Looks like there's a Great Cloud of Sockpuppets hovering over the forum, attempting to bury the discussions with a voluminous mass of off the wall book length woowoo posts.

I'd hate to see this place be viewed as a woowoo site by folks coming here in these closing days of the century, looking for something *other* than fringe nonsense.

And I'd hate to think that the deluge was raining down to assure that newcomers *are* driven away by the sheer woowooery of it all.

But, I gotta say, it's starting to look to me like that *is* why it's happening.

First the "free speech" spamtrolls, now the lying woowoos.

What next?

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 02, 1999

Answers

PS: some of this stuff has been *so* far out (calling me "Shawn", because "all monsters are Shawn", accusing me of being an FBI agent who was after "Don Bradley" and (yetch) David Oates (spit), and so forth, that I could not resist passing a URL over to the King of the Anti-Woowoos -- Glen Campbell.

Perhaps *he* can have some fun outing "them" too.

"Sock" it to me!

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 02, 1999.

I'd leave it here. It's so amusing to witness 'countdown whining'.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), December 02, 1999.

I noticed that someone named "Rickster" has been posting some VERY lengthy threads that would take an entire evening to read, so I don't even bother.

With the exception of pasting a copy of an actual news report, I think the commentary responses should be kept brief and to the point. I've always thought it would be a good idea to limit posts and responses to an amount of text that would fit within the viewspace of an average monitor without scrolling. Anything longer gets deleted.

Maybe I just have a short attention span, but if you can't say what you want to say within the length of one page, then I find I usually lose interest in reading it, and go looking for a "shorter" topic.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), December 02, 1999.

Hawk,

Personally mortifying to find myself agreeing with you as of late, but a famous person once noted: 'If you cannot state your problem in 25 words or less, you probably do not understand it yourself.'

By the way, the original poster is misquoting B5's Captain Sheridan. That's 'WooHoo', not 'woowoo'.

Sincerely,

-- Uhhmm.. (JFCP81A@aol.com), December 02, 1999.

Ron,

While the material may be considered "woo-woo" in a few short weeks it will all be a moot point for the most part.

If folks are just tuning in now, then they are in a heap of trouble.

Frankly a teaser paragraph or two with a link would be appropriate I guess, but during this stage of the game it doesn't matter.

For what "real" hard news do we have these days? System snafus due to y2k remediation of systems, occasional 1900 dates on paperwork. Nothing one can really sink their teeth into. The die has been Ron. What will happen will happen. The battle for the cllective heart and soul of America has been won by Koskinen and company. There will be no panic.

29 days out and you want to talk about the beneifts of XYZ generator? Come on--this forum is for those of us on the death watch.

Its like those dog days of Summer back in '74 with the Nixon presidency swinging in the wind just before he bowed out. Nothing left to do but wait.

If Y2k is just a bump, then the whole subject will be howled at--Tin foil hat parties will abound.

If it is not, then who will be checking in to the forum to read? Either way a few "wo-woo" posts will not make a difference at this stage of the game. Its fringe and OT (or is it?).

Because if Y2k ends up as a toxic cloud on the horizon, then we conclude we were lied to. If the powers that be lied about y2k, then ergo, what else are they lying about and why? That makes the fringe and "woo-wwo" interesting.

Be patient Ron, in a short while the end of the story will be revealed.

But in deference to band width, I ask the "woo-woo" posters to post a couple of teaser paragraphs with a link to the rest.

As for the chemtrail posters--well posts about planes over "Smallburbia" Right Now! are getting a bit over done these days. Perhaps just a single thread on chemtrials per day is needed so folks can post about the formations. Afterall, who knows? right?

Just a Peace Farmer

-- Peace Farmer (peacefarmer@thefarm.veg), December 02, 1999.

I find it interesting the the name Schwarz has appeared on this forum with new post multiple times today. Instead of complaining about other posters, why don't you first consider yourself?

