Am I entering into a shameful and erroneous trap by pandering to the popularist mindset or will a DUSTY ANSWERS (formerly LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR THE DEAD (formerly COUNTDOWN TO THE BIG FOUR ZERO)) forum improve the quality of everyone's life and make the world a better place? Speak now....

-- Nicholas E. Grinder (eda@impolex.demon.co.uk), June 14, 2000

Answers

A Grinder forum will improve my life by letting me air my views on cinema, literature and public transportation in an arena filled with the brightest minds of my generation. It will give me a new direction for my creativity, which I think will feel like a natural outgrowth of my current practice of roaming the streets in the evening and muttering into my beard about the plots of the Bildebergers and the Trilateral Commission while sipping cheap grain alcohol from a 40 ounce bottle.

-- Tom Dean (tsd@ogk.com), June 19, 2000.

Yeah, why not. It would be good to see who else is reading. And what you have to say to them. (ps I did not use a fake email address. Promise.)

-- Petra Parsnip (vandroz@yahoo.com), June 19, 2000.

Forums are fun. Many diarists and diary readers like forums. I like them, but they are a huge timesuck. I think the key to having monstrously popular forums is to constantly tend them by asking leading questions, and encourage outrageous honesty.

On the other hand, the two most active threads at my forum are about travel packing, and roses. So you just never know what's going to set people off.

-- Lucy Huntzinger (huntzinger@mindspring.com), June 19, 2000.

Considering the level of discourse that's been going on in certain forums, having one with the NER Seal of Approval can only be an improvement.

Now if I could only figure out why I can only post once in every twenty or so tries. . .

MMF

-- Melanie Miller Fletcher (xanadu1@ibm.net), June 19, 2000.

I am a closet forum voyeur and I've never posted to one before, but I'll make an exception on this occasion, since you asked so nicely. Yes, I think you should have a forum and I'm sure it will work well if people are prepared to contribute. The thought of posting to a forum always intimidates me for some reason (pussy that I am) but it's interesting to see what other readers have to say and to scour the colourful topics that get addressed. Plus, I get really bored in my lunch hour so keep it up.

-- Polly (diem99@hotmail.com), June 20, 2000.

AYE!

-- kenzie (x@x.x), June 20, 2000.

Grinder, you pious fraud, I've drummed up a groundswell of support for your forum -- check out Beth's front page at Xeney.com.

Now quit playing coy and post a question or two.

-- Tom Dean (tsd@ogk.com), June 20, 2000.

You have my full support for your forum idea. I don't offer this lightly, but only because of all the air-headed, nebulous, vacuous material on the web today, yours is the most meaningful. A forum moderated by Nicholas Grinder would have to be quality stuff, & might even touch on some of life's most pressing questions. (i.e; Why is Scottish train service so botchy) Thank Heaven you'll soon have Stacey with you full time to keep you on track.

-- Boyd Brenton (BBRE916386@AOL.COM), June 25, 2000.

Yes please Mr. Grinder. It's a bright spot for shut ins like myself who work from home and therefore have no co workers to goof off with.

[See! I'm doing it right now! Quality work avoidance minutes!]

I promise to contribute comments that are at least as gripping as those offered in the average work place.

-- Sally Hewson (sallyhewson@sympatico.ca), July 14, 2000.

Under no circs should Messrs. Grinder & Co. engage in this forum nonsense. Does the word "sellout" no longer have any meaning.

However, if some of your fine forumites are able to offer a successful cure for athlete's foot I would gladly contribute 37p to your PayChum account.

-- Cornelia Fuddermeister (yousaytomato@hotmail.com), August 08, 2000.