Elk County Forum

I signed on to Forum 7 1/2 years ago, at that time it was lots of fun and very informative. All of the good people have dropped it and/or quit posting. I am resigning from the Forum and have vowed to stop reading the current trash altogether . The Forum has become such a disappointment  it will be easy to stay awY from it completely. My wife has already stopped looking at it and hasn't looked at it for along time.

Sorry to see you go, but totally understand.

Sad, isn't it.

      Hmm, all of the good people, ???

     As far as I know, they are all good people.  ;)  Even if they don't have the same opinions. 8)

Yeah, it's changed.  Too much back stabbing and insulting has caused those who are "the good people" to back away in their disgust and quit posting all the fun and informative articles that used to be here.  I know or think that many of them still read the postings, but they choose not to comment.  Maybe because they don't wish to be ridiculed or feel they have nothing to contribute.  Remember what we were taught as kids....if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.  But if you have something that is beneficial to say it should be shared.

On an average there are less than 20 (and I am being generous) people who do nearly daily postings.  But if you look at the bottom of the home page you will see that there are many more actually reading or have read something on the Forum.

I have lately been questioning myself if it is worth it to do my own daily joke thread and sometime Observation thread.  Then I look at the number of hits to the jokes page (it averages 50-60 each day) and I see that there are a lot of people who read it.  I wouldn't want to disappoint.  So I stay.

Perhaps if those who feel the need to insult others would just realize that they are destroying something worthwhile by driving others away would just keep their insults to themselves, things would be better. 

The definition of forum is a place to debate issues (without the back stabbing), a place to share memories, a place to keep in touch with friends and relatives and a place to keep up on current happenings. 

I personally decided long ago that the Politics thread was not for me and I try very hard to stay away from it.  That doesn't mean I don't read it, I just keep my opinions to myself.  I am not always good at this, but I try real hard to keep my mouth shut. 

Our Elk County ancestors would wash our mouths out with soap if they could read what is said here.  At least, I know my grandmother would take me out behind the shed for some much needed discussion on the way I had behaved.

I hope that you will reconsider your decision to leave and stay with us.  If not, it is understandable and I will miss your input.

Larryj

 

Quote from: larryJ on December 24, 2014, 12:16:44 PM
Yeah, it's changed.  Too much back stabbing and insulting has caused those who are "the good people" to back away in their disgust and quit posting all the fun and informative articles that used to be here.  I know or think that many of them still read the postings, but they choose not to comment.  Maybe because they don't wish to be ridiculed or feel they have nothing to contribute.  Remember what we were taught as kids....if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.  But if you have something that is beneficial to say it should be shared.

On an average there are less than 20 (and I am being generous) people who do nearly daily postings.  But if you look at the bottom of the home page you will see that there are many more actually reading or have read something on the Forum.

I have lately been questioning myself if it is worth it to do my own daily joke thread and sometime Observation thread.  Then I look at the number of hits to the jokes page (it averages 50-60 each day) and I see that there are a lot of people who read it.  I wouldn't want to disappoint.  So I stay.

Perhaps if those who feel the need to insult others would just realize that they are destroying something worthwhile by driving others away would just keep their insults to themselves, things would be better. 

The definition of forum is a place to debate issues (without the back stabbing), a place to share memories, a place to keep in touch with friends and relatives and a place to keep up on current happenings. 

I personally decided long ago that the Politics thread was not for me and I try very hard to stay away from it.  That doesn't mean I don't read it, I just keep my opinions to myself.  I am not always good at this, but I try real hard to keep my mouth shut. 

Our Elk County ancestors would wash our mouths out with soap if they could read what is said here.  At least, I know my grandmother would take me out behind the shed for some much needed discussion on the way I had behaved.

I hope that you will reconsider your decision to leave and stay with us.  If not, it is understandable and I will miss your input.

Larryj

Larryj I personally enjoy your joke page, I have re-posted some of your jokes on my facebook page. No I don't read it every single day but when I do read it I enjoy it.

Your thread falls right in there with all the other statistics on the Elk County Forum - Statistics Center.

As far as my opinions, nobody says you have to accept them, and I believe that applies to everyone's opinions.

