Why in the world would you post to (eeeuw) a discussion board?!?

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

I always found the degree to which feelings and emotion find their way into forums to be surprising. I often wonder what it would be like to meet some of the stronger personalities in person. You really can get to "know" the online personalities a bit, though how well it correlates with flesh and blood I have no idea.

Anyhow, one reason enjoy lurking here is because I'm really eager to semi-FIRE but not quite there yet financially. This place lets me keep my eye on the horizon, keeps my motivation to plan high, and guides me through some of the financial aspects which I am so not-smart about.

 

[laurence]

I'm betting most people here are milder in person.

Except for me.

 

[Zipper]

Youse guys are great!

All kidding aside, this forum is the best of the best.

At ~500 posts I'm just a lightweight, but I am truly amazed at the depth of knowledge exhibited here daily. The links are good but it's the personal hands on experience that so many bring to the table that make this site so valuable.

 

[Mwsinron]

To fufil evey retired man's Kathy Bate's fantasy. 

With this post cube rat has made my Early Retirement Forum.org favorite poster of the ages.

Thank you cube rate I will treasure this..

 

[Dreamer]

I read and post here because of the great group of people here.  It was amazing to me, that so many people are willing to share their knowlege with total strangers.   I have never posted to any other forums.  

I like the many varied topics and how so many people share about their families.  I feel that I know so many people here, but I realize that I don't really know you.  However, I do find myself saying that Nords or Uncle Mick says and relatives say who?  I try hard not to do that, because of the strange looks that I get.

Anyway, thanks to all of you who help people everyday.  I appreciate your taking the time!

 

[Sam]

Nords,

Interesting discussion.  But boy, that original post is long! 

A well populated forum is a treasure for me.  Especially, when the popalution consists of mostly older, wiser, and more experienced people.  On top of that, the wide distribution of backgrounds ensures a balanced view of all most subjects.

My circle of friends/relatives/peers is quite limited in number.   I seldom ever discuss ER within that circle, but when I do, I am met with blank stares, head shakings, and general dismissals.  For a long while, I began to question my insanity.  Finding this forum, to me, is like obtaining an approval for release from the mental hospital.

 

[cube_rat]

Seriously, with all of the inane stuff I post, I actually read a lot of the information on this site. This forum has kept me steadfast and focused on my ER journey (well, hopefully ER )

 

[maddythebeagle]

I'm betting most people here are milder in person.

let's hope so You all are more than just a bunch of bits and bytes to me   Disc. boards are a great way to pass the time at work...

 

[Mwsinron]

I meet my wife online. Yep married almost 5 years been together for 9. One of those weird strange stories of how people online meeting and it works out. Im all for the internet and people getting to know each other. Be suprised what pans out.

 

[Marshac]

I had a dream of retiring before I needed a daiper

My dad claims that I owe him two years...

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Marshac,

As you are, we once were. As we are, you shall be.

[Good move, changing the content. ]

 

[Cal]

I don't post that often but do really enjoy reading the posts. I suppose I don't post often because once I've read thru the thread, often someone else has already said what I would have said - and said it much better than I would.  

I rarely post on the "financial" discussion threads as I feel I'm still learning and most of you seem far more knowledgeable than me - which is good for me because I learn so much but also rather intimidating when I consider posting. As a group, this board is well above average in intelligence.

I also think that as a group, to some degree, we have the "go against the grain" mentality - we would have to in order to not live above our means or even to recognize there is "another way" other than what every other Tom, Dick and Harry is doing. It's nice to find a place where we have that in common.

As others have stated, I do feel that in some respects I "know" some of you. We've posted and read personal details about each other that doesn't always come up in face to face discussions with people and from that there is a certain sense of intimacy with the group. I know when Katrina hit last year, I was really worried about Uncle Mick - and that seemed somewhat odd since I really don't know him but I knew I would really miss heh heh heh from certain threads.

 

[haha]

I'm betting most people here are milder in person.  

Except for me.  

I have used this board in part to try to get a handle on my aggressiveness and know-it-all-ness. Sort of a meditation. You all are probably better judges than I of how well I have done, but I believe that I have improved. Like Shiny said, you feel like you know the people, and you like them and care about them.

It is the only board I post on, although do lurk and look for info on some oil and gas forums, and back in 2000 2001, I joined Motley Fool expressly to have access to Ralph Blocks ideas on REITs. When REITs went up and I sold out (prematurely it turns out), I dropped out over there. I did not like their retirement board.

