Community archive

Ask something
Discussion Locked

The Soap Box

0 helpful
116 replies

by yobtaf

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I'm increasingly disturbed that Tech Republic is being used by
people to voice their views on politics and world affairs.
Freedom of speech is a right that we all enjoy, but there is a
propler place for it on the internet.
Tech Republic should maintain of policy of resticting discussion to
IT related issues.
Please note that there are no tags for this type of discussion.

116 replies

by maxwell edison

....you should either make CNet an offer that's attractive enough for you to buy TechRepublic, so you can run it the way you see fit; or create a competing site, and run that one the way you wish; or send them a letter asking them to remove all these discussions you deem inappropriate.

I believe we can assume that they've considered the lost traffic from people like you who are turned off by these types of discussions, versus the additional hits they generate, which improves their traffic and "bottom line numbers". I think we can also assume that you lose.

By the way, how dare you start a discussion that's not tech-related! How wude! (And the tag sould be [i]Global Warming[/i].)

P.S. You're yet another person who misapplies the "freedom of speech" clause!

by jdclyde

What are you going on about? Do you not have the mental capacity to distinguish between a tech and a non-tech discussion before going into it?

Are you so narrow in your perceptions that his is a problem?

Recently, I have noticed you are participating in the non-tech discussions. If they disturb you so, would you not think it is pretty stupid of you to spend so much time in them?

If you want to have complete control of a website, you always have the option of making your own, do you not?

How nice that you would seek to silence people on a board that you have no control over.

Also a little clue for you as you don't seem to understand that YOU have NO "freedom of speech" on a privately owned web site such as this. You only have the rights that TechRepublic ALLOWS you to have. Do you think that maybe they never noticed the non-tech discussions before you pointed it out?

Oh, and when you have feedback about the site, there actually IS a heading for that. Guess you would have had to been paying attention in the short time you have been a member to know that, huh?

SoapBox is for people that actually have something to share that others might actually find interesting. Lose the cookware, because you don't and this isn't.

by gsg

... to exit a discussion if I don't like it. Just like if I don't like programming on TV, or am otherwise offended, I exercise my right to change the channel rather than complaining to the FCC and getting others fined or ruining the programming for others that like it. If you don't like it, don't enter the discussion and participate. Oh, and the tag thing? You can create your own tag. I did it earlier today.

by jdclyde

I am pretty sure he was refering to the category of the discussion?

When DO I complain about a post on TR? When it is SPAM, a scam, or illegal. If it uses openly offensive language this is also a matter of concern as you don't want advertisers to get offended because they are what makes the site "free" to us.

Oh sure, it is fun to jump on a troll for, well, being a troll. But besides that, it isn't a big deal.

by mjd420nova

Check out any of the other technical forums and you'll find that they have all added or have had forums for those who wish to discuss/debate with others about non-technical things and ideas. To say that's not right, is a violation of your own complaint. If you don't like it, no one's making you read it. Just like the TV, if you don't like what's on, change the channel.

by nicknielsen

TR is an on-line community that appeals to people with many different interests in the IT field. When you started this thread, you may have noticed that there are a total of twenty-four different discussion topics available on TR.

There are many topics available for IT-related articles and discussions: Network Administration, Wireless, Telecom, E-mail Administration, Servers, Storage, Desktops, Software/Web Development, Databases, Windows, Linux, Enterprise Applications, Infrastructure Management, IT Management, Intrusion Detection, Network Security, General Technology, and Virus Threats. Members can discuss career advancement and direction in the Career and Certification topics. There is also the premium members area, TechProGuild, and the TR-related topics: Site Ideas/Feedback and Community Roadshow.

Finally, there is the Miscellaneous topic. Miscellaneous is defined as
1. consisting of members or elements of different kinds; of mixed character: a book of miscellaneous essays on American history.
2. having various qualities, aspects, or subjects: a miscellaneous discussion.

Synonyms: divers, varied, heterogeneous, diversified

Link: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/miscellaneous

Think of the TR Miscellaneous topic as the kitchen/coffee bar/water cooler/cafeteria of the TR workplace. This is where members gather to discuss items of importance to them that are not necessarily work-related. These discussions help the members get to know each other and help provide the glue that makes TR a community. And they are discussions; no matter how radical the disagreement, I have only rarely seen these discussions descend into the flame wars that occur on other sites.

