What the fuck man?

Guys, it seems like it's been a really long summer on this forum. It kind of amazes me that every day around here (and maybe this is just the nature of forums) somebody gets all pissed off at something somebody said, or they take something out of context in a post when they know that it wasn't intended that way, or somebody drops off and goes into lurker mode, or somebody pulls down their picture because whatever, or they fold up their tent and go home because they don't like something somebody else said, or whatever. When I first started posting on here, there was a lot of good natured banter about just about everything, digressing down into some really heated shit, and then worked itself back out and everyone benefitted in the long run from the confrontation and the variety. My experience on this forum is that I have made some really great friends... People that I will actually get to meet in person this fall, and learn more about. I've also had some really heated battles on here with some people like Legacy and Keepinitreel, and in the end, have walked away from my conversations with those guys with not only a new picture of who they actually are, vs. who I THOUGHT they were, but I've come away with a broader understanding of the world and myself as well. Look at Melissa! She's a prime example of somebody with a lot more depth than most of us would have thought. Maybe it's symptomatic of the world these days... Maybe it's symptomatic of the times we live in. It's a collection of a lot of f'ed up things, but most of this stuff could be solved with just a little bit of common sense, decency, human courtesy, respect, a good shot of tolerance, and and open mind, and the fortitude to see a discussion through to the end without getting all emotionally v'klempt. So yell and scream your brains out! Or don't! Doesn't really matter, but one thing does... for anything to work, and work well ya gotta stay involved. That works for this forum, or even just the world in general. Keep communicating. That's the only way anything is gonna survive. By the way, this is a good experiment. Try it today and report in to me. On this thread. Sometime today, go do something nice for a total stranger and watch how it goes. Strike up a conversation with that little old lady you are so fucking pissed off at because she just bought her potatoes with a CHECK for fuck sake. Pay for something for somebody. Watch how it goes. Half the time it makes people uncomfortable, because they are no longer used to kindness. Buy somebody a cup of coffee. And if they say "No Thanks" cause it makes them uncomfortable, just say, "Well, I love ya man, and you're just gonna have to find a way to live with it". Smile, and walk off. Do that enough, and you get some great, great feedback. People start to change their lives too. Now instead of writing me back and saying "Yeah al, but what if a person doesn't want your charity" or "Yeah Al, but not everybody blah blah blah blah, just go spread some around today and see how it goes. And lighten the fuck up. Life is too short man. Way too short. I've got some lightening to do myself.... I'm gonna go do it. See ya later today!

By the way, DUCKY.... What's up girl? Why you so heated up right now? Is it hot out there? I just think summer makes people irritable. Go towl off.

Well done Daddy Rose, Very eloquently put and lets hope inspirational to others :)

Life is too short. I just watched dh drive off with my 16 year old Schnauzer to put her to sleep (long story, sad story) and my heart is broken.. I just don't have the time or energy to debate and disect everything that gets posted here nor, do I want to. MC

Hey brother Rose, Well I was inspired today...yesterday wasn't good..shop roof started leaking, house basement flooded, and don't have time to fix either...SHIT!!! Oh well I read your post and was inspired!!! I have a client coming in today to have a rework done that was seriously f'ed up by another shop....(scar tissue, crossed lines, color bleed out, and the list goes on) so you know what I am gonna do....I am gonna blow him away with a kickass job!!! More color, more detail, straightened lines,...and the kicker...not charge him full shop rate. Now alot of artists would be like....."what, are you outta your freaking mind, you should charge him DOUBLE" but hell, after I get done..he'll be back! Plus I did something good!!! What goes around, comes around........ If I knew how to post pics on here I would for all to see....oh well. Be good to your kin, or they will beat ya with a clipchord!!! Mike

Mike, email if you need a tutorial on posting pics. It really is easy and photobucket.com will host your pics for free. Sat Nam

I am getting distressed now. Where is everybody going? Great post though, Daddy R, you make a wonderful suggestion. I'll have my report for you ASAP. Mamacat, i know the feeling. Prayers and tears and an end to her pain. Wow - is everybody but me having a terrible season? Damn! Let's positively gear ourselves for a better autumn!

