On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 20:49:18 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Many (if not most) of these OT posts are made by non-boaters.

Hard to tell, since there's so little boating content.

They
may *own* a boat, but their boating is never discussed here. One of
the more arrogant of these idiots admitted he came here only as a
vandal and not to discuss boating. He freely admitted that when he
wished to discuss boating he went elsewhere. When he wanted to engage
in mischief, this is where he came.

That got me to thinking. I wonder if there is not a movement afoot
among some (consciously, or not) to attempt to disable rec.boats.

I've come to think it's more a function of people with no sense of
self-restraint or of decorum when it comes to the best interests of the whole.
To my eye, it starts out as a lack of consideration more than anything else.

I
have no real answer for that, but it strengthens my resolve to ignore
these posts and forge on with what we should be discussing here. In
Agent, I just hit the round circle with a diagonal bar through it...
thread is ignored. Whatever you use for a newsreader, I encourage you
to learn about and use its capabilities to ignore inappropriate
threads. In some instances, killfilling a poster may be appropriate,
if they have never made a boating related post... and there are some
of those out there posting, now.

I've been using Agent for a long time. It's great software--but the simplicity
of using killfiles, filters and "ignore thread" is never going to stop people
from reading these threads, even if only in morbid fascination.

At any rate, again, the signal to noise ratio has reached the point
where we are losing posters. I'm betting that if we forced the noise
back down to a whisper, the vandals would slink back to their
respective rocks, crawl under, and be quiet.

Good possibility.

Think about it, the decision is yours.

It is, indeed. Peer pressure can be a powerful thing.

Joe Parsons

Joe Parsons wrote:

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 20:49:18 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Many (if not most) of these OT posts are made by non-boaters.

Hard to tell, since there's so little boating content.


You've got more than a dozen new posts here today that are totally
devoid of boating content.

--
Email sent to is never read.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Joe Parsons wrote:

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 20:49:18 -0500, Gene Kearns

wrote:

Many (if not most) of these OT posts are made by non-boaters.

Hard to tell, since there's so little boating content.


You've got more than a dozen new posts here today that are totally
devoid of boating content.

--
Email sent to is never read.


As you do.

Let's get this straight. I alluded to you, Harry and jps having sex or
something and you turned it into. "Wally said Harry and I were
buttfu%&ing". You sounded like the kid next store exaggerating to his
Mommy over yet another exaggerated slight.

No, you didn't use the term "buttf***ing"
I believe the exact phrase was "They're rotating turns being the bitch" (in a
3-way)

There's no need to call you names, Wally.
You show yourself for what you are. You'll not find any similar thing I ever
said about you, or any other right winger in the crowd. But then again, I have
at least some ability to debate issues. Some people aren't able to participate
at all unless they can avoid the more abstract ideas and go directly to
personal insult. It's OK, most charitable people will understand. We all get
different gifts. Doesn't make you a bad guy, just a boring, predictable, and
tedious read doing the best he can under the circumstances.

On 08 Nov 2003 16:06:34 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote:

Doesn't make you a bad guy, just a boring, predictable, and
tedious read doing the best he can under the circumstances.

Some people were born to lurk, not that that's a bad thing.

bb

On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 07:59:41 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:

Joe Parsons wrote:

On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 20:49:18 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Many (if not most) of these OT posts are made by non-boaters.

Hard to tell, since there's so little boating content.


You've got more than a dozen new posts here today that are totally
devoid of boating content.

Have you ever seen me complain about off-topic posts here?

Joe Parsons

Gene Kearns wrote:

Many (if not most) of these OT posts are made by non-boaters. They
may *own* a boat, but their boating is never discussed here. One of
the more arrogant of these idiots admitted he came here only as a
vandal and not to discuss boating. He freely admitted that when he
wished to discuss boating he went elsewhere. When he wanted to engage
in mischief, this is where he came.

That got me to thinking. I wonder if there is not a movement afoot
among some (consciously, or not) to attempt to disable rec.boats. I
have no real answer for that, but it strengthens my resolve to ignore
these posts and forge on with what we should be discussing here. In
Agent, I just hit the round circle with a diagonal bar through it...
thread is ignored. Whatever you use for a newsreader, I encourage you
to learn about and use its capabilities to ignore inappropriate
threads. In some instances, killfilling a poster may be appropriate,
if they have never made a boating related post... and there are some
of those out there posting, now.

At any rate, again, the signal to noise ratio has reached the point
where we are losing posters. I'm betting that if we forced the noise
back down to a whisper, the vandals would slink back to their
respective rocks, crawl under, and be quiet.

Think about it, the decision is yours.


Gene,

Yours and Joe's threads have made me think a bit about this one. While
the defense has always been that this was a "bar-like-setting" and
boaters talk about varied topics when "in port", the level of civility
has diminished to the point of barely tolerable.

