The Evolution of Mr. Decker

Jan 99 What's the Point? epoch

This was the beginning, when Decker floated over from the Biffy forum. This period was marked by extremely well constructed attacks on our belief system, such as "Why prepare at all if you're not Rambo?" and "What's this silly stuff about black&blue helicopters?" Decker demonstrates his eloquence in written expression by essentially calling us a bunch of idiots, and having half of the forum think they've been complimented.

Feb 99 Dear Readers, I Can Assure You That Market Forces Will Correct All Problems eon

Decker continues his verbal tirade on TB2000. People begin to note that he is able to tell you to go to hell in such a nice way that you actually look forward to the trip. Suspicion is raised and claims of ulterior motives begin.

Mar 99 My Good People, You must Have Me Confused With Someone Else period

Continues to profess his open mindedness on TB2000, but is secretly taken into the fold at the Debunkery. Finds an ally in Flint, and wears the polly badge with pride.

Apr 99 Well, I'm Prepared to be Wrong About This stage

Decker concedes to himself that these idiot doomers have a good point. He begins to consider the implications of what has been posted on TB2000 and is shocked when he looks up the meaning of the word "systemic". Has his humidor checked for y2k compliance and decides to order a year's supply of Cohibas, just in case.

May 99 Censorship is Wrong era

A sanctimonious revolution of sorts begins for Decker when he finds that, if he can't fault us for lacking in our y2k facts, he can at least criticize us for deleting the threads of the most belligerent trolls.

June 99 Apologies Begin phase

Decker begins devoting all his time to image repair, and redirection of blame. Moderately successful. Trades licks with Diane and Lisa, but something deeper has been affected.

July 99 Breaking Bread with the Doomers age

Decker is now fully 50% in the Yourdon camp and 50% in the Doc Paulie camp. Enjoys a fine dinner with Stan and the gang as they discuss the pro and con's of various rabbit snare designs. Begins taking flak from CPR, who accuses him of spending too much time with the "pessimists".

THE FOLLOWING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IS SPECULATION BASED ON THE KNOWN BEHAVIOR OF THIS TROL...,ER, ORGANISM THUS FAR...

Aug 99 Old Git, Can you tell me Again How to Make Cider Vinegar? milestone

Decker is now considered by many to be a closet convert, as he spends little time now on the Debunkery, and what time he spends there is spent flaming Y2K Pro and Mutha. Is awarded a "Triple Flying Pig" citation by Poole.

Sep 99 Come to Jesus time

Decker officially "gets" the Yourdon religion and openly begins sharing his concerns and encouraging all in his community to prepare. Surprises the forum by revealing that his first name is really "Ebenezer"

Oct 99 Mr. Decker is officially accepted as a "Get It" and his contributions aid in preparing the world for the dangers of the Year 2000 Problem. Better late than never Mr. Decker!

-- a (a@a.a), July 08, 1999

Answers

Splendid!

-- your (biggest@fan.if_you_don't_count_political_persuasion), July 08, 1999.

Actually, I find Mr. Deckers posts valuable. They are well written, concise and they bring the optimistic points of view to light in a civilised manner. They make it easier to understand a "polly" point of view. Many times Mr. Decker is a valuable source of economic theory. And all his posts posses the attribute of having better spelling than mine! I can't see why he get's such grief on this forum. (Which reminds me, add "he stays civil longer than most regulars do" to the above list).

Watch six and keep your...

-- eyes_open (best@wishes.net), July 08, 1999.

Decker is deaf, blind, and probably dumb to y2k.

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), July 08, 1999.

But George....he's so darn good at it. Ebenezer Decker? I LIKE it. Has a raw, rugged, manly, Montana-farm-boy-sorta twang to it.... indeed. Excellent update a. Do keep us posted on the map-man's progress.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), July 08, 1999.

very very funny a.

-- number six (Iam_not_a_number@hotmail.com), July 08, 1999.

Thanks a@a.a, (god! all you letter "people" drive me nut's!)

Monsieur Decker is not, in my mind, either a Polly or a troll. His arguments are usually well thought out (unlike my own) and he is very articulate. I enjoy his posts and have collected some valuable tips from them. Some Polly/troll/shit disturbers out there deserve the dish we serve them, Decker is not one of them IMO (got no humble left after hearing some of these idiots). What say we all continue to dispute posts we disagree with and let the cards fall where they may? As I said on the in the first post I made on TB200, "I feel as if Ive made a large grup of friends." I believe Decker is one of them.

If you want me Ill be under my computer desk dodging the "incoming" Im sure to get.

Heads up?. What the hell is that supposed to mean? What should be said is HEADS DOWN!.

GEEZE!

-- lookin' for a hole.... (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), July 08, 1999.

Excellent summary, a!!! Decker's dukin' it out with the gang over at Der Boonkah, here's the start of the thread --

http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/messageboard/mbs.cgi?acct=mb237006&MyNum=9 31352924&P=No&TL=931352924

It's not that Decker thinks he's superior to doomers, it's that he thinks he's superior to EVERYbody.

-- OutingsR (us@here.yar), July 08, 1999.

Ken Decker's first post, as far as I know, was on March 25, 1999:

Raiding your local Y2K survivalist

I realize that a small minority of posters have burrs in their saddles which they seem to enjoy driving deeper into themselves every so often. As if cogitating upon the potentialities of Y2K isn't painful enough. Unfortunately these folks feel the need to take the resultant misery out on Decker.