Where would you have discussions that affect TR members, but don't specifically address IT issue take place? Or would you much rather they not take place at all?

If the discussions in the Miscellaneous topic disturb you so much, simply don't go there.
[/instruct]

by dawgit

and I'm sure Billy Gates would appreciate us not bashing MicroSquish too. And most us us sure get tired of hearing about how un-friendly Linux is to the masses. And the Politions would like it if we were all stupid. And Santa Clause (and his sister, Legal Clause) would sure like not getting sniped at too. And.....

by dawgit

IT is about the free movement of thoughts and ideas, -communications.!. -d

Second Post, I was too lazy to explain an 'edit' :0

by jdclyde

You were too lazy to explain an edit, but not too lazy to explain a second post about not editing? :0 :p ;\

by techexec2

[b]deltaphobia[/b] [i]n[/i] (2006) : [b]1.[/b] abnormal dread of changing your online forum post [b]2.[/b] abnormal fear of water faucets -- [b]deltaphobe[/b] [i]n[/i]

Jeez, man. You've got deltaphobia(TM) something bad! :^0

Peer pressure! It's not just giving flats and wedgies anymore! ;\

edit: Of course...

by yobtaf

Wow,

I never made so many enemies so quickly in my life. And there
are even people who have been keeping track of my posts.

I have something in common with you. The time to waste.

Face it, we could all be doing something more productive right
now.

I would take my discussion back if I could and I would love to
respond to each one of you personally but that's not practical.
So I will make one big apology for all of you:

I'm sorry that I misinterpreted the "freedom of speech" clause,
tried to control the content of this site, violated my own
suggestion, impeding the free exchange of ideas, not having the
mental complicity for something, etc. That covers it except for
turning the TV off . I guess I'll have to do that too.

The irony is, that this is just the kind of discussion you guys
like. One that you can really get emotional about. So in a way
you should appreciate what I did.

Enjoy and "look to see me no more"

by dawgit

Have to leave, stick around, we all get klobered here too. Just kick back, relax, watch what goes on, and come on back in. (Bring food too, we get hungry :-) )

by jdclyde

this is NOT the "kind of discussion you guys like".

Have you not realized that every few weeks there are people like you, that step up to tell the rest of us the "correct" way of posting on this board. It is boring and annoying to have someone take that road that they are somehow in a position to "set us straight". It will be responded to though.

Can't speak for anyone else here, so I won't, but as for "keeping track of my posts", it was just last week that we engaged in a political discussion, correct? I also take the time to look in someones profile at the other posts they have done to try to get a "feel" for what that person is about. If I would have seen you were just a worthless troll, it would have been a flame cast down upon you instead of simply stating an alternative opinion.

To see or not to see is your choice. Something here for everyone, just avoid the places that aren't your cup of tea. Hope you find what your looking for.

by techexec2

I am still relatively new here. But, I found out right away that posting on TR requires a thick skin. If you post an opinion, you should [i]expect[/i] to get a strong reaction that does and does not agree with you (from some of the alpha population here). If you post a question, you should [i]expect[/i] to get a variety of answers, some of which you may not like very much.

So, why post? It is a great place to actually get honest views that might be different from your own. That can be [i]very[/i] enlightening and is difficult to find at any price, let alone for free.

And, if any of you disagree with me @#$%% #!@$% @#$#@ AWEERDSAS ASFDOG GROBSCHNITT!!! X-(

Got it?! :^0 ;-)

by jdclyde

[i]"If you post a question,"[/i]

Actually, it is when you post a [b]STATEMENT[/b] that you can get someone to jump all over you.

I think that makes the score 1 to 1. :D

by yobtaf

Jokes, puns, cartoons, really stupid opinions, misspellings
(mine).

How could I have objected to this?

jdclyde, you're everywhere! You're the best, I really mean it. We
could argue all night over a couple of beers and settle nothing.

I love it.

