loycer, look you are playing a game and it is getting annoying. Besides thinly veiled advertising your multiple blogs are your selfish way to retaliate against other bloggers. Your comments demean you. You shamelessly use charities as if to legitimize your theft of advertising revenues. Yeah really the way to support a local business (the Journal). Charities can use your real support, not just lip service for your private agenda.

And you are WHO? Credentials please. Your 'phone is ringing.

loycer: You seem to have gotten under chuxx's skin. Its odd that he would care about AJ revenues. Given his liberal postings, maybe he is one of the editorial staff?

You're ads do pretty much suck.

As per the Terms and Conditions of the Auburn Journal: "7. You agree not to solicit others. You agree not to contribute for the purposes of advertising or to solicit anyone to buy or sell products or services, or to make donations of any kind, advertise yourself or others for political gain, or to promote other web sites, without our express written approval."

"advertise yourself or others for political gain"...wow, there went the Charlie Brown 2010, 2012 and 2014 campaigns!

Why hasn't anyone complained about the deer head yet?

Thanks for the laugh, Gail. (BTW, I think you spell your name right too)

Loycer, while I enjoy your posts as reminders of places I haven't been or things to do, (I don't view them blatant advertising as some do), you have to admit 5 in a row yesterday was a bit overkill. It does make it seem like you're doing it as favors to those you choose to give your business to.... I think you overstepped. And the AJ stepped in as it is their site and their right to do so.

Y.S: Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. I did wonder about C's involvement here and now you've brought it to the surface. Self-righteousness/judgment/paranoia and all these sweet valentines coming my way. More "game" please, especially on these rainy stay-in days.

The reach should overextend the grasp and what remains is as it will be given the reality that the AJ owns this site and we are allowed or not.

Thank you Dear AJ for this opp, especially on this rainy day. You are the one.

The staff over at the AJ must either get really annoyed with all of us, or they get a good laugh. Or maybe a little of both. But either way they get lots of hits to their site from local people and I think there is way too much white space on this page, do they actively go out and sell ad space here?

Gail, why don't you and loycer ask the Journal if they sell ad space.

?

Chuxx couldn't have said it any truer!

loycer - your syrupy kissing inappropriate places ought to be humiliating you but you have not arrived to that place yet. Those at the AJ are most likely mocking your attempt at flattering them. Don't belittle yourself that way. For the sake of what true dignity you most likely possess somewhere...just stop. You are embarrassing yourself and you just don't know it...

The deer head.... GOOD SHOT!

ChuxxR: I don't care if they do or not. I see an ad for "Gilda's Gold" over to the right. Lovely.

Why are people being so out-and-out mean about this, though? I admit, I did get pretty testy and a couple times, rude, with Allen Cassidy over his overtly finger-pointy blogs about what we all should be doing in society, but Loyce has just posted about her shopping and dining experiences in the area. I can see us pointing out that her posts seem to be ads, but calling her selfish and telling her that she is embarrassing herself seems pretty mean-spirited to me. If some of you have personal bones to pick with her, why don't you address her privately? She is not too hard to find around town.

Food for thought from Gail: Allen C, Loyce, Gail, specifically, shaped by definition (name/photo/bio) and thus approachable, not hiding behind some undefinable monicker constantly attacking and monitoring and judging and labeling. My, my, the high-minded seem to take themselves very seriously all the while attempting to--on the surface-"-preach" goodwill. Again, this site belongs to the AJ and THEY make and enforce the "rules" by which I will choose to adapt. Last time I looked I saw and continue to see myself as a free person living in a free country. Sticks and stones.........................

In this democracy we are entitled to voice opinions but The General and I remain puzzled by those who hide out behind their keyboards casting aspersions anonymously. We are living in an age that allows for one-sided rancor, it would seem; but then again, we can choose to fly away or not.

Gail - I will agree with you about my spirit when telling loycer she is embarassing herself. While it is true, I should have just left it alone.

