End of ARBR

Robert Siegel said:

After years of enjoying so many varied and informative recumbent-
related posts, I have finally given up on ARBR ... BROL
does far better job.

Generally, I glance at the ARBR posts, hit "mark all
read" and leave. ARBR now is largely about Sherman,
Dolan, et al.

Too bad.

Rule of alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent No. 3: Feel free to
contribute to crossposted, off-topic flame wars and then
[censored] about them being off-topic.

--
Tom Sherman - Quad Cities (Illinois Side)

"Robert Siegel" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

After years of enjoying so many varied and informative recumbent-
related posts, I have finally given up on ARBR ... BROL
does far better job.

Generally, I glance at the ARBR posts, hit "mark all
read" and leave. ARBR now is largely about Sherman,
Dolan, et al.

Too bad.

Can't quit; they'd win.

For some reason I'm reminded of two guys I once knew. Mostly
harmless, but one desperately needed a girlfriend and the
other really needed a greeter's job at the local mega-mart.

Just a coincidence, I'm sure.

I found that use of the "block sender" option has made ARBR
much more informative. Some days it could be 80% nonsense.
After blocking certain individuals, I am now learning
something about recumbent bikes without having to wade
through all the petty bickering.

Mike in Kalamazoo

There is a problem with doing this. Some of the people you
are blocking "on occasion" have really good advice to offer
(self not included unless it involves batteries) and a few
of the posters who cuss and swear the most have been around
bents since before some ARBR members have been on the
planet. To just block people who wander OT & or use language
that peels paint off the barn door is not good. I find that
when you need advice, you usually get a reply from these
potty mouthed OT [censored] that is clear, precise and very ON
Topic. Over the last year ARBR has become more of a sandbox
dominated by a few members who can play rough and will [censored]
on your toys whenever you let them
in...just don't participate and move on to messages that
interest YOU. As for Mr.Dolan, I am actually starting
to like a lot of what he writes and some of it makes
sense. What does NOT ring true simply spurs my interest
to look further at political journals and history books
to see if what he is speaking of is on track or not.
Mr.Dolan is more of a therapeutic diversion away from
all things bent.

I voiced this observation 3 years ago, that what makes ARBR
work is that it is not limited to just hard facts and boring
stats. At one point ARBR was nothing shy of a slugfest where
you came to swear and insult others...now it has calmed down
and mellowed...possibly even evolved. The Message Board is
still too rough for some, but there is enough of a balance
now to keep the NG viable. Some come to fight, some come to
learn, some come to provoke and some come because the wheel
fell off their bent and they got a boo boo and need to tell
everyone about it.......and some come to [censored] about how the
NG has become a cesspool,

ARBR mimics the life we have to deal with everyday...Whoa
too deep to go there. I mean that having a NG that is all
sweetness, hugs & kisses-warm and fuzzy is NOT reality and
WE live & ride in the real world....so shouldn't we talk
about the good and bad that goes on in our lives, share our
experiences on, off and under our bents? ARBR is approaching
a balance. One side OT and the other side why ARBR was
formed. I like ARBR having this balance.

Joshua
*****

"Deb and Mike Killarney" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I found that use of the "block sender" option has made
ARBR much more informative. Some days it could be 80%
nonsense. After blocking certain individuals, I am now
learning something about recumbent bikes without having to
wade through all the petty bickering.

Mike in Kalamazoo

"Robert Siegel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

After years of enjoying so many varied and informative recumbent-
related posts, I have finally given up on ARBR ... BROL
does far better job.

Generally, I glance at the ARBR posts, hit "mark all
read" and leave. ARBR now is largely about Sherman,
Dolan, et al.

Too bad.

Siegel has been unhappy here on this newsgroup for a long
time now. He will not be missed, but if the truth be told,
there is no one of us who would be missed if we all left
tomorrow. Sherman (the most prolific poster in all Usenet
history) proved that when he briefly left us a while back
and I was the only one here who noticed his absence. In the
grand scheme of things, none of us matter in the slightest.
However, I think if we can somehow amuse one another every
now and then that we are ahead of the game.