So, OK, can we agree to make religion off limits then?

by tig2

Remember the duckies.

There is no reason to use harsh language. You know we tolerate you well and only disagree with you to your face when it is absolutely necessary.

Personal amusement aside, I think you hit it square on the head. People are generally treated as they treat, and there is a VERY strong sense of community here- there are people I am protective of, people I am supportive of, people I don't read at all. I assume that while some like me, some agree with me, others do not. Life on the boards.

:)

by why me worry?

if you disagree with me, you will be terminated!

resistance is futile, you will be assimilated

oh, and by the way, I do believe in god because I carry gods in metal and paper form in my pocket and wallet every day

"In God We Trust" cannot be further from the truth

E. Pleribus Unum straight to the bank!

by why me worry?

First he comes on, rants about people discussing politics and world issues, and now claims he will never return?

Big deal! Goodbye and good riddens, because we don't need anal morons like him here to dictate how TR is run and what they allow or disallow.

So long as nobody else is complaining about it, why should he be so bothered by it?

by danlm

If you search back through my posts, to way back when. You will find a post from me where I asked how to get off them. I didn't like them, and I didn't want any part of them. But, and this is the big butt(no, not Bertha). I knew that others enjoyed these discussions, and that if TechRepublic didn't think they were relevant. They would stop them. So, I just quit reading them. And concentrated my reading on this site to technical information.

I've found though, because everyone here is from the same profession for the most part that I am. They are use to providing reference material to support their arguments. Now, I find that I truly enjoy these non technical discussions due to the fact of both the arguments and the supportive links that people provide. It gives me a chance to open my mind to positions that I wouldn't even have considered.

But, again. When I didn't like the discussion. Or when I don't like the discussion now. I just don't follow it or read them.

Besides that, think about it this way. The human race really is a sociable animal. It's just nice to have non technical discussions with your fellow peers in a purely social environment.

Dan
p.s. hey, do i have to be a gold member to have the cool smiley face options? lol

by maecuff

JD collects the dues. Send him a check and he'll give you the captain computer decoder ring. (All the gold members wear one)

by jdclyde

"If I doooo, I get a whippen! I dood it!"

nameless worm on an old andy panda flick when he is trying to make his garden. The dog follows the worm up to the rake and......

by techexec2

[i]"Actually, it is when you post a STATEMENT that you can get someone to jump all over you."[/i]

I didn't actually say it, but asking the wrong question can also get someone to jump all over you (1).

Your "yellow card" will cost you a point. ;\ :^0 ;-)

(1)

REFERENCES

need 2 know how 2 activate windows xp pro (Damn troll, begone! X-( )
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-11183-0.html?forumID=89&threadID=201027&messageID=2095344

Why is IT nearly all male?
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=8&threadID=181966&messageID=1855230

Who to Hire???
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-11181-0.html?forumID=6&threadID=199119&messageID=2074029

And of course...

Forgotten Bios Password (How can I reset it...)
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=8&threadID=200703&messageID=2091464

edit: yeah yeah yeah

by yobtaf

It's all the same people in these "discussions".

I'm a member of a group that I wanted to ban this morning!

"I would never belong to a group that would accept me as a
member"
Groucho Marx

by ontheropes

Something like, "You [b]will[/b] be treated as an equal even if you aren't", or something equally ferocious and stoopid.

Edit: Re-reading your last post... [b]Who[/b] are you calling, "the sane people"?

Re-re-reading... Oh... "the same people".

Nevermind.

I thought you were saying something offensive for a second there.

Feel free to ignore any previous posts and all future posts I make. I'm easily confuzzed and "they" only humor my "being" here. Thank you. Thank you very much.

by nicknielsen

is that the Tech discussions are not usually the "hot" discussions (except, of course, the OS wars!) If you go to the Discussions home page, scroll down about halfway. Just below the featured discussions and the posts from your contacts are links to the individual topics.

My problem is that I always head there, then get sidetracked in the sidebar...

by jdclyde

If they are REALLY off-topic, They can be the "hottest" discussion on the site, but they remove it from both the "hot" and "new" menus because they are not the focus of the page. they allow us, but don't want it to look like they support it to new comers.