It is my personal opinion if someone wants to degrade Kjell and Teresa's work building this forum, perhaps they should study the statistics:

For instance:

Yearly Summary    New Topics   New Posts   New Members   Most Online   Page views
             2004                112                723            52                 47                   23360

             2014                832               7654           192                302                2595960

These are very impressive numbers showing considerable and continuing growth, so apparently Kjell and Teresa apparently are doing something right. Don't you think so?

So if a few of the people are unhappy with just one topic, that to me sounds like a personal problem.
Is it perhaps because they can not control the thread?

But still they have 831 other topics to choose from.

They also are allowed the ability to start another topic?

Klell and Teresa have been very generous in my way of thinking, to all that want to participate and deserve much more respect than what they are receiving. No, I do not personally know either Kjell or Teresa but that does not mean, I can not respect them for providing this forum

A small  hand full Threatening to quit the forum for personal reasons and what I consider actually trying to manipulate Klell and Teresa is just disgusting, deplorable and the worst kind of back stabbing I can imagine.
People that do this sort of thing surely will not be missed. Notice the growth in the statiistics.

What exactly do these people hope to gain with such threats?

Where is the critical thinking in any of this?

Perhaps people should say, thank you to Klell and Teresa once in a while.

I know, I am grateful to them.

    Frank, I'm reminded of this little piece of British wisdom.  I've shorten a bit:

    "Over the course of one year, give a  shilling to each person who offends or upsets you," instructed the Abbot of a young man who wanted people to follow a more spiritual path.

    For the next twelve months, the boy gave a shilling to each person who offended or upset him, as he was instructed. At the end of the year, he returned to the Abbot to find out what the next steps were.

    "Go into town and buy food for me," the Abbot responded.

    Once the boy left, the Abbot changed his clothes, disguised himself as a beggar and went to the gate.  When the boy approached, he began to insult him.

    "Good!" said the boy, "for a whole year I had to pay the people who upset or offended me, and now I can be offended for free, without spending anything!"

    Hearing this, the abbot removed his disguise. "He who does not take insults seriously, is on the path to wisdom."

    Frank, I'll make this short and to the point... I enjoy reading your post so, don't you dare quit!  Look, I'm on two other forums and I have seen the same thing. There will be some people who will try to bring someone down.  There are some people who feel validated when they get to you or when you seemingly fall out of grace into the pit of despair where they swim.  It makes them happy for some odd reason.  It evidently gives their lives some sort of weird meaning.  If you tried to deal with them, you'd be playing right into their hand, you'd be swimming in the same pit with them.  I call them 'emotional vampires' who try to suck the life energy out of you.  (Saw that on MSNBC last night).  Don't give them that priviledge.  The best thing you can do is to ignore them.  If you spend any amount of attention and energy towards them whether by thinking of clever ways to get back at them or by berating them, you're feeding their insatiable appetite for your life blood.  (Saw that one on CNN). 
    I ignore them or say something humorous and in most cases, they don't know how to respond and that is the end of it.  I have to say this forum is quite mild compared to the others.  So forget about quitting or I'll get JarHead to toilet paper your beautiful house.

    I'll leave you with this:
   * "We shall pass through this world but once. Any good that we can do or any kindness that we can show to any human being, (except Obuma and his crooked Adm) let us do it now. Let us not defer it, nor neglect it, for we may never pass this way again."

    *Saw that on SpongeBob SquarePants and it makes alot of sense. 

    Merry Christmas to you and your family, Frank and I hope to see you posting again.

    P.S. We are down to 1.99 a gal. for regular here in Surprise, AZ.

 ;D ;D ;D  Frank, I agree with Warph!!!!!  I have found that the loudest retort I can make to idiotic behavior is total silence...And it works unfailingly.  Here's hoping I get to read you again soon!!!  ;) ;) ;)

Catwoman, you seem to be saying that you favor censorship on the forum and that you can identify your so-called idiots?  And you haven't changed since your last appearance on the Forum.  So much for total silence.

Quote from: Catwoman on December 25, 2014, 03:48:20 PM
;D ;D ;D  Frank, I agree with Warph!!!!!  I have found that the loudest retort I can make to idiotic behavior is total silence...And it works unfailingly.  Here's hoping I get to read you again soon!!!  ;) ;) ;)

All This strikes me as childish behavior.