Loycer - Your freedom requires you to do the right thing, not the wrong thing. Three of your Sunday ads were pulled by the AJ. That should speak volumes to you and to everyone else. There are rules most of us try to abide by, and you willingly broke them

...come to the blogger coffee meetings and you will recognise me

Meetings and groups I have no need for but thanks for the party invite. Again, you who choose anonyminity have absolutely no say or substance. Oh, BTW, where do I pay my blogacious-rule-busting fine? Nothing like the self-important to enforce "the rules". Who appointed you Merry Monitor?

loycer - I have battled with greater "baiters" than you, but only out of necessity. I will save my battles for more worthy causes...

"Battles, causes" ? What serious people we have here. Your 'phone is ringing.

Loycer - In retrospect, I think the main objection being voiced here is that while your "atta-boys" and cheerleading isn't necessarily a bad thing, the amount of daily posts you make are. The format of this site changed in recent months to a limit of 5 or 6 (?) per page. It makes thumbing through them more tedious. Most of us only post once per day, and occasionally twice and then we comment on others' blogs. Would you agree to limit yours also this way? If you would, then please join us. This is a group of generally, but not always...good people :-)

O: I so love a civil tone in place of being judged/called names/labeled and "shamed" but I do have to turn down your invite to "join" as I refrain from groups except the one I manage as I do not wish to be enmeshed/engaged enmasse. I really would have to process this aspect of limited space since my perception is that there is plenty to go around. I also so like the "cheerleading" role since it has such an upbeat connotation and as for "atta-boys", that would be for the glad-handers/follower-types of which I def am not. Again, would it not be the role of the AJ to limit the bloggers to "space" and I wish that Auburn would be interesting/stimulating enough that I would even have enough content to comment on daily so perhaps to your perception it simply seems that I do so. So, in the beginning, it was about "ads" and being a swooping "salesperson" and a name-dropper; and now the issue is about territory?

She's "trolling", Observer. It's not worth it... she'll just waste your time with endless babble. That's what trolls do.

Another label from the label machine. Articulation lacking, for sure. Try innovation for a switch. Def not joining.

In the Land of the Free, one is def empowered to be.

Wow. Loyce "trolling"?!? Even if she is can't people just ignore her like how most of us now take the things Allen C. writes with a grain of salt? I do admit that the 4-5 posts she puts up at once is a little too much space-wise. Maybe she could do just one post with 4-5 topics and mulitple pics in one post? I think that was the main objection.

And Loyce said it above, she uses her real name. We all know who she is and could easily track her down to talk with her face-to-face. Why are people dressing her down publically over something so trivial?

And looking on the bright side (cheerleading again, tsk tsk) trolling is also a musical term so I'll take the complement. And from the voice of reason--Gail Begin--I may just consider her space suggestion since I am learning how some of this works as a newbee and always turn away from negative/name-calling demands and recriminations. And I am wondering just how many upbeat peeps may have visited and left in disgust at all this high-mindedness.

Allen, Allen, where ARE you?

Gail: I have no problem with her postings. The problem is the multiple postings. If we all did it, and I'm sure some of us could, it'd be way too much stuff going on. The rest of us have the courtesy to post once a day... twice in extreme cases. Her ads are truly annoying but it's the multiple posts that everyone hates. She should show the same courtesy the rest of us show. I'm sure we could overlook the pandering and whatnot... just not three, four, five times a day. You and I were both pretty harsh on Allen because he wasn't following the basic level of respect that most of us have for one another here. He never responded to questions. Remember? How annoying was that? Really annoying. Then this person comes along and repeatedly violates many bloggers wishes by intentionally posting and reposting, even after being requested to stop.

That is the problem... it's about respect. We can disagree all we want... but most of us have the courtesy to keep our level of harassment to a minimum. Most of us get along fine. Like you and me, Gail. We don't share the same views on things and we've both been here along time, being courteous. Then comes in someone who has no apparent desire to be a part of the community... of course I get upset. This lady, much like Lant lately, is being rude on purpose.