I use the "Posts by my contacts" about 95% of the time, and is the FIRST thing I look at when I get on.

For a while, they were even high-lighting this very thing with their "Too Hot for TR" weekly newsletter. Not sure exactly why Jay stopped doing that, but I am sure it was a business decission.

The three largest discussions to date on TR are all non-technical.

by techexec2

[i]Of course[/i] there are technical discussions. Lots of them. They are usually in the appropriate category (Windows, Network Security, etc.).

There is a GREAT technical discussion about securing your computer from malware on the web. Don't be too distracted about the porn references. It really is about security and is very informative. You'll learn a lot about how to secure your browsing experience and why you're really not that secure while browsing online (just lucky).

User wants porn
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-11193-0.html?forumID=4&threadID=200983&messageID=2094859

by ontheropes

Somebody help me out here.

Knowingly supporting illegal activity is a no-no.

JD's a legend! I'm politely refraining from saying [b]exactly[/b] where he's a legend 'cuz I kinda' sorta' like him a little bit. Maybe. Sometimes. Once in awhile. Ocassionally. (Please do NOT feed the animals)

by jdclyde

Illegal is not toloerated at all.

SPAMMERS are politely informed that there is a ring in hell reserved just for them.

ScriptKiddies are scorned and shunned and then sent away.

The discussions have been anything from politics, abortion, religion (or lack of), economy, jokes (every friday watch for the "friday yuks"), odd stories and/or news, Tig2 kept us up-to-date on her 60 mile walk she did for Breast Cancer, another member (Neil) got help planning a trip to bring his Mum from the UK to the States for a vacation, and some clown even used this place to get advice and support for a divorce.

There really is something of everything, for everyone. It has been dubbed "The Water Cooler", and we just have to wait for either NB or Col to post the official picture of it! :D

Instead of a place for tech, this has become a place for techs. We CAN discuss tech, and do all the time. We also "chit-chat" about whatever we want to, and yes, thread hi-jacking is very common.

NB, you realize what Mae is going to say when she sees your post, right? :0

by ontheropes

Everybody else seems to know what Mae is going to say and I never do.

Remind me to grab a copy of the watercooler pic next time it shows up.

by maecuff

NB, you better be careful about liking him a little bit..you never know. He might try to get you to 'play for the other team'.

by tig2

But Maecuff is the centre of the universe.

:)

NB- Watch out. If JD mentions show tunes... RUN!!!

by jdclyde

is to learn who posts what, and avoid the discussions you do not agree with. I have been trying to avoid the eco-nut discussions, and trying to take a break from the politics. There will be plenty of time for that at election time.

Argue? Politely discuss the pros and cons of a topic, allowing you the privilage to be wrong if you so choose is more like it.

Welcome.

by danlm

She traded for it at school. She traded her Johny Quest decoder ring(she didn't think he was good lookin no more).

You have to wind the watch by the way, for some reason it can walk and talk, but it can't wind itself.

Thanks for the emotions thing, I've been wondering how they were done.

Dan

by nicknielsen

but he don't play no more" - [i]Hugo the Abominable Snowman[/i] in the traditional Mel Blanc "not right bright" voice.

I don't believe I'm up this late having a conversation in cartoon dialog. :0

by tig2

Religion will NEVER be off-limits. While my opinions agree with some, disagree with others, I find the discussions interesting. I find more information about the "whys" that people believe as they do- and that is enlightening.

I am a Christian woman with an agnostic partner. Reading the discussions with other agnostic beliefs actually help me to understand some of my partner's beliefs better.

Besides, as you observed, we are an emotional bunch here. What better than the hot button of religion to debate?

You may have missed it, but to the point of community regardless of belief, a LARGE number of peers, based on me asking them to, changed their avatars to support awareness of an event I was participating in. People here CARE a great deal, that is why this forum is so successful.

by jdclyde

What will bring people back, more and more? Posting of technical articles or a feeling of home with friends?

Technical friends technically are a grand thing to have, and some even do get to meet in the meat world as seen in another current discussion. Within the next year.....

by tig2

Getting to MI just hasn't made the priority ladder. Hunting season upon us and all that... although we have thought about getting there for deer.

