As the end of the year draws near - it's a time
to reflect on what was, and more importantly
what lies ahead.

I'm interested in what changes people would
like to make in their lives for 2009.

And this can be realistic or simply wishful thinking ...

My top three would be:

1) Spend more time on doing things I actually enjoy doing.
2) Worry less about elderly family members.
3) Learn to say 'no' more often.

Your comments?

You can get good bargains at this time of year... but it comes to the buyer not to get conned into spending lots of hard earned money.

Everything I bought over the years wore out, or broke down, and looking back I didnt need most of the stuff I purchased.
Little remains of the 'non-permanents' of my life and really I wish I had put more into charities and saving lives.

From dust we come... and to dust we go.
Lets help those in need:)

A good cause is leaking women via Christian Blind Mission International
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/newsroom/releases/archives08/newlife/

Dear Gibo,

Your wish to help others is a good resolution
for the New Year.

It's made me think of a few changes that I'd
like to see in 2009:

1) I'd like to see world leaders decide that during 2009,
there would be no more military involvements. Instead
they would target the stamping out of world poverty.

2)I would like to see all religious leaders
teach compassion, tolerance, and inclusion.

3)I would like to see the
Liberals instead of constantly criticizing
come up with solutions.

4) I would like to see people give the current
Government of this country their full term in office
before criticizing them.

That will do for now.

cant really say that i make new year resolutions[havnt been to a new years party[but twice]once pre kids[one post kids]the pre kids was a great feast of kissing[by the time of the 2 de kissing somehow had disappeared]

what changes would i make,i guess i would turn back time,im not planning any changes[never the less things have changed dramaticly; yet i havnt made any[not that i notice]i have become more hard[so i could say i would become more soft[but i feel;flabby enough as it is]

i can only agree with much foxy posted[adding that i would wish that media did or was doing its job in educating people as to real meanings of things/words[not just mindlessly inform us of work choices or the latest starlet,fad or the police crime-report's[as news?]

i would ban cooking shows[and limit sports reporting to a decent hour[when the kids are asleep]i would demand that govt clarify what words mean[suss-tain-ability or define what is a terror-ism,to me banks are not only unsustainable,many fib-finantial instruments are pure fiction[terror needs to include that pub-lick,serveants/bankers and lawyers are doing to our collective rights]

anyhow foxy just wanted to give people a reminder to have a go at drunken promises made in the moment before strangers[that yet hold legal verbal contractual weight[and that new year was meant to be more about using our mouths and tongues to expesss love[not empty promises]

happy new year you all

[how about ending the celibrations early this year[say at the reasonable hour of midnight,remember those who are serving you have a life too[lets give the booze buses an early night,and give the ambulance drivers an easy night[and the emergency center workers no work at all]

anyhow im not making promises i cant keep[and certainly not kissing any strangers[anymore]so whats the use making promises before them

anyhow for those that do may god bless you and keep you
and you athiests[well you dont know what your rejecting;is possably the only real loving thing there is,i can understand rejecting a judge[but to reject the lover that god really is,well you must really be drunk][blind drunk]

hahah...:) I'd put Foxy into a blender.. then place the blended result into a large syringe and inject CJ and PERICLES :) with some mellowness.

I'd add the following features to OLO.

An option where 'email user' can be done.. those who don't wish to be contacted can decline to register their email for that.

I'd add BOLD and ITALIC and BOLD ITALIC features to enable more clear expression of emotion and emphasis.

Other than that.. hmm the world goes on...

I would seek to personalize more the words of Paul

<<Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.>> (Phil 4:12ff)

I would like to help the blind to see

The deaf to hear

The lame to walk

And those who traditionally vote socialists think and vote with a moral conscience, instead of with their hand out for a tax-sub or the feeble belief that government help actually helps anyone or comes without a price.

But I am realist to know I am likely to see those goals achieved in the order I have written them.

As for myself

I am prepared to commit to paying more tax but only because I will be earning more.

What Great Responses, Thank You!

Dear One Under God,

I'd like to give you a hug.
Your words touched my heart,
because they came from yours.

Dear Polycarp,

I wouldn't want you to change CJ or Pericles.
The Forum would be so much duller without
the inter-action between all of you.

Dear Col,

Again, your wicked sense of humour provides
just the right touch to this discussion ...

Nice thoughts, Foxy. My own are:

1. Spend more time with my children
2. Do more toward fighting the scourge of "male-bashing" that is becoming entrenched as part of our social fabric.
3. Become debt-free

For once, I actually agree with Col Rouge, as well. The growth of pervasive bureaucracy under Howard was horrendous and I can't see the Labor Government doing anything much to reduce the daily interference of the State in our lives. The "perfect storm" of a feminised bureaucracy and a lazy government that finds it easier to be a "nanny state" and micromanage than to try to accommodate the vagaries caused by people living their lives freely and unconstrained by handouts and penalties is leading to a very bleak future, well described by Orwell among others.

