Let's hear it for those new 'Deckers!

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:13 pm

It's no secret that many of us old-time deckmeisters seem to be getting into a rut with each other lately.

Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's just the time of year, maybe some of us have been puttin' those old worn principles in front of people lately....

But I've been refreshed to see a number of new posters lately.

Not that I agree with 'em all necessarily.

But I, for one, am glad to have 'em on board.

Welcome to the rumble, ya'll.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:55 am

Gary Rice wrote:It's no secret that many of us old-time deckmeisters seem to be getting into a rut with each other lately.

Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's just the time of year, maybe some of us have been puttin' those old worn principles in front of people lately....

But I've been refreshed to see a number of new posters lately.

Not that I agree with 'em all necessarily.

But I, for one, am glad to have 'em on board.

Welcome to the rumble, ya'll.

Gary

"Welcome to the rumble" would seem to encourage the very posts
that do not allow you to sign Kumbaya.

.

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 7:55 am

Well Jim,

Look at it this way...

It's the dialectic, you know...

There has to be some validation, some purpose in life, right?

Without the rumble...

Without the mosh pit...

Without the thunderstorm...

There would be no need or appreciation for the rainbow...

The coming together....

...or the kumbayah.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:09 am

Gary Rice wrote:Well Jim,

Look at it this way...

It's the dialectic, you know...

There has to be some validation, some purpose in life, right?

Without the rumble...

Without the mosh pit...

Without the thunderstorm...

There would be no need or appreciation for the rainbow...

The coming together....

...or the kumbayah.

Gary

I agree 110%

without the lows

there are no highs

there is nothing, that does not warrant discussion

But if we are to believe some of the others

We MUST all agree, we must walk over the poor
the weak, the frail, the abused and join hands
in a joyous voice of solidarity,

After all, the perception is far more important

Than any truth that can be discovered in the drill down

The facade/charade of peace in the canyon, is far more important than
the backstage of chaos, learning and the art of discovering.

If nothing else we need to do it for the children

My god the children, the children

the children

FWIW

.

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:42 am

If web sites want anyone to ever post anything, people have to know that their opinions are safe from being scarcastically ripped to shreds by others.

There has to be a point where respect supercedes all else.

Bullying has no place either in the school yard, or anywhere.

Making points and even polite disagreement? That's fine.

Beyond that...it quickly stops being fun.

More than that, it stops everything, period.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:52 am

Gary Rice wrote:There has to be a point where respect supercedes all else.

Bullying has no place either in the school yard, or anywhere.

Making points and even polite disagreement? That's fine.

Beyond that...it quickly stops being fun.

More than that, it stops everything, period.

Gary

I would agree that the poster needs to be protected from being called... But ideas, all ideas that are worth anything need to be vetted.

This city has a long and POOR history of chasing shadows, in a world of shadows. In this economy, at this point in our history we cannot afford to be chasing shadows, or failing in our dreams.

That said this city, not the discussion, has chased away some of the best minds, so that vanity prevails, even if those "winners" have never won anything.

People and groups are being rewarded for secrecy and lying with public funds! People are embracing the charade, instead of hard work and knowledge.

That my friend is insane.

For the record, when I have a bad idea, PLEASE rip it to shreds.

PLEASE

Sticks and stone may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

Have we actually lost that earliest of lessons?

In the rush to ties, and in the land where everyone is gifted, or graded
on such a curve, we all seem gifted have we lost that simple thought?

It is insane.

People need to learn, then share.

.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:06 am

Gary

I was just going back to some of the greatest thinkers of all time.

Most at some point were called fools, or worse.

Some even faced or went to jail for their ideas.

Maybe tough love, and the vetting of ideas, is what honed these real heroes.

Maybe they had enough conviction to trust that someone could help make their
ideas better. Maybe it was their conviction that showed others the way.

"The single biggest problem with the Vietnam War was the pacifists."
Jim O'Bryan

People have got to get over their frail little egos if they think they can lead us out of the darkness.

Rewarding cowards, fools, bullies and false idols will not save us, or this city.

Ideas and the vetting of those ideals will.

.

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:17 am

Well Jim...

One thing's for certain.

Here on the 'Deck, there have been no shortage of ideas or opinions.

And on the whole, I think that's been a very good thing.

Bret Callentine · Post by **Bret Callentine** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:09 am

CAUTION: Every 'Deck' comes with a few wild cards and jokers.

QUESTION: If we're "Deckers", then would someone who participates in one of the other projects as well be a "Double Decker" ?

For the record, when I have a bad idea, PLEASE rip it to shreds.

PLEASE

Amen

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:18 am

No.

You just have to know if anyone's dealing off the bottom...

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:13 pm

We just saw what 8 years of atta boys got us.

We must interrupt racism. We have an obligation to stop abuse when we see it.

Those that would seek to distract us from their manipulations by crying "They're just big meanies" need to be tripped up.

Should your boss tell you you're doing a good job while you're losing the company money right and left? Should you get rewards and bonuses for performing poorly? Not in the reall world Gary.

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:33 pm

Sharon,

It's not the "fight" that you need to question... especially with me.

Don't let pacific appearances fool you.

It's which battles you choose.

There's the strategic, and then there's the tactical goal.

I've never once shied from a cause I believed in.

Ever.

Take that to the bank... if you can still find one open.

As Woody, Studs, and a few others supposedly either said, wrote or believed:

Take it easy....but take it.

The real world Sharon?

Good luck finding one.

Charlie Page · Post by **Charlie Page** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:44 pm

sharon kinsella wrote:Should you get rewards and bonuses for performing poorly? Not in the reall world Gary.

In the real world itâ€™s called welfare. I agree there needs to be a safety net for people who would otherwise have no where to turn but live on the streets. A safety net but not a way of life. Welfare for many people is a way of life. And itâ€™s growing. Dependency breeds dependency.

Anyway, welcome new Deck members. As you can see, there are many people with many different opinions. Everyoneâ€™s opinion counts here whether youâ€™re on the right, left or somewhere in between. Thereâ€™s many topics so you donâ€™t have to stick to politics.

A couple warnings though, the edit buttons donâ€™t work in some forums and the spell checker never works for me.

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:47 pm

Charlie - Here's your wakeup call. Before he was president, Bill Clinton did "welfare reform" in AK that made ADC into a 3 year program that was supposed to involve welfare to work programs along with supportive services so that these families could get back on their feet and off to a good start.

It was adopted nationally and now the longest you can collect is three years. In addition, lot's of luck finding "good" daycare that will accept subisidy payments.

Call our local county commissioners office or the welfare office, I'm sure they would be more than happy to apprise you of the great lifestyle that this three year program allows you.

The welfare queen or king is a mythical creature Charlie - of course everyone knows this woman down the street or this friend of their cousins brother. If this person actually exists, I'm sure the PD would be more than happy to do a "typical recipient" story.

Christopher Bindel · Post by **Christopher Bindel** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:12 pm

I have to tell you all that since coming home from school, in December, I have religiously read the posts on the OD and followed many of your conversations. I have enjoyed it and learned a lot.

I do however find it quite humorous that a post welcoming new members to the OD has been almost exclusively posted on by those â€œdeckmeistersâ€ that Gary so discussed.

As a newish member (I have been a member for a wile but have not begun paying much attention until the last two months) I would like to thank you for welcoming me (us) to the OD and hope I may some day become involved enough that I too might also be considered as a so said â€œdeckmeister.â€

Let's hear it for those new 'Deckers!

Let's hear it for those new 'Deckers!

Re: Let's hear it for those new 'Deckers!