I have thought about Ken's personal reflection of this forum. Now, the next question that comes to mind is, exactly what do you expect to get from this forum?

-- (Mary@home.com), May 05, 2000

Answers

What I'm getting now. Stimulating discourse on a variety of interesting topics by the enlightened members who post and/or lurk here.

-- Flash (Flash@flash.hq), May 05, 2000.

I like this joint! Don't agree with everyone, everyone doesn't agree, but so far, no one (at least to me) has been nasty, offensive, or impolite. Disagree yes, but isn't that the point of this?

And who knows, maybe I'll learn something. Maybe someone will learn from me (that's a stretch) but I've got no complaints for anyone.

-- Richard (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), May 05, 2000.

Mary:

Expectations....aren't they at the root of discontent? Personally, I expect NOTHING from this forum. As I said somewhere before, the internet experience is an aside from reality with a "fun" value somewhere between cleaning the toilet and having sex.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), May 05, 2000.

I was under the impression there would be door prizes. I'm a little upset that I've not yet seen any. OTFR - What's the hold-up?

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), May 05, 2000.

CD,

You mean YOU havent received your's yet, I got mine last week.

What you ask???? I'll NEVER tell, but it was nice, thanks OTFR.

:--)

looking around to see if maybe someone stole yours....LOL

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), May 05, 2000.

Consumer,

You mean you only got one? Heck, these things keep coming in the mail to me almost as much as the AOL CD's do. *g*

-- (Mary@home.com), May 05, 2000.

I was hoping for free beer. I always hope for free beer. It is a dream of mine.

...and the rivers flowed with beer from sea to shining sea

I thought I read somewhere that after a certain number of posts TPTB on this forum would send you a free six pack?

Was I misinformed?

If not free beer then I expect to be entertained and perhaps gain knowledge. There are always some great links that lead one to a deep sense of contemplation. Still I only believe a small portion of what I read.

-- Outta beer (East of the smoke stack@usa.here), May 05, 2000.

Can't stand to see a guy cry about not havin a brew.

Yo, outta, here ya go.

Deedah's brew

[The gif made some browsers crash, including mine. I changed the tag to open in another window. OTFR]

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), May 05, 2000.

Strangest thing  its like this mug of beer keeps flyin by me!?

-- Debra (?!?!@?!.com), May 05, 2000.

At the risk of sounding like a complete sap, one of the things I really like about this forum is that I can finally "converse" and in a way "get to know" people who were on the "other side of the Y2K debate".

I have a new-found respect for many of these people and have found them to be almost completely opposite of what my "Y2K impressions" were. I'm very thankful for that. (I have to say this: I think Uncle Deedah is simply one of the funniest people I have ever "known". I can't believe I never really noticed it before. Shame on me.)

I like the fact that this forum can support all manner of serious discussion (some really good minds on this board), silly stuff, soap- opera stuff, and anything else we can come up with. Yes, I can even tolerate anonymous posters calling me nasty names (it comes with the territory, I suppose). There seems to be a really good mix of people and personalities here. Never a dull moment.

FWIW, I like it just the way it is.

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), May 05, 2000.

I would like to see more new people taking up residence, though. I'd prefer debating-team types, but who am I to be picky? I wonder how we go about recruiting people. Anyone know?

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), May 05, 2000.

Flint, in my neck of the woods "debate" can and often does lead to violence. Maybe that's why I try soooooo hard to be polite. :)

-- helen (home@the.farm), May 05, 2000.

helen:

I'm not sure of what term to use here. I'd like to see lots of different opinions and viewpoints about interesting issues. I'm not interested in a "how's the weather where you are" social group, nor in people ganging up and calling others names for holding to the wrong religion (though if that were my only choice, I'd choose the latter). The forum is most interesting to me when those who think they're right disagree with one another, and must *think* about why they think they're right.

I regard the mind as being like a muscle -- it gets stronger with exercise and atrophies without it. You always appreciate having exercised, though it may not have been all that much fun while you were doing it.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), May 05, 2000.

Flint:

I think we can start with asking the lurkers to check in. We have not done that in a long while; I am not sure we have done this on this forum yet.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), May 05, 2000.

Anita,

I know what you mean! Cleaning toilets is such good fun and I find it so fulfilling to see that fresh blue flush. But that sex stuff is yucky.

-- (nemesis@awol.com), May 06, 2000.

Actually I come here expecting to find my perfect mate; unlike the chatroom experience where she told me she was a former Playboy bunny, and I flew to Wango Bango only to find out that she was a 450-pound heroin addict with an electronic bracelet on her ankle.

***

Serious answer (if I must): pretty much the attitude Anita expressed....whatever comes along. Just fun to drop my 0.5" worth into the brew, at whatever frequency.

Adds a bit of 'intellectual difference' to the daily life....you certainly don't run into people conversing about this stuff just everywhere ya go, IRL.

-- Chicken Little (panic@forthebirds.net), May 06, 2000.

ugh please don't say the free beer

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), May 06, 2000.

I expect nothing, but I get a lot. Great people! Even those I don't agree with. As Chicken Little said, "...you certainly don't often run into people conversing about this stuff just everywhere ya go." Very True.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), May 06, 2000.

Expectations are resentments waiting to happen.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), May 07, 2000.

FWIW I agree W/Flint. Your brain IS like a muscle and ya gotta use it!

Anyone here ever read a book titled "pumping ions"?

Full of mental gymnastics and thought puzzles for daily "workouts". Goods stuff, IMHO.

-- Super Polly (FU_Q_Y2kfreaks@hotmail.com), May 07, 2000.