I'm wondering if any OLO posters would be ready to make the resolution to spend less time posting their thoughts on a blog to total strangers, and arguing with people who are never going to change their position.

There seems to be a core of people who post on most topics, and I wonder what must be wrong in their lives that they have so much time for such an exercise. Especially those who spend so much time trading insults with that polycarp guy.

Dear Houellebecq,

I can only speak for myself regarding this Forum
and the reason why I spend so much time on it.

Simply put, it's addictive.

I enjoy the interaction with what you call 'strangers.'
However, to me the posters here, have become much
more than that.

They're a great bunch of people with
diverse opinions from whom I've learned a great deal.
At times, I've been forced to re-examine my point of
view and admit that it was rather narrow.

Another plus is, because there is such a
wide variety of topics covered in this Forum,
and because this is one Forum
that presents many sides of any given discussion -
it forces me to delve into areas that I probably
normally wouldn't go.
And that's the challenge that is so enjoyable.

Some people enjoy crossword puzzles,
I enjoy these discussions
in cyber-space on a wide variety of topics.

You obviously must enjoy at least something of what this
Forum has to offer, otherwise what are you doing
here?

Dear Foxy, thank you for the good thoughts and optimism.

My New Year's wishes as they relate to OLO would bring vast improvements, I reckon.

1. Opinions that are actually informed and reasoned instead of mere platitudes and a parade of perennial prejudice.

2. The use of facts without adulteration instead of selective plagiarism from other fact-free websites.

3. Compassion for people in need instead of stereotypes, gross generalisations about minority group members and callous blaming the victim.

But, dear Foxy, I don't expect to get my wishes. Not unless Polycarp, runner, Col Rouge and the rest of the God squad take a sabbatical. They're back already and it's not even New Year!

Foxy,

I can understand the attraction of the forum, as you say I spend some time here. My concern is with balance, and the efforts people seem to put into it, and actually it disturbs me the time people are putting into what amounts to a relationship with people they really don't know at all. It must come at some expense to some potentially more rewarding relationships in these people's lives.

I'm sure you find yourself refining your position on many topics, but I see others who I seriously doubt achieve any such payoff. It seems to me many are either very lonely and need the attention of others on OLO, very bitter and want to argue if at all possible, or very insecure and need to 'win' some pseudo-intellectual contest to feel better about themselves.

Foxy,

I agree with what you say about this site being addictive. I used to post on Yahoo, but gave up there because there were too many trolls.
From what I've observed here, most people seem to have higher levels of intelligence.

The good that this site is doing is teaching me to respect other people, even if I don't agree with their views.

On the topic of what changes would I make in 2009 - I want to learn to be more tolerant of people whose views are different from my own. What we should be doing is focusing on what we have in common and learn how to live in harmony. New Year's resolutions don't always last long. I made a goal in 2008 to read the entire Bible in one year (even though I've aready read it several times). I fulfilled that goal this morning.

My resolutions for 2009...
to love without fear...
to include without reservations ...
to forgive without counting ....
to enjoy life... life in all its fullness!

What interesting and diverse New Year's Wishes.
Thanks To You All.

Dear Spikey,

I've taken your three wishes to heart.
They will be a challenge, but I'll do my best
to be a better poster in the New Year.

Why is it called 'plagiarism' if you take stuff
from one author, but they call it 'research',
when you use material of several authors? :)
(Just teasing).

Dear Houellebecq,

Maintaining a balance is important - I agree.
However, it's not an easy thing to do,
especially, if you feel passionate about something...

Dear Steel Mann,

It's quite an achievement, reading the entire Bible.
That's something I can't even begin to contemplate.
Bravo!

Dear Sofisu,

I have no doubt that you will enjoy life in all its
fullness!
(With your beautiful attitude, how can you not?

Thanks Foxy
What a cutie you are!!

A new chum comes booting us long timers but fails to understand that post is self centered.
Fear not Foxy, we will see no mad rush away from Rudd and his government.
Nor will we see an end to the mindless opposition for oppositions sake.
You gave us the answer to Liberals problems, constructive not destructive policy's.
20% thats how many of us think Turnbull would be a good prime minister, he is better than that, he just, so far, has not shown it he may not have long to turn it around.
I would like to be less obsessed about my job/ movement, but it will never happen.
So I want to give it my best every day.

