Is it just me?

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Texatdurango

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
4,649
Location
Show Low, Arizona
Saturday we had our North Texas chapter get together with 18 members showing up. Everyone had a good time, swapped ideas, stories, jokes, had some good snacks and was a pleasant experience overall except that someone stole one of my specially ordered apple fritters!

I enjoy meeting people and the gatherings are fun. I look forward to these gatherings much the same way I used to look forward to hopping on the IAP forum to visit my cyber friends..... but not anymore!

For starters, when I open the IAP site, the home page appears and I click on "Quick links" then hit "Today's posts" which brings up all the current posts regardless of which sub forum they were posted in.

There was a day, not too long ago that you would open the site and see dozens of posts about folks making new pens, asking about a problem they had with something or just chatting in general and could easily spend an hour online before you knew it.

Lately though, in order to see a "friendly" post you have to wade through a mountain of posts where you are being sold everything under the sun or warnings on how to behave or debates about meaningless garbage.

After popping in on a few of these threads to see what's going on, I sort of lose interest in pen turning and exit the site. This forum is NOT a friendly place anymore!

I can only imagine the messages Curtis must be getting from all of these moderator wanna be's every time someone sneezes or says something that offends them. Seems like everyone is preoccupied with getting offended over the least little things. I'm almost afraid to post anything anymore and see why some don't post at all!

Today it's tagline content…. What's tomorrow, font style and colors used in taglines? Innapropriate use of smilies? I'm surprised I haven't been called out for having an IAP logo that is 24 pixels too wide!

I need to find a friendly place to hang out!
 
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Well George,

Try a few different approaches.

Hit "Active Topics" Select Today and you will see the new threads, listed by forum. So, if you want to just view pens, go to the Show Off Your Pens Forum.

Comfy now???
 
George,
I hate it when someone takes my fritters. :mad::mad::biggrin:

I only look at certain thread topics/forums anyway... I have my bookmark set so that the community forums pop up and I can scroll down to the ones I want to look at.. mostly the other things we make, casual conversation, penturning, marketing and sometimes casting and show off your pens... rarely go to the other forum links.. some times, the direction the threads take turn me off and I just leave..

Hang in there, I've been here a couple of years and see thing evolve and migrate, sometimes down but most of the time up.

I enjoy most everyone here and can't be bother with negative threads, bickering and such..
Anyway, there are a couple of other forums that I also enjoy and I frequent them as well.
 
I just try to ignore posts that I don't like. Note, I said TRY. :biggrin:

Don't let it bother you and move to the next post.
 
George, some times the guys and gals get a little off but this is still the best of the pen sites. BTW I just when to the Home page (All were pen related) then went to todays post and there were 23 posts before getting to someone selling something and it was pen related on the 25th post was the religilous post by our moderator. There were in the first 18 post 7 people asking for help in one form or another .
 
Texatdurango said:
Today it's tagline content…. What's tomorrow, font style and colors used in taglines? Innapropriate use of smilies? I'm surprised I haven't been called out for having an IAP logo that is 24 pixels too wide!

I need to find a friendly place to hang out!
Click to expand...


George,

Would you consider your post to be "friendly"? Just a bit curious about that.

BTW: The signature guidelines say that you are allowed 500 pixels wide by 100 pixels tall, you are within those limits.
 
I never lost a fritter before. I was guilty a time or two of frittering away my time, though. Would that count? Come to think of it in college, one guy that looked like a young Omar Sharif stole the girl I was dating before I rounded first and headed for second base. :wink: Five or six girls later, a jealous husband trapped him in the bathroom with a .22 rifle. I'm not sure, but think it was a Remington bolt action. Anyway, the police arrived, got the gun back in the rack, and freed him. I almost forgot, he did manage to grab most of his clothes and got dressed while the husband was inviting him to "take it like a man" so at least it wasn't embarrassing.

At least it wasn't a Kringle......
 
George, I've noticed a lot more mean spirited posts lately, I just think people are a little bit frazzled by the economy, I still think this is one pf the better forums around, most of the folks here are like a second family to me. I like the pen related topics, but I also like to see what other folks think about things not related to pen turning, I've learned so much from folks on this forum, I'm not about to pack it in just yet. Lately it seems like the least little thing set off a chain reaction, too bad we can't heat our houses or run our cars with all that wasted energy.
 
[SIZE=+2]`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]All mimsy were the borogoves,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]And the mome raths outgrabe. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]
jabberwocky.jpg
[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+2]"Beware the Jabberwock, my son![/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]The jaws that bite, the claws that catch![/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]The frumious Bandersnatch!"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+2]He took his vorpal sword in hand:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]Long time the manxome foe he sought --[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]So rested he by the Tumtum tree,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]And stood awhile in thought.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+2]And, as in uffish thought he stood,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]And burbled as it came![/SIZE]

[SIZE=+2]One, two! One, two! And through and through[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]The vorpal blade went snicker-snack![/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]He left it dead, and with its head[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]He went galumphing back.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+2]"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]Come to my arms, my beamish boy![/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]He chortled in his joy.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=+2]`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]All mimsy were the borogoves,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]And the mome raths outgrabe. [/SIZE]
 
Hey George, we had our first Michigan chapter meeting Sunday and had two or three apple fritters left over. Really, we did. Come to one of our meetings and I will guarantee you get an apple fritter. On a more serious note please think long and hard before you leave. I would really hate to see that happen. Your work has been a real inspiration to me and I really enjoy seeing your new creations. You are the one responsable for my transition from so-so pens to the more finely crafted work I am trying to do today. You may not remember, but we were paired up in a pen swap two or three years ago, right after you joined the forum. It was a pro/amature swap, with me the pro because of the number of pens I had made, and you the amature because you had only just started making pens (you forgot to tell us you had just retired from being a professional woodworker). I made you a Jr. Gent in waterfall bubinga, ca finish. The finish was a bit thick and I just beveled it a bit on the ends (it almost looked overturned if I remember right) and noted that to you, but said I thought it looked ok. Two days after I shipped it off, I got your pen. A closed end two tone Amboyna burl Jr. Gent, ca finish. The pen was flawless. FLAWLESS. Ya sure put me in my place. That was my awakening. Since then, I pay a whole lot more attention to detail, and it has payed. Thank you George. BTW, I still carry that pen. It is my favorite and a daily writer. I forgot how many ink refills I have gone thru. Don't let the motor mouths and pea brains get you down. They are but a tiny part of this site, and unfortunately they are a part of every group I have ever seen. The good people here far outweigh the not so good, they just, for the most part, tend to move on to other topics and ignore the shallow end of the gene pool.
 
Two and a half years ago, I finally learned to do CA finishes consistently. Two years ago, I got rid of the OORs. 18 months ago, I became sensitized and totally allergic to CA fumes and dust. Last winter I spent three months of weekends and evening making a DC system with a very low noise level - for neighbor's benefit. Last summer I spent 8 weeks for re-flooring my little shop because of termites.

I am good to go for making pens now. BUT The CA doesn't set right or consistently when it is below 65° in my cold shop. I have a small heater, but it usually takes the temp up and only holds at about 20° above outside temp.

I want to, I really want to make some pens, - and am behind on several requests and promises, but I get tired of fighting cold CA, or cold blanks, and then re-doing them. Got to wait until I get a consistent 50° outside temp.

Then travel/work will take over and I won't have time.
 
CaptG said:
Hey George, we had our first Michigan chapter meeting Sunday and had two or three apple fritters left over. Really, we did. Come to one of our meetings and I will guarantee you get an apple fritter. Thanks but I'm over the fritter incident... sorta! :) We're talking about taking our summer trip this year back east again only spending more time there this time, perhaps going up into the New England states. Who knows, we might run into one another on our way.

On a more serious note please think long and hard before you leave.

I wasn't planning on totally leaving, just looking for a more friendly spot where I don't get as aggravated. I used to spend hours reading through messages here, now I'm doing good to spend 15 minutes. I've gotten a few messages suggesting some things, I think I'll try real hard to see if I can manage them.

You may not remember, but we were paired up in a pen swap two or three years ago, right after you joined the forum. It was a pro/amature swap, with me the pro because of the number of pens I had made, and you the amature because you had only just started making pens (you forgot to tell us you had just retired from being a professional woodworker). I made you a Jr. Gent in waterfall bubinga, ca finish. The finish was a bit thick and I just beveled it a bit on the ends (it almost looked overturned if I remember right) and noted that to you, but said I thought it looked ok. Two days after I shipped it off, I got your pen. A closed end two tone Amboyna burl Jr. Gent, ca finish. The pen was flawless. FLAWLESS. Ya sure put me in my place. That was my awakening. Since then, I pay a whole lot more attention to detail, and it has payed. Thank you George. BTW, I still carry that pen. It is my favorite and a daily writer. I forgot how many ink refills I have gone thru.

This just reminds me that there are still lots of good folks on the forum and yes, I do remember the swap. Your pen sits in my little revolving pen caddy on my desk. I converted it to a fountain pen and right now it's filled with Private Reserves Tanzsanite!

Recognize your's or should I say mine!
Click to expand...
 

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wdcav1952 said:
George,

I like that pen caddy. Did you make it? If not, do you remember where you bought it?
Click to expand...


George .... apparently our "Sailor in Pink" is looking for some free information from you. He wants to know how you made that pen caddy? HAH! Make him pay. I'd say a dozen fritters would be a fair trade just for the plans.

BTW ... I like that snakewood pen in your photo.

And, upon closer inspection I notice your computer screen seems to be on the IAP Forum ... I wonder who that guy is in the photo? :biggrin::biggrin:
 
Oops, I didn't even pay attention to the desk clutter, I just read Gary's post about the swap and glanced over and there was his pen so I snapped a photo of it. That snakewood is my favorite pen that I carry around wherever I go. I was writing a letter this afternoon, else it would have been in it's little case.

I didn't make the carosel, a fellow forum member, Charlie in Garfield, did. Last year he was having a bit of a rough time and was having to sell off some tools. I didn't need any tools but asked if he had anything else for sale and I bought a few things, this being one of them. I haven't heard from him in a long time and just checked and he hasn't posted since last July.

Yep, looks like even Hank Lee got caught in the photo!
 
Texatdurango said:
This just reminds me that there are still lots of good folks on the forum and yes, I do remember the swap. Your pen sits in my little revolving pen caddy on my desk. I converted it to a fountain pen and right now it's filled with Private Reserves Tanzsanite!

Recognize your's or should I say mine!
Click to expand...

Hey, who's ugly mug with the grandson in the monitor pict behind the revolving caddy? :biggrin:
 
Howard we have friends in Shrewsbury, Penn so that is a definate stop and it looks like Hopewell Junction is sorta on the way up into Vermont and into Main so you never know!
 
George,
If you make it into Maine I'd be honored to spot you for a beer. (or 2) I hope you do stick around I always look forward to your latest creation and have learned a lot from you.
 
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