New Year's Resolution ...

[[old] mpukita]

To encourge myself to exercise more self discipline, which can help build character as well as physical fitness, I resolve to:<br /><br />1) use the ignore feature on John Rupp's postings (as I have for some time) ... but also ...<br /><br />2) to ignore even those snips of his postings that get copied into others' replies to his postings ... and ...<br /><br />3) regardless of all this, to NEVER respond to any of his postings or personal messages unless they are rational, respectful, pleasant, and supportive of others and rowing.<br /><br /><b><span style='font-family:Impact'><span style='color:purple'><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Now, like kicking any habit, a support group is a necessity. Who's in?</span></span></span></b><br /><br />We should also agree to remind one another if there are any slips, using personal messages to chastise in private (and adulate in public).<br /><br />Remember, this would start 1-1-06, so you have some time to "smoke that last cigarette", or "have that last drink", or "eat that last mince pie" before going cold turkey on this!<br /><br />My thought is if we do this, and everyone abides by these rules, this will be a better forum for all ... including John. In other words, lets find a way to pull the weeds from our garden ourselves!<br /><br /> <br /><br />I feel this is a sensible option to fix the problem, while still being kind. N'est pas?<br /><br />-- Mark

[[old] bgood]

Good post Mark!<br />I agree, if you have nothing good or positive to say please move on.<br />It's easy to be mean to someone you don't know or will never physically face.<br />You will never see C2 be nasty on this board, so why do some people feel it's ok to be that way?<br />

[[old] Godfried]

1) <a href='http://concept2.ipbhost.com/index.php?a ... ore&uid=22' target='_blank'>like this !</a>.<br /><br />2) That is more difficult.<br /><br />3) The "unless . . ." part does happen, though not a lot of times.

[[old] PaulS]

Apologies for the paraphrase:<br /><br />All that it takes for misinformation to triumph, is for informed folks to say nothing.<br /><br />Seems a good corelate to the 2nd law of Thermodynamics.<br /><br />After more than 4 years of participation in this forum, the only thing that has remained constant is the need for constant "gardening".<br /><br />If withstanding and responding to the near constant barrage of BS is being seen as "nastiness" instead of "dutiful perseverence", I'd prefer that instead of seeing euphemisms such as "some people", that the accusers name names. That way the opportunity to "face your accuser" is provided to all. Many hide behind virtual aliases anyway, but for those that don't, perhaps we take this a bit more seriously.

[[old] TPMcT]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Dec 28 2005, 12:32 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Dec 28 2005, 12:32 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br />Remember, this would start 1-1-06 . . . <br /><br />-- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Why wait? I pulled the switch on JR yesterday. I had given up on the forum for a few days out of frustration, but why punish myself?<br /><br />Now two more wishes, echoing Coach Gus:<br /><br />For ranger to make his first post that is not about . . . ranger.<br /><br />For Paul Smith, for whom I have immense respect, to let go of JR. You have far too much to offer to waste your time responding to his drivel. New readers will have sized John up by the second post they read. Trust them.<br /><br />Now what's the pool on how long it will take JR to pollute this thread?<br /><br />Tim McTighe

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-TPMcT+Dec 28 2005, 11:14 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(TPMcT @ Dec 28 2005, 11:14 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->For Paul Smith, for whom I have immense respect, to let go of JR. You have far too much to offer to waste your time responding to his drivel. New readers will have sized John up by the second post they read. Trust them.<br /><br />Tim McTighe <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Thanks Tim, I certainly appreciate what you are saying. Perhaps it is time to sit back and see how effective the assisted self-destruction of Mr. Rupp has been. If what you suggest is true, there should be no need for anything else.<br /><br />I'm well aware of the dangers of "arguing with a fool", and have made every attempt to keep it as reasonable as I could manage. I recognize that I will "lose it" from time to time, and will happily throw myself on the "mercy of the court", along with making an apology for that.<br /><br />All in all, I hope that it's better to be here, with the occassional tussle, than to take the easy way out and never interact with those that are pursuing an activity which I have enjoyed and promoted for a majority of my life. I've had the pleasure of meeting many forum members and have been told may times, "you're exactly the same in person as you are in the forum", which I'm hoping was a compliment, as it did not seem to be offered with any sort of malice at the time.

[[old] tjod]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Dec 28 2005, 09:32 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Dec 28 2005, 09:32 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->To encourge myself to exercise more self discipline, which can help build character as well as physical fitness, I resolve to:<br /><br />1) use the ignore feature on John Rupp's postings (as I have for some time) ... but also ...<br /><br />2) to ignore even those snips of his postings that get copied into others' replies to his postings ... and ...<br /><br />3) regardless of all this, to NEVER respond to any of his postings or personal messages unless they are rational, respectful, pleasant, and supportive of others and rowing.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />I feel this is a sensible option to fix the problem, while still being kind.  N'est pas?<br /><br />-- Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi Mark -- great idea(s). I've already done the first - a few days ago. The second would be a gift - I wish that "ignore" was total - all references and quotes would disappear along with the primary messages. As far as the 3rd one goes, maybe there will be an example of that sometime in the future but it doesn't seem likely. <br />