My new years resolution is to walk away from the bullying of Flaketelle, CJ and Romany.

oh usual suspect please decide to break your new years commandment[you can out debate anyone ,its not complicated

[people are lazy]
just make sure your getting the last point in

[having the last say
[i have seen many debates won in this way

its not about putting up the proof to rebut what you see as their negative[but for them to explain it till you get it]
or they cant explain it

we all have things we believe [either right or wrong]
but if the post cant explain it the questions move it along

then they answer themn[or the question is repeated]
what many do is rephrase it and the person beliving the ''wrong''
distracts to the non question [thus the questioning goes on]

so why arnt you going to respond to the people you have named
ask them the question and your honour is saved

is it new year yet
im running out of whine
lest we all forget

what was the question again?
oh what changes WILL i make

my new Y-ear re-SOLUTIONS
i must make a list

Good Morning Everyone,

Here it is - Dec. 31st, has finally arrived.
I'm really looking forward to this afternoon.
We've bought movie tickets to see the epic
saga, "Australia." I'm taking my two elderly
mothers (Mum and my Mother-in-law)as well.
We're going to the afternoon session,
and then we've booked
an early dinner for us all at a restaurant.
We'll see in the New Year at home, watching
the fireworks on TV.

Thanks to all of you who responded to this
thread. I hope that your wishes are granted
in the New Year.

My final wish for us all is that
this New Year will be filled with
greater tolerance and understanding,
not only amongst those close to us, but also
amongst people we come across in our daily lives.
There is enough hatred in the world. It's up to
us to try to turn things around.

Happy New Year And All The Best,

This will be my last post for 2008. Happy New Year everybody. See you in 2009.

"My new years resolution is to walk away from the bullying of Flaketelle, CJ and Romany."

Ooohhh, poor diddums!

Since when have you been so averse to a little 'bullying', Usual Suspect? You've dished out plenty of your own in the past, especially when you were the cuttingly witty 'Whitty'. I know, I've been on the receiving end of it several times.

Well, if your resolution is to walk away from it AND to not dish it out in the first place, I say good luck to you.

Hopefully, this latest resolution is a little longer lived than the time you announced to all you were exiting OLO. From memory that little dummy spit didn't last long at all.

In fairness, you do seem to have transformed your posting style. Your once at times belligerent tone has mellowed somewhat.

Happy New Year, Usual Suspect, and long may you stick around on OLO. Any future feminism related threads will be much the poorer if you don't!

My resolution for 2009.....

It's one I have started early....

I will not bother responding to morons that believe they they can think logically and yet have obviously have not have had the benefit of an education in logic, or indeed any kind of science or philosophy (unless it's the self-educated kind).

For example: After making an earlier resolution, I have not responded to a well known self-medicating schizophrenic that has admitted to being a dope-grower and convicted criminal, and yet believes he is the ultimate authority on evolution and matters of science. One cannot win a debate with the mentally ill on the internet.

I will also not try to save anyone else from debating these types of people, as that will be a never ending job.

I have also refrained from responding (and will try to continue in 2009) to obvious travesties of misunderstanding and misrepresentation of evolution, as this is usually done by people that believe in a far more ancient superstition for their own ends.

Happy new year, and I hope you don't owe much money on your house, this years gonna be rough.

bugsy,evolution isa theory[my br-other[i got nothing against it being a reasonable theory[its just when you state'its science'[and cant'prove it'is science,bro cant you see how that looks

if you dont got the facts to prove your statement,well that speaks for itself,...so many have suppported the evolution is science,but the only'proof'they can give that it is is about'speciation'[changes within species[not evolution into'genus'[which is what evolution is claiming]

there are gaps..[right where the genus changes genus]a coincidence science cant refute,so i put it as strike one[science has never made'life'from non-life[strike two,it is unable to postulate even a theory about'how'it could prove'it'expermentally[3]

but it gets worse[it has had succes in courts]on the basis that teaching religion in'science'class is'unconstitutional[and yes it won that case[but it wasnt creation that was on trial[it was teaching religion in public schools[4]

..but then'evolutionists'need to lie about it[5]..then when they cant answer they rebut with insult,because they cant prove the deception[6]..then they withdraw saying'never'again[not even posting it at site[7]..mate what can i do,..to let people believe a'lie'makes me'guilty'for not trying to show you[what you]need to'prove'to validate_evolution INTO'a'science

mate its not about'religion[the'origonal'topic excluded religion because i wanted a'science'debate[not about'religion'..[its aBOUT SCIENCE PROVING ITS SCIENCE..[BUT THE'DEBATE'STRAIGHT AWAY WENT TO WHAT I BELIEVE,lol,..ABOUT GOD[NOT/PART OF/THE DEBATE[BUT MY NON-REPLY WAS TAKEN AS SOME PROOF[darn caplock]

mate all i want is the science..[you didnt[couldnt present it]its no shame...[i been searching for that definative'proof'all my life[i had the debate inside me for-ever,..if only peopple would stop calling satan'evolution'clause[real]science...[this stoner knows the science] and dont care what your'religion/belief'is[only that the'believers'who clain'science'[over faith]..prove the science]

anyhow merry xmass[whatever your beliefs]power too you..[im sorry for pointing out the bleeding obvious...[but evolution bro stands on feet of clay...[its'high_priests'claim science...but even they couldnt prove it

