A necessary post

I think there have been way too many echo threads, or threads that are basically the same. I've been avoiding advice threads, because I feel I always give the same advice, and my life experience is not that much, so what do I know anyway? Plus, since the B*cky stuff, I've not gone on ILX at work, so, I have tons of catching up to do when I do log on.

Though, please don't think I'm trying to dictate the way ILE should be.

Personal problem threads that devolve into attention-seeking antics which ultimately play as only self-serving = dud, dud and motherfucking dud. At the end of the day, this board is public domain, and I hate being made to feel as if my function here as a user is solely to cajole/sustain/endure whoever it is that has decided to make ILE their bitch for the week/month/year. It's condescending as all hell and counterintuitive to the whole idea of a 'community' bulletin board.

*attempting to remove foot from mouth*

(Somehow I have confused you with another ILXer...)

Jess to thread!

Yeah the multiple threads are a factor too. I don't want to make people who've started advice threads feel bad now either, because we've all done it, it's just I feel sometimes the good nature of the board is abused by multiple advice/worship me threads.

*nothing against you ronan, just pointing out the perceived irony*

yeah.

Occasionally though I do feel like extracting the couple of dozen people I really like (that's people and their personalities, rather than their posts) and setting up a Utopia elsewhere. Sure it would get boring quickly, though.

or what oops said. i can't decided if this "new message" thing is good or bad anymore

I think there is a point to this thread, it's a discussion more than anything else, if I could ban myself somehow I would.

I am just posting this because it's slow at work.

Put another way: Save for the Becky Lucas episode and the Hilton B. sorts of things (which I choose to ignore), ILX is just ILX, and my reactions to it have more to do with my own circumstances than with any major shifts in the board's "tone."

Are you going to list them, or are you just going to Tony Blair it?

Ronan's got a problem with ILE, so he posts to ILE about it; I don't really see that as ironic in any way. Unless that's where the 'cheap' comes in...

I have no problem with smart asses and I've seldom been offended here by what people say. As Mark says, what's the alternative solution, I mean where else am I going to post this?

Jel in a get-out-of-my-brain shockah! (Translation: Me too.)

http://www.ed.ac.uk/internat/brochure/images/smile.jpg

Okay, carry on.

How about a dedicated 'THIS IS WHERE YOU BITCH ABOUT THIS BITCH' thread?

Ronan, Try listing things that upset you about ILX (possibly without pointing fingers as I'm very sensitive).

Not trying to be sarcastic, genuine question. We've got personal threads, political threads, jokey threads, food threads, sex threads, etc., what important conversations do you feel are being missed?

I'm hoping yr not meaning it this way, but a relative newbie like me has trouble not taking your complaints as "There are too many new people here who don't know the rules and are messing things up." But I have a tendency to take things personally, and I don't want to start a fight, so I'm assuming you're not saying this.

(trans: All your cats are totally welcome and appreciated!)

I avoided posting on this board a long time out of nervousness. Then I went to ILm, made hideous typos on the Xgau thread, came back here and read JBR's comments re: "greater # of people lowering intelligence peg," laffed at myself, and am now ready to post. I also haven't slept yet, so I apologize in advance.

First of all, I'd just like to apologize again. I really did think, after reading through how many "regulars" agreed with Ronan, and considering what a rationalist bent ILX has, that some people may have been irriated with me posting incoherent astrological treatises on here the past few days. Tom's comment regarding ideological shifting of ILE really made me wonder if I am contributing to this. And I had enough reason to believe it after Momus mocked my metaphysical musings, which I didn't take seriously at the time, since it's only Momus being Momusian. Reading this thread at first though, made me scratch my irrational head - I feared that I may have cemented, with that "Is ILX run by Aquarians" thread, any impression that I had given before of being an incurably laughable loon who cannot be taken seriously at all. I have good reason towards being extra self-conscious and sensitive in regards to my sanity, due to my life history.

Now I know that was just my immediate, neurotic, oversensitive response. I agree that Ronan had every "right" to post a thread saying he doesn't like what ILE has turned into, but echoing Nick A's comments above, I also don't understand what the complete point was, as it has only created more bad feelings here (was that not, uh, anticipated?? It should have been.). When you are not going to specify what threads or concepts have been bothering you, (or even ask for suggestions about how you can enjoy or deal with the ones that do), people are going to assume things. It can make those, such as myself who feel very *self-conscious about their "place" on ILX, or new posters who are not in some defined clique, or old ones who have been posting a lot more during the time you make such a comment, or one who is not a legendary poster whose name rhymes with Bed Maggot or Pan Cherry, feel unduly bothered about the whole deal. Or maybe I am the only paranoiac to feel this way, but I still think it deserves to be said before the next non-constructive "I hate what ILX has become, don't you" thread pops up, as it inevitably will.

Regardless I apologize again and vow that I shall not discuss mysticism or metaphysics again on this board, since in retrospect I've come to the conclusion that it's just something that should not be discussed in a public forum like this in the first place. It disrespects the sanctity the issues may behold, and moreover, it comes across as pedantic, illogical drivel to those uninterested. Some things should only be spoken of in person, such as God, death, secrets and insanity.

And sex. Which leads to Kate. Yes, sometimes the things she says are overly personal and redundant and perhaps best left unspoken in a public posting environment, and maybe she should be more conscientious (we don't know even KNOW the guys she goes on about, so that may make her crush threads a bit boring). But as opposed to myself, who can talk to people IRL about my spirituality, maybe Kate does not have an outlet to express her obsessions about certain people she knows in real life, since it would lead to complications. She likes the freedom she feels here. Since no one is FORCING you to read every thread, I don't understand why there is not enough room on here for her "crushposts," just like there is enough room for war posts or FAP -gossip posts. And she has a point Ronan: I remember how in the fall of 2001, you posted a lot about your own relationship issues. but I'm not "taking sides."

I think the way this thread has turned out though, is pretty sad, since it's almost as if Kate's "worth" as a poster is being subtextually debated. I echo the comments of Tatyana and Melissa that I like her posts and that she is one of the most honest, emotionally revealing people on here. Everyone does not have the gift of personalizing experiences as they are describing them in writing, as she does. She's remarkably self-honest too: do you really not think that she is not self-aware or her self-indulgence? She's not asking you to read her threads in the first place. Generally, I think stevem is OTM.

* - I'm an "irregular," I have posted in sporadic chuncks in 2001, 2002 and now 2003. I was overly self-conscious on here as a while since my "arrival" on ILE was during a time when I was undergoing what you could call the opposite of a mental breakdown (breakup? It was a *positive* thing, but overwhelming) , a legacy that took a while to let go of. But since I'm irregular, posters who may have arrived after me may think of me as being a newbie, which I am not. Since I have directly used ILX as a means of helping me during my stays here, either during urgent questioning of pressing emotional/mental issues (please don't find it), or as a means of keeping myself awake, I concede that i may be guilty of turning this place into an advice column orself-help center at times, which is also what Ronan implied, I think. So I apologize for that as well. I really did not mean to do that, and I'm sorry if it ever annoyed anyone (like Tom??)

I think we should all have a group hug. I heart you Ronan, Kate, kittens, dave q, even you Momus. [hug]

So, i will leave you all with some humor, which is all I usually aspire to do (not Change da World, well not usually, hardy har har). I like getting laughed at, even if its for all the wrong reasons. And I laffed a lot when i opened my email today and saw this in my inbox:

From: "jazmin cusse"
To: Iodine999@aol.com
Subject: you sucks
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 01:19:13 -0300

im from argentina and when i read this place i said "you are all a couple of ignorants". i have listen to his lirycs thouseand of times and he is so special. he writes what he feels and im sure you never really listened to his lyrics. you all should pay attention when he sings and when he plays the instruments. he is a perfect musician

I think it may be in response to the "Is IlX Run by Argetians?" thread, but as I never posted on it, damned if i know

I agree. I'm not going to answer the first question though.

I think this thread is selfish pointless stupid and so on EXCEPT that if it makes Ronan get on with accepting that ILE is what you make it and start posting more then it will all have been worth it.

