A Fond Farewell

“My experiment with this virtual high school is coming to an end TT'rs. But, before I go off into the wilderness, I have a few confessions/revelantions to make (my lips remain closed as I type this Geobeet).

1. If I ever had a problem with a TT'r, I discussed it with them via phone, or email. Yes, I've BS'd around the campfire about an incident or two, but always had enough sack to confront those people to explain my opinion, right or wrong.

2. Birch called into question my integrity. And I can't let that go, so I'll explain myself for one last time. We had a tight knit group, the Michigan Mountaineers, for a time, but, over the past two years, the group has split in a major way. It's really unfortunate, and the "conversation in trust", and alleged breach thereof, that Birch speaks of stems from my little attepmt to hold the group together, instead of driving it apart. You see, ole Birch had a problem with several MM'rs due to his lack of tolerance of thier lifestyle, which had no bearing on, or could bring no harm to him. I didn't understand the thinking, but listened, and tried to understand his POV, eventhough I disagreed. (dayhiker does this every day with me, lol) I figured it was just some quirk in Joe's personality, and I know I have a few, so instead of judging Joe, I tried to explain the other people's point of view. I told Joe that I'd keep the conversation to myself, which I did. I did, however, discuss this situation with one of the members Joe had a problem with, in order to generate healthy discussion among both parties, so the group could again be the fun-lovin' backpackin' gang that it was for so long. When I approached this other person, I didn't repeat a word, phrase or sentance that Joe confided to me, because I didn't want to breach his trust, nor did I want to make the situation uncomfortable for either side. What happened next is what I hoped would happen. The two parties had a talk, got things out in the open, and had mutual respect and understanding for each other's point of view, although I doubt either side liked it.

For a year, Birch didn't discuss this with me. Instead, I was treated like the people he was treating that we had the discussion to begin with. I figured it was my ongoing war with Nigal (who he's good buddies with), or my opposition to the war that he sadly lost his best friend to. Whatever the case, I didn't confront him about it, and figured he'd talk to me in his own time. I saw Joe at the All About the Kids Trip, and he was congenial, but I could still tell there was something wrong. Then hints came up on some of the threads, so I asked Joe to call me if he wanted to discuss the situation. He called, left a message, and I called him back immediately. Our discussion was exactly what I just posted. We parted on a good note, and discussed potential future backpacking plans, and caught op on each other's familys. I figured the issue was resolved.
Evidently not. I believe it's pure cowardice to call into question my trustworthiness on this forum, after we had a discussion about the issue on the phone a mere week ago, especially since we left the conversation on the same page. I also think that he was way off on his assessment of my breach of trust.

3. TT taught me many things over the past 3 years, and one of them is that many people out there don't tolerate other people. I used to consider myself a tolerant person (except in all things French, lol), until this past year in a half, where I've witnessed more intolerance from people on this board and abroad over things social and political. So, by bringing my fight against intolerance, I became intolerant myself, how appropo. In the meantime, I've seen good TT people rarely ever post anymore, or get ripped by the the intolerators like Nigal or bacpac. In other words, TT is becoming the radical right of America, dominated by intolerable people, who can't seem to get along with other who may have opposing views or ideals. I know I'm part of the problem, due to my departure of a tolerant stance on people's views and opinions (except the French), and I don't like it, and this place breeds it. TT'rs like pedxing, Phil and Chili are becoming extinct, and that's too bad.

4. I love writing, and humor. TT was a place I could express this, and if I offended anybody because I put them on the spot (except in fuego threads), I apologize. To me, feugo threads were the bare knuckle prize fighting rings of TT. I spent too much time there, and the humor was gone. Unfortunately for some of my recent dates, they took the brunt of my pent up humor, cushioned with eye-rolling that would make the girl in poltergeist look like medusa (joke, people). Anyway, it's gotten to the point where even humor is being attacked, and misinterperated. The good-naturedness of TT is gone for me, and it's partially my fault.

5. I have met many cool people here, and will remain good friends with quite a few of them, not because I want to be some popular guy, but because I value true friendships.

6. I never once used spell-check for anything i posted on this site.

7. My trolls include: Crazy-Mike-AFLACS, Gary Coleman, Gary Condit, SofaKing, Kobra-Kai, George Dumya Bush (or something like that), etc.

8. Lyra, I've always loved you.

Matt, thanks for giving me a place to waste a ton of time in which I could have been reading, playing guitar, or chasing skirts, oh, and for never banning me although I pushed ya a few times.

I'll leave you with a quote that I typed the first time I left (even Jordan came out of retirement) "Screw my detrators in the ear, with no jelly!", to the rest of ya'll, see ya on the trail swags!

BB”

“Does this mean we have to elect a new HMWHC President?”

“Hmmm...this sounds strangely familiar.
lol.

See you around.
last edited: 11/24/04 10:09:03 AM”

“I think I interpreted your reference to me as that we kid each other and agree to disagree. Is that what you were saying.”

“So you are just leaving and taking your trolls with you?”

“I think his reference to me was the same, dayhiker :-)”

“Jay you suck. If I get up to Michigan, I'm gonna go pick up Tarabull and kick your ass.

(lol)”

“This is what I get for avoiding the fuego threads. I never know what's going on around here anymore (deep sigh).

Later BB.

"...you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave..."”

“I'm gonna miss George Dumya Bush.

I'll stop the world and melt with you....

Will we ever have that, "Bush Sucks Trip"?”

“no WAY! a real LEAVING TT! thread:? welp, i'll miss your funny "creative writing" exercises, BB.

and i've always loved me too...at least we have that in common.