Thanks rasclarke. Summer is good here, with the big exception of my doggy.

Mike! That's great man! It'll come back to ya. Guaranteed. You get back from the Universe what you put out there. Swear!

Daddy Rose, How about trying that angle on those lovely neighbors of yours?

I think- and i may be wrong here- that all the negativity is simply due to the inability for people to deal with the anticipation of the movie Snakes On A Plane! Once this movie finally comes out, I think the world will reach a new utopia, wars will end, peace will prevail, cats and dogs will live in harmony... or something. Like I said, I may be waaaaay off with this one.

No sassmouth. I think you are pot on this one.... Afterall, it is snakes.... on a plane. My God, I needed that one. As for me, I'm still around... try to knock out some drawing that I let myself get behind on and trying to keep up with current ones. You know I'll be around.

me being heated up? I know that when people faulsly accuse me of things, i am going to defend myself...and if people are rude, i'm going to call it, but i don't think i've gotten into a real heated convo for a LONG time. And, if you think the things i have been sayin are heated, then the people who i see as heated must be off the chart. if i do seem on the edge of my seat, it is probably from the lack of sleep i have been getting lately. Since i work at 5 in the morning, i try to take a nap in the afternoon. today was probably the first time in about a month that i've had that nap...and i'm usually up till 11 or 12 each night. Add into that the fact that Matt's medical stuff still has not been resolved (after the first iron treatment his blood went down 6%, so he got the 2nd then got 2 pints of blood 3 days later...making his 2nd blood transfusion) so i have to run between that, work, and the theatre...meaning some days i don't eat until i get home in the afternoon. so, that's why i may be on edge, though i think i'm handling things very well and politely

I think you are heated up. You've been around a while, and I think I can tell as well as anyone here when you are heated up, and I say you are heated up! Now go put a wet towel on your head! (l0l). Part 2 pretty much explains it though. You have a right to be heated up, but you sound heated up. If you have to begin a post the way you began the last one, you are heated up. I'm gonna fry an egg on your ass. Ouchee!!

And yeah, I'm trying it on my neighbors. Later tonight, I'm gonna go out and try to picture them in their undees when they were 5 years old. Hopefully it will take the edge off. If I don't barf.

lol, would you like bacon or sausage with that egg? :P

SAUSA..... ah, can't do it. Just can't do it. Too much of a gentleman. I'll have bacon.

Hey Daddy, I was hoping to have a fabulous report for you, based on your recommendations. I’ve had two little obstacles. One: Unfortunately, in the area where I live and work, I am all too well-known, and easily recognizable (brown skin, bald head, not to mention the ink), and most of the usual poor and homeless already know me as a soft touch. So me giving twenty bucks to a vagrant wouldn’t have been newsworthy (btw, $10 jamaican is about 75 cents to you). I so wanted to surprise someone, but alas. Two: when it comes down to it, I actually DO try this stuff sometimes (carry-overs from my recovery group and my time in a religious order), and, I usually try and do it hush-hush. BUT! The Boss (that’s God, not Springsteen) gave me an opportunity. As I was wandering to lunch tuesday, I saw a disabled girl having trouble getting her wheelchair over a slope. In traffic. In the hot sun. And folks were just walking past. Well, I went straight and pushed her half a mile to where she was going. She was very thankful, kept telling me that almost no one ever helps her, everybody ignores her etc etc. So we chatted and I got her where she was going. I was glad to have helped, and felt maybe I’d earned my lunch. But on the way back was my big surprise. Every other car had somebody in it who saw what I did. And Daddy, I got such a variety of “God-bless-yous” I was blushing. I’m used to the nice feeling you get when you help someone and ask for nothing; when I got to see that EVERYBODY knows a good thing when they see it… I was whelmed over. I was kind of embarrassed really… but in a nice way.

hahahahaha, you just made my day!!! after having to go BACK to the specialist to make sure matt wasn't reacting to the blood transfusion...my day was kinda blue :( but that made me smile :) thanks!

Rock On Clarke... Ya see? That's what I'm sayin. That's gonna stay with her for a while. What a great thing to do!! I'm blushing.