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A few rotten apples can get a thread locked..... Locked

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Posted by edblysard on Friday, July 11, 2008 7:47 AM

"Of course there are always a few exceptions whose skills surpass their position, ..."

Wow, class bigotry, haven't seen that in...well, at least 6 or 7 postings.

Guess we needed you to point out our position, and remind us not to exceed it.

Thanks for the tip.

 

"You'll note I wrote "consistently strong writing skills" which translates to "not all-inclusive".

I didn't realize you could translate English into...english.

Wouldn't it have been better if you had simply written what you meant in the fist place, instead of having to "translate" or edit?

 

 

"I don't see how having a Masters degree in English equates to being a good writer".

Well, it seems you don't see how being an engineer or a yardman could equate to being a good writer either, so we will wait for you to explain what constitutes a "good writer" and what position they come from, although being a "good writer" is a completely subjective concept.

 

"In fact, some of the greatest writers of all time were not English or Journalism majors. You could look it up."

Ok, then what were they?

 

You seem to be contradicting yourself.

At first, you state that not having a formal education and having a blue collar job means we can't be "good writers" because of our position.

Then you follow it up with the statement that having a formal education, such as a Masters in English, doesn't help with and isn't necessary in becoming a "Great Writer".

So, you are saying that not having a formal education means you can't write, while having a formal education means you can't write either...

So, what exactly does make a "Good" or "Great" writer?

 

And which railroader are you referring to in your last line?

 

Of course, the accolade of "Good Writer" and "Great Writer" are completely subjective, it all depends if you like what they are writing.

 

Well durn, it seems I surpassed my position, and used words with more than two syllables...all without an editor "dressing it up".

Guess I had better head back to the fussee fight before all the bread sticks get eaten up....

23 17 46 11

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Posted by dharmon on Friday, July 11, 2008 10:08 AM
 Steam Is King wrote:

I was not deriding railroaders.

 

Funny, that's how it came across. 

While an advanced degree does not make a great writer, the presumption that a class of people does not possess that skill or higher learning is equally flawed.  Plenty of folks out there do jobs they like that may not traditionally correspond to the level of formal education.    

But what do I know...heck I'll just go back to bitterly clinging to my guns, trains and religion.

 

Dan

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Posted by chad thomas on Friday, July 11, 2008 10:20 AM
Hey Dan, good to see you still pop in here. Wink [;)]
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 11, 2008 10:37 AM
Author Charles Brown in his autobiography, Brownie the Boomer begins by saying that he has no formal education or training as a writer.  When I first read it, I was kind of put off by the obvious awkwardness of his long sentences, strange punctuation, etc.  But then I realized how breathtakingly elegant his overall delivery of his interesting story actually was.  He was writing like he spoke and his speaking communicated very well.  So technical flaws notwithstanding, it is some of the best writing I have ever read.
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Posted by Mookie on Friday, July 11, 2008 10:40 AM
 chad thomas wrote:
Hey Dan, good to see you still pop in here. Wink [;)]
What a nice breath of fresh air!  Welcome back, Dan!

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by TimChgo9 on Friday, July 11, 2008 10:48 AM

Writing is "painting with words", and frankly, no formal education is needed.  Some people are just "born  to it", while others learn it, and still others, don't have it.  The fact that some people can't write creatively....there is a difference between being able to communicate via writing, and  "writing", doesn't diminish their intellgence, skill, or education level.  It's just something they are not good at, as much as the same as I am not very good with repairing mechanical things, or working with tools.  Can I build something?  Sure, but it lacks a certain elegance, and a certain look. It's rough, unfinished, and not something I would display in my home.   My brother who is a carpenter of 20+ years, can build the same thing I do, and make it look awesome.  However, I could pen a story of twenty pages in a couple of hours, where he would struggle to come up with 2 pages in the same time.  Is he "uneducated"?  No, of course not, he is every bit as intelligent as I am, our talents just happen to lie in different directions.  His ability to build and construct with wood is on par with my ability to construct pictures with words.  On the level of photography, however, we are about equal. 

Creative, and artistic people see the world with a different set of "eyes".  I really can't explain it, but my mind is continually working, even when I am doing something.  I have two minds, really, one that is on the task at hand, and another, that wanders all over a manner of places, subjects, and ideas.  Everyone is born with different skills and abilities, that's really all there is to it.

