OT: The real evolution of Mr. Decker

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

The Real Evolution of Mr. Decker

1998 - Decker's parents ask him about Y2K. His research leads him to many sources including BFI. Further research suggests: 1) Gary North has been wrong about "the end of the world" for two decades and Y2K is his latest thing; 2) North's "Remnant Review" offers two-year subscriptions... hmmm? 3) Christian Reconstructionism is scary; 4) Both sides of the online Y2K debate are "shrill."

Fun trivia fact: Decker chose his honorific for several reasons, including the lack of civility on BFI and as a subtle commentary on a historian (North) using "Dr."

January 1999 - Decker advises parents that they are better prepared than 99% of the civilized world.

Fun trivia fact: Decker actually has parents.

March 1999 - A "tongue-in-cheek" essay is cross-posted from BFI to the TB 2000 forum... "Raiding your local Y2K survivalist." After learning the essay was cross-posted, he wanders over to find himself accused of being a cold-blooded killer. The few readers with actual military experience concede he is "dead" on.

Decker posts the classic essay, "Y2K and Risk." Unable to refute the post, the pessimists accuse him of stupidity, dishonesty and a general lack of fashion sense.

Fun Trivia Fact: "Y2K and Risk" is really a compilation of smaller essays developed on BFI.

April - early May 1999

After posting several "middle-of-the-road" essays on TB 2000, Decker posts on Debunker. Big Dog reacts like a woman scorned and leads the charge against "Benedict" Decker. Big Dog, Arlin Adams and Elbow Grease suggest Decker should not be on the ballot for TB 2000 prom king.

Fun Trivia Fact: Ed Yourdon admits Decker "probably" knows more about economics than he does.

late May - June 1999

Ed Yourdon leaves Y2K. Decker questions the timing and motives of Yourdon's decision. He generates more anger with the essay "Y2K as a Religion." Yourdon is canonized and become St. Yourdon, patron saint of missed critical dates. Decker is scheduled for additional shock treatments.

In St. Yourdon's absence, Sister Diane, Brother Big Dog and others assume control of the TB forum and announce their "moderating" intentions. Decker protests. The new moderators calmly explain they support free speech... especially the free speech agreeing with them. Old Git compares forum "trolls" to the Nazi Brownshirts. Decker protests.

Decker appears at Virginia Y2K gathering and proves he is not an android programmed by John Koskinen.

Fun trivia facts: Stan Faryna's dog will weigh over 150 pounds when fully grown. The dog liked Decker.

late June - July 1999

Decker loses patience and becomes involved in a verbal slugfest with Hardliner and others. After gentle chiding from Flint (and a short stay at an anger management clinic), Decker apologizes. This confuses forum pessimists who cannot reconcile an apology with Decker's status as evil government operative and banking shill.

Decker further confuses pessimists by questioning Doc Paulie and Stephen Poole at Debunker on recent events. Decker begins planning a post to explain the concepts of "principles" and "intellectual honesty" to the TB 2000 pessimists.

Fun Trivia Facts: July 1 passes with little problems. Free market is resolving many Y2K problems. Decker voted "really smart guy" by parents.

August 1999 - Decker mentions the lack of glitches with August 22nd GPS rollover. "a" accuses Decker of acting as "host" for an evil alien entity that wants us to ignore the coming Y2K doom.

September 1999 - Decker has yet to post on the "preps" forum. His popular "On Preparation" series is hot-linked by admiring fans. Andy still confused about the difference between peonies and pansies. Paul Milne seen working at 7-11.

October 1999 - Market correction sends TB 2000 into convulsions. Decker profits mightily from index shorts. He announces an open invitation to his "end of the world" party, black tie, of course. Will Continue continues.

November 1999 and on - Coming soon to a forum near you.

Regards,



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

Answers

"Big Dog reacts like a woman scorned ..." Ah! Kiss me, my lovely!

I notice the slate is clear after November, 1999. Hmmmmm. Not good. Maybe we'll have to plug in a's "Evolution of Decker" past that time frame.