Anyways... that's the sum of my feelings on this topic. I will not say anymore but, rather, will ignore it the way I did Allen.

You and I are cool as far as I'm concerned.

Peace,

Birch

Unfortunately, I think many would-be bloggers/commentors have tried to post here and found it clique-ish and often quite humiliating (not to be confused with humbling). When I first started commenting I felt like I was being eaten alive, but once you get to know the "regulars" here with their various points-of-view, quirks and idiosyncrasies I found that it is not really a bad bunch of people. That is why I am confused by ChuzzR's comment that you are "retaliating against other bloggers." Maybe it appears that when you put up 4 blogs that push other blogs down the page it seems like you are just trying to hog the space? Push the politcal stuff down? Who knows?

Keepingupdated got on me a week or so ago about judging people by their writing style and reading into the "tone" of what they write. It is very true that often tone, intent and personality doesn't always come through so well here and we should not be so quick to judge. I think we should put things up and if the AJ deems it a violation they can pull it down....they sure got on Jayber, Y_S and my pics quickly, so the AJ staff is out there watching us and they own this website, not us. I am actually surprised they allow as much as they do.

I'm proud of you Gail!! (hope you don't find that condescending; it wasn't just you I got on that week, it was a few people who I'm not sure have forgiven me or care).

Pet peeves or no pet peeves loycer has the right to post here. I agree its the number of posts in a single day which hit me this am but I get "killing someone with kindness" . I used to work at a place and there were always the few who thought they were above the polite good morning as you passed in the hallway. It was those people who I would get right in their face (so they couldn't ignore me) and gregariously declare my greeting "Good Morning! How's it going today?" purposely asking a question so they would have to respond.

I found out later that from one of those same people that my example taught them how to deal with an uncomfortable situation for them.

Most of the time the answer is to communicate not lecture and many here are lambasting instead of suggesting. Words are powerful folks. Let's use them.

"Eaten alive, clique-ish, humuliating, confused"? Sounds so very demeaning to say the least. And then "....not really a bad bunch..." There's would seem to be an undercurrent of anger just beneath the surface, manifesting itself in judgment of those who choose not to belong and conform to "rules" set by anonymous name-callers who seem joined in their distrust and fear of non-joiners. Reminds me of high-school; only they were identifiable with names and faces. Zenophobia?

Accountable I choose to be with the site owner,only, The Auburn Journal. Thanks Ryan for setting me straight without judgment, recrimination and unsavory labeling. And thanks again to the AJ for the opp to express myself open, FREELY and individually.

keepingupdated - While your "goodmornings" might be pleasant, life is not always and for some, almost never. It is almost certain that many people you pass each and every day, are going through some kind of crisis in their life. Some are barely getting up in the morning, for serious reasons. Putting a smiley face bandaid over someone's weariness, their fear, their hopelessness about a dying loved one or perhaps a boss who is working them to death or asking things of them that you are unaware of is almost insulting. No - I am not lecturing, just adding another perspective for consideration.

loycer - Courtesy is a word that the AJ does not govern. It is a voluntary thing I respect your wish to ignore

In the LAND OF THE FREE we who are free can choose and express any and all opinions and those who do not wish to "listen" can simply move on.

Observer, you missed the point. Not surprised. Kindness and acknowledgment is always appreciated no matter what your station in life.

And loycer, your last statement is right on.

loycer - I totally agree with you

keepingupdated - No, I did not miss the point...you just don't see the whole picture...and that is not your fault

Just friendly game. No blame.

This is my first time. Am I supposed to be enjoying this?

Why not? Are we not all trying/struggling to get down the road and enjoy the good times when/while we can? Peace.

Loyce: To respond to your above thing about it being like high-school, sometimes it really is. But one way that some of us were able to put faces to names (or monikers) was to have a few coffee meetings. It actually helped us to see each other outside of our little cyberworld. But it was actually ironic that the bulk of the people who showed up were the ones who already use their real name or tell us who they are in their posts. So I guess it is those people who are "not a bad bunch." ;-) BTW Birch Bricker is a real name...in case you were wondering, I thought it was a moniker for a long time. Who names their kid after a tree? LOL

I can see why some people don't want to use their real names here, but I chose to go ahead and use my real name so that I would be careful to only say things here that I would say to someone's face. I think that is always the best policy in life anyway.

Birch Bricker is my slave name.... please call me Hamza Asadullah. :)

Psychology in groups is different than a one-on-one because people often change colors in a group and even sometimes posture/perform where in a one-on-one engagement, authenticity seems to prevail. Been to a club or a group where one "exalted leader" takes over or holds court? So, in your group it would seem that initiation or hazing is required from the newbee in order to be accepted or even tolerated and with this cyberspace phenom, the faceless/nameless can rule their groups anonymously. It really is about choice in that the individual can choose to move on or endure the "humuliation". I'm always up to a challenge as long as I remain FREE to go my way and am amused or stimulated or advanced in learning more about the ways of societal behavior and I have learned much about how this seems to work so I remain a "squatter" for now, with or without group acceptance. Q for the day: Is a group for the groupees or simply to keep others out?

I have been involved in a few other internet groups via yahoo_groups and have experienced the thing where a few personalities tend to rise to the top and become unappointed leaders and more often than not become bullies. I think it is just normal in society. Anyone who has taught school knows that there are always at least two or three "trouble makers" in a class and when one leaves another kid will rise up to take their slot.

So now if we can just get rid of Birch...we will see Jayber rise up and take over! ha

Interesting thought loycer, Hazing? I really got ticked and left for a while because some were encouraging group non-acknowledgement because they didn't like a persons views. I came back because my family life is demanding and I find I can discuss current events and topics of interests in a manner that provides escape for me. Its like reading the paper and having a "discussion" without the demands of a personal 1--1 friendship. The AJ bloggers won't care if I do or don't show up and we are all free to comment or leave a subject alone.

I agree there are opinionated folk out there but I I don't think it's a conscious "hazing" initiating to newbies. What many of the bloggers don't realize or forget is that there's alot of silent participants and it would be interesting to hear their thoughts on such a topic.

Keep on bloggin'.

Oh, and Observer, you did miis my point, but I don't blame you either.

Gail: Did someone say cage-match-to-the-death between Jayber and me? I'll have to check my schedule. :)

Ok... we'll have to wait. My thong is at the dry cleaners. Yes, the dry cleaners... it's delicate.

Gail/Loycer - To those who really know me, they can read what I write and will instantly know who I am. For those who actually read what I write, they will come to know me. I don't wear two faces. What you see is what you get. It has cost me dearly for those who call me condescending...while for those who see me as honest,transparent, compassionate, it has created friends who give me everything, trust me with everything and remain friends until death. It's really not about me...

Loycer - Regardless of how you see it, there is no hazing in this group. We are human, with our strengths and weaknesses. No one is impressing anyone else, unless it is earned. By earned, I mean humility, not humiliation, sharing, honesty, respect, courage, regardless of personality, personal achievments and the usual things people are impressed with.

Gail - Norwegian researcher Dan Olweus defines bullying as when a person is "exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons." He defines negative action as "when a person intentionally inflicts injury or discomfort upon another person, through physical contact, through words or in other ways." The worst of these is the "passive-agressive" type because they think that by using carefully selected words, that they can never be accused of doing anything wrong although their message comes out loud and clear...

Interesting concepts here and I do believe we might be crossing into some new territory regarding the bully factor and the group vs the individual. So when you are different you elicit negativity? Underdogs Unite.