But I am glad that Siegel and others enjoy BROL. I have
never even looked at BROL. Do you think maybe I should
wander over there and see what all the fuss is about? 😉

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

"Hedgin' my bets" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Robert Siegel" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:73L8c.39912$PY1.749444@bgtnsc05-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net:

Quoted message said:

After years of enjoying so many varied and informative
recumbent-related posts, I have finally given up on ARBR
... BROL does far better job.

Generally, I glance at the ARBR posts, hit "mark all
read" and leave. ARBR now is largely about Sherman,
Dolan, et al.

Too bad.

Can't quit; they'd win.

For some reason I'm reminded of two guys I once knew.
Mostly harmless, but one desperately needed a girlfriend
and the other really needed a greeter's job at the local
mega-mart.

Just a coincidence, I'm sure.

Hey Hegin, it just makes my day when I wander out to the
local Wal-Mart and I am greeted by the official greeter
there as I enter the big bazaar. Try to show some respect
for someone who at least talks to me in a friendly manner
even though he doesn't have the slightest notion of who I
am. However, I couldn't do that job myself as everyone
pisses me off these days just by their appearances alone.

As for the girl friend, that won't work either as I have
never had a girl friend that I didn't want to murder sooner
or later. No doubt, all you married slobs know what I am
talking about.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

"Deb and Mike Killarney" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I found that use of the "block sender" option has made
ARBR much more informative. Some days it could be 80%
nonsense. After blocking certain individuals, I am now
learning something about recumbent bikes without having to
wade through all the petty bickering.

Mike in Kalamazoo

What is this petty bickering business? I myself only engage
in the most profound discussions on matters of the deepest
import even it if is only with myself. It is not my fault
that I only have petty bickerers for adversaries. I do my
best and let the chips fall where they may.

I know it is all a case of me casting my pearls before
swine, but you never know when even someone even as dull as
Sherman may become enlightened. Think of St. Paul on the
road to Damascus. Miracles can happen like a bolt of
lighting out of the blue.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

"EVSolutions" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

[...]

Quoted message said:

As for Mr.Dolan, I am actually starting to like a lot of
what he writes and some of it makes sense. What does NOT
ring true simply spurs my interest to look further at
political journals and history books to see if what he is
speaking of is on track or not. Mr.Dolan is more of a
therapeutic diversion away from all things bent.

That is the way I look at myself too Joshua. I am here for
the bent information same as everyone else, but I like to
add something else to the group - a little fireworks and
excitement. Very much of what gets posted to ARBR I have
already seen before dozens of times. You can only keep going
over the same old ground for so long.

[...]

Quoted message said:

I voiced this observation 3 years ago, that what makes
ARBR work is that it is not limited to just hard facts and
boring stats. At one point ARBR was nothing shy of a
slugfest where you came to swear and insult others...now
it has calmed down and mellowed...possibly even evolved.

Things are not really rough here at all because we are
all gentlemen. When an occasional barbarian shows up,
leave him to me. I know how to handle those types. He
will soon be gone.

I have been here for a couple of years now and I do not ever
recall ARBR being nothing but a slugfest. That must have
been before my time. The thing to remember about me is that
I like ARBR. I am here to make it better, not to destroy it.
That is the last thing I want.

[...]

....so shouldn't we

Quoted message said:

talk about the good and bad that goes on in our lives,
share our experiences on, off and under our bents? ARBR is
approaching a balance. One side OT and the other side why
ARBR was formed. I like ARBR having this balance.

God yes, me too Joshua! Those who want to stick strictly to
the subject of recumbents, narrowly defined, will destroy
the newsgroup from the sheer boredom of it all. I have
always very much appreciated those who relate something of
their life experiences. This newsgroup has many like that on
it including you. I do not know why some folks are so
defensive about themselves. How else do you acquire a
personality (become a real person) if not by telling
something about yourself every now and then.

One thing that many of us need to learn is how to grow a bit
thicker outer hide. Mine has now approached the durability
of a rhino but I do recall how sensitive I used to be when I
first came on ARBR. Now that I am no longer sensitive, I
find that I can really enjoy this newsgroup and have some
fun. Isn't that the main reason any of us are here in the
first place - to have some fun.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

[email hidden] (Edward Dolan) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Hedgin' my bets" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hey Hegin, it just makes my day when I wander out to the
local Wal-Mart and I am greeted by the official greeter
there as I enter the big bazaar. Try to show some respect
for someone who at least talks to me in a friendly manner
even though he doesn't have the slightest notion of who I
am. However, I couldn't do that job myself as everyone
pisses me off these days just by their appearances alone.