Great post. Truly funny. Not enuf laughs around here, while we wait for my predictions to be proved correct (and they will be). OK, can someone do a GOOD satire of me?

.... because if we can't laugh (this is JUST a forum, after all), are we really prepared for Y2K anyway?

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


Ken

Your humor is much better than your religious commentary, (or y2k for that matter) one thing though, why is it that Gary North is always compared to the Y2K problem. He is a "bit" over the top and I am sure that many have not even givin a dam what he wrote. My y2k education started at DeJagars Press clipping page at the start of last year. 2nd. of January 98. Gary's commentary never appealed to me.

This is not a jab at you Ken but a observation that allot of folk measure Y2K with what Gary North says. Possibly you should read older GAO reports from Joel W. saying that the US government is likely to be toast at the rate they were going. There has been equally scary stuff comming from the US and Canadian Governments. Yet your commentary has never included this fact. One reason there is "doomers" is the fact that there was LOTS of reasons giving last year to be a doomer. This year is differant. Either things are improving or things are being hid. I would think a little of both.

Maybe what is needed is a history of Y2K awareness to put things in perspective.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), July 09, 1999.


Inconsistencies.

Fun trivia fact: Decker chose his honorific for several reasons, including the lack of civility on BFI and as a subtle commentary on a historian (North) using "Dr."

http://206.28.81.29/HyperNews/get/gn/317/1/1/1.html

My real name is Mr. Decker

Forum: Gary North is a Big Fat Idiot Forum
Re: My Humble Response (Mr. Decker)
Re: Cheers to you Mr. Decker. (A Person With Hope...)
Re: Gosh!
Date: 1998, Dec 30
From: Mr. Decker

My real name is Mr. Decker. Were we friends, we might be on a first name basis. In this forum, however, I believe decorum is served by the use of my surname. All responses to my posts are sent directly to my email and I attempt to be gracious in response. I am

Still,

Mr. Decker

-- (deckers@smoking.gun), July 09, 1999.


What motivates Mr. Decker? I'm rather confused as he seems to change "sides" depending on which forum he is posting on.

-- sue (deco100@aol.com), July 09, 1999.

Yikes! First, this is an attempt at humor, folks. If you don't think it's funny, fine, but please spare everyone the nitpicking. Second, "decorum" IS consistent with "civility."

Main Entry: de7co7rum Pronunciation: di-'kOr-&m, -'kor- Function: noun Etymology: Latin, from neuter of decorus Date: 1576 1 : literary and dramatic propriety : FITNESS 2 : propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance 3 : ORDERLINESS 4 plural : the conventions of polite behavior

Main Entry: ci7vil7i7ty Pronunciation: s&-'vi-l&-tE Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties Date: 1533 1 archaic : training in the humanities 2 a : COURTESY, POLITENESS b : a polite act or expression

I might have passed on providing the definitions, but it can't hurt this forum to read them. (laughter)

Finally, Sue, I have been relatively consistent. If you want to actually read my posts, you'll see my point.

Regards,

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



LOL,Mr.Decker! A good one! And BIG DOG, I agree! This is just a forum after all and it's great to hear someone say so! There may be some fresh breezes stirring... I was truly beginning to think the place was getting rather stuffy.

-- Barb (awaltrip@telepath.com), July 09, 1999.

December 1999 - Decker is aghast when he discovers the millions he made shorting the market have been lost in a bank error. FDIC sends him a letter saying they can't cover him, but they do send their "Regards".

January 2000 - Deckers parents do not receive their government entitlement checks and are pissed because, contrary to what he assured them would not be the case, the lights are still out. In addition, their beans are ruined because they failed to flush their pails with CO2, they've run out of bum wipe, and their neighbors, who prepared last year, are calling them stupid. In response, Dad Decker whips Ken's ass and sends him to bed without supper.

February 2000 - Decker's parents ask him to leave the house. Takes a temporary position shoveling pig shit at Milne's farm.

