Ah Romany/CJMorgan.
Have you forgotten what writing is all about?
Its all about stories.
The telling of stories and putting in landscape and adventure, people and events, seasons (the halcyon Spring afternoon and all of the wonderful things that happened that afternoon).
Its all about stories.
Not about quotes, or charts, or references from the researcher.
Didnt mum and dad read "Wind in the Willows" to you when you were young?
Its all about stories.
Thats why good children love the Bible stories because they paint pictures of landscapes and adventures.
BOAZ did really well with his story.
I thought it was cool and mature.

Dear Romany and CJ,

You both are two of my favourite posters on this Forum.

I respect your opinions very much.

However for me David's previous thread dealt with his experience of Anzac Day - which I thought was quite appropriate to share with others.

And, this thread is a continuation of his previous one. I actually enjoyed reading them both.

I didn't read anything more into either thread.

One of the things that I enjoy about this Forum is people's willingness to share their experiences with others - and I'd hate to think that this will be discouraged in future threads.

Hi there - * ROMANY & C. J. MORGAN *...

Yeah, I gotta go along with FOXY on this one. I must admit I didn't read anything particular into Mr BOAZ's thread. A little 'heart on his sleeve' perhaps, but certainly not narcissistic as someone proposed.

Interestingly, I had a bit of a go at BOAZ in another thread. I wasn't aware that he was a Veteran (possibly a Vietnam Vet. too?). Anyway, I'm sure he'll put me back in my box if I'd made a blue.

Something I must say though...I do admire his guts. At the way he candidly and perhaps vulnerably laid open to all, the entire emotional experience of his participation in the events he so eloquently described on ANZAC Day.

I'm in my middle sixties, and compared to Mr BOAZ, I'm totally misanthropic and quite emotionally deceased.

Further, I'd never have, or hope to have the necessary courage, literary skills, nor the requisite intelligence to even attempt to write a 'piece' such as the thread now under discussion.

Good on you BOAZ.

Well, I was just going to ignore it, but am happy to lend my voice in support of Romany and CJ.

David's stated aim at the beginning of his post was: "I want to share this journey and encompass some issues which may be of interest or help to others."

He has now shared the journey. Personally, I haven't found it either interesting or helpful. I agree with CJ's assessment that David is narcissistic and I'm sure most OLO posters understand what David's mates meant when they spoke "in light hearted jest".

However, David, maybe you should take Romany's suggestion seriously Boazy. Why don't you start a blog? They're easy to build (www.blogger.com) and you love writing and telling stories. Your buddies can comment. I'm not suggesting you shouldn't continue to post here, but a blog may be an appropriate place to share these types of stories — longer, more reflective.

Personally, if I had your story, I would have thought it inappropriate for OLO but appropriate for my blog.

It's something for you to think about.

Foxy and O Sung

I have no beef with people "sharing" things either - done a bit of that myself - it sometimes helps to explain why one is furthering an opinion put forward. What I am objecting to in this instance is that this is a forum where people are asked to express their opinions. It is not, as I said previously, a blog spot. There is no shortage of such places for BD to wax lyrical.

Alternatively he could submit such pieces as articles if he feels so moved. This would then open them up to a wider opinion and he could cop the kind of general flak he himself throws at the article writers on OLO.

There are limits imposed on this forum for a reason - and I consider that, by posting three in a row like this, he may not, strictly speaking, be breaking any forum rules, but is definitely bending them to breaking point.

I also agree with CJ's point about him starting new threads while he ducks out of others. Each time he is shown to be wrong, or is asked to account for himself, or apologise, or justify himself, he simply quits the thread and starts a new one.

As a result, we are treated to long, regurgitated diatribes wherein he simply recycles the same old stuff ad infinitum or at least until he is proved wrong (or any of the above scenarios).

This behaviour leaves him wide open, I consider, to CJ's charge of narcissism: anyone who can repeat the same things that have been proved incorrect or inconsistent day after day is obviously not interested in actual discussion and proves contempt for the reasoning powers and sensibilities of others.

Dear_Romany, CJ_etc....

I can clearly see why you might make those comments, and I absolutely welcome your critical voices, because if it were not so, we would all be in trouble right?

CONTEXT....is what I was providing. So much happened this weekend, that it could not be contained in just one post, and further.. while it is a bit of a 'dear_diary'.. yep.. too true, there are elements which might be of interest to some, but clearly not all.

There is much I cannot speak of, but I assure you, the ears would tingle to hear. Now, having provided a bit of a context, there are 2 more tidbits of interesting information (again..might only be interesting to some, not all..conceded.)

VIGILANCE and TERRORISM. AAh..you say... "he's back on his favorite theme" :) well.. maybe. But this has implications which could have or could effect 'you'. My intel background mate, was in a particular country town, and observed a high profile terrorism suspect with his family (in obvious muslim dress) parked in the street. Very few shops were open at this time, and the person concerned did not go into any near his car. He went around the block. "around the block" turned out to have in it an open 'farmers cooperative'... which of course is a place where one might conceivably enquire about... (go figure)

All of this persons charges were dropped, or, refuted for lack of evidence, then this: (from a leftist sympathetic blog/rag)

"Most recently, the government has imposed a control order on (the person) despite a court having quashed all convictions against him."

The "order" was imposed after the incident related above, which was duly reported to authorities who took it most seriously.

BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS... I must be circumspect here, but suffice to say, the only concern 'friendly allied powers' seem to have about this issue is "As long as they are not used against US" (you and me.)

I now have a much better overall (and public knowledge based) picture of arrangements with our defense satellites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optus_Fleet_of_Satellites#Defence_Services
Horses mouth is much better than wiki :)