What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

[cjppjc]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

Yeah Metalguy. I can offer my services as a professional "frand" too! Same rate as BadJuju (no credit cards accepted though, only USD cash or money orders). With one or two professional "frands" lined up, and an 800 number, you can chat and vent and whinge and confide, and generally feel a whole lot better. None of us have day-jobs anyway so there's all the time in the world. "We're here to help" (and earn some scraps of easy income!).

[ Hon, you've been on the phone for three quarters of an hour! Come on dinner's ready! - Yeah I know, but it's Metalman on the phone from New Hampshire, and he's pouring his heart out again at $6.55 an hour! What are ya gonna do when the guy's babbling on non-stop? Can ya bring me a BLT sandiwch and a cold beer maybe? Yeesh. I've been saying "uh-huh" for fifteen minutes straight to the guy and he's still talking! ]

Lukester:
Way out of line. When I started this thread I had a serious question. I felt you answered it seriously. (My bad. I confused Lukester with someone else) Most of the posts have been on topic.

Congratulations to Spartacus. He was the most sincere. He also was the wisest:

It may not be the type of place to ask monastic sangha type questions.
And how appropraite is this?
2. take things personally (99.99% of the time it really is more about their own issues than you)

We ARE a community here. Recently from Tombat1913:

In light of prior disagreements I just want to take this opportunity to say that this is something we can absolutely agree upon, all of it. Cheers

Metalman, I want to thank you for your response. I also would like to thank everyone else who posted. I was very serious earlier when I said I am able to observe myself on this board. We can all maybe use it as a tool.

[Guest]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

I think since I've been reading and posting on iTulip I've become a more caring and considerate person. And I now understand also the problems that are arising in America which are very dire. [ :rolleyes: ]

[cjppjc]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

I think since I've been reading and posting on iTulip I've become a more caring and considerate person. And I now understand also the problems that are arising in America which are very dire. [ ]

I know what you mean by becoming a more caring and considerate person. I find myself smiling and somtimes laughing at the funnier posts. And in those moments I notice a feeling of warmth twords the comunity here. Thank you.

[olivegreen]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

I had to sit one of my friends down and explain to her that I didn't want her to resent me because she didn't take my advice and that I didn't take it personally that she didn't. At the time, for every 400 people who said everything was fine, there was maybe one who said 'be careful', and for that reason I could understand her decision to not listen. I explained that I feel very bad about her losses and would try and be there to listen but by the same token I had to explain that I can't help her financially, which unfortunately I really am in no position to do. I've also started weekly community meetings with whoever is around just to cement a neighbourhood bond. We talk about everything BUT the economy because it gets us out of fearful isolation, that wonderful thing our new technological century has created. I keep my sanity on the economy by visiting here where I trust the people I read for the most part. I find myself worrying whether Mega is going to get that American wife or not for heavenssakes. This might be a sign that I'm a little attached to this place... it might not be healthy come to think of it... oh well....

[cjppjc]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

I had to sit one of my friends down and explain to her that I didn't want her to resent me because she didn't take my advice and that I didn't take it personally that she didn't. At the time, for every 400 people who said everything was fine, there was maybe one who said 'be careful', and for that reason I could understand her decision to not listen. I explained that I feel very bad about her losses and would try and be there to listen but by the same token I had to explain that I can't help her financially, which unfortunately I really am in no position to do. I've also started weekly community meetings with whoever is around just to cement a neighbourhood bond. We talk about everything BUT the economy because it gets us out of fearful isolation, that wonderful thing our new technological century has created. I keep my sanity on the economy by visiting here where I trust the people I read for the most part. I find myself worrying whether Mega is going to get that American wife or not for heavenssakes. This might be a sign that I'm a little attached to this place... it might not be healthy come to think of it... oh well....

Attached most definitaly. I too have noticed this. It has been said before, but for me this feeling of community is so strong. I observe in myself a tension when some of the members argue with intent to hurt each other. Do you think your friend does in fact resent you? (See both Spartacus posts above.) I think it is great that you started having weekly meeting in your neighborhood. In that enviornment, if you are carefull and not too direct you may be able to lead people to question their financial assumptions. And questioning assumptions is sometimes a good thing.

