I have come to a conclusion, and I wish to share this with friends, ambivalent observers and a few who might be neither.
I have always been an open person. I have revealed quite a few personal things about me on this board - some funny, some intimate, others painful.
I did this for a few reasons. Mainly, I’m a pretty open person. Also, maybe someone could learn from a personal experience of mine. Maybe people looked at something that happened to me and could relate it in their lives. Maybe it would be a lesson I learned the hard way and by sharing someone would be able to avoid it. Or maybe I would open a dialogue to let me know I’m not alone in my thoughts/actions, and learn soemthing from others.
Well, now it is obvious I am involved with Drain Bead (AKA Libby). She comes here. She is a much more private person than I. I need to take this into consideration.
But this decision is not about her. It’s about me. A couple of people here have taken all of the fun away from my letting my personal experiences go here. A few have used that information to hurt me. A few have used that information to mock me. A few have used that information against me.
I’m just not gonna do this anymore. It’s not worth it, especially when someone I care about very much - who has been a part of this forum well before I was here - is involved.
So I don’t think I will be as open about my personal affairs as I was before. And I urge anyone else here to avoid feeling the way I do right now to stop and think if it’s worth it to you.
I learned my lesson. And I won’t make those mistakes again.
You have reason to feel this way. I remember the drubbing Chief Scott and his much loved GBS took not so long ago. It isn’t wrong to make sure that parts of your private life remain private.
All the best to you and Libby. Those who wish you both well will continue to do so without details. Others will just have to suffer along in curiosity. IMO, sharing is one thing but judgments, commentary and audience participation in very personal matters should offered only where clearly invited.
Though you must admit, it would make a hell of a made-for-TV movie: Satan and the Co-ed.
It’s a sad day when a great, open person such as Satan is unable to reveal himself on the Internet because of assholes.
Best of luck to you and Drain.
JMcC, San Francisco, JJM’s page from the Bay
If I were a baseball player, and I got beaned by a fastball, I wouldn’t want medical attention. I’d want my limp, lifeless body flung to 1st, cause, dammit, I earned it!
When one chooses to withhold private information, as many of us do, that’s one thing. But, when someone as frank and open as you is forced to stop sharing because some people are jerks, well, that’s just crappy (sorry, I know it’s not a great word - but that’s the best one I could come up with under the circumstances).
Wishing you two all the love, light, and happiness the universe can provide. And, looking forward to hearing nothing at all about your relationship
That’s why I’m very anonymous – age, gender, occupation, anything – so that assholes don’t use it ad hominem.
However, you may want to use this tactic: publicly demonize (pardon the pun) the jerks who use the personal information. Make these morons more reviled on the board than trolls. Make a post that engages in use of personal information a taller lightning rod than questions about -gry.
:: :Dancing and prancing about the house::: Yay!!! YAY!! I feel like I’ve been watching a soap opera and the star-crossed lovers finally got to have a love scene. Bitchin’.
“…all the prettiest girls live in Des Moines…”
–Jack Kerouac, On the Road
I’m VERY happy for both you and DB. ::dancing around with ChrisCTP:: And sad that you have to quit sharing your life with us. You’re a great guy, hon. Wishing you BOTH all the best!
“There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it.” - William James
Bri, the line forms to the left, right behind the guy in the uniform. I’ll overnight your club membership card.
I continue to be open about the vast majority of my life. There are certain things I hold back, though. That is in deference to GBS. She’s an addicted lurker and has, in the past, become uncomfortable with some of my posts. And folks who’ve responded to my posts. C’est la vie.
We’ve dealt with it. No prob. I’ve explained the relationships between some of our more avid, log-time posters and myself. I believe she understands and can better cope with life here on the board.
Next week she will meet, IRL, Atreal and his fiance! I hope she’s excited about it and that we can “erase the squirrely feeling” she sometimes still gets when I’m mentioned in a thread.
Satan, you’re in the spotlight much more than I. Drain is too. You guys’ll feel it out (maybe you won’t even discuss it!) and find a common ground upon which you both will be comfortable and can build a continuing relationship with us guys.
Don’t be disheartened. On occasion you’ll be disturbed by a post (one of you, the other, or both). IRL, it’s a minor thing. Work through it. Remember, that it’s real life that counts, not the board!
The Devil I knew knows now what to keep in Hell (with his sweetie) and what to put out there with us, his devoted minions. Good life to the both of ya.
While I respect your decision, I must express a little disappointment. One of the things that I love about this forum is that I can be as open as I like without worrying about the jerks. You will notice that I don’t tell my real name, my workplace, or my address. Simple security. Other than that, anything goes. Something that took me a long time to learn but is now one of my guidelines for serene living is this:
What other people think of me is none of my damn business.
Satan D. Lucifer Beelzebub, Prince of Darkness! I am surprised at you! Surely you realize that everything about you is already known and felt deep in the blackest recesses of humanity’s soul.
No surprises there.
Looking forward to the Apocalyptic Rematch. Feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?
My SN isn’t exactly a spoonerism–both words are pronounced exactly as they would be if you looked them up in the dictionary, which isn’t how you’d say it if it were a spoonerism. Suffice it to say that it’s a VERY old inside joke.
Oh, and orangecakes? You’ve obviously never seen my breasts…
My best to ALL of you. I’ve made my apologies to Satan for the whole butt thing; it was a misunderstanding and a bad joke that is STILL floating around. But I don’t think I’ve ever apologized to GirlBySea and ChiefScott:
I really am sorry for taking that and making jokes at her/your expense. I was mean, spiteful and taking out a problem I was having with someone else on you two. No excuse. But I really do want to apologize, in public, for ANYTHING that I ever posted that hurt you or her.
If there is anything I could do to make it up, I would. The only thing I’ve done is not flirted with you because you said it hurt her feelings. And frankly, my flirting is starting to bother my SO… I didn’t understand that until it happened to me. It seems so harmless but yeah, if it’s hurting someone, it’s best to knock it off. Gee, NOW I understand. Go figure! Sometimes I just about have to be hit in the head with a crowbar to get something.