Cyberhazing seems to hil the nail on the head in that those who are different are not being embraced and are "ganged up" on. Bullying, however, involves physical threat and imtimidation and a face-to-face confrontation and with cyberhazing, we have the anonominity factor whereas the school "bully" has a physical presence (often overpowering) and is identifiable. I do feel, however, that when we are negatively dressed down publicly, that few will come back for more and thus the "group" becomes limited by the negative which disallows true growth, enjoyment and even truth The irony is that people will fade away when they are IGNORED because indifference elicits zip while "attacks" can cause the stubborn "victim" to dig in his/her heels.

loycer- You also express interesting concepts. The first time I blogged, I was attacked most vicsiously (is that a word?). Actually, I tried a chat room back in the late nineties and some sexually explicit creepy type starting making aweful gestures so I didn't chat/blog, whatever you call it, until I started last year. I have learned to enjoy it, learned much from others, learned some things about myself and made some awesome friends who I see outside the blogsite or even the coffee clatches. One of our coffee people is a local politician and I have gained some affection for his personality, charm and good sense of humor, even though I still don't know much about his politics.

Bullies, and I have had the unpleasant experience of interacting with some of them, don't always show their colors like the normal type do. Those type are dangerous to the social well-being of others. They seem have decided who the scapegoat victim will be and perfect their craft at getting others to mimic them until they create mob violence against the victim. At that point, they literally sacrifice others for their own benefit. The crazy thing is, they justify it and actually feel righteous about it. They are in the workplace, in churches, your neighbors...those are the ones I call the worst.

"Mob" Cyberhazing! Now we're into the flesh of it all. The group has morphed into a "mob" blitzing the uninitiated; so the group is then formed to outnumber/overpower the individual who, again, then moves on and the group is diminished by the loss of the individual but strengthened in numbers. Auburn has a remarkable amount of clubs. Ever wonder why? As a rejected Rotarian I wear my non-badge proudly.

The "mob cyberhazing" is another way humans sacrifice each other. It can be tempting sometimes, especially when a person really dislikes the attitude of the victim (guilty or not) and others have started the "lynching". I know that I have been guilty before, but have learned to step away from it and try to think first. Birch stops me from misinterpreting some of the comments made here, on occasion, and for that I think we all benefit.

I have lived in this town a long time and am quite aware of the good ol-boys & girls-acceptable-in-the-inner-circle crowd. There's some good people out there amongst them, but many of them are a phony as the faces they wear. As a rejected non-badge wearing Rotarian, you just stepped up a few notches in my "I Kinda Like That About Her" Club :-)

Well now you may be understanding why I CHOOSE to feature those hard-working, industrious underdogs and bring new blood to the table instead of the SAME EIGHT peeps (clubbers) featured over/over/over in the media. Let us have some VARIETY in our greens but please let's put the spotlight on some interesting peeps, some colorful ones like Bill Johnson who has survived with grit. It's not easy being on the outside but the air can be very invigorating, for sure. I was "accepted" into Soroptimists (more relaxed than some) but when I was held captive by a boring speaker with an obvious agenda, I was GONE like the wind, again, all about choice for which I am enternally grateful and are we not really the sum of our wise and not always so wise choices?

Wow, I come back to check out this thread and there is a ton more discussion. And DARN Birch's thong is at the cleaners, we really need that cage fight with Jayber to happen!

I guess my use of the word "bully" struck a nerve. Maybe it was not the right word, maybe more like "alpha male/female" ????

To keep it short, I would just say that there is a different kind of element on these chat sites than in the real face-to-face world. Here people can kind of play "roles" and morph themselves in ways you can't do so easily in person (esp. when people use multiple monikers). It can make it kind of confusing to not know if the person is being "real" or not.