[blind faith in religion or science...is just blind faith]...im against blind faith..[but if you put'faith in fairy-tales'..its time you at least know it as the faith-based..belief it is

Foxy “Dear Col,

Again, your wicked sense of humour provides
just the right touch to this discussion ...”

Thankyou Foxy, as one of my favourite “poster girls” may I wish you a Happy and Bountiful New Year in this, my first post of 2009.

Spikey “Col Rouge and the rest of the God squad take a sabbatical.”

Hmmm.. not sure any of the God-Squadies would ever include me among their number but I am pleased to see you posting, we all need an easy target sometimes and you do provide such a convenient one : - )

Personally, I welcome the diversity of opinions here.

How boring it would be to have a consensus on every topic.

Anyway may 2009 be as bountiful experience for you all… as I anticipate it will be for me

Col Rouge: "...not sure any of the God-Squadies would ever include me among their number..."

Oh I think they'd be happy to have your ever reactionary views to add to theirs.

I'm so pleased that you are pleased to see me posting...but your reasons are, as usual, spurious and lightweight.

But Col, in the spirit of the New Year and in response to your message of goodwill, I'll agree wholeheartedly with you on one aspect: "Personally, I welcome the diversity of opinions here. How boring it would be to have a consensus on every topic." That's a noble sentiment.

My one caveat is - as ever - an expectation that the opinions are based on some relevant evidence and a reasoned argument. Now, as a New Year's wish, is that too much to expect?

Spikey “your ever reactionary views”

Ah thankyou, I feel it is far better to be associated with the tried and tested views of the supposed “reactionary” than the flimsy-whimsy of the impotent activist, ever ready to criticize what has happened previously yet lacking the innovation to contribute to the future.

“but your reasons are, as usual, spurious and lightweight.”

Oh no Spikey, I doubt you would understand my reasons, sufficiently cast dispersions upon them, we will just accept you observation as that shallow response of the flimsy-whimsy, as previously described.

Actually to give you a clue, this moment now is one of those reasons for welcoming your posts : - )

“My one caveat is - as ever - an expectation that the opinions are based on some relevant evidence and a reasoned argument.”

Oooh… not sure about that, I think you are pushing the envelope a bit Spikey,

I suggest you lead by showing us, in future, what you mean

Although, I will not hold my breath,

Your posts thus far have fallen well short of that expectation and there is a word for those who expect of others that which they cannot muster in themselves....

Spikey,

You will become accustomed to Col-onoscopy Rouge's supercilious style of comment, lots elegantly written and condescending drivel attempting to disguise his inability to come up with an original thought of his own.

As you will no doubt recognise this is typical denial behaviour of the aspiring “'petty' bourgeoisie.

We’ve nicked named him col-onoscopy simple because he is forever exploring his own rear passage - hoping to find wisdom and insight. The rest is OLO legend.

Hear hear Foxy I am all for greater tolerance and understanding.

Happy New Year everyone. May all your flowers bloom in 2009. :)

(Sorry Bronwyn and CJ sometimes just can't help doing a smiley)

Ah rainer, I thought you must have been banned for life, following those images of yourself which you posted so long ago but I was obviously and sadly mistaken, you are back to amuse us with your banality and poor taste ( I personally prefer projectile vomiting).

I suppose you are still supping from the public purse and pretending that you role in academia actually accomplishes anything.

Regarding “We’ve nicked named him col-onoscopy simple because he is forever exploring his own rear passage - hoping to find wisdom and insight. The rest is OLO legend.”

I will defer to your more intimate knowledge of the procedure known as a “colonoscopy”, I have never undertaken one but would be sure the likes of you has probably volunteered multiple times (without anesthetic).

Ah well, as you say the rest is "OLO legend"

and yourself, an OLO “fairy” story

Happy New Year to Everyone!

And Thank You for all your inputs
into this thread.

I believe that it's going to be an
interesting year ahead of us, hopefully
with lots more sharing on OLO.

We don't always agree on everything, but
that to me is one of the attractions of
this Forum. I enjoy the clever verbal
thrusts that go on. They're usually funny,
and very entertaining. I often envy the
clever repartee - and think, "Wish I could
do that."

