit more careful!" yelled up Lauren Jacobs, who grew more nervous by the rope foot.

"You can doooo it!" yelled up miss Alice Anderson, "We got it on this end"

Lauren made it to the bottom and was given pats on the backs and much praise.

"Alright...It's your turn" said Arnold Leal to the newest member of the Kelvin's Weight Watchers Vitamin Club.

"I'm scared of inclosed places, I guess I should have explained that before" said the newest and most nervous member. He wanted so badly for his fellow coworkers to like him so he decided to come on this spelunking trip even though he was claustrophobic.

"[Sighhhhhh] Yeah, you probably should have" Robert Murray said so apathetically as to evoke non action.

"Yeah...Oh well, down you go" Arnold said annoyed.

"You got this buddy!" Yelled David Phillips from below. David had been the only champion for change to the Weight Watcher company and had instituted many talking points for the phone operators to focus on. Because he had seen something in this new employee that others still did not, the other coworkers were all a bit annoyed. Yes he had worked just as hard as the rest of them but for some reason they were untrusting of him.

"Come on Dude! Get the lead out!" Cried Alice, also known as Ali to her friends.

"I'm coming down guys! Is it hard the second way down?"

"JUST HURRY, WE ARE WASTING TIME" cried up Judy Fignon, she was almost as nervous as the new guy but showed it through yelling. She really enjoyed jazz.

"this is like an episode of h.r. puff n' stuff down here" commented Nelson Sargent.

"Ha ha ha!" yelled down Anorld, pumping his fist.

"Guys, there isn't a chance that this cave could collapse is there."

"Guys, there isn't a chance that this cave could collapse is there? To answer this question no, now get along please and stop holding things up" said Arnold.

" This doesn't make any sense!" says Lauren with a distant look in her eyes. "all my food in my backpack is rotten!"

"Let me take a look, no it's okay Lauren you just need to keep your water bottle tighter"

Finally the new guy followed by Arnold and Murray make it into the cave when suddenly all their headlights go out.

"There is no logical way all these lights could simultaneously go out."

"Maybe they were all just bad batteries?" questions David

"That's not possible" says Judy

"Someone playing a joke?" questions Alice

" guys this isn't funny!"

"it's really dark down here"

" someone tell me what to do"

"everyone get up against this wall and hold hands"

Suddenly the lights come back on and everyone is pressed against the wall except for David and the new guy.

"What are you two doing? Was this a practical joke?

"Uh... no,we just didn't get over in time. We were kind of standing in an awkward spot."

"meh" said Murray

"Guys! You need to pay attention or something bad will happen" said Ali

"These guys over here need to realize that this could be life and death" Lauren said

"Regardless, stop Fucking around" chastised Judy

" Okay guys, stop talking like that. I hear this same one sided argument everyday for almost 10 years. Come on, stop jumping on the band wagon and realize we are just moving slower, sorry.

"pfffff" pffffs Murray

"Come on!"

"Just follow up, our lives could be in danger down here"

"I'm aware of that"

"SO AM I"

"Stop yelling or be written up!"

Suddenly the lights go out again and when they come back on, David is missing

"David! David!" Cried the new guy

"what just happened?" asked Sargent

"I think Foul left down that cave" said Arnold, " I have faith he'll be back later, he's a regular spelunker."

"that doesn't make sense, the lights went out we got to yell for him or get him!" cried the new guy

"He left of his own accord! You go after him if you want!"

" this is my first time in a cave I don't know what I'm doing!"

"meh"

"SHUT UP"

"Woah! woah woahhhhhhh, don't you fucking dare to tell anyone to shutup!" yelled Ali

" this just got real weird"

"As soon as we get back to the office, I'm telling Adam Tarr and he's going to tell you to get off his lawn so to speak and clear out your desk!" Judith's anger increasing

"Guys! this is serious! let's go after him!"

"Wait, i just got a text from David, he's fine"

"can I see it?"

"no... I'll read it, "Feeling fine need a break""

"That doesn't sound like him"

"Stop making trouble"

"i'm not trying to!"

"Let's go get him guys!"

"NO, SHUT THE FUCK UP"

Suddenly, the rock face began to crumble above and fell on the spelunkers, all were trapped and badly injured.

"This has gone too far! This is YOUR fault for yelling so much!"

"you are all yelling at me what are you talking about!"

"we are fucking dead for sure!"

"Text David back!"

"I can't! he never texted me!"

"oh"

"OH! HE LIED"

"It was probaby a mistake"

Just then, it began to rain and rainwater filled up the cave and everyone drowned. They recovered all the bodies but could not get to David's as it had fallen down a sink hole and was lodged too tight to move.

The End

[[Syl]]

I'm tempted to delete your post, BBF, but I'm going to refrain for now.

The simple truth of the matter is that this is a community, like any other, though perhaps unlike many other online ones. We want to grow and improve, so we're generally welcoming of any and all, but we also look to protect it. We've had hacker attacks and persistent trolls in the past, so the immune system is keyed to notice and flag suspicious behavior, rejecting members when they display pernicious characteristics. Your actions to date have triggered many of these defense mechanisms, though never quite strong enough to demand ejection.

But you're skirting the edge, man. Your persistence in provocation has everybody on edge, and you're getting very close to the point where it's just easier to ban you, right or not (this is not, strictly speaking, a democracy but a privately-owned and -run establishment. KW membership is a privilege, not a right).

You want to be a part of this community? Act like it. Bring your style closer in line with the norm. A few suggestions? Talk about yourself (in a somewhat normal manner, if you can) in the Summonsing. Shoot the shit in GD. Talk about some of your favorite songs, movies, TV shows, or whatever the various forums for such purposes. Hold off on debating in the Tank and the Close for a while. Even better, talk about The Chronicles (even if it's just to ask questions, if you haven't read the books) or author works in the various literature forums. Make yourself relatable to the other members here.

In short, be a f***ing human being. Your chosen name and the dark cloud you entered the Watch under predispose people here to treat you otherwise.

By the powers invested in me by the admins, I hereby absolve you of all guilt from your previous transgressions—perceived or otherwise. However, if you want people's trust and respect, you have a steep climb in front of you, and if you misstep from here on out (including using this thread or any others in A&S to further your little agenda), I will do my utmost to see you banned.

And have a nice day.

[Ananda]

Echo Cave
by babybottomfeeder

The bus they just exited smelled of coffee and morning air conditioning. They were ready for their hard earned trip down into St. Mark's national forest echo caves.

...

Just then, it began to rain and rainwater filled up the cave and everyone drowned. They recovered all the bodies but could not get to David's as it had fallen down a sink hole and was lodged too tight to move.

The End

That was hilarious. It was in the same nature of being as good as the one Nullo wrote in random stories.

On the topic, I dont really have an emotional investment in the place more than I enjoy interacting with some of the people. But, I dont take the place personally so people occasionally taking the piss doesn't bother me as long as it is not in a mean way. Once people become mean, then it is no good. I haven't seen any of the past so all I have seen so far is a bit silly performance art type of thing which does not bother me at all. That said, I do not understand why anyone would put the effort into doing it.

[Fist and Faith]

It looks as though the "Red Scare" has hit the watch and all of you are beginning to become paranoid of each other.

Extremely few of us are paranoid. (Looks at lorin. ) Certainly not the Watch in general. Several others of us are having fun guessing about you and Foul.

Ladies and gentleman, I came here two years ago to find a place to talk and discuss but so far, only Ananda has shown me any good will.

Rubbish. At least a couple of us are trying to discuss what a man is with you.

These two sentences of yours are just part of the reason you, in particular, are not getting the best responses from many people. Stop accusing us of things we haven't done. Stop making up crap about us.

[sgt.null]

It looks as though the "Red Scare" has hit the watch and all of you are beginning to become paranoid of each other. I would point you to the episode of The Twilight Zone entitled "Monsters on Maple Street" for a quick dose of ethical reasoning.

Ladies and gentleman, I came here two years ago to find a place to talk and discuss but so far, only Ananda has shown me any good will. I'm sure most people (cause that's what we all are just people) would give up but I have something in me that wants everyone to like me. I like the Watch in theory and love some of the discussions I've had, they have strengthened my religious resolve in so many ways.

what a load of horse piss. you came as a troll and you continue as a troll. you should have banned after your first round of nonsense. but others here are more forgiving than i am.

and if you turn out to actually be foul you should be banned permanently.

you attack then feign surprise that people react in a negative manner towards you.

you remind me of my inmates, demanding respect and giving none out whatsoever.

come clean (in identity and manner) and behave as if you want to be part of this community. or piss off and find somewhere else to troll.

i say with all due respect that you deserve.

[Ananda]

Nullo, do not be so jealous that someone else writes so funny stories as you!

Seriously, I do not see the issue with Beebs. Unless he becomes mean, who cares? The tank has posters who are frequently absolute dicks to each other. If that is okay, then why should Beebs (who is not as bad in my opinion because you can see it is a performance) be singled out for this one? If he becomes malicious then this is a different situation. So far, it seemed like performance about or by one (or two) willing parties primarily.

Or is it that it is an obvious performance that bothers people?

And, maybe just make Nullo a mod of Hall of Gifts so he does not have to finally just ask for it. Making him one of Mallorys would be redundant.

[sgt.null]

ananda - it seems you have missed the attacks by bbf.

i never asked for the modship of the HoG.

[[Syl]]

In other words, let it go.

Now, I'm going to lock this thread (no offense to the OP). I think it's served its purpose. Clean slate and all that as far as I'm concerned.