It is obvious to me there is a continuing, perhaps loosely organized effort to drive him off the forum. At least try to employ some semblance of facts in your attempts.

'a', you exhibit, hiding behind your forum persona, truly some of the best & the worst humanity has to offer. I hope for your sake you have a tremendously generous prescription plan.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), July 08, 1999.

Great research, "a"! Even the "extrapolation" into the rest of the year! Maybe "troll" isn't the right term for this organism. Maybe chameleon is more like it. Changes his colors to blend in with whatever environment he is trying to fit into. Unfortunately, accepted by none, since everyone eventually sees through the facade.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), July 08, 1999.

Hey, lighten up guys. This was truly hilarious and I hope the Mr. is able to enjoy it too. But the thread title should have been ...

"Bringing Up Mr. Decker"

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), July 08, 1999.

Oh, of course!

"We're not laughing AT you Mr. Decker, we're laughing WITH you!

I used that one in sixth-grade with much success.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), July 08, 1999.

Hey, Bingo, the Mr. (laughs) at me all the time.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), July 08, 1999.

That comes through in his posts. No doubt about it. Irrelevant.

I'll not discuss this subject with you further BD. I well remember our last discussion regarding Decker. It wasn't pretty. Nor enjoyable. Nor productive.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), July 09, 1999.

(Big Dog growls in a friendly but warning fashion, trots carefully across the field, sits and watches the terrain warily).

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), July 09, 1999.

Bingo, don't get your panties in a wad. Mr. Decker is a grown man (I find it hard to address someone on a chatline/forum who is three years younger than myself as Mister) and I would hope he can take someone poking fun at him.

Decker came to this forum and pissed me and some folks off with his attitude. Not so much his prognostications, his attitude. The regulars have spent a great deal of time cultivating this place, acquiring information and experience, and it ticked us off when a 36 year old economist stepped in to tell us we didn't know what we were talking about,

He needed to be brought down to Earth a little, set back a notch or two, and I for one find him much more tolerable now we've used him as a punching bag a few times. He seems none the worse for the wear and I'm sure that he finds my parody of himself all in good humor. If not, like I said to Buddy on the Pollys on Parade thread, I'm sorry if I hurt his feelings.

-- a (a@a.a), July 09, 1999.

If only it were controllable. My panties wadding up that is.

Your explanation is so antiseptic, 'a'. Not to mention downplaying the tremendous beating he's taken over the past two months or so.

Yes, Decker can take care of himself. I'm not whining in his defense so much as in abhorence of the behavior which is exemplified by threads such as this one, especially in light of what has transpired on a few other threads the past two weeks or so.

Just a little harmless fun? In light of the horrific treatment he's received I am bewildered (yet again) at the lack of sensitivity - enough is enough - &/or the intense need of some posters to have a chuckle at the expense of another.

It's a bully mentality here at the "TB2000 Classic Forum". Bullies don't act alone. They require mob support in order to justify their thoughtless behavior. Plenty of thoughtlessness to be found here.

Besides, Flint is on vacation. I thought someone had to step up & fill a portion of his technicolor, go against the flow, platform shoes.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), July 09, 1999.

OK, look, write an equivalent satire of me if you'd like. This thread is a hoot. Funny. That's all. And it isn't mean-spirited.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), July 09, 1999.

Bingo1,

I am right with you on this one. I respect the majority of Mr. Decker's posts and usually find something worth adding to a "mental arsenal" (I can use all the help I can get :^)). I am tired now and going to bed. Reading through this thread reminds me of watching a dog chase it's tail.... sorry, that may not seem an accurate comparison but that simply is what comes to mind. Zzzzzzz..... oh! Good night!

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), July 09, 1999.

I have posted my response as a new thread.

Regards,

-- Mr. Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), July 09, 1999.

OT: The real evolution of Mr. Decker

-- (decker@decker.decker), July 09, 1999.

I equate Decker with Troll Maria's approach. For a long time I merely found their posts to be arrogant and condescending. Everything will be fine, I don't have to prepare because I already am (to the hilt). It wasn't until I realized they were fully willing to write off the most vulnerable in our society - the very old and frail, those in northern apartments with no fireplaces, etc. In other words, a very large and important chunk of our national community. Since then I have felt little but disdain for the two of them.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), July 09, 1999.

Brooks,

I'm still scratching my head in response to your post.... I have made no secret about moving from applied microeconomics into the nonprofit sector (i.e. "saving the world.") If you speak with the folks on this forum who have actually met me, I think they'll vouch for my commitment to the common good. My suggestions on "smart living" and moderate preparation have been meant to help people. In fact, if taken I think my ideas will prove far more useful than draining retirement accounts and running up credit cards to purchase Y2K preparations.

Regards,

-- Mr. Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), July 09, 1999.

LOL. I'm in good company here; thank you, _all_.

Now, out to enjoy a beautiful sunny (finally) day.

-- jor-el (jor-el@krypton.uni), July 09, 1999.

Good points by Brian, but I would add that he is equally unconcerned about...children. Having none, he has never conceived that parents might have their own set of unique anxieties. Not to mention that he is unfailingly divisive and condescending: certainly not someone I'd want to work with, despite his much-bruited manliness. I'll give him credit for being able to string words together, an increasingly rare skill in latter-day Umerica.

-- Spidey (in@jam.atwork), November 05, 1999.