The writer Bryce Courtenay summed it up rather
well:

"Each of us has been designed for one of two
immortal functions, either as a storyteller or as
a cross-legged listener to tales of wonder, love
and daring. When we cease to tell or listen, then
we no longer exist as a people. Dead men tell no
tales."

Yes, let your ear be your dictionary, while your
eye observes the details and your mind constructs
the storyline...

Pelican

"(Sorry Bronwyn and CJ sometimes just can't help doing a smiley)"

:)

I totally understand, Pelican. In fact I have now come to realise that there are times when a 'smile' is a really handy response.

I actually hadn't noticed 'smiles' before until I saw one in a post of CJ's once and made some disparaging remark about it, which I think is what led to his scrupulous avoidance of them ever since, bless him.

I hate the thought though that I might be restricting others' freedom of expression, so I think the beginning of a new year is a good time to announce that I hereby declare my acceptance of the 'smile'!

Yo Foxy luv.

To help show people

- That there is ALWAYS another less selfish perspective and that ALL informed (both sided) REASONING can achieve more/more possibilities than ideology and dogma.(one size [ideology, belief, solution] fits no body)

- To show how some people need more help than others.

- That helping isn't a matter of handouts but that individual's NEEDS can't be always addressed by aggregation and "return for investment" concepts.

Col Rouge: "Personally, I welcome the diversity of opinions here. How boring it would be to have a consensus on every topic."

How then do you explain the utter vitriol with which you attacked the last two posters who disagreed with you?

And, in that context do you not see a a contradictory double standard in then saying: "there is a word for those who expect of others that which they cannot muster in themselves...."? Time for some self-reflection, Col old man?

Spikey “How then do you explain the utter vitriol with which you attacked the last two posters who disagreed with you?”

Simple, one was you, who, despite my overtures of conciliation re

“Anyway may 2009 be as bountiful experience for you all… as I anticipate it will be for me”

You decided to denigrate my opinions (“your reasons are, as usual, spurious and lightweight.”),

The other was rainier, who is an incorrigible low life, something which, on a good day could aspire to the dizzy heights of a CJ Moron, so I guess, you are in good company.

I suggest, Spikey, bearing in mind the above, you can already feel that your comments

“Time for some self-reflection,”

And

“in that context do you not see a a contradictory double standard”

Have already come back to bite you upon what is probably a more than ample buttock…

Now run away, your troll buddies must be impatiently awaiting the return of their plaything

Col Rouge, 1 January 2009: "Personally, I welcome the diversity of opinions here."

Col Rouge, 1 January, 2009: "Ah rainer, I thought you must have been banned for life, following those images of yourself which you posted so long ago but I was obviously and sadly mistaken, you are back to amuse us with your banality and poor taste ( I personally prefer projectile vomiting)."

Col Rouge, 1 January 2009: "Personally, I welcome the diversity of opinions here."

Col Rouge, 6 December 2008: "Fractelle you are incapable of fashioning reasoned argument and intolerant of anyone who dares express a view contrary to that held by yourself. In short, Fractelle is a fully formed but strangely small minded hypocrite."

Col Rouge, 1 January 2009: "Personally, I welcome the diversity of opinions here."

Col Rouge, 6 January 2007: "...I am making a point of not encouraging trolls and thus ignoring Michaelk. All-, friendly advise, I suggest you may benefit from my experience, responding to anything which Michaelk writes is a waste of time and might act to encourage more of his grammatic incompetence and racist vilification."

Col Rouge, 1 January 2009: "Personally, I welcome the diversity of opinions here."

Col Rouge, 2 February 2006: "Certainly, since you have not presented any, it can reasonably be assumed you have no reasons and are snapping out of spite. Again, that bullying attitude keeps seeping out from with your drivel."

Col Rouge, 1 January 2009: "Personally, I welcome the diversity of opinions here."

Anyway, as Col Rouge says, may 2009 be as bountiful experience for you all...as it will be for him.

Spikey… you found only rainier, Michaelk and fractelle to castigate me for?

I am sure I could add several more to the list…. The resident CJ Moron for instance….

Well I will content myself with the certain knowledge that, having gone over, read and enriched yourself with the detail of my posts, you will become a better person.

Unfortunately, I doubt such wisdom and enrichment would come to me should I go and read the history of your posts

I generally don't make New Year's resolutions, but I think I'll make an exception this year and undertake to only refer to odious twats like Col Rouge in the third person, no matter how pathetically they try to bait me.

CJ Moron "...in the third person, no matter how pathetically they try to bait me."