Observer: I know what you mean about the passive-aggressive thing. I have studied a fair amount about that subject because I was raised in a family that mainly functioned using passive aggression to communicate. It has been difficult for me to learn how to be funny and light hearted without having some alterior motive of hurting someone in my use of humor or sarcasm. To be honest, these comment pages have been an exercise for me in this esp. when dealing with tricky topics of religion and politics where emotions run high and people immediately go ad hominem to "make their point."

Dysfunctions always have and always will dog us. However, I see reference to "fun/light-hearted". Can joy and even mirth lie ahead?. Look out world.

Girls, girls, girls...we just have to be related somewhere down the line! :-)

Loycer - Thanks for your committment to the underdogs. They are many times my favorites, especially those who are most rejected! Most of the people on the "outside" wouldn't enjoy the pretense on the "inside". In fact, it might make them nauseated. Sorry if I thought you were on the inside... :-)

Apology ACCEPTED. Communication can change perception and insight can be realized on this blog and what opens our minds allows for more truths and even humor.

Hey, looks like we might all be getting along. ;-)

Sounds like there might be some local service/merchant/whatever group issues going here. I will stay out of that. The most I belong to is the local music teachers' association, and that is all the drama I can handle.

whew! what exactly is cage fighting? home sick today. just catching up on on the threads. glad to see that folks seem to be happy now. cheers to all of us who remain happily on the outside. it's easier to breathe out here, isn't it?

I hope I’m not putting my nose where it doesn’t belong, but considering I grew up with 5 sisters, I kind of feel right at home here. Loycer, You really should reconsider the coffee meetings. They are great fun and there has never been a hint of trouble. Everyone is accepted, even Birch. :) BTW, to all of you, I like the way your back and forth became even more civil as the discussion progressed, the difference between man and woman.

BTW, that’s an elk, not a deer. :) Sorry to be so technical.

P: I stand corrected because it is good to have a correction given forth with grace since we all seem to be somewhat thin-skinned from scraping our collective psyches along our somewhat thorny/bumpy paths. I was told by the elk owner that those antlers were not the original. You would not want me at your meetings since I tend to dominate/take over and even try to lead but thank you for the kind invite. In the beginning of my blog experience I felt hazed by both men AND women but it is interesting that in the end I was apologized/thanked by a woman and defended by a woman and a few men; so are the men less like likely to admit wrongdoing because alpha-male stuff is going on and politics heretofore were dominating the blogs and that men in the past have always ruled this arena? Did the men feel encroached up, uncomfortable, threatened?

Loycer - I went to "Second Chance" used clothing today...you know, the one across the street from the Elmwood Motel. Anyhow...what a great lady she is that owns it/works there (?) She has the most fabulous selection of clothers, especially the evening wear and festive things. Prices are great. Could you do one of those blogs soon on her and her shop. Christmas and New Years is around the corner. Money is tight. All the "ladies" ought to know about her place! :-)

loycer, I've been lurking in the background to see where this would all go. I post occasionally. I am taken to task. All of that is fine with me. I take others to task. My point for finally posting? I have to tell you, I was warming up to you until the last couple of sentences. I really dislike generalities. "...so are the men less like likely to admit wrong doing..." some. "...and that men in the past have always..." not if you read this on a regular basis. Perhaps more men bloggers, "ruled this arena?" NO, that the A.J. does.

There you have it. That's my point of view, I'm not speaking for anyone else. I say those things to everyone...regardless of sex.

Ooops SORRY it is an ELK! ha I should know that since my dad went Elk hunting every year and would come home with one strapped to the front of the Jeep then let it hang in the garage. And of course it would then end up just like this on one the livingroom wall and tons of meat in the freezer, yum.

The reason the men haven't come around on this thread is probably because they have long since stopped flipping all the pages to get to it. It is us women who aren't happy until everything gets resolved and will keep flipping pages to see if we can all kiss and make up. ;-)

And Loyce, if you come to a coffee meeting and try to take over, ChuxxR will slap you down, Birch will keep you down with his extreme cagefighting moves (with his thong that, hopefully, will be back from the drycleaners by then) and then Jayber will join in (by this time she will read up on what cagefighting is and know what to do) and I will be dialing 911 as Observer screams at Birch to get off. So it is not a problem, please join us.