Why?

Because of the lack of critical thinking?

Think for a minute !

There is plenty to do on this forum, please observe once again:

Quote from: ROSS on December 24, 2014, 06:11:13 PM

Yearly Summary    New Topics   New Posts   New Members   Most Online   Page views
         
             2014                832               7654           192                302           2595960

Are you involved in all 832 topics?

Do you have to be involved in all 832 topics?

Do you need to control all 832 topics?

Do you wear big kids pants? Then perhaps ya'all can stop the disrespect !

Are you the least bit thankful to the owners of this forum for providing this free service?

If so use those big kids pants and take a moment to show a little gratitude.
Give a big thank you to Kjell and Teresa for this forum?

Try this:

Frank, I will miss you and your fuel reports (and tomato progress reports.) know I'm not your cup of tea, but I do respect your postings. I agree with WARPH's comments on the emotional vampires and have tried to stay away from the sand traps and mud pits.  I am not always successful. I have accepted that, even though I didn't give up on several for a very long time.  The forum is better with you a part of it.

I am one of whom quit responding.  I do lurk, just because I need a handle on what Elk County is becoming.
Do I pay taxes there?  Not anymore.  Do I have history there?  yes. 
I used to enjoy the gardening tips, wanted things, memory lane and even liked Dianne's thread.  Until the Political incumbants infiltrated it, only because  "she said my name!!!!!!!!!!!!!".
Can't even take a chit and posting it without someone questioning my motives as to if it's Konnected or what political roughage is going down OUR drain.....
Jeesh!  Keep Political self to the politics.

It used to be a civil conversation. 
Not anymore
ready.... to quit

Quote from: readyaimduck on December 26, 2014, 01:29:46 PM
I am one of whom quit responding.  I do lurk, just because I need a handle on what Elk County is becoming.
Do I pay taxes there?  Not anymore.  Do I have history there?  yes. 
I used to enjoy the gardening tips, wanted things, memory lane and even liked Dianne's thread.  Until the Political incumbants infiltrated it, only because  "she said my name!!!!!!!!!!!!!".
Can't even take a chit and posting it without someone questioning my motives as to if it's Konnected or what political roughage is going down OUR drain.....
Jeesh!  Keep Political self to the politics.

It used to be a civil conversation. 
Not anymore
ready.... to quit

Hi readyaimduck,

I'm sorry we disagree on some things but I really had enjoyed your posts.

Everyone knows you are referring to me when you say," "she said my name!!!!!!!!!!!!!"."
I'm not ashamed of responding when she called me out. Why should I be?,

The politics started on Diane's thread, here in her coffee shop,was started by her and no one else.

I believe the first political post on her thread was:

Quote from: Diane Amberg on October 09, 2014, 10:36:05 AM
It has been very interesting watching your local politics. "Everyone" wants Doug Ritz, but he lost the election to a newcomer. Has anyone even asked him if he wants a write in campaign on his behalf?  Or has he graciously accepted his defeat and moved on?  I'm not sure he would want a bunch who have such an angry, pushy "stick in your eye" reputation as supporters.

Even down to the name calling in that post.
See who is doing the "pushy "stick in your eye" "

It's my personal opinion that later she called me out with sort of backhanded threat and I responded appropriately and politely.            Fair is fair in my opinion!

Have you ever seen me post a threat, NO, and I never intend to.

But I guess, I could be wrong in Diane's eye or even in other peoples eyes, but that is all fine and dandy.

Life goes on.

Now this thread in the coffee shop has become totally political hasn't it?

Ready, you have been one that I truly enjoyed reading, just like Frank.  I hope you don't quit.

I feel the same way. I can't have any opinion without being critisized, no matter where I put it, but it shouldn't happen to you folks too. They don't even acknowledge that they are being rude and caustic.I miss your posts.

Frawin, good choice, we are going to resign from the Forum also, Ross and his bully buddies can have it. Ross  knows so little of what he is jabbering about, he said he couldn't find where Shari had any land in her name, he doesn't even know her last name, her husbands family is a prominent Elk County Ranching family. Ross is bullying everyone off of the Forum. We have vowed to stop even reading the Forum.