"Chairman of the Awkward Squad" "We live in an amazing, amazing world that is just wasted on the biggest generation of spoiled idiots." Flashing red lights are a warning.....heed it. " I don't give a hoot about what people have to say, I'm laughing as I'm analyzed" What if the "hokey pokey" is what it's all about?? View photos at: http://www.eyefetch.com/profile.aspx?user=timChgo9
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Posted by dharmon on Friday, July 11, 2008 11:52 AM

 Mookie wrote:
 chad thomas wrote:
Hey Dan, good to see you still pop in here. Wink [;)]
What a nice breath of fresh air!  Welcome back, Dan!

 

Had the day off today..figured I sleep in, work out and mess around...but now it's approaching 100 already, so my find something out of the sun to do instinct is kicking in.  So I thought I'd hop online for a bit. 

 Looks like not too much has changed...hehe....still it's not as bad as some of those flame fests in the old days with old what's his name.....the grade crossing accident axe grinder guy and all his "friends". 

 Dan

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Posted by selector on Friday, July 11, 2008 12:50 PM
We should re-title this thread the Comprehensive Thread that Meanders.  Just as I begin to zig in order to follow, it zags on me.  Can't say it isn't an interesting ride, though. Smile [:)]
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Posted by vsmith on Friday, July 11, 2008 1:11 PM

But its a fun ride!

Hi Dan, Chad did you remember to bring the popcorn machine? Dan looks hungry.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by eolafan on Friday, July 11, 2008 1:33 PM

 selector wrote:
We should re-title this thread the Comprehensive Thread that Meanders.  Just as I begin to zig in order to follow, it zags on me.  Can't say it isn't an interesting ride, though. Smile [:)]

Hello Selector: I am under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that when a particular thread gets downright combative between posters and some real "shots" are taken between same, the moderator(s) are typically going to lock that thread....PLEASE PUT THIS THREAD OUT OF ITS MISERY, THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS AND VERY BORING, TO SAY THE LEAST. Thanks

Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by Mookie on Friday, July 11, 2008 1:37 PM

 selector wrote:
We should re-title this thread the Comprehensive Thread that Meanders.  Just as I begin to zig in order to follow, it zags on me.  Can't say it isn't an interesting ride, though. Smile [:)]
I am (trains) so glad you agree. (trains) There are so many (trains) people out there with so much to contribute (trains) but sometimes you just (trains) get off the train topic.  But I think (trains) a short meandering is sometimes (trains) just what the forum needs to refresh itself. 

(Got my fingers x'd that I am helping to meet the requirements)

 

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, July 11, 2008 1:50 PM
 eolafan wrote:

 selector wrote:
We should re-title this thread the Comprehensive Thread that Meanders.  Just as I begin to zig in order to follow, it zags on me.  Can't say it isn't an interesting ride, though. Smile [:)]

Hello Selector: I am under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that when a particular thread gets downright combative between posters and some real "shots" are taken between same, the moderator(s) are typically going to lock that thread....PLEASE PUT THIS THREAD OUT OF ITS MISERY, THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS AND VERY BORING, TO SAY THE LEAST. Thanks

  Jim:  I am disappointed.  I would hope the moderators wouldn't lock all the threads that people find boring.  And I am almost certain that you would not read any threads that you find boring.  You would skip over them and go on to something more to your liking.....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by eolafan on Friday, July 11, 2008 2:18 PM
Mook, as you know after reading my many temperamental posts involved with some pretty contentious threads I have no qualms about becoming involved in these "edgy" subjects...but this one is going absolutely nowhere and is getting pretty nasty and also close to being personal in its content.  Call me soft on a Friday afternoon, but I am thinking this one is best ended NOW.  Sorry if you disagree.
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by CNW 6000 on Friday, July 11, 2008 2:21 PM

 eolafan wrote:
...but I am thinking this one is best ended NOW.

+1

Dan

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Posted by Mookie on Friday, July 11, 2008 2:34 PM
I will quit posting and it should die a natural death - and not be locked up.

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by eolafan on Friday, July 11, 2008 2:36 PM

 Mookie wrote:
I will quit posting and it should die a natural death - and not be locked up.