As for the girl friend, that won't work either as I have
never had a girl friend that I didn't want to murder
sooner or later. No doubt, all you married slobs know what
I am talking about.

Why am I not surprised?

With your attitude, you must be one of the loneliest persons
in the world. I can only pity you.

Denis Rivest

[email hidden] (Denis Rivest) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Edward Dolan) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hey Hegin, it just makes my day when I wander out to the
local Wal-Mart and I am greeted by the official greeter
there as I enter the big bazaar. Try to show some
respect for someone who at least talks to me in a
friendly manner even though he doesn't have the
slightest notion of who I am. However, I couldn't do
that job myself as everyone pisses me off these days
just by their appearances alone.

As for the girl friend, that won't work either as I have
never had a girl friend that I didn't want to murder
sooner or later. No doubt, all you married slobs know
what I am talking about.

Why am I not surprised?

With your attitude, you must be one of the loneliest
persons in the world. I can only pity you.

I must admit I do spend an awful lot of time alone, but I am
never lonely. Why is that I wonder? I think it must be
because I have so many interests (not just recumbents) and
because I am so intelligent. But I suspect intelligence and
interests go together. I wish someone would explain to me
just what loneliness is. I have never known it.

--
Regards,

Ed Dolan - Minnesota

Quoted message said:

Do you think maybe I should wander over there and see what
all the fuss is about? 😉

Naw... wait till yer invited...

[email hidden] (GeoB) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Edward Dolan said:

Quoted message said:

Do you think maybe I should wander over there [BROL] and
see what all the fuss is about? 😉

Naw... wait till yer invited...

The moderator of that group, Mr. Ball, would never even let
me get close too it. Nor would I want to in any event. There
are those who need to be baby sat and then there are those
of us who can look after ourselves. It is the difference
between adults and children.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

(Edward Dolan) said:

The moderator of that group, Mr. Ball, would never even
let me get close too it. Nor would I want to in any event.
There are those who need to be baby sat and then there are
those of us who can look after ourselves. It is the
difference between adults and children.

Yes. Adults can behave responsibly and not besmirch their
environment. Children and juvenile delinquents have no
sense of personal responsibility nor civil behavior, and
delight in destroying things just to show how tough they
are. In case you're wondering, Ed, I place you firmly in
the latter category.

Just as adults cannot carry on a rational conversation with
screaming children hanging on them and throwing food around,
the adults have had a real problem carrying on rational
conversations here in ARBR since you appointed yourself the
only person worthy of posting here. Just as children and
delinquents are not allowed in places of business or other
rational discourse, Bryan has decided to exclude you from
his list. Given your record here, I'd say he has very good
reason to.

Gary

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Edward Dolan) wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The moderator of that group, Mr. Ball, would never even
let me get close too it. Nor would I want to in any
event. There are those who need to be baby sat and then
there are those of us who can look after ourselves. It
is the difference between adults and children.

Yes. Adults can behave responsibly and not besmirch their
environment. Children and juvenile delinquents have no
sense of personal responsibility nor civil behavior, and
delight in destroying things just to show how tough they
are. In case you're wondering, Ed, I place you firmly in
the latter category.

If you will examine any of my posts carefully you will see
that it is always [censored] for tat with me. I only treat others
the same way they treat me. If you are polite and mannerly,
then I am polite and mannerly. It you are the other way,
then I am too. The only thing I was ever bent on destroying
was liberal arrogance which was rampant on this newsgroup
before I came along.

Quoted message said:

Just as adults cannot carry on a rational conversation
with screaming children hanging on them and throwing food
around, the adults have had a real problem carrying on
rational conversations here in ARBR since you appointed
yourself the only person worthy of posting here. Just as
children and delinquents are not allowed in places of
business or other rational discourse, Bryan has decided to
exclude you from his list. Given your record here, I'd say
he has very good reason to.