Ah I see the residentally challenged is finally reciprocating to the manner I have considered him for many past months.

as they say

Emulation is the sincerest form of flattery

and we will leave comments about "baiting" alone, too many word plays possible for mixed company, although time and time again, CJ Moron has proved himself a master at it.

psssss [foxy]...in a low wisper

im going now

hey it was a great party

[im leaving while the tingly feeling is still in me]looks like inviting everyone...sort of invited everyone to bring their s-words[words are sacred][sacred/words=s/words]..

...walks off singing where is the love
ode to the blackeyed peas[as alike as if in their own pod]

ps i wrote a note;

..allways tying to strand the other fish in their nets
..then slay them with s/words
..preferably via a third party
..avoiding feeding others
..while gorging in themselves

i leave as i came alone[all-one]
but knowing there was so much love here

by next year thats all i will remember
so see you all next year

and remember there are sharp words
and dull words

each indicates much about thee;who created them into a sentance
spell-led them into being.

that yet reveals more about the poster than the respondant
love is all we need[give piece a chance[change we can believe in..

[what a night [party] it was[funny how the pre midnight was light/easy; but after the witching hour they came sensing weakness
lol
too-raloo
may gods peace be upon you all

...im fixing the hole where the reign get in
to stop my mind from wondering [where it will's i go]

Col Rouge,

"Well I will content myself with the certain knowledge that, having gone over, read and enriched yourself with the detail of my posts, you will become a better person. Unfortunately, I doubt such wisdom and enrichment would come to me should I go and read the history of your posts"

Another point of agreement. In reading your posts (of which I recited but a small sample) I learned a great deal about the tactics of hypocrisy and bullying. I could be much better. As you say, you have nothing to learn from me - in that respect.

And here's an application: Do have a wonderful 2009. Love your work!

Spikey "I learned a great deal about the tactics of hypocrisy and bullying."

No, there is little of hypocrisy and bullying which you could learn from me, you came fully certified in those respects.


but like you acknowledged "Love your work!"

I've just come across a website that
was entitled: "101 ways to annoy people..."
We all could do with a laugh, so here goes:

1) Specify that your drive-through order is
"to go."

2) Sniffle incessantly.

3) Leave your turn signal on for 50K's.

4) Reply to evrything someone says with,
"That's what YOU think!"

5) Forget the punchline to a long joke,
but assure the listener it was a "real hoot."

6) Drum on every available surface.

7) Change channels five minutes before the
end of every show.

8) Repeat everything someone says, as a question.

9) Stand over someone's shoulder, mumbling, as
they read.

10) Ask people what gender they are.

That's all for now...

Keep smiling.

OUG

"by next year thats all i will remember
so see you all next year ...

[what a night [party] it was[funny how the pre midnight was light/easy; but after the witching hour they came sensing weakness
lol
too-raloo
may gods peace be upon you all"

Sometimes you're hard to understand, OUG, so I'm not sure if I'm correct in reading this as meaning you're leaving for a year. And if so, that it might be due in part to the negativity you've encountered here at times. I hope I'm wrong on both counts.

I for one have appreciated the gems I've found hidden in amongst your posts and had hoped you'd pick up on the more constructive comments you've received and further hone your writing talents to benefit us all.

Hope you're sticking round, but if not, all the best!

Dear OUG,

I have mis-read your last post.
Thanks Bronwyn, I didn't understand
that OUG was leaving for a year.

Thanks for all your inputs, and I
also wish you All The Best.

I hope that you'll come back to posting
again, soon.

Take care,

Happy New Year to all.

That’s such a very cute New Year’s wish, Billie! Thank you, I’ve even send it on to some others who will absolutely love it.

Gibo, that is a very good charity, I hadn’t heard about it and will definitely donate some money. I had to be all stitched-up myself after giving birth, and I can imagine how these women must suffer.

Well…I normally don’t make New Year’s resolutions, (except the resolution to not make a resolution) but I’ve taken Bronwyn’s reasonable and subtle hint into account (thank you, Bronwyn) and will at attempt to refrain from ridiculing, criticising, or poking fun out of the gullible, especially in relation to alternative medicine such as homeopathy.

It’s not easy to control strong urges and when I get one I will simply have to allow myself a little teasing.

Evil witches ey, Gibo!
OK the urge is over.
No menace intended.