I can't think of a single case where any of the partisan sides has
conceded even a single point made by the opposition. The point of debate
is to provoke thought, not just to chest pound your deep rooted
convictions. If no one is willing to change their minds or even consider
other options, then what's the point of further banter?

There area few guys who I respect as being civil and level headed in
their discourse, and enjoy the chance to exchange ideas. But others have
degenerated into posting little more than ad-hominem diatribe.

With this in mind, I think it's time to be man enough to take
responsibility to the slow destruction of this newsgroup as a forum for
boat related topics. With this in mind, I will pledge to ignore
political bantering from now on. I would hope that others do the same,
although I seriously doubt that some personalities can survive without
the attention that their psychological conditions crave. But I'll give
it my best...


Dave

On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 13:35:56 GMT, Dave Hall
wrote:

Gene Kearns wrote:

Many (if not most) of these OT posts are made by non-boaters. They
may *own* a boat, but their boating is never discussed here. One of
the more arrogant of these idiots admitted he came here only as a
vandal and not to discuss boating. He freely admitted that when he
wished to discuss boating he went elsewhere. When he wanted to engage
in mischief, this is where he came.

That got me to thinking. I wonder if there is not a movement afoot
among some (consciously, or not) to attempt to disable rec.boats. I
have no real answer for that, but it strengthens my resolve to ignore
these posts and forge on with what we should be discussing here. In
Agent, I just hit the round circle with a diagonal bar through it...
thread is ignored. Whatever you use for a newsreader, I encourage you
to learn about and use its capabilities to ignore inappropriate
threads. In some instances, killfilling a poster may be appropriate,
if they have never made a boating related post... and there are some
of those out there posting, now.

At any rate, again, the signal to noise ratio has reached the point
where we are losing posters. I'm betting that if we forced the noise
back down to a whisper, the vandals would slink back to their
respective rocks, crawl under, and be quiet.

Think about it, the decision is yours.


Gene,

Yours and Joe's threads have made me think a bit about this one. While
the defense has always been that this was a "bar-like-setting" and
boaters talk about varied topics when "in port", the level of civility
has diminished to the point of barely tolerable.

I can't think of a single case where any of the partisan sides has
conceded even a single point made by the opposition. The point of debate
is to provoke thought, not just to chest pound your deep rooted
convictions. If no one is willing to change their minds or even consider
other options, then what's the point of further banter?

There area few guys who I respect as being civil and level headed in
their discourse, and enjoy the chance to exchange ideas. But others have
degenerated into posting little more than ad-hominem diatribe.

With this in mind, I think it's time to be man enough to take
responsibility to the slow destruction of this newsgroup as a forum for
boat related topics. With this in mind, I will pledge to ignore
political bantering from now on. I would hope that others do the same,
although I seriously doubt that some personalities can survive without
the attention that their psychological conditions crave. But I'll give
it my best...


Dave


Dave,

You and I may have bumped heads in the past, but I appreciate this
post.

noah
Regards,
noah

To email me, remove the "OT-" from wrecked.ot-boats.noah.
....as you were. )

In article , wrecked.ot-
says...

Dave,

You and I may have bumped heads in the past, but I appreciate this
post.

noah

Of course Dave didn't miss a beat since he posted this offering four
days ago.

jps

jps wrote:

In article , wrecked.ot-
says...

Dave,

You and I may have bumped heads in the past, but I appreciate this
post.

noah

Of course Dave didn't miss a beat since he posted this offering four
days ago.

jps

Yes, you are right. I reneged on my own promise. But it seems that I
would've been the only person who would have stopped, as everything has
continued.

So with that, I am going to correct my lapse in credibility and
conviction, and today will be my last contribution to political
discussions. It's pointless anyway. I haven't seen one person modify
their deeply (and often emotionally) held convictions based on the
banter they read here. The tragedy of 9/11 and the events set in motion
from that point on, have deeply polarized the nation. Tolerance for
opposing viewpoints has become increasingly small, and ad-hominem
attacks have become even more frequent. Indeed, guys like you and Doug
do not come off as people who want to discuss the issues from an
idealogical perspective. Rather you're more interested in insulting the
presenters who you disagree with. While both sides are guilty of this to
some degree, the depth that you guys on the left go to to demonize the
opposition, is just appalling. As much as I shake my head in disbelief,
I try to stick to the issue, and not take personal jabs at people, with
the exception of Harry, who is so partisan and hypocritical, that he
deserves to get back what he dishes out.

You may feel justified, as you may feel that your opponents are
comprised of nothing more than "idiots" (otherwise known as an elitist
attitude). But the difference between an idiot and an innovator often
depends on your perspective, and just how well you understand the big
picture.

I base my principles on logic and history. 1+1=2 is just as true today
as it was 100 years ago. The same can be said for many human behaviors.
What worked 100 years ago, can still work today. Not everything new is
necessarily better, and things which are old, aren't necessarily
obsolete. Things like morality, character, honesty, integrity are still
valid today.

Dave

Dave