Quote from: Diane Amberg on December 27, 2014, 07:08:55 AM
I feel the same way. I can't have any opinion without being critisized, no matter where I put it, but it shouldn't happen to you folks too. They don't even acknowledge that they are being rude and caustic.I miss your posts.

You really don't recognize your own abuses and name calling do you. Re-read this post you made.
ROFLMAO. If you can't shut some one up with logic and facts try degrading them. If that fails keep doing it and making threats of leaving the forum. Good plan ---- not! Simply childish. I feel so sorry for you.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxXXXXXXXXXXXX

Good choice --- mimic a couple of other people !

Quote from: Joesue23 on December 27, 2014, 10:50:43 AM
Frawin, good choice, we are going to resign from the Forum also, Ross and his bully buddies can have it. Ross  knows so little of what he is jabbering about, he said he couldn't find where Shari had any land in her name, he doesn't even know her last name, her husbands family is a prominent Elk County Ranching family. Ross is bullying everyone off of the Forum. We have vowed to stop even reading the Forum.

I could careless how prominent you think your family is, they each posses only one vote if they are registered, just like any other registered voter whether a land owner or not/
Since when is asking questions is considered bullying?  Since when is the truth considered bullying?

But joesue 23 what I said was, I could find no properties in your name not in anyone else's name.
You said you own land and pay taxes in Elk County after you lied and said a County Commissioner did not own land in Elk County because he rented land from your auntie. Why twist things and lie? I can pull up and quote you if you so desire.

Why do you few people continue to threaten to leave the forum and continue with the trash you are throwing about ?

Haven't you read about all the other topics on this forum, I posted that for you as an aid to understanding what is available to you here.

But you just can't help bashing people can you? Re-read your vow above, please !

You can not handle other peoples opinions can you?

I wish each and everyone of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR  and may you prosper in 2015.

Yes, Ross  I don't always agree with you. 
and....therein lies the issue.  This thread hasn't turned political in the coffee shop, it has turned to a stabbing contest.
Point was made.
This thread is about why we don't want to post on a thread...and yet we are. 
Who cares about the statistics...that is a numbers game.   numbers can be manipulated,,so can the truth.
I was looking for content within the thread I was reading...and it is not in the political thread for me.   Ergo, I stay out of it.
As long as someone's opinon flows on another thread that has nothing to do with political views, Who cares?   Hijacking threads is very common for trolls.  Do NOT feed them.  2 Threads have been hijacked.
I have been on many forums and gaming sites...this is not new.

The questions presented when I first came here were valid:  What is going on in our own local government?
The questions then took a turn of supposition without facts....I corrected you in your questions that I was knowledgable obout.
  Teresa and Kjel have opened it up to freedom of speech.  I admire that. 
I do not admire the battering with petty differences.
It is a discussion folks....not a blog.

ready...to . wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Very respectable New Year.

Nice post.Thanks.

Quote from: Joesue23 on December 27, 2014, 10:50:43 AM
Frawin, good choice, we are going to resign from the Forum also, Ross and his bully buddies can have it. Ross  knows so little of what he is jabbering about, he said he couldn't find where Shari had any land in her name, he doesn't even know her last name, her husbands family is a prominent Elk County Ranching family. Ross is bullying everyone off of the Forum. We have vowed to stop even reading the Forum.

Why do some of us view anyone as being prominent if he has socialist views?  I don't think of socialists as being prominent - they're socialists.  Using government money for imagined or real economic development is not what this country is about.  Your so-called prominent Elk County Ranching family ought to be using their own money for economic development.

You and Frawin are liberals who will not debate the issues on this Forum. 



 

These numbers/Statistics are not manipulated in any way shape or form. They are facts.
Copied and pasted from the web sites Statistics page. You can step right over to the Statistics page and have a look-see for yourself.Here is a short cut for you to get there: http://www.cascity.com/howard/forum/index.php?action=stats

Quote from: ROSS on December 24, 2014, 06:11:13 PM
It is my personal opinion if someone wants to degrade Kjell and Teresa's work building this forum, perhaps they should study the statistics

For instance:

Yearly Summary    New Topics   New Posts   New Members   Most Online   Page views
             2004                112                723            52                 47                   23360

             2014                832               7654           192                302                2595960

These are very impressive numbers showing considerable and continuing growth, so apparently Kjell and Teresa apparently are doing something right. Don't you think so?