Ha

 

[wabmester]

I have used this board in part to try to get a handle on my aggressiveness and know-it-all-ness. Sort of a meditation. You all are probably better judges than I of how well I have done, but I believe that I have improved.

You say that like aggressiveness and know-it-all-ness are bad things.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Why would I post here....? I feel comfortable expressing a little idiocy here now and then. I am actually a nicer person on-line than in real life, like George of Tioga and George.

The financial education acquired by lurking here has been very helpful to me.

I like the regulars, past and present, moderators included (you guys amaze me; I have been a moderator myself).

This forum has an open aspect to it that is fun. Newcomers are treated well. Even spammers get a civil treatment (plus the boot, but liberalism has limits donchaknow).

Also, I come home from the bars earlier to see what's new here. It is better for my health.

El Gitano

 

[JPatrick]

Frankly, I heard I could hook up with a 14 year old girl from Missoula over here.

And Nords---please let me know when the Cliff Notes are out on that first post of yours

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

And Nords---please let me know when the Cliff Notes are out on that first post of yours

(Shhhhh! Don't wake him. It wore him out. )

 

[Nords]

And Nords---please let me know when the Cliff Notes are out on that first post of yours

(Shhhhh!  Don't wake him.  It wore him out.   )

Awright, I was gonna let those pass, but...

I'm not trying for the ***** award but I was trying to cover each broad category of poster.

And I said I like to write, not edit!  At some point I have to hit the "Post" button and let the feedback work its magic... but I'll see if I can do it with fewer words.

I think it was Samuel Clemens who apologized for writing such a long letter because he didn't have enough time to make it shorter.

 

[segfault]

What's the "Greaney" board Nords refers to in the OP?

I'm pretty much a lurker here. I'm currently active on some automotive boards and the VD board (no, not that kind of VD) on Morningstar.

 

[Nords]

What's the "Greaney" board Nords refers to in the OP? 

http://www.retireearlyhomepage.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl

John Greaney's the moderator.

 

[wabmester]

segfault, have you noticed a new guy named h-o-c-u-s posting at the VD board?

Well, the Greaney board was sort of his asylum.  His containment area.   He escaped.

BTW, with a handle like "segfault," is it safe to assume you're a unix weenie?

 

[laurence]

:w!:q!

 

[wabmester]

:w!:q!

Sorry, that is not the secret unix weenie handshake.   You just created a file named ":q!".   rm -rf ~laurence.

BTW, here's a pretty good history of pre-web discussion board abuse:

net.abuse

I remember the Canter and Siegel debacle well.   Hosuc could learn much from them.

 

[TargaDave]

A few of my feeble observations about posting, posters and the site in general

• It's great site for savings-investing tactics, sentiment and motivation
• I like reading more than posting but feel compelled to at least participate once in a while. I'm way outclassed by most of the brainiacs here
• It's great for late night insomnia and always entertaining
• Things can get a bit cliquish and repetative but new faces and topics spruce things up
• I always get a laugh (and humbled) from the "I have $4M, can I retire?" threads. For some reason Sally Fields 'you love me' speech always pops into my head on those
• It's not so great for working inspiration but I wouldn't expect otherwise from an RE board
• I'm always curious and entertained with some of the occasional contradictions (John Galt claiming a blissful life but always counting the days to his SS check[I miss him], or SGEEE's intense weekly workout routine combined with his weekly 34 glasses of wine!), but hey I certainly have a pile full of my own personal contradictions, and it just adds to the spice
• I always want to see what posters really look like or at least in action doing the G-rated things they really love but understand the cloak routine. This invisible personality thing does feel sort of weird to me
• Most of all I'm still waiting to see pic's of Nords in surfing action

 

[Outtahere]

This is one of 5 forms I read and post on and probably the most interesting and educational. I needed a quick investing lesson and figured if I googled Retire Early I'd get something I could use, little did I know it would lead here. There's no one in my circle of family or friends that could give me this kind of information. I'm still learning the financial in and outs and some of the topics and threads here are rather amusing.

Being a former chat host I know the challenges of keeping things civil. I don't post that much because someone has already said much of what I would have said although that doesn't always stop me.

I've met many of my on line friends and always find it interesting that they are just what I expected them to be. I also understand the need to keep identities hidden for which we all have our own reasons.

Carolyn