:-D”

“Hey BB, if you're lurking, gonna miss you man.

You know I was pulling your leg about lying I trust. That stemmed from your hoax threads.

Hope to run into you on a trail someday. If not, take care. Illegitimi non carbundum!

Unless you come to your senses, I'm gonna miss your lying arse.

If you want to email me, the address is on my profile.
last edited: 11/24/04 10:20:17 AM”

“LOL @ Lyra”

“I go pack my car ....and this happens????......by the way....WHAT happened????

I miss everything.......”

“8. Lyra, I've always loved you.


BB"
Buddha Bear
10:03:10 AM
11/24/04

"He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
Soon they'll carry him a-way
He stopped loving her, today"”

“Hey, guys!

I'm 17 minutes from the final bell on a half day. I'll be zooming to Metro to beat the snow into the air on my way to Wisconsin.

I just want to wish Buddha Bear, Joe, Joy, Tarabull, Q, Smiley Girl, le Subtil, Cowpatty, Dhutch, Nigal, Nigal's wife, guy who looks like Norm MacDonald from Saturday Night Live but I can't remember his screen or real name and might be Rob and all the rest of the Michigan Mountaineers a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

Prayer Time: We ask St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, to intercede for us on this most humble of requests...

...Go Lions!”

“You mean to tell me not 20 minutes after I publicly swore off even recognizing any more posts from Buddha he goes and pulls this? [shaking] must be nice…[sweating]…must not flame…

I think the content of this post speaks more than I ever could. It’s always about everyone else and not Jay. So who gets the credit? Me or bacpac? Or do we split it?

Jay is far and away the saddest person I have ever met (myself excluded of course) and while I wish I could say I‘m sorry to see you go…I‘m only sorry I ever met you.

Ok, NOW I’ll ignore him. LOL!”

“holy crap. at this rate TT is gonna be a ghost town by new years.”

“Nah, there's always newbies.”

“sacco - at least we can still be smart asses to each other.”

“What kind of lifestyles?”

“Stay focused Lyra ..

Its still about me babyeeee.....its still about me.


Remember .. ..the reason you love you .. ..is because I love you.”

“Obviously Nigal, he has cut you deeply.

The sky is cryin'

Well, it is raining here.......”

“"If ya can't love yo self how the HELL you gonna love someone else?"

-Rue Paul”

“I'll have to break the news to Newgirl- she'll be devastated! (I know she's around here someplace)”

“sure you say that now dh, but you'll prolly just leave like everyone else.

then you'll post a thread about leaving which will inevitably degenerate to a discussion about lyra masterbating.

hmmm....maybe that's not a bad trade off...”

“BB is a liar


He has way more than just those trolls!”

“ack!”

“Ok sacco, now I can get into the thread. Let's take bets...mechanical or manual?”

“sacco - too funny. Should I do that now or wait til this fuss blows over? My last real troll attempt started the day after Christmas. That's a good, slow TT time.”

“What have you done with newgirl aero? Unchain her! T'ain't natural to keep a woman chained up like that!”

“bearmaggot will still be here...hehehe..I do like your new name”

“Interesting perspective BB. I know your telling you-know-who did nothing but piss her off. Well, and maybe it brought you closer to her. She never initiated any discussion about anything and Joe did it not knowing that you'd talked to her. He, btw has never repeated what you said, nor I. It was a bad time for all of us, we were all hurt and we knew it wouldn't help your friendship with her. You, on the other hand, destroyed whatever was left of his relationship with her in an effort to get back on her good side. Nice negotiating. I hope you do better at work.

I would like to stay out of this but really don't think it's right that you posted what you did, especially while Birch is at work and cannot respond. The picture you paint is alittle bit lop-sided. And really, it's no ones business.

Anyone want to buy tickets to the MM Christmas party? Should be interesting.”

““What kind of lifestyles?”
Bearmagnet
10:41:54 AM
11/24/04

Who else but Bearmagnet would ask?”

“You know you're not leaving.

Nobody gets out alive.”

“i say we pace ourselves dh. post x-mas sounds good.

first let's find out the answer to nigal's question.

here's my bet:
usually manual. bob only on special occasions
last edited: 11/24/04 10:58:42 AM”

“Sass - could yall webcam that party?”

“Mark, should we change his name from BEarMaggot to Down Low Joe? LOL!”

“How long before lyra says to eat it? 10,9,8,7,....”

“...6,5,4,...”

“DownLowJoe???
LMAO ! !

How about GetDownClown?

DownNDirty?”

“Festivus has begun.



Seriously, I hate to see the airing of such a personal and emotional issue. Most of us had no idea these events took place and we're no better off for knowing them now.”

“i'm not giving you the satisfaction, you'd like it too much!
;-D”

“Damn it dayhiker! Stay on topic! This is about lyra and her personal gratification!”

“If ya can't love yo self how the HELL you gonna love someone else?"

-Rue Paul”
Nigal
11:43:47 AM
11/24/04


I love myself everyday.


I'm thinking lyra goes through more batteries than special occassions would require.”

“Schit brother, there is no gratifying that little minx!”

“"I love myself everyday."

I love myself too. Sometimes twice a day. But this is about lyra loving herself, not us.”

“my my my

A lot of us give each other #&%!$... but come back for the group hug.

Course, I do remember sweet, sock monkey, masterbating Lyra calling me a beeyatch.

C'MON WITH DUKES UP GIRL!! CAT FIGHT'LL GET MINDS OFF THIS WHOLE MESS!




LOL! ;-P”

“liz, you're a dear!”

“you'll be sorry, Lizs! i bite.”

“Rowr.”