PS ;+)

oh dear i have done it again[so untying the rope from arround my neck [and climbing down from the high stool im standing in] i recant leaving for a year

what i meant was leaving the post[unless you guys been talking to grayham ;and know something i dont]i have a somwhat peverse personality and try to make light from other's some what darker postings]

forgive my somwhat loose turn of phrase [you see the only talking i do is in my single finger spell ing] so what your getting from me is only an echo of what the slower parts of my mind is shining light on at this given moment of time[often the words dont match my thoughts[and on reading it find humour in some of the miss spellings ,and leave them in ,other times edit them out]

its all pretty much like reading tealeaves for me[im just saying as i feel at the time] the last time [last few times]i checked and say two literate giants attemting to cut the ground out from under each other and thought well this post is done ,so thought to make my last post on it in my version of an upbeat manner

we are these mental images on a page [pure fictions that allow us to realise some intercommunication with each other based on letter spell's

[casting little letters into form,of whole sentances limited to 350 words] im just wending through every spell being cast in everypost]as a way to fill in this life term...just like in the next life i will be visiting the vairious realms ,in the next incarnation ,exploring the fictions presented as fact in each of them

whenever i try to explain , it just adds further con-fusion [so i dont do it often] and should know better than trying to ex-plain ,anyhow where was i ...

oh yah john lennon ..
..theres going to be an evolution ..yea yeah you know.. gonna right the constitution yea yea ya know

Some more New Year’s Resolutions:

Bill Vaughan
Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.

P. J. O'Rourke
The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to.

Jay Leno
Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average… which means, you have met your New Year's resolution.

James Agate
New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.

Eric Zorn
Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle.

Bill Vaughan
An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

Oprah Winfrey
Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.

Mark Twain
New Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.

Judith Crist
Happiness is too many things these days for anyone to wish it on anyone lightly. So let's just wish each other a bile-less New Year and leave it at that.

Anonymous
Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits.

Anais Nin
I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.

Oscar Wilde
Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.
Anonymous
A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year and out the other.

Leonard Bernstein
From New Year's on the outlook brightens; good humor lost in a mood of failure returns. I resolve to stop complaining.

Dear OUG,

I'm glad that you're not leaving for a year
after all. I'll look forward to more of your posts.

Dear Celivia,

Thank You for all the wonderful New Year quotes.
Welcome back, and Happy New Year!

I think this thread has now run its course, so
I'll be leaving it, but before I go, once again
I'd like to Thank everyone for their inputs, and
I'll leave with this quote...

"What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That's not been said a thousand times?
The New Years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.
We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.
We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.
We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our prides, we sheet our dead.
We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that's the burden of a year."

All The Best,

OUG

I've probably missed you now as you did say you were leaving - the thread that is, not OLO!

Yes, I definitely misinterpreted your post. I guess that can happen when you give us snatches of words and ideas as you so often do and leave us to join the dots. We can get it wrong.

Sorry about that. And pleased to know you're sticking around after all.

no worries bronwyn loved your list of resolutions

i never know about sticking around[everytime i settle in a site as a regular seems i get banned as soon as i let my guard down][i just need to not mention israel [that seems the common link in my suspensions at other previous sites][so if my posts stop you know i was struck out the third time]

but thankfully our moderators treat us like adults
if i upset anyone they just rebut or correct me

[i allready had [two] [one week] suspensions here
so im not really hanging on here but by a slender thread]

but hey thats the game isnt it?

trying to help bring change to a world [that dont want change] well sometimes its time to let go or move on [moderators know best]

grayham is the only moderator ever
to explain why i was suspended
[you gotta know that is fair,

and if people cant rebut me they get me banned
[being banned yet has its good points] had i not been banned the first time i would still be posting at invision , yahoo ...etc,and never found this place

anyhow loved your resolution-ing list
cheers

[ya havnt got a good hangover cure eh?]
only joking i dont drink to excess[but sure smoke too much]

OUG

"no worries bronwyn loved your list of resolutions"

Can't take credit here, I'm afraid. I think the list you're referring to was Celivia's. I agree with you though, it was a good one.

oops

sorry celiva all woman look the same to me on olo
...no ....that one dont wont work

er um ...it was the booze that done it
oops not this time

dammm ...i was just looking for something nice to say
yeah that will work

now .... look just say sorry and go

yeah ok that will work

sorry
gotta go now

wonder why i dont get invited to parties [lol]

Gibo that was a really funny post. I normally skip a lot of your work as I find it hard to read, but that was gold.

Bronwyn,

'Since when have you been so averse to a little 'bullying', Usual Suspect? You've dished out plenty of your own in the past, especially when you were the cuttingly witty 'Whitty'. I know, I've been on the receiving end of it several times.'

I don't believe I've ever personally abused you. I've been abrasive and outspoken and tactless, but rarely abusive and very rarely have I ever got personal.

'Well, if your resolution is to walk away from it AND to not dish it out in the first place, I say good luck to you.'

Well, the resolution is really to not bother at all with some posters, as anyone who by their own admission scrolls through hundreds of my posts to score points as Romany does obviously will only ever play the man not the topic.