Frankly, I find that what you have "contributed" to be a waste of bandwidth and disk space. Downloading anything with the name "Ron Schwarz" is bound to be another diatribe against another poster.

Woowoo poster Schwarz - has kind of a funny ring to it doesn't it?

-- Ron the Dork (Dork@r.us.ron.com), December 02, 1999.

Uhhmm, to be honest with you I think life would be really boring and depressing if everyone always agreed, but in this case I'm glad to hear that we see it the same way. I think it would keep the topics moving along a bit more quickly, and people would be forced to cutback on the pointless rambling and get to the point.

How about it sysops, can you limit the text input box to about the number of words posted by "Peace Farmer" there? (is that a good size?)

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), December 02, 1999.

Got to agree with Hawk. Keep em short.

-- BrianNJ (BrianNJ@yeah.rte), December 03, 1999.

Schwarz, these are the subject links of your recent postings:

A new type of forum disruption

This "Don Bradley" Business

What was the name of that movie

"I'm not really aware of cities being able to suspend the constitution."

Panic in Snot Holler Michigan!!!

Enlightening, eh? How about limiting the number of mindless posts with stupid, endless and meaningless questions? I think the most effective method of saving on system resources would be to limit posts that offer meaningful input.

Self regulation (it's called discipline Ron) is the key and when that doesnt work (as in the example above), ridicule is another answer. Sysops can assist Im sure, but Id really hate to see sysops restrict what might be a valuable post that exceeds a page length.

I suggest everyone go back and read Ron's posts and his replies. Interesting into the character of a man who is worried about forum disruptions.

-- Take your own medicine (Ron@snotholler.com), December 03, 1999.

Hawk:

Just use the little arrow that points down. You're suggesting this deck chair would look better over there? LOL

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), December 03, 1999.

I'm getting amped up the closer we get to 01/01, so to avoid getting in a pissing match with you boys, I think I'll retaliate by ignoring posts that peeve me.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 03, 1999.

Hokie, I'm with you. This "woowoo" crap is a bit academic for this stage.

-- TA (sea_spur@yahoo.com), December 03, 1999.

It looks like Mr. Sock is getting a mite bit agitated.

I've heard that too much exposure to the light can do that.

Better scurry along back into the shadows, where you were until a few days ago.

By the way, I *do* enjoy knowing when I've struck a nerve.

Thanks!

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 03, 1999.

I fail to see the problem.

Since this site has pretty much ceased to be a source of good, valid, bona fide, honest information about Y2k, it might as well serve some purpose, as long as it's up.

Whenever I want to find out what's going on in the world of Alien Abductions, or Conspiracy Theories that No Sane Person Would Think of Posting Anywhere Else, or Personality Disorders On Display: this is one of THE two most hilarious sites on the web. (Guess what the other one is!)

-- Chicken Little (panic@forthebirds.net), December 03, 1999.

"By the way, I *do* enjoy knowing when I've struck a nerve"

Way to go Ron!

Keep enlightening us! I am breathless in anticipation of your next enlightening post.

Prediction for next Woowoo Poster Schwartz:

You guys are all dumb. I'm smart. You'll see.

May the SCHWARTZ be with you,

sean

-- sean (Ron@you.rule), December 03, 1999.

"Uhhmm, to be honest with you I think life would be really boring and depressing if everyone always agreed,"

I agree! Everyone agrees. Don't you agree!

-- weallagree (iagree@with.glee), December 03, 1999.

Hawk: I LIKE THE LONG ONES.

-- silver ion (read@read.read), December 03, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

I like the long ones, too. Only rarely do I fast forward those. If someone is going to be a content free windbag or is unable to make themself understood, you can usually detect it inside the first hundred words. After that, your choice... fast forward of keep going and get your daily quota of laughing endorphins. If a limit is considered, I'd propose one at about 2,000 words, about the length of your average highschool essay assignment.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), December 04, 1999.