"So, in answer to your question..."

'tis no wonder you have no one you consider a friend with an outlook such at that as you have just described.
Friendships have to be watered and cared for, you think people carry around a scorecard. (Some people do, I know, but they are nobody's friend.)

Who can you call at 3AM to explain that you are going to be released from the ER in about twenty minutes, that your keys have been lost in the taxi accident you were in about six hours ago and you need a place to lie down until the locksmith arrives at your apartment at about 10AM??

I can name four people, not in my building.

Oh, and ten times that number of people who could call me.

Joe(how about you?)Nation

That is actually a seriously fantastic idea. When? I'd like to wait for the end of the heatwave, but I'm game. I haven't met Frank in half a year, and the Tsar in over a year. This would be wonderful!

lemme know when you're doin' it

not for me , but for a friend who moved to NYC for the summer as she got an internship at the Met - I've already recommended the Pan to her - I'd love her to meet some non-artiste types while she's there

Ahem.
As both Thomas and Frank can attest, despite both to them living in a place that is rumored to be named Nubegerzee ( I may have the spelling wrong.), everything and everyone on the island of Manhattan is ARISTE.

Going to be in the 70's next week, ya'll.

Who needs their invitations to be engraved?

Joe(we'll etch them on the side of a cold Corona.)Nation

(Dare I say it? Yes, I do ...)

I'm humble. This is one of the reasons why I keep most of my opinions to myself here at A2K. The other reason is because I'm a thin-skinned coward. Don't care for all the personal attacks from people who haven't even met me and don't know me from Adam.

Granted, there are at least a few mean-spirited people in this vast collection of fora. But I'm not referring to Setanta. He's okay just as Dave is okay.

Another doggie named kuvasz once said board messaging isn't for the faint of heart, meaning that personal attacks are the norm. Why must it be this way? Why?

I'm afraid those are universal human constants to be found in just about every society, regardless of whether or not there is any of the brain washing of which you speak.

It's always seemed odd to me. Here's my rule: Never type anything to anybody that you wouldn't say face to face in a crowded bar.

If you type something to me that I know you would be too chickenshit to say to my face in a crowded bar (with the resulting face punch) I thumbdown down your post and put you on ignore.

Several people (no names) are owed punches in the face as far as I am concerned.

Hey, I'm organizing a meet-up in New York!!

Joe(no ulterior motives)Nation

Greetings, Mister Nation! I would never intend upon saying anything to anyone that was personally insulting. The problem is, of course (as you no doubt already know), some people have difficulty tolerating those with whom they disagree, especially in the realm of politics and religious controversies or pertaining to anything else they deem to be sacred. In other words, most people already have their minds made up, regardless of the topic, and will not be receptive to a different point of view, no matter how innocuous or sensibly expressed. But I do enjoy reading online spats, just as long as wit is employed instead of nothing but simple-minded vulgarity or the creation of new words with the innovative -tard suffix. (Does that sound like a formerly active member of these fora?)

I appreciate your notice of the upcoming gathering of able A2K members in New York City. I regret to say that I won't be available, as I live half a continent away and am currently obligated by certain family commitments that I must keep. If I lived in the state or in one of the bordering ones, then I'd make arrangements to attend this festive gathering. I trust you all will have a good time.

Don't feed foof.

That seems easy enough.

As I mentioned, Robert quickly exposed OccomBill and JustBrooke in some distant sock puppetry.

A meet-up in NYC? Really? When? If possible, I would love to be there...

O'Bill and Justbrooke are two different people though....we know O'Bill from facebook and people have met him. Brooke is known too, so they are not one and the same person.

I've met O'Bill in Chicago, and so did Eva.
What is the question?

Read what JTT wrote...

Sorry, I don't get it.

So, what else is new?

Well George, I know that you're real

Yeah, but real what?

You'd be surprised how much you'd like him in person, Setanta.
He's this jolly Irish catholic man who laughs a lot and has a great sense of humor. His online presence and how he is in actual life don't match at times.

I'm sure i would. I understand the disconnect between online ranting and real life.