[olivegreen]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

Attached most definitaly. I too have noticed this. It has been said before, but for me this feeling of community is so strong. I observe in myself a tension when some of the members argue with intent to hurt each other. Do you think your friend does in fact resent you? (See both Spartacus posts above.)

I'm sure she does. But I'm being as gentle as I can. At the end of the day caring about each other is about all we have. I hope we can keep that up at least... some form of civility anyway.

" I think it is great that you started having weekly meeting in your neighborhood. In that enviornment, if you are carefull and not too direct you may be able to lead people to question their financial assumptions. And questioning assumptions is sometimes a good thing.

The miserable part of it all is, what are you going to tell people who have already lost 50% of their portfolio and are in debt to their eyeballs? What? Take what money you have and run? That's too huge a step. It would entail alot of courage based on what? something I and a few others say that the media doesn't? I just don't know so I don't say anything really. We talk about the weather. Even that is a volatile subject these days! lol I'm becoming a fatalist that way. Ignorance really is some kind of bliss for however long it lasts. At least they have this. I don't. So I should resent them come to think of it... Yes. That's it. I resent them!!! Why should they be happy when I'm worrying about the world? ... maybe I better stop writing now...

[Shakespear]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

We talk about the weather.

Yepp, I go this route. Anything but politics and finance if possible.

However I can say that many of the skeptics now realize that they have been taken for a ride.

I have been a skeptic for a long time and reading things here in iTulip has made me even more skeptical of information coming out of the MSM and the government. Not only in the US.

You can penetrate the information received by opposite sides as there will always be some truth about what each side says about the other. Not easy but helpfull. This was especially true with the buildup to entry into Iraq. European media had the story right as evidenced later.

[The Outback Oracle]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

Know everythun....learned nuthin!

I suppose I come from a slightly different direction on this board. I was in heated arguments with Economics lecturers 40 years ago about the then proposed directions for Western economies. These proposed directions included the destruction of Agriculture and Industry in favour of Real Estate, Banking, Insurance and Coffee shops! It was no great wisdom on my part, just a sort of basic understanding about the world because i came from a farming family.
As my son continuously points out to me, I have invested always according to what "should" happen. In a world that was properly organised (according to my precepts ) I'd have made a lot of money. In spite of obvious fanatical Government for Real Estate investment, i've always looked at it and thought 'this is unsustainable in the long term" and given it a wide berth. All those who thought a lot less, and less deeply, about the world and its workings, and in particular in this country (99.999% of the population) simply borrowed heavily, invested in Real Estate and made a fortune!!!!
I didn't just make one mistake like this, i made thousands! For example, in my early days in the game I am now in, I took the path of trying to keep packaging to a minimum. I thought the world was actually turning towards a realisitic acceptance of limited world resources and conservation. At just that time the trend to excessive packaging, and customer refusal to buy anything that wasn't done up in in a blister pack with a large printed piece of cardboard, or a colour box 10 times the size necessary to hold the product, really hit the big time.

So itulip to me played a role in helping me see the world as it is, not as it should be. This has improved my timing on investments a little. (I was always right...just 20 years out in timing....now i'm sort of about 6 months out...not sure what difference it makes!)

So I guess the time sequence my emotions sort of go

Indignation
Anger at the stupidity of government
Anger at the stupidity of everybody
Anger at why the hell can't i just go with the flow and make millions for doing nothing like most other people
Despair at my own stupidity
Relief...thank god I didn't
Achievement...well i got a few really important ones right and helped a lot of people
Despair as the world went off its axis again
Conceit as it all smashed again
Frustration...why the hell didn't i realise that when things are so far down, they are going to come back up

This time round it is like all the things I have been warning about for the last 40 years have come together and i am ultimately right about every damned thing
Then extreme anger as i watch our leaders continue to p.ss away our civilsation!
Despair as i know our problems are more moral than economic
Round and round......

Gratitude as I pick up knowledge and a bit of wisdom from the vast range of contributors here....and in that I mean EVERYBODY who writes even when i appear to be disagreeing quite sharply!
Amusement at the great humour that persists through most threads here

Special thanks to Metalman who has this great characteristic of being able to reduce all my convoluted, confused thinking to a one line simple hard truth!

[cjppjc]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

Know everythun....learned nuthin!