Bryan was one of those who was very OK with all the liberal
ranting and raving that went on here on ARBR before I showed
up. Does he allow that sort of thing on his bulletin board I
wonder? I can tell you based on past experience with him
that he doesn't like to hear conservative opinion. Then,
like you, he starts complaining about how a conservative is
ruining the newsgroup but all those liberals were somehow
enhancing the newsgroup. In other words, a typical liberal
who is like a cry baby and must always have things his own
way. We finally have some fairness and balance here on ARBR
and it is a much better newsgroup because of it. BROL is for
liberals like yourself who can't take opposition.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

(Edward Dolan) said:

If you will examine any of my posts carefully you will see
that it is always [censored] for tat with me. I only treat others
the same way they treat me. If you are polite and
mannerly, then I am polite and mannerly.

Defining "you are polite and mannerly" as "you agree
completely with Ed's opinions," of course. Anyone who has
the audacity to disagree with you is branded a flaming pinko
liberal crybaby, and becomes the target for as much abuse as
you feel motivated to disgorge. Which is always lots.

Quoted message said:

The only thing I was ever bent on destroying was liberal
arrogance which was rampant on this newsgroup before I
came along.

"Liberal arrogance" being defined as "anything that doesn't
agree with Ed's opinion," of course.

You know, Ed, in this country we value free speech. Even
conservatives like yourself are supposed to think that's a
Good Thing. Constitutional and all that. Which means you
have NO BUSINESS and NO RIGHT to decide it's your God-given
calling to "destroy" free speech even if it DOESN'T agree
with your opinion. Usually it's the Nazis and Communists and
other dictators who try to destroy free speech like that.
Are you proud of the company you keep?

Furthermore, this is (or WAS, before you peed in the pool) a
group about BICYCLES. Recumbent bicycles, to be exact.
Nowhere in the name or charter does it say it's a liberal or
conservative think tank. Political discussion, ranting, or
argument has NO PLACE here and DOES NOT BELONG here. There
are plenty of places to argue politics. If someone says
something you don't agree with, invite them to accompany you
to an appropriate place to discuss it. Carpet-bombing the
entire group because you disagree with a few posters is
destructive and juvenile.

Quoted message said:

Bryan was one of those who was very OK with all the
liberal ranting and raving that went on here on ARBR
before I showed up.

Before you showed up, politics got mentioned once in a while
but cycling was the primary subject. I don't recall much
"ranting and raving," liberal or conservative, until you
lifted your leg on the group. I believe you went nonlinear
when you saw one or two people who had opinions different
than yours, decided that was a symptom of endemic liberal
commie sympathizers, and cut loose with both barrels. When
in fact it was just an occasional off-topic comment by a few
people in the midst of primarily cycling-oriented
conversation.

But please, since there was SO MUCH liberalism slopping all
over in here, please show me where I'm wrong. Kindly
document all this "liberal ranting and raving that went on
in here before you showed up." Prove that this was the
hotbed of liberal pinko-thought you claim it was. If you
don't or won't prove it, then you will prove yourself to be
the liar we all know you are.

Gary

Gary, Ed doesn't care about proof, politics, facts, only
that you pay attention to him. He continues to *suck* in
folks who think they are gonna set him straight. Got any
kids? Think: 4 year old. Ignore him. Maybe he'll go play in
the streets.... b, doesn't anybody get it, g

Gary Fritz wrote: Prove that this was the hotbed of liberal
pinko-thought you

Quoted message said:

claim it was. If you don't or won't prove it, then you
will prove yourself to be the liar we all know you are.

Gary

Quoted message said:

(Edward Dolan) said:

If you will examine any of my posts carefully you will
see that it is always [censored] for tat with me. I only treat
others the same way they treat me. If you are polite and
mannerly, then I am polite and mannerly.

Defining "you are polite and mannerly" as "you agree
completely with Ed's opinions," of course. Anyone who
has the audacity to disagree with you is branded a
flaming pinko liberal crybaby, and becomes the target
for as much abuse as you feel motivated to disgorge.
Which is always lots.

I do not care much whether others agree with me or disagree
with me. The only thing I insist upon is that the discussion
be fair and balanced and not just a liberal rant. I have
stated this repeatedly. Why have you not picked up on that
by now? I can't state it any clearer.