Spent the weekend cutting trail and building a stand. Did a little small game- saw exactly one partridge. Woods are still too dense.

Of course I prefer the sense of talking to friends. Nice that I can have a technical conversation with them. Nicer that they also understand why deer hunting is important.

by techexec2

Thanks, Tigger...

Speaking of ducks, I have to quote this outstanding post by NickNielsen:

[accent redneck]
M R ducks

M R not ducks

O S A R! C M wangs?

M R ducks!
[/accent]

by tig2

The opener was Saturday. We were out at Floodwood cutting trail and building a deer stand this weekend, stayed at partner's Dad's place on the lake. Woke on Sunday morning to gunfire.

Another hunting season begins. Blaze orange just doesn't go with my hair so well anymore...

But the Fall colour was at peak. Absolutely beautiful!

by why me worry?

We have too many tree hugging nutjobs in NY who would go apesh*t and harrass the hunters who are legally hunting game animals with a permit. These same nuts are the ones blocking traffic when they stage their monthly anti-war rallies in midtown Manhattan and make complete asses of themselves by showing their utter stupidity. I'd love to go hunting once in a while, but my wife is afraid of guns and would never let me keep a hunting rifle in the home, especially if children are present. I got a collectors edition 14" blade Brazillian hunting knife with real ivory handle (was legal back then), which scares the hell out of my wife as is. A rifle would end up having me filing divorce papers because my wife simply won't have any part of it. Oh well, I'll stick to throwing rocks and yelling typical New Yorker obscenities at game animals in hopes they will die of a heart attack so that I can come home with a catch. I think I'll invite Hillary Clinton along, as she has a loud mouth and will definitely scare a few game animals to death by rupturing their ear drums. I know she hurts my ears when she speaks..err..I mean squawks.

by jdclyde

grab a copy of the watercooler pic next time it shows up.

There, you got your reminder. :D

As for what Mae would say and why, I sent that in Peer. There is no WAY I would post that here and give her and easy lob ball to start the week out with! B-)

by jdclyde

There are two main quotes that come to mind.

"Yooooour Dissthpickabllle!"

"I may be a little coward, but I am a GREEEEDY little coward!"

:D

by gadgetgirl

was that you making the most of us NOT having a spoolcheeker on here??

Your "dethpicckkabbbllllle" was spelt wrong, anyway..... :p

:D

GG

by why me worry?

People are free to discuss whatever it is they wish to discuss on TR, so long as it does not violate the terms of service, which I don't think it does.

Until then, if you don't like you, "blow it out yer ass because we don't give a crap" or as others have stated, start your own website or chat service and stomp on free speech any which way you want like the idiots at AOL are doing.

Frankly, I am annoyed that someone would make an issue of this at all.

by yobtaf

Hey stupid,

Read the full series of messages and follow evolution (or do you
deny eveolutiion too?) before you make a judgement.

I will be glad to "blow it out my ass" only if your face is there to
receive it.

Besides this is my discussion and you're not welcome here. so
you can eat shit and die.

by onbliss

To get discussions going :-), and you want to remove religion off the plate.

by yobtaf

onbliss,

Thanks for the advise, I'm getting the hang of it.

Now I'm totally addicted.

What a turn around.

by tig2

We aren't a bad bunch.

One of the things that I found really helpful was reading the Friday Yuks. I got a good sense of the personalities I was encountering that way. I was also a lurker for a long while. That helped too.

My expereince has been that people really want to get to know who you are and what your positions are- in addition to knowing and understanding you as an IT person. The fact that I am a Project Manager isn't nearly as interesting as hearing about all the training I walked for the 3 Day. I even managed to connect with a walker from another city.

Happy to have you here. Don't let TechExec call you AWEERDSAS ASFDOG GROBSCHNITT. Just call him one right back! And remind him of the duckies. You can even tell him I said so!

by jdclyde

but I missed the day they taught everyone to write with a lisp! :p

I don't think there is a spell checker option in the word processors that will even do that! :0

:x

by jdclyde

we went out and parked it for a bit. Nothing fancy, just to get us out there so the boys would get a better idea what it takes to get OUT into the woods.