So if a few of the people are unhappy with just one topic, that to me sounds like a personal problem.
Is it perhaps because they can not control the thread?

But still they have 831 other topics to choose from.

Threatening to leave the forum as if you are going to do damage to the forum is just plain silly, isn't it?

I received a threat of a lawsuit almost four years ago from one of you guys, the ultimate in bullying and it has yet to happen. Why should I bow down to this new form of bullying?

There 18 new members just for December 2014. So 3 or 4 people threatening to leave the forum, as an attempt to intimidate the Forum owners and because they can not control the forum by calling people names will change nothing, will it?

Except the bullying and calling people bullies as an out for their own inability to communicate effectively will perhaps end.

Oh, I am far from perfect and I admit i have made some errors in my posting. And I apologize for that.

Yes, I ask questions for three purposes
1. To get answers.
2  To stimulate thought and perhaps stimulate conversation on the subject.
3. To avoid the above mentioned threat of a law suit.

And it appears that some of yu that are threatening to leave are against the process or perhaps are afraid some truths may come out of it.

Just remember no one forces you to read or respond to anything on this forum. Everyone has been given total freedom by the forum owners to come and go as you please. What more could you ask for?

You really should be thankful to them.

Have a good Day.

so looking at your copy and paste...it appears as if the numbers have gone down  2014 from 2014  the top is usually the latest ......(see what I did there)?
...."I ask a question to get answers and it was an honest mistake"....or was it manipulation of the words.

Whether i quit or not, will have no bearing to this forum. 
  It will and can lower my blood pressure. 

We at work get all sorts of irate calls accusing us of raising their taxes.  Our jobs are threatened and they go and boitch to the Commissioners about us.  Is that true that we raise their taxes or are biased?  Not really.  However, these taxpayers and their honest monies spread this theory without knowing how the system works and it really causes havoc in our place of work.  It is not a cut and dry answer. Once they understand, they then are okay and work within the system.
I don't question the Original post.  I question the questions of suspicious attacks.
Here is my repsonse to you, Ross?   Are you working for T & K?????
Are you getting paid for each post?  Now it makes sense.  That's why you rile everyone up, to make money for T & Kjel.
Skewed question.
That is how and why I don not go into the Political room anymore.....it has become a blog.  Not a question and discussion.
You have always been respectful to me, Ross.  No harm, no foul.
ready and out.

addendum: I have had names called to me and viscous words said to my face several years ago....and I let it go.  Those who threatened your life, would have killed you by now. 

♫Let it Go....♫♫

A few people refer to this as tearing their post apart. Ready I am only trying to answer your post in an organized manner so as to be as clear as possible in my post. So, I don't get confused or confuse some one else. That is all I am doing by answering a section at a time. Thank you for understanding.

Quote from: readyaimduck on December 29, 2014, 07:23:26 PM
so looking at your copy and paste...it appears as if the numbers have gone down  2014 from 2014  the top is usually the latest ......(see what I did there)?
...."I ask a question to get answers and it was an honest mistake"....or was it manipulation of the words.

I don't believe you were attempting to manipulate.
Nor was I. I had to think on what you did there, but you are correct.
I should have put 2014 on the top. But I wasn't attempting any thing more, than showing the numbers.
I went back to the stat's page and they have 2014 on the top. Thanks for the wake up.
You do make me think and that is all I have attempted to do one the thread,
"Elk Konnected Hand out at County Commissioners meeting on 4/25".

Quote from: readyaimduck on December 29, 2014, 07:23:26 PM
Whether i quit or not, will have no bearing this forum. 
  It will and can lower my blood pressure.

That makes perfectly good sense.

Quote from: readyaimduck on December 29, 2014, 07:23:26 PM
We at work get all sorts of irate calls accusing us of raising their taxes.  Our jobs are threatened and they go and boitch to the Commissioners about us.  Is that true that we raise their taxes or are biased?  Not really.  However, these taxpayers and their honest monies spread this theory without knowing how the system works and it really causes havoc in our place of work.  It is not a cut and dry answer. Once they understand, they then are okay and work within the system.