[[old] FrancoisA]

<!--QuoteBegin-PaulS+Dec 28 2005, 07:45 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(PaulS @ Dec 28 2005, 07:45 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-TPMcT+Dec 28 2005, 11:14 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(TPMcT @ Dec 28 2005, 11:14 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->For Paul Smith, for whom I have immense respect, to let go of JR. You have far too much to offer to waste your time responding to his drivel. New readers will have sized John up by the second post they read. Trust them.<br /><br />Tim McTighe <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Thanks Tim, I certainly appreciate what you are saying. Perhaps it is time to sit back and see how effective the assisted self-destruction of Mr. Rupp has been. If what you suggest is true, there should be no need for anything else.<br /><br />I'm well aware of the dangers of "arguing with a fool", and have made every attempt to keep it as reasonable as I could manage. I recognize that I will "lose it" from time to time, and will happily throw myself on the "mercy of the court", along with making an apology for that.<br /><br />All in all, I hope that it's better to be here, with the occassional tussle, than to take the easy way out and never interact with those that are pursuing an activity which I have enjoyed and promoted for a majority of my life. I've had the pleasure of meeting many forum members and have been told may times, "you're exactly the same in person as you are in the forum", which I'm hoping was a compliment, as it did not seem to be offered with any sort of malice at the time. <br /> </td></tr></table><br />Paul, I second Tim regarding your contribution to this forum and the immense respect we have for you. <br />Even though JR has been particularly offensive towards you, you have always shown great restraint in all your replies. So there should be no problem with the "mercy of the court"! <br />Plus, your posts are are always a delight to read, being full of humour and showing a quick and keen mind at work! <br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Francois

[[old] PaulS]

Francois,<br /><br />Wow, I really don't know what to say. But that check we discussed is in the mail. <br /><br />Ooops, this was supposed to be a PM! Darn! Too late now....<br /><br />Thank you for the kind words.

[[old] Porkchop]

These are laudable resolutions, Mark, but as PaulS points out, the misinformation would still find its way onto the forum, and, unfortunately, some might be misled. In order to address both concerns, perhaps a separate posting to the effect that "We the undersigned strongly suggest that beginning rowers ignore all advice from John Rupp" could be posted as an "Ignore John Rupp" thread. No arguments, just this cautionary advice. If such a thread were to be bumped regularly, it might achieve the desired effect without involving us in long arguments.

[[old] afolpe]

<!--QuoteBegin-Porkchop+Dec 28 2005, 03:50 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Porkchop @ Dec 28 2005, 03:50 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->These are laudable resolutions, Mark, but as PaulS points out, the misinformation would still find its way onto the forum, and, unfortunately, some might be misled.  In order to address both concerns, perhaps a separate posting to the effect that "We the undersigned strongly suggest that beginning rowers ignore all advice from John Rupp" could be posted as an "Ignore John Rupp" thread.  No arguments, just this cautionary advice.  If such a thread were to be bumped regularly, it might achieve the desired effect without involving us in long arguments. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />Good idea, but you would probably need to have one posted in each of the various folders, since he tends to post widely on all subjects (who wants to bet he will have an opinion on rowing while pregnant?). The other concern is that he will begin using aliases- he seems to have started this already with the "John Frupp" posts. Once he starts posting this way, he will bypass all of the ignore filters, BTW.<br /><br />Andrew

[[old] John Rupp]

<!--QuoteBegin-PaulS+Dec 28 2005, 11:45 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(PaulS @ Dec 28 2005, 11:45 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm well aware of the dangers of "arguing with a fool"[right] </td></tr></table><br /><br />It's never stopped me from talking with you! <br />

[[old] John Rupp]

<!--QuoteBegin-afolpe+Dec 28 2005, 12:59 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(afolpe @ Dec 28 2005, 12:59 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The other concern is that he will begin using aliases- he seems to have started this already with the "John Frupp" posts. [right] </td></tr></table><br /><br />It doesn't surprise me that a medical quack Ja(_kass would condone identity theft.<br /><br />After all of the countless needless operations you have performed and yet you keep on doing the same things again.<br /><br />I wonder how many have suffered and committed suicide as a result of your negligence, and yet you continue to push your |d|iot opinions on people in compromising positions who have been led to believe they have no other choice but to trust you.

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-John Rupp+Dec 28 2005, 01:37 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Dec 28 2005, 01:37 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-PaulS+Dec 28 2005, 11:45 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(PaulS @ Dec 28 2005, 11:45 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm well aware of the dangers of "arguing with a fool"[right] </td></tr></table><br /><br />It's never stopped me from talking with you! <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Exactly the danger I'm referring to, John. Though you have made it so obvious as to your nature that the threat level is pretty much able to remain at Green. Which has lead me to be perhaps a bit too comfortable in encouraging you to further enhance your credentials. Now you are so well established that any more assistance in that area would likely be considered "rubbing it in", so I promise not to wind you up (just for fun), but you've got to do your part to help out.

[[old] John Rupp]

PaulS,<br /><br />I shall do my part to help out.