So I guess the time sequence my emotions sort of go

Indignation
Anger at the stupidity of government
Anger at the stupidity of everybody
Anger at why the hell can't i just go with the flow and make millions for doing nothing like most other people
Despair at my own stupidity
Relief...thank god I didn't
Achievement...well i got a few really important ones right and helped a lot of people
Despair as the world went off its axis again
Conceit as it all smashed again
Frustration...why the hell didn't i realise that when things are so far down, they are going to come back up

This time round it is like all the things I have been warning about for the last 40 years have come together and i am ultimately right about every damned thing
Then extreme anger as i watch our leaders continue to p.ss away our civilsation!
Despair as i know our problems are more moral than economic
Round and round......

Gratitude as I pick up knowledge and a bit of wisdom from the vast range of contributors here....and in that I mean EVERYBODY who writes even when i appear to be disagreeing quite sharply!
Amusement at the great humour that persists through most threads here

Special thanks to Metalman who has this great characteristic of being able to reduce all my convoluted, confused thinking to a one line simple hard truth!

That is some list. Anger seems very high on it. Despair has also been mentioned earlier. Gratitude. I too have observed this. This community is very generous with it's ideas. Always available to help answer a question. A link will quickly be posted if it helps. I'm sure you have spoken of your philosopy reguarding money to your son and that should comfort you. I have tried many times also with my son, but he feels it is not an immediate concern. Which saddens me greatly.

Thank you for your post.

[cjppjc]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

The miserable part of it all is, what are you going to tell people who have already lost 50% of their portfolio and are in debt to their eyeballs? What? Take what money you have and run? That's too huge a step. It would entail alot of courage based on what? something I and a few others say that the media doesn't? I just don't know so I don't say anything really. We talk about the weather. Even that is a volatile subject these days! lol I'm becoming a fatalist that way. Ignorance really is some kind of bliss for however long it lasts. At least they have this. I don't. So I should resent them come to think of it... Yes. That's it. I resent them!!! Why should they be happy when I'm worrying about the world? ... maybe I better stop writing now...

It seems to me resentment, like jealousy and other negitive emotions are useless and destructive. Of course it is easy for me to say, and harder to practice.

[The Outback Oracle]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

Mate!! My bloke is an Analyst and for the past year has been leveraging himself to the eyeballs in the belief that inflation would go rampant! We we have great philosophical discussions and it is a really great relationship. He likes to think for himself so, while my opinions are sought, I think I'm more regarded as a rather eccentric interesting old bloke ! He has tended to the belief that everything would be OK if the CB's just got the settings right! For his sake I hope POOM hurries up a bit!

Anger.....oh I just watch our society (and in particular Australia) sold down the river by a bunch of psychopaths whose only interest is the satisfaction of their own egos. It just drives me nuts and has done for 40 years.

[The Outback Oracle]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

Yepp, I go this route. Anything but politics and finance if possible.

However I can say that many of the skeptics now realize that they have been taken for a ride.

I have been a skeptic for a long time and reading things here in iTulip has made me even more skeptical of information coming out of the MSM and the government. Not only in the US.

You can penetrate the information received by opposite sides as there will always be some truth about what each side says about the other. Not easy but helpfull. This was especially true with the buildup to entry into Iraq. European media had the story right as evidenced later.

I've always wondered about the benefits of knowledge and therefore, in this world we are now in, having more worries. In addition, if I thought less I might now be more wealthy (and perhaps, in my dotage, now be in the process of losing it all)
With respect to the benefits of learning and knowledge I think this quote from Shaw is relevant

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.
George Bernard Shaw

[olivegreen]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

I've always wondered about the benefits of knowledge and therefore, in this world we are now in, having more worries. In addition, if I thought less I might now be more wealthy (and perhaps, in my dotage, now be in the process of losing it all)
With respect to the benefits of learning and knowledge I think this quote from Shaw is relevant

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.
George Bernard Shaw

You know... that's a good quote...

[cjppjc]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

[quote=The Outback Oracle;81391] it is a really great relationship
quote]


Sounds like it is. As has been mentioned before, maybe the distance we feel in relationships, is not as great as we think.

[cjppjc]

Re: What have you observed about yourself during your time on this board?

it is a really great relationship

It does sound great. Maybe as has been mentioned before about distance in relationships, the distance isn't as great as we think.