I understand what you are saying here. People often get upset with the wrong person. Over the past twenty years I have had trouble with doctors billing me for services which had been billed to my insurance and paid in full. Numerous times this has happened. On several occassions. I was reported to the Credit Agencies.

But, I managed to get the mess cleared up and I didn't yell at or blame the person that answered the phone. She is just doing her job.

I had a hospital give my wife meningitis and throw her out because they said I didn't have insurance. But I did have insurance. I call the hospital from work and I didn't blame the telephone operator who put me through to the administration office.  The admin person that answered refused to talk with me. Yes, I was very pissed off. I drove to the hospital and admin would still not talk with me. The steam was blowing out my ears. I went to my wife's room and a nurse was there with check out papers --- not her fault only doing her job. She told me they had arranged the shipment of extremely strong anti-biotics which I was to inject in my wife's central line every 4 hours until they were all used up. I thanked the nurse and home we went.
So I do understand,

Quote from: readyaimduck on December 29, 2014, 07:23:26 PM
I don't question the Original post.  I question the questions of suspicious attacks.

I don't quite understand this, zoom, right over my head.

Quote from: readyaimduck on December 29, 2014, 07:23:26 PM
Here is my repsonse to you, Ross?   Are you working for T & K?????
Are you getting paid for each post?  Now it makes sense.  That's why you rile everyone up, to make money for T & Kjel.
Skewed question.

No readyaimduck I do not work for Teresa and Kjel.
I do not personally know either Teresa or Kjel.
I met Teresa one time by accident last summer in the hardware store in Howard.
I have never given a thought to the fact that they may be making money off of this forum.
I sounds like you are suggesting that my posts are a draw doe new members. I'm flattered, I would never have thought that. But you are kidding right?

Quote from: readyaimduck on December 29, 2014, 07:23:26 PM
That is how and why I don not go into the Political room anymore.....it has become a blog.  Not a question and discussion.
You have always been respectful to me, Ross.  No harm, no foul.
ready and out.

I suppose you can look at it as a blog. After all another person said the same thing. We have the same thing happening in the Coffee Shop and the Religious/Spiritual sections as well.

Quote from: readyaimduck on December 29, 2014, 07:31:38 PM
addendum: I have had names called to me and viscous words said to my face several years ago....and I let it go.  Those who threatened your life, would have killed you by now. 

♫Let it Go....♫♫

Ready I spent ten years in the military and have been called every dirty nam in the book and then some. No the name calling does not bother me. It is only an attempt to shut me up and has failed miserably.

I am not worried about a back handed death threat and never have been.
The point is there was the back handed death threat, the lawsuit threat, all the name calling, the thread "Ross" with disparaging remarks, This thread where a few people are threatening to quit the form because of me and a couple of other people,  the few people claiming they have put me on ignore, only to carry on, on a different thread and call me out by name or using political remarks.

All these attempts and the phone calls to the owners of the forum have only been gmade to attempt to shut me up.

All of these fall under Saul Alinsky methods and teachings. Alinsky says, "Do not answer any questions, change the subject." If you don't like what someone is saying shut them up anyway you can, Alinsky says the end justifies the means. Meaning attack with anything and everything. Even attack with false accusations. Accuse them of attacking you. The organization will never do it, but will have their followers do it, to keep the organization clear of blame. So simple isn't it?

Can you see the game that is playing out by the few against me?
No, I am not paranoid and no, I will not quit asking questions.

Ready there is much more I could say but I will reserve it for later if necessary.

I think 2015 will be very interesting for Elk County.

The general decline of discourse is one of the reasons I left.  When I started out here, you could talk about things from a different viewpoint, and people would disagree and debate.  After awhile, it was just a bunch of name calling, racism, sexism, and stupidity.  Someone said something about our ancestors being displeased.  I'm in 100% agreement.  Decency is lost on some people.

That's what they all say.

The last time you left the Forum, we were discussing the 14th Amendment.  You and the Republicans are so much more alike than you or they care to admit/discuss.  The Republicans paved the way for your modern day thinking.  If you decide to carry on a political discussion, we can in the political section.