O: I have been disempowered because my blogs were flagged and the webmaster said no more so I am disallowed and am no longer FREE to spotlight veterans like June at The Second Act. Perhaps as time passes and people begin to start to relax I can re-visit this venue but my hands are tied, for now. G: Do not take kindly to being "slapped". Started my own StringAlongs music group as a new uke musician and have been called undemocratic because I absolutely insist on mirth as the foundation and so be it but mirth it is. R: I've also been called a "male-basher" at the local golf course because humor is sometimes misinterpreted. So equate the following: Been married for four decades to a Type AAAAA-self-made man (Gail met J) from WVA and have maintained/managed and survived the up/downs/underneaths of marital "bliss" and continue to go at it because somebody has to have the last word and I think it's gotta be me, you think? I so appreciate an intelligent mind be it male/female or otherwise. Just "trolling" along singing the last-word song.

Oh, BTW O: The Piece by Peace blog--because the thrift shop is non-profit--fell under the radar but June at Second Act is for profit so any focus by Cheerleading Loyce will be interpreted as an ad. For sure, June has staying power and talk about indignities from the public she has endured. Nice touch to see her dog there. So, do stop by Piece by Peace thrift shop for abused women on Hwy 49 across from Fiddler's Green. Need good quality donations and even volunteers. I'll take a stab at volunteering; but last time I volunteered I locked horns with another volunteer with an agenda so there we go again with that pesky territorial thing. Not having fun? Not being paid? Time to move on and go to the land of appreciation if such exists.

Roland - Birch is the man you speak of and that is why I am finally breaking down and marrying him :-) You have to become what you want to attract...

Loyce - You lock horns?? I wouldanative (new word) known! :-) Dang, you're going to love this group :-) On volunteering...remember my analogy of passive-agressive? You will never see it any stronger than in do-gooding arenas. I think that is why the Bible says to do our almsgiving so that only God sees it. It becomes like a hidden treasure. Keep up the good work. If you really like animals, let me know. I have a few people I know who need help...the animals will appreciate your work more than the people will :-)

The good book is subject to interpretation and there are a zillion different interpretations. Again, in the LAND OF THE FREE, we are truly free who can interpret and expound openly. So argue away but few will change their conditioned beliefs when the conditioning runs deep. Lurkers invited to join in and identify yourself and cast away your cloak of anonyminity. Out thyself.

"Any of various hoofed ruminant mammals of the fam Cervidae including elk": Free Online Dictionary

Loyce: I was just making a joke about the "slap down" since Birch brought up carefighting and I thought it was funny esp. with referene to Jayber (if you knew her you would know why it is funny, she is the sweetest thing ever). Just a joke, and I too have a ...um...different sort of sense of humor that often gets me into trouble.

And our little meetings are actually surprisingly upbeat and non-confrontational. We all just talk about things in general and laugh a lot.

Food for Thought, Gail: You have from Day One seen the positive and while O has judged/name-called, O has extended an apology, a thanks and a request ; and you BOTH have invited me to your gathering. I would be reluctant to engage with those other anonymous bloggers who have railed against me and from whom I've yet to receive an apology. Note: Seems like it's down to we three woman now and it's lighter and even that Rollie has come out to engage or not. I love humor, especially my own but find humor can sometimes mask truths and I believe that the hostility manifested earlier remains a current just beneath the surface. In summary, Blog Basin is somewhat more pleasant to swim in but I remain disabled from putting "ads" on because of the flagging which led to the banning. I may be up a creek but I'll keep swimming away.

Just keep on keepin' on, that is all we can do anyway.

With fun/style/panache/verve/optimism and as it is said, "When you stop the goin' you're finished" ready or not. Onward.