Want to go camping next week, and hunt the whole weekend, but as it won't be in our area, they had to learn for themselves what they need and what they don't. It is one thing to hear about getting chilly sitting in a blind, but you have to feel it for yourself to really understand. Wasn't real cold, but it was damp so it had the same affect.

Next week should be a blast! :D

And yes, they were ITCHING to get out with their bows ever since we bought them!

We sat for a few hours, then went for a stalk. Teaching them to walk quietly. They couldn't believe that while I weigh over twice their weigth, I make almost no noise.

I "stalked" up on Thing Two, and if he wouldn't have just happened to pick that moment to stretch his legs and stand up, he never would have known I was there. got within 15 feet of him, and he had no idea I was there. Should have seen the look on his face. Priceless. He started listening a little closer when I would give them tips. B-)

At work I have learned to tap on things as I come up to people because they never hear me either, all from years of walking in the woods. They yell at me if I scare them, even if it is by just walking in and asking them a question. B-)

by justin james

I do not follow the non-IT/non-technical discussions or blogs, by and large. They are just "not my thing" and I find discussing those kind of topics in an online forum to be frustrating at best.

That being said, I have nothing against them either. If some members of the TechRepublic community want to have those discussions, as long as they do not ruin the technical stuff. They can be born in the technical stuff, if it is a logical exntension of the original topic, as far as I am concerned.

As long as the newsletters or TechRepublic front page do not become devoted to these non-technical (heck, they can be mentioned a few times, especially the relevant ones), I really do not care. In other words, as long as TechRepublic continues to be a quality technical Web site with a bit of firewall between tech and non-tech, I really do not care what goes on otherwise.

J.Ja

by yobtaf

J.Ja

I went through a learning process because of this discussion and
see that I missunderstood the whole thing.

So I have a completely different opinion now. I totally agree you.

by jdclyde

and don't bother to catch up before you post, you can end up looking rather silly, huh?

Kind of like now?

Your too late "why_me_worry", because we already beat him into submission and he has agreed to play nicely! :D

( made him cry "Uncle" and everything! You missed it! :p )

by jdclyde

Fart jokes....

My, but how the mighty have fallen.... :p

Is that on-topic? ;\

B-)

by jdclyde

I was talking [b]TO[/b] you [b]ABOUT[/b] Roberts post.

I think that is a five yard penalty against you for not keeping up and running about a page behind the rest of us! :p

B-)

by ontheropes

on the funnier-than-hellometer.

You get used to WMW after awhile...

Not sure why but you do. It was still funny though.

by tink!

and simply put them in the new discussions list.

That way, they are visible, but not headlined on the TR site.

I believe that the Miscellaneous category and all the topics therein do still belong on TR. Simply because this is a forum of techie members, and as much as we enjoy each other's insight on tech issues, we also enjoy seeing how other techs view the world. We are connected by a common tech thread and then can also see how we relate elsewhere in life's aspects.

We know TR differs from other forums because the general population of this forum is made up of intelligent, insightful people. Whereas with other forums not dedicated to tech, you don't know what Tom, Dick or Harry (or Jane) you're talking to or if they even have a remote idea of what they're talking about.

by jdclyde

when they become noticably off-topic, TR will pull them from both the new and hot list.

They just don't always notice them right away.

I can't BELIEVE that they still have the "Company Info" discussion. Talk about fodder for a lawsuit!

by why me worry?

like this entire rant about something that does not seem to bother anybody else but the guy who initiated this stupidity. Don't you think that if TR had an issue with people discussing politics, religion, sex, etc, that they would pull it off the site immediately and warn us via a mass emailing that we are in violation of terms of service?

Sorry, but this is not some pathetic AOL chat room where mommy is censoring our posts or dictating what is being discussed.

by tig2

I have seen you go off on folks, I have seen you be incredibly reasoned and clear. It has always been dependant on the subject at hand.

The only caution that I would suggest is that we have, on occaision, tipped the BS-o-meter... and intentionally. Oh- and there are some that do that constantly.

I'm with NB. You have some really good insight and I'm used to your tone. But I can tell you from experience... you'll find just about EVERYTHING here if you keep reading. Sometimes it is easier to just point and laugh.

by tig2

Fortunately, here in Minnesota, we do stuff like hunt and fish- all those lakes... might as well use them!

Neither my partner or I duck hunt but we hunt small game (mostly partridges) and deer. Of course, liking guns and not minding having them around is one of the things that my partner LIKES about me- I'm willing to help clean guns too. Another plus.

Don't know how your wife would feel about it but have you ever tried teaching her to shoot? I know that I changed many of my opinions after taking some good classes with a licensesd instructor. There is a certain satisfaction in knowing that you control the firearm and not the other way around. It also strips the "fear factor" that people develop.

Or possibly take a page from JD's book- try bow hunting. I know many people who get a lot of satisfaction from bow hunting. I am not one of them- my right side tires too easily even with a compound bow. And what can I say- a 30.06 will bring down a whitetail quite nicely!

And I disagree. Hillary will put the fear of God into more animals by announcing her intent to be the next President! Course, there will be collateral damage...

by maecuff

is very tired. I have a new found respect for people who do physical labor for a living. Even my hair is tired.

I'm not supposed to be in manufacturing during the week (weekends only, we aren't getting a day off for at least the next 18 days), but they are so short handed, I volunteered for 5 hours a day.

by why me worry?

which explains why many urban NYC residents won't ever hunt or pick up a firearm, unless they are cops or criminals with illegal guns. The whole "guns kill people" excuse by the anti-gun lobby is complete bullcrap because anything else can be used as a weapon to kill. Cars kill people too, so does that mean that we need to ban the ownership of cars? Knives and baseball bats can be used to kill people, so do we outlaw my set of Henkel kitchen knives and baseball? I could get a hunting and rifle permit in NY, as I live in the suburbs, but I don't know a thing about hunting or firing a rifle. I am avid fisherman though, but I've been so busy lately that I let this entire lapse without ever catching a largemouth bass or trout.

by tig2

It will get easier as time goes on but not more fun. And you have 18 days of this in front of you? that stinks!

At least while this os going on, you know that you have a job still. Unfortunately, that may not be a good thing.

Let us know if there is a way we can help keep you sane through this. You know you are in my prayers.

by jdclyde

Just don't run over my Aunt. Sure, she is a completely insane liberal nutcase, but you can't pick your relatives. She is a very nice person as long as you don't let politics, anti-religion, and the environment enter the discussion.

She runs out of the room as if her ears were burning when we have our discussions and I have to point out how emotion based everything she says is and how completely devoid of logic it also is. :D

by jdclyde

If someone has been conditioned to think (I use the term lightly) that guns are evil, it is hard to overcome it.

These are people that will eat meat, but only if someone else kills it and does all the processing. If they had to kill the cow/chicken/ex-wifes/pigs themselves, they would become Vegitarians.

by nicknielsen

May I suggest that you move upstate if you wish to hunt? The last I knew, most of the tree-hugging nut jobs had been chased back to the city ((but I could be wrong). The hunting is great just about anywhere north of Catskill; guides are available. If necessary, you can rent the rifle as part of a package.

Warning. This is a part of NY that laughs when people who pronounce "car" as "cah" say they're from "upstate." Do not take offense. Laugh with them. :D

Caveat emptor. Current respondent has resided in that area for a total of less than 120 days since 1975. ;)

Please, if you decide to do this, do not become the Great White Hunter:

[i]You stand there looking cute.
When something moves...you shoot.[/i] - Tom Lehrer

Second thought: Could Hilary be classifed as a cow? ;\ Then all you need are two game wardens and seven hunters... :^0

by deepsand

Are you being [b]compelled[/b] to engage in discussions that you deem inappropriate, in poor taste, irrelevant or otherwise "disturbing?"

If that is the case, I am certain that there are more than a few who would dearly love to learn how to effect such at will.

It seems to me that you are, in fact, violating your own dictum, as this discussion is cleary [b]not IT related.[/b]