March 2000 - Decker promoted by Milne. Is now Chief Economist of the hen house and fulltime Shit Shoveler.

April 2000 - Decker has a falling out with Milne over whether y2k was a 9 or a 10, and is asked to leave. Decker contracts a disease from either dog urine or a rusty hubcap and loses functioning in the other half of his brain. Parents take him back in, reluctantly.

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


ah!humor!

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 09, 1999.

(Y2K prediction: the Mr. to soon write a satire on 'a'. We may finally have reached that final stage of Y2K remediation long predicted by Groucho Marx: tragedy becoming farce).

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

:-D

-- Elbow Grease (LBO Grise@aol.com), July 09, 1999.


ROTFLMAO!!!

-- at work (abcdef@aol.com), July 09, 1999.

... and the music is a wonderful touch. a's thread and this one are the best this week by far, IMO. Come on, someone do a satire of "a" and me, PLEASE.

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

Careful what you wish for BD :)

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

got to say this is a classic thread!!!

and, we even have Decker's predictions for August through September!!!

Let's see...humm...should I go with the predictions of "a" or Decker?

Mike

PS. That "end of the world" party...will that be a worldwide event or only at your house Decker? ; ) ====================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), July 09, 1999.


*giggle*

Thanks, I needed that!sams@brigadoon.com

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), July 09, 1999.



Enjoyed the humor and the background music.

Shorting market indices this fall certainly sounds like a good idea. Of course, the way the Dow is going, I wouldn't be surprised if it hits 12,000 by the end of summer, before everyone wakes up from their beautiful dream and says "Oops!"

P/E ratios? P/E ratios? I don't need no stinkin' P/E ratios!

-- Don Florence (dflorence@zianet.com), July 09, 1999.


Yall sure are a clever and creative bunch of tinfoils......

Pretty damned funny stuff!

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), November 05, 1999.


Decker: hilarious

"a": mean-spirited; shows your general lack of a sense of humor

-- (nah@not.today), November 05, 1999.


Mr. Decker, Not to be, well, mean, but when i found out you were a 36 year old economist it detracted from your credentials a bit. Would any sane investor be guided by an economist? particularly a 36 year old one who has not had time to learn that all the theories he was taught are just that? i wish i had not found out, i did so enjoy your writings.

-- Noone (noone@none.com), November 05, 1999.

Y'all made my day. I marched proudly with tin foil hat to the music, grinning widely. Ah yes, don't we all need a break? Aren't we all just sick to death of y2k? I am now just biding my time and wishing it would get on with it. Now that that it apppears that the world is going out with a whimper instead of a crash, it makes me meaner than ever. For a long time I figured, when I laid my head upon my pillow come New Year's night, I would KNOW what y2k had to bring. SIGH................!

Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), November 05, 1999.


Noone,

Relax. This is just a breath of fresh air. Mr. Decker is in his thirties... so what? Have you enjoyed what he has written? I know that I have enjoyed the words that he writes. From what little I have read of his vs Gary North, I would take Mr. Decker's advice first. At least he gave me clues about the flaws of a fixed position.

Just my spare change....

-- (cannot-say@this.time), November 05, 1999.


Cant say

Yes i have enjoyed his writings. And he comes across as a very nice person. What does that have to do with trusting any economist who hasn't had practical experience with my money? I'd say one who is 85 or 90 might be getting there. Studying economic theory is fun. So is reading science fiction.

-- Noone (nonone@non.com), November 05, 1999.


Noone,

I wouldn't trust an 80 or 90 year old person (economist or not) with my money. They may doze off and just forget where they placed it. (*joke*). While I do not suggest you trust Mr. Decker with your hard earned money, I suggest that you seek out what makes you comfortable with your situation. For all I know, the people that I pay to manage my investments may be a decade or so younger than I. I cannot complain, as they have made me a few bucks along the way. It is just about what makes you comfortable. Personally, I liked his little evolution piece. It made me lol.

-- (cannot-say@this.time), November 05, 1999.


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