'Hopefully, this latest resolution is a little longer lived than the time you announced to all you were exiting OLO. From memory that little dummy spit didn't last long at all.'
Well it wasn't a dummy spit until I fell into temptation and baiting and returned. It's a nice running joke everyone has at my expense, so fair enough.

'In fairness, you do seem to have transformed your posting style. Your once at times belligerent tone has mellowed somewhat.'
At least someone noticed.

'Happy New Year, Usual Suspect, and long may you stick around on OLO. Any future feminism related threads will be much the poorer if you don't!'

Right back at you. I doubt that is the case though. Incidently, I find it compelling that a male who is emotional or depressed gets 'poor diddums'. The original sook I had was with people playing Dr Phil and using the tiniest bit of personal information I had revealed for use in personal attacks against me. I find it interesting considering the heartwarming love up whenever you chicks get together on depression threads.

Usual Suspect

"I find it compelling that a male who is emotional or depressed gets 'poor diddums'."

I would never post a flippant response like 'poor diddums' if I truly sensed a poster was emotional or depressed. There was nothing in your post to indicate to me any genuine sensitivity. I just thought you were having a go, so I had a bit of a go too!

"The original sook I had was with people playing Dr Phil and using the tiniest bit of personal information I had revealed for use in personal attacks against me. I find it interesting considering the heartwarming love up whenever you chicks get together on depression threads."

Maybe I've missed something that happened between you and the others. I just thought you were carrying on with the usual argy-bargy, so if I've blundered in and got it wrong I'm sorry.

It's sometimes difficult to read where people are really coming from with their posts. All we have to go on are the words on the page at the time and a poster's history. If posters have played hardball in the past I guess there's a tendency to typecast them in that mould from then on in. And when they genuinely show another side of themselves it can be hard to pick up on.

As for the "heartwarming love up", I've read posts from both males and females at times that reveal a little of their personal struggles with depression and other issues. I've always sensed a general feeling of empathy and acceptance from the other posters, both male and female, on such threads.

I think you sometimes get too hung up on gender difference. Next time you're in that situation, forget the macho image, show your feminine side, open up and experience the warmth. I doubt very much you'd be subjected to personal attack on those types of threads.

Now, on a feminism related thread, that would be different! It would of course be gloves off as usual!

Bronwyn,

With the 'poor diddums', I just find it a particularly effective put-down for the female posters to use against the males. It plays on the stereotype that men shouldn't complain or get emotional and is sometimes an attempt to emasculate them. It's the equivalent of saying a woman has balls or is a bitch for standing up for herself. Many feminist topics have women talking about all the injustices to women, then when men talk about how the solutions to some of those problems have effects on men 'poor diddums' is trotted out.

Not how you've used it here obviously.

I've had it suggested before I be 'more feminine' and I think it's funny that if men do fly off the handle and become emotional they are told 'poor diddums', or don't be a sook. It's very contradictory.

Also, how often do you find women being told they should get in touch with their masculine side as if that's a positive thing? Rarely, because all traditionally masculine traits are considered undesirable. It's all these men who should be more like the nice virtuous women, and communicate in the way women do/want them to.

'All we have to go on are the words on the page at the time and a poster's history.'

This is the biggest problem with OLO. To assure people play the man and not the ball, nobody should be looking into the history of the poster. It's the words they have written about the topic at hand that should be addressed. That's why topics go nowhere. You get people like Fractelle entering a gender thread yelling that people are trying to silence her before anyone has even said anything. All the arguments and animosity from other threads are carried over and nobody is even reading the points people make about the current topic.

Usual Suspect

"I've had it suggested before I be 'more feminine' and I think it's funny that if men do fly off the handle and become emotional they are told 'poor diddums', or don't be a sook. It's very contradictory."

I guess it hinges very much on the way our posts are worded. After all, all we have on OLO are the words. We've got no facial expressions or body language to help us out and we don't know the poster in person.

When I mentioned a poster's history, I wasn't necessarily meaning the physical checking of their posting history. I was referring to all that's been said before and has gone into building up a perception of that poster. You can't take that away. It will always colour how you read the words in front of you.

Having said that, I do think it's possible for posters to change their style, to become less abrasive, more nuanced, more reflective etc. I guess it just takes some posters longer than others to pick up on the changes and some never will, either as a deliberate choice or because they're just not well tuned in to detecting subtle differences.

I think you've been too harsh on each of the posters you've referred to by name. Personally, I've found them to be some of the most open, intuitive and sensitive posters here.

Don't give up on any of us. For me, the best posters are those who can play hardball on the issues they are passionate about and yet can kick in with a thoughtful and empathetic response when it's called for. And for what it's worth I for one count you as being in amongst that lot!