Michelle, I feel now like I probably accomplished what I set out to do. If I post a dig or jab at someone, it will not be without just cause. Or at least what my feeble mind would consider just cause. I have always found that adding a bit of satire makes it even more satisfying.
I would hope that the post you refer to was the “KDX’er of The Year” thread. It was some of my best material. :rotfl:
I’m really not a mean spirited person, even though I know I come off as such often.
I love life, people, and all that they imply. That is why I love this place.
It has melded into a community of people from all walks of life and backgrounds, peppered with different ideologies, and all coming together for a common purpose.
DRN is by far the best place I’ve seen for folks to share, not only their common interest, but also their life experiences; good, bad or indifferent. It’s the real world, which is rare for something that originates from an electronic box.
What makes DRN even better is the fact that we often get opportunities to actually meet one another. I have yet to attend a DRN ride or a DirtWeek that I found even one person that I did not like. Many times our on-line personality comes off as a bit different as to what we really are like in person.
I highly recommend anyone here to attend DirtWeek if they possibly can.
I remember at my first DirtWeek I was a bit apprehensive as to how folks would accept me. I had been around DRN long enough for folks to get a taste of my dry wit and sometimes caustic attitude, and I was a bit afraid that meeting in person would allow an opportunity for folks to really give me a piece of their minds. However, I found that not only were folks fantastic to meet and ride with, some of them were actually the best folks I’ve ever met.
I knew right away that Okie and Thump was good people just from the firmness of their handshake and sincerity in their voices. After meeting Pokie and Shiftless, I knew that Bob had been brought up well and had some good role models that molded him. Folks like that tend to surround themselves with like people to begin with.
I knew Rich was a person that I wanted to meet, and I’m sure he probably doesn’t even remember meeting me because he was too busy fixing Billy’s stuff to be real cordial. But I found that even though some may find him a big tool on-line, he is one of those people that are always smiling. He seemed like one of those folks who would rather help you than eat when he was hungry. He also reminded me of a teacher that I had in high school that was a bit odd, but his passion for what he did, and his passion to help others gain from his knowledge, made it so that you couldn’t help but love the guy.
Each and every person I met at my first DirtWeek was great and I can honestly say that I will always treasure the experience. The next two DirtWeeks were even better, and I’m certain the pattern will continue.
I could ramble on and on about the folks I have met at DRN gatherings and there wouldn’t be one bad story to tell.
I spent several months smack talking with Elk before I first met the guy, and you’d have thought we were really at each other’s throats, but two seconds after we met in person we embraced each other in a hug. (Don’t even go there, Twinny! We are both men that are comfortable with our sexuality!) Of course it was a “man hug”.
I know that IrishEKU has made folks hate to see that he has posted in a thread, and I myself have spent many a line thrashing the guy here. But, after meeting him in person and riding with him, I found that he wasn’t such a bad guy after all. In fact he was sort of enjoyable to be around. (Even though he’s just as much a suck-up in person as he is on-line.) :laugh:
My point is that often times our on-line personalities won’t quite match how we are perceived in person. I think it takes that human contact to complete a relationship. Many have great relationships with people here and have never, nor will ever, meet them. Just think how much better it would be to actually meet.
There is something about breaking bread and bones with your fellow human that tends to bond us more than we can understand.
“In-crowd”… “Outsider” (shrug)… I’m not sure there are such things at DRN. Sure, there are going to be folks that come here that are complete a-holes, but they tend not to hang around long enough for it to matter.
Like Tony, I find myself to be a bit shy and stand-offish when I first meet someone or a group of people in person for the first time. But the people that I’ve met at DRN will not allow you to be that way for long. As a matter of fact, I’ve found them to be some of the most accepting people I’ve ever encountered.
I have to throw my vote with Carlo…. don’t change a thing, Bob. It’s working quite nicely.
:cool: