# Stranger On a Train: Stop Posting and Start Pounding Out a Novel **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 6, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293 "2005-12-06T03:24:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/1 "2005-12-06T03:24:38Z")
I know, I know. This isn’t standard SDMB protocol–and I may be skating on the thinnest edges of IMHO–but having read a few dozen of Stranger’s threads, I’ve got to wonder why this guy isn’t pounding out one hell of a novel. I can count on one hand the number of SDMB posters who write as snappy, polished, brainy, wry, insightful, you name it, as Stranger. The guy has it in spades. Sure, **Sampiro’s** splashes of wit and verve are instantly recognizable, but Stranger has his own inimitable style that would wow the reading public. A few weeks ago, he broached the idea of getting a Decemberish job at the corner Border’s. Perfectly respectable, but still… Anyone else share this view–or have any words of encouragement? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/2 "2005-12-06T03:31:42Z")
I’ve often been impressed by SoaT’s posts. If not a novelist, I think he would do well as a SDSAB member. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/3 "2005-12-06T03:32:15Z")
I think he is great too. But, as his name suggests, he was never destined for notoriety. He is just someone that whooshes past you, making you think “Wow”, and then he is gone again. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/4 "2005-12-06T03:43:48Z")
It doesn’t even have to be a novel. Just _write_! You have enormous insight and the wit to keep us turning pages. I can’t tell you how many times I have read your posts and _then_ looked to see who in the world would say that! And I’ve always wanted to ask, do _you see Laura on the train that is passing through_? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/5 "2005-12-06T03:51:07Z")
I like his posts but fear they may become tiresome at novel length. Often they read like pisstakes of pre-WWII fiction perhaps Dorothy Sayers. Sometime ago someone took to posting in the style of Damon Runyon and I really enjoyed those posts but would hardly recommend that they write a novel in that style. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/6 "2005-12-06T04:24:58Z")
Skating so insecurely that it has fallen through the ice to the next forum down. Moved from IMHO to MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/7 "2005-12-06T04:37:31Z")
I’m on SDMB frequently, but not very frequently, and I don’t always notice the names of posters, so I don’t necessarily know the “big names” of SDMB from the others, if that makes any sense. Could someone dig up a link or five that really demonstrate **Stranger** ’s wit? ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/8 "2005-12-06T05:32:22Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > I’m on SDMB frequently, but not very frequently, and I don’t always notice the names of posters, so I don’t necessarily know the “big names” of SDMB from the others, if that makes any sense. Could someone dig up a link or five that really demonstrate **Stranger** ’s wit? Do a quick search. Read. Enjoy. I’m not talking ha-ha funny. I’m talking urbane, polished, sardonic, witty. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/9 "2005-12-06T08:03:23Z")
Not a poster I’m very familiar with either. A link from a fan to a thread to which he posted a fair bit would help those with limited time to search. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/10 "2005-12-06T08:19:30Z")
Here’s a Stranger thread. There’s not any one quality to his posts that I could ever identify, it’s just that he comes as across as simultaneously eloquent and conversational, and reading his posts feels very… fluid. Everything just flows. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6863111#post6863111](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6863111#post6863111) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/11 "2005-12-06T13:34:26Z")
Yes, I enjoy his posts very much. He stands out even in this crowd and that’s pretty notable. With him I mentally hear Ferris’ school secretary advising “He’s a righteous dude.” ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/12 "2005-12-06T15:09:12Z")
Another intriguing tidbit is his expertise in the nuclear doctrine-nuclear weapons technology arena. I will be reading a reasonably intelligent discussion on such in GD and then SoaT enters and kicks the discourse up a couple of notches. As Emeril would say: BAM! **don’t ask** , I hear what you’re saying, but let me put it this way: given the proper topic–and it could easily be within the non-fiction realm–I’d certainly buy something that Stranger has written. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/13 "2005-12-06T15:14:19Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > I’d certainly buy something that Stranger has written. Seconded. I’ve been a silent but avid **Stranger** fan for a long time. Some people have pleasant speaking voices, that I just enjoy listening to - **Stranger** has a pleasant writing style, that I just enjoy reading. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/14 "2005-12-06T15:32:33Z")
“Hey, you sass that hoopy **Stranger on the Train**? There’s a frood who really knows where his towel is.” Jim ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/15 "2005-12-06T17:46:52Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Seconded. > > I’ve been a silent but avid **Stranger** fan for a long time. Some people have pleasant speaking voices, that I just enjoy listening to - **Stranger** has a pleasant writing style, that I just enjoy reading. Oh yeah. **Stranger** ’s one of my favorite posters around here. It’s that mix of knowledge and eloquence - he knows so much stuff, and he says it good too. I wish I could meet a boy like him in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-on-a-train-stop-posting-and-start-pounding-out-a-novel/334293/16 "2005-12-07T03:39:02Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Oh yeah. **Stranger** ’s one of my favorite posters around here. It’s that mix of knowledge and eloquence - he knows so much stuff, and he says it good too. I wish I could meet a boy like him in real life. Bad news. Stranger is an **android.**