If ILE was just what I personally made it then I'd go and chat to myself in my room about "excessive media attention" or whatever else. It's not, that's only partially true.

Anyway to get more constructive; is it possible that the increased volume of posts means flippancy has become more widespread? I mean god knows ILE always has had the flippant funny thing going on but the multiple/scultiple/pultiple threads thing is surely this taken to the absolute limit.

I think Kate could take this a bit less personally, but it may be too late for that. I have shitloads to say about "personal posts" etc etc but I can't be arsed having to deal with personal responses.

Because I'm the moderator you might not believe me, but I don't think there's anyone currently posting to ILE who is destructive or bad for the boards. I think anything that's wrong with this place is a collective wrong, which is why collective discussion is the way to tackle it.

I'm not sure why I feel so angry after reading your post.

Selective reading / editing strikes again! What I *also* said was that it "may be inevitable". What I meant by that (but could have explained better I suppose) was that the whole sodding point of ILE is that new people come along who don't know what's been said before and liven up the place. Clearly there will inevitably be some repetition, and that seems equally likely to put off older visitors, who will moan and groan, but that's just life.

(No need for the TATU picture either Jess.)

(Oh go on then.)

Quick! Start attacking Eyeball Kicks!

No, I think you make it better, EK. Sorry.

As James B said I kept my mouth shut for ages, anyone on AIM will know that, I did my best and in the end I think this is a polite way of discussing the problem. I can't believe that you Vic, would be more pleased with the post if I made a list of people and things that annoy me. THAT'S what I would consider to be creating bad feeling for the sake of it. The whole reason I never mentioned Kate in the first place is because it's only a tangential connection anyway and I knew the thread would explode.

I'm not getting into the ins and outs of how people use ILX.

Back to intermittent lurking. Bye!

Haha N. is ILE becoming too pally?

That's not what I'm saying, you illiterate twit.

yes.

*retires into glamorous silence once more*

Ingredients:

8 cups chicken broth.
3 medium eggs.
1/2 cup rice.
Juice from two lemons.
Salt.

1. Bring chicken broth to a boil. Salt to taste.

2. Add rice, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Remove from fire.

4. In a blender, beat the three eggs, slowly add the lemon juice to the eggs.

5. Add one cup of chicken broth, do not stop blending. The constant blending is the secret to prevent curdling of this delicious soup.

6. When the eggs and broth are well mixed, pour this mixture back into the remaining broth and rice.

7. Stir well over heat, but do not allow to boil.

Serves 6

Except this Chaki post, which I heard in the voice of Professor Frink from the Simpsons (possibly 'cause of the run-on-ness of the sentence...):

dave irv gotti makes those really stupid rap/r&b songs with the chimes and the acoustic hammer on pull offs and the fluttery synths and ja rule. mm-hey!

Come on! don't take it off board. i order (!!) you to do threads on matphysics.

i don't see what the problem is really. There just isn't one.

Ronan, i didn't mean you had to list names, just either be more straightforward with what was bothering you (but in a non-hostile manner, maybe putting it in the form of a question?), or perhaps just skip threading the matter and take it directly to email, since that would prevent including others to chime in with their 2 cents, (and more "yeah, I don't like __ *either*" type of comments, which you may have anticipated)? I don't know though, I guess I've changed my mind and that this has turned into a constructive thread, since as Tom said it's a collectivist approach to a problem apparently more than one person currently has with ILE. Which is good. So you are right, in a way. I just thought that someone should say what i said, in behalf of all of the insecure and/or new people. I know you did not start this thread with any malicious intention, and I actually miss your own postings on your own personal life, since I don't know much about the dance music you listen to, so I skip those threads. :)

Amteurist, that was the most necessary post here as of yet. Merci

No, clearly vague passive-aggresive whining is the way to go.

I don't mean "If you think" I mean "If you want to act on". Ronan can't do anything about the second. I'm not sure that the ILX Patriot Act (*) will do much about it either.

I of course think that there should be less threads that I don't enjoy.

* I am the ILX overreaction king!

!!!!!!!

Tom E: I saw FT itself before I saw your confirmation on this thread. Hooray!