HI!!!
Ya know I was originally going to write about human interaction, conventions, actors and how they all fit together. But I just wasn't getting the right words for the thoughts I was having....THEN this last week happened and I decided instead of talking about how others interact. I decided to talk about how you and I interact with each other and with the people we love, like, dislike and flat out are disgusted with.

You see that cute little smilie up there..... yeah ^^^ up there. I snurched that from NMom because it made me smile. It also was a nice little reminder for ME that I am a pretty cool person...get it- fans the queen = cool person ...hehehehe I crack myself up. Anyway... back to my topic of the week.

There are some folks that I have had the pleasure of really getting to know solely due to the Forum. Had I never sat down that fateful day and started looking for Stargate news I would have never met any of these folks. Either in real life or virtually. We just were not geographically able to meet. However, because of a common interest I was able to find a whole world of new friends. Time, effort and give and take has forged some really deep friendships for me. As well as just having some really great people to chat with when I am online. None of this would have occurred without Stargate and then GateWorld.

I know you already know all that but you know what...YOU need to be reminded of it. Some of the people who are chatting with you on the GW Forum are across town, a few states away or on the other side of the world. HOW INCREDIBLE IS THAT!!!! 20 years this was not the norm. You couldn't just plop your butt down in front of a computer and interact with anyone somewhere in the world. This should be something still held in awe. Really think about what you and I are doing right now. We are connecting all because of the Internet, Stargate and GateWorld. If you can't see the grandeur of this I am not sure if anything more I am about to say will really get through.. but hey its your time (grin) I like to read myself talking LOLOL

My point is that knowing how incredible this is WHY oh WHY would you or anyone want to spend the time being a butt-head to someone just because you think they have funky ideas or opinions. I like to feel good about myself. I love to laugh and grin like an idiot whenever possible. I know if I sat here day after day looking for reasons to be pissed off at someone over a differing opinion I would not have to look far. Heck I argue with myself and I KNOW me..so there is no doubt that another person is NOT going to think EXACTLY like me. We may have some similar ideals but there is only one of them and there is only one of me...we do think as autonomous minds :-)

So knowing that its definitely not a surprise that on a Forum of over 10,000 there is bound to be a few folks that do not agree with anything I have to say. There are bound to be some folks that, after reading things I write, will decide they don't like me. Then possibly I may even post something that just flat out disgusts someone. Guess what...I am cool with that :-)

However, not everyone is and thats where things go horribly wrong. It never ceases to amaze me as a Moderator to get this response from a person I am calling out for rule violations. "Well thats all fine and dandy BUT YOU MODS are allowing So & SO to do this and that and the other thing".

Ok, maybe we have missed something more and a post that should not be there is..but what the HECK does that person have to do with what the rule-breaker just did? Not a damn thing. But it amazes me that folks try to base THEIR behavior on the actions of another person. ...hello... you are not a puppet...you are a person sitting alone in front of a computer typing your stuff. Tell me just exactly how they had anything to do with what you just typed??? Can't ...cause all you are going to keep telling me is how they *made* you do it... Gads... does your local law enforcement know you are being held hostage and being forced to type these things against your will????

Yeah I know it sounds ridiculous..it is... Which brings us to the next thing. Why does anyone HAVE to respond to a post that annoys them? Is there a coalition sitting behind you keeping track of how well you are *holding your own* in the grand scheme of things? If you allow *that person* to post THAT *YIKES* do you lose bonus points?

The folks that are seriously looking to fill their free time on a Forum with really cool experiences will most likely find them. Because they reap what they sow. If you are a even keeled person, you don't get all up in arms over this or that and you may not get all that excited either.. But you have a blast just cruising around the Forum chatting with whomever is around, exchanging thoughts, opinions and probably goofing off a bit. I want to know you (grin) YOU are my kind of folks.

But if half of your time is taken up trying to brow-beat folks who disagree with you. And by that I mean you seriously have gotten yourself just pissed and you are basically arguing without a thought to proper decorum or the rules of the Forum, then IMHO you are in the wrong.

In the thread labeled *The Sky is Falling* you may be the only sane person posting that no it isn't, it was just an acorn that fell. Being *right* doesn't make you smarter, better or anything if you are going to throw the rules out the window just because you MUST get your point across. The rules of the Forum are always the first to go...then the rules of civility and decency always follow.

Respect can't be stressed enough by me. I live it, breath it and I am who I am in this blog, on the Forum and in real life what you see ALL the time. I don't *change* for the audience. What about you? Think about that... because if you wouldn't talk to your mother, father, wife, husband, child, girlfriend or boyfriend in the same manner you are writing... you need to do a reality check on just how *real* you are.

Lastly, on this topic.... I need to make a statement to all the folks that love love love Stargate still as it continues its run as SGA. The fact that you love love love the show doesn't give you some special dispensation to be above the rules. ON TOPIC is ON TOPIC. STOP trying to get the folks that aren't as thrilled about the show as you to see the *error* of their ways. The only error is that YOU keep posting in the threads that are not welcoming to your POV and thus you are OFF TOPIC...then you stand there with puppy dog eyes saying "but...but I was trying to get them to give this a chance..I know they would love love love it if they only got passed their negative feelings". Guess what you aren't doing anything but breaking the rules AND making all those folks use you as an excuse for their bad behavior. Accept the fact that some folks are just not going to like the show the same way as you do, and they want to complain about it. Deal!

Part of interacting with folks is learning when to walk away. THAT seems to be the one thing many have yet to master. I don't mean walk away from the Forum, but just scrolling past of post, or putting a person on ignore. Walk away from that person you don't like or disgusts you. The fact that you don't is YOUR problem not theirs. So quit blaming them for your actions. Unless you send me a picture of hog-tied to your desk with threat of bodily harm for NOT typing something. I am gonna hold YOU accountable for YOU.

I am extremely lucky that I have made as many friends around the world as I have. I am Blessed, profoundly grateful, and thrilled that I am allowed to be part of this age of technology. It is INCREDIBLE!!! and I sit here in awe daily of what we can do with a few keystrokes.

It amazes me that I have friends on the other side of the world....all because I sat down in front of my computer one day looking for SG news.

Respect the tools you have to be heard. Respect the people that read what you have to say. Respect yourself and KNOW that even though another person thinks differently....its really ok and how boring would it be if no one ever asked you to clarify something? Expounding, Explaining and Exposistioning (tame word) are the ex's you want to have...they make you grow as a person, and expand your thought pathways...

be grateful for the adventure into deeper thought as well as the joy found in a good belly laugh :-)

I'll see ya on the flipside gaterites..................