That works for me if the end result is the same.

Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by trainfan1221 on Friday, July 11, 2008 2:50 PM
I can't believe this one went on this long, I agree lets get onto something else.
Moderator
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Posted by tstage on Friday, July 11, 2008 3:05 PM

With that said...

Now can we move on?

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by vsmith on Friday, July 11, 2008 3:21 PM

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by CopCarSS on Friday, July 11, 2008 3:26 PM
Shall we all wave as we board our unmarked white boxcars and ride off into the sunset behind steam and on open access rails?

-Chris
West Chicago, IL
Christopher May Fine Art Photography

"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams

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Posted by Bergie on Friday, July 11, 2008 3:44 PM

Ok, we moderators left this open for all to spew. Take a look back... did we really accomplish anything, besides (A) creating a rather embarrassing thread for newcomers to get a feel for the place and (B) some of you offending each other?

Gee... now why do we preemptively lock threads now and then? I wonder.

Black Eye [B)] Bergie

Erik Bergstrom
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Posted by vsmith on Friday, July 11, 2008 4:54 PM

DO NOT POST

Wink [;)]

 

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by wabash1 on Friday, July 11, 2008 5:36 PM
Now i went and did it...... I was going thru town slow last night and 5 differant girls 2 mothers 4 kids with moms and several other nice people yelled and waved ( all diferant locations in town) and even had 1 woman topless. and with out thinking til we started switching i waved at everyone....... now i cant say i dont wave..... this must be the end of the world or maybe a new thread and fight...... time will tell.....
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Posted by csxengineer98 on Friday, July 11, 2008 6:32 PM

i still only wave at kids and hot women track side...

csx engineer 

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Posted by Steam Is King on Friday, July 11, 2008 6:49 PM

This thread is just starting to bloom. What I find funny is those who have come here several times to implore the mods to lock it because they personally can't stand it anymore. Why do you keep coming back if it's so bad? Is it so difficult to function as a human being knowing this silly thread is still open? Is that a titch of OCD? Just ignore it and don't come back, that's all. Pretend it doesn't exist. I have no problem ignoring threads like the diner and don't go there demanding it be locked because it "bothers me".

Gang, there's a lesson to be learned here, and I think Bergie and his minions are letting it play out. They gotcha good this time.

Chico  

I love the smell of coal smoke in the morning! I am allergic to people who think they are funny, but are not. No, we can't. Or shouldn't, anyway.
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Posted by challenger3980 on Friday, July 11, 2008 7:11 PM
 CNW 6000 wrote:

 eolafan wrote:
...but I am thinking this one is best ended NOW.

+1

  If You make that -2, then neither one of you will know if this thread has died. I have read plenty of interesting threads that have gotten locked, that I would have continued to read. There are also threads that I find no interest in, and I just don't read them, now there is a novel Idea. If You don't enjoy it, don't put your cursor on it, don't click it, don't read through the offending thread, and heaven above, DON'T take the time to ADD TO IT.

                                                         Doug

May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 11, 2008 7:21 PM
 Steam Is King wrote:

This thread is just starting to bloom. What I find funny is those who have come here several times to implore the mods to lock it because they personally can't stand it anymore. Why do you keep coming back if it's so bad? Is it so difficult to function as a human being knowing this silly thread is still open? Is that a titch of OCD? Just ignore it and don't come back, that's all. Pretend it doesn't exist. I have no problem ignoring threads like the diner and don't go there demanding it be locked because it "bothers me".

Gang, there's a lesson to be learned here, and I think Bergie and his minions are letting it play out. They gotcha good this time.

Chico  

I agree and I think that this demonstration that so many are anxious to see this thread get locked provides rare insight as to why other threads get locked for reasons that seem less than satisfactory.  This is truly instructive.

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Posted by Soo 6604 on Friday, July 11, 2008 8:03 PM
This thread is actually entertaining
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 11, 2008 8:15 PM
Minneapolis area is about to get hit by one humdinger of a storm coming from the west. Over and out.
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Friday, July 11, 2008 8:20 PM

 Soo 6604 wrote:
This thread is actually entertaining

I agree.  I especially liked the responses that managed to insult everyone.

Laugh [(-D] Laugh [(-D] Laugh [(-D] Laugh [(-D]

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.

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