Liberals are the worst scum in the world when it comes to
argumentation. They always get low down and dirty when you
least expect it. Politeness is wasted on them. They see it
as nothing but an opportunity to go in for the kill with
their always vile and arrogant name calling. That is why I
have determined to beat them to the punch. They know with me
that name calling will not work, as I have a million names
for them and I am not afraid to use them either.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The only thing I was ever bent on destroying was liberal
arrogance which was rampant on this newsgroup before I
came along.

"Liberal arrogance" being defined as "anything that
doesn't agree with Ed's opinion," of course.

See my above paragraph.

Quoted message said:

You know, Ed, in this country we value free speech. Even
conservatives like yourself are supposed to think that's a
Good Thing. Constitutional and all that. Which means you
have NO BUSINESS and NO RIGHT to decide it's your God-
given calling to "destroy" free speech even if it DOESN'T
agree with your opinion. Usually it's the Nazis and
Communists and other dictators who try to destroy free
speech like that. Are you proud of the company you keep?

See my above paragraph.

Quoted message said:

Furthermore, this is (or WAS, before you peed in the pool)
a group about BICYCLES. Recumbent bicycles, to be exact.
Nowhere in the name or charter does it say it's a liberal
or conservative think tank. Political discussion, ranting,
or argument has NO PLACE here and DOES NOT BELONG here.
There are plenty of places to argue politics. If someone
says something you don't agree with, invite them to
accompany you to an appropriate place to discuss it. Carpet-
bombing the entire group because you disagree with a few
posters is destructive and juvenile.

I am like a sweeper that comes along after the parade to
clean up all the liberal trash posts that find their way
onto ARBR. I do not ever interfere with on-topic posts. It
would be nice if we off-topic types could all stay on just
one subject thread no matter what it is labeled, but before
you know it someone (never me) is proliferating the subject
threads for no reason. I guess that is just the nature of
Usenet and there is nothing that can be done about it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Bryan was one of those who was very OK with all the
liberal ranting and raving that went on here on ARBR
before I showed up.

Before you showed up, politics got mentioned once in a
while but cycling was the primary subject. I don't recall
much "ranting and raving," liberal or conservative, until
you lifted your leg on the group. I believe you went
nonlinear when you saw one or two people who had opinions
different than yours, decided that was a symptom of
endemic liberal commie sympathizers, and cut loose with
both barrels. When in fact it was just an occasional off-
topic comment by a few people in the midst of primarily
cycling-oriented conversation.

You never noticed all the off-topic liberal posting that
went on here because you were in sympathy with it. Those of
us who weren't noticed every g.d. one of them. And they were
to be found on very many on-topic subjects also. They were
mostly just snide remarks passed off as jokes, but we all
knew what was meant, didn't we?

Quoted message said:

But please, since there was SO MUCH liberalism slopping
all over in here, please show me where I'm wrong. Kindly
document all this "liberal ranting and raving that went on
in here before you showed up." Prove that this was the
hotbed of liberal pinko-thought you claim it was. If you
don't or won't prove it, then you will prove yourself to
be the liar we all know you are.

I never look up anything that everyone knows to be true and
is self evident. But if you want to do so, be my guest.
Frankly, I have gotten to the point in life where I refuse
to look up anything anymore. Like a great sage, I now
function strictly off the top of my head. As far as I can
tell, that is all anyone else is doing here too, including
you, except the rest of you are not great sages like I am.

Anyway, here is a jerk who calling me all kinds of names and
he is probably not even aware that he is doing it because
liberals talk like this about conservatives all the time
(and anyone else who disagrees with them). At least when I
am calling someone a name I know what I am saying and I am
always 100% accurate. Moreover, I am sincere whereas you can
never trust a liberal to be sincere about anything, not even
the names he is calling you.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

bg <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Gary,

Ed doesn't care about proof, politics, facts, only that
you pay attention to him. He continues to *suck* in folks
who think they are gonna set him straight. Got any kids?
Think: 4 year old. Ignore him. Maybe he'll go play in the
streets.... b, doesn't anybody get it, g

This is the guy who doesn't get it, but most who top post
like him are permanently out to lunch. The fact is that most
here like to read me. Otherwise, why would they bother to
respond either negatively or positively? Even you like to
read me. There is no shame in admitting it as I am very
readable. Ye Gods, man, show some courage! The sky will not
fall in just because you like to read whatever it is that I
have to say.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota