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Familiarity breeds contempt. Joel Send a noteboard - 17/03/2011 01:14:03 AM
Amazing what's changed since February 2000 (when I first visited, although I didn't post until the following October) to March 2011. When I first visited, a few months shy of my 26th birthday, I was still in my first year of teaching. I talked a lot more about myself those days - what jobs I was taking, how this would be "it." Other people shared a lot more back then as well. There was more humor involved, even if some of it was silly.

When I was younger, I used to care more what people thought of me, even though most had never seen my face nor heard my voice. I think I even let myself be hurt and frustrated a couple of times by that. Now, it's hard to envision any sort of people behind their e-text. Not much personality emerges from anyone these days. So serious, so morose, so focused on issues and much less on getting to know other people. I think of even those who've been here/at wotmania 7+ years as near-total strangers. All I know is that instead of chit-chat, it's more a gruff nod and then some just plunge into that morass of "issues" as if those things are of paramount interest.

After 11 years, I don't know if I have it in me to make any new friends at this successor site. I just don't share all that much anymore; I'm all about the zany squirrel and wordplay humor and much less about talking about my current job (any of you know anything beyond the vague "he teaches somewhere" thought?) or other interests. I suspect others are much the same.

Yet despite this, do situations ever really repeat themselves when our perspectives change? Or is it that what we've learned and noticed over time is how to forget so much in order not to remember certain details? It sure would be nice for there to be more levity in people's lives these days. I can only say that it was nice to see a student smile less than two weeks after learning that his girlfriend may bear a stillborn baby in less than three months. Small victories are still victories, no?

I still think that's a lot of it. I think it's important to remember the details so that perspective grows rather than simply changing, but it's definitely critical to know which details should fade into the background rather than remaining a focus. We learn from the good as well as the bad, but shouldn't dwell on the past either as a source of embitterment or escapism. Every victory is a victory, and every source of strength an asset. The important thing is to grow and move forward, whatever the pace, and not become complacent in pleasant things nor discouraged by unpleasant ones. You're in a good position to do that in a number of ways, so here's wishing you the best of it. As long as you don't end up in TN you should be alright. :P
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.

Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!

LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
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Things that I have learned and noticed over 11 years - 16/03/2011 11:07:50 PM 1399 Views
Most of the personal sharing you describe I've shifted over to my Facebook activity. - 17/03/2011 12:12:34 AM 645 Views
There is that, yes - 17/03/2011 12:24:14 AM 709 Views
I only use it to keep up with family and share pictures - 17/03/2011 04:22:54 AM 597 Views
Facebook; that's that one app for Farmville, right? - 17/03/2011 01:05:58 AM 700 Views
You are getting older, that's all - 17/03/2011 01:12:14 AM 773 Views
Netscape turns 18 next year.... - 17/03/2011 01:21:40 AM 638 Views
It will never catch on! - 17/03/2011 01:32:00 AM 672 Views
Re: It will never catch on! - 17/03/2011 01:52:12 AM 611 Views
joel, you're about to get married, no leering at other browsers for you! *NM* - 17/03/2011 04:34:35 AM 323 Views
It's cool; we have an open source marriage. - 17/03/2011 05:29:37 PM 641 Views
Re: You are getting older, that's all - 17/03/2011 01:53:28 AM 648 Views
Agreed...but - 17/03/2011 03:15:42 AM 832 Views
Re: Agreed...but - 17/03/2011 11:30:42 PM 658 Views
Familiarity breeds contempt. - 17/03/2011 01:14:03 AM 809 Views
Thanks - 18/03/2011 09:48:49 PM 746 Views
Books: Always finding new ways to enrich peoples lives. - 22/03/2011 10:51:53 PM 778 Views
Since we first met a few things have happened. - 17/03/2011 02:06:40 AM 840 Views
Nah, you're not alone. - 17/03/2011 08:47:43 AM 611 Views
Yeah, but you started out with boobs. - 17/03/2011 11:32:00 PM 666 Views
There is that, yes - 18/03/2011 09:46:44 PM 767 Views
remember all that time we spent on the phone? sometimes i miss stuff like that - 17/03/2011 05:34:08 AM 629 Views
There are nights where I crash by 7 PM these days - 18/03/2011 09:38:39 PM 732 Views
Even I have gotten tired of the politics. - 17/03/2011 06:17:23 AM 680 Views
My view on politics has changed quite a bit in the past few years - 18/03/2011 09:40:31 PM 774 Views
Mine hasn't, really, but my opinion of repeating my positions endlessly has. - 18/03/2011 11:14:39 PM 660 Views
There is that, yes - 19/03/2011 01:48:39 PM 734 Views
Things I've learned.. - 17/03/2011 02:17:46 PM 603 Views
There is wisdom in that - 18/03/2011 09:54:10 PM 680 Views
Or. I could be that that some people (coughmecough) - 22/03/2011 05:55:50 PM 644 Views
I stopped trying to be funny when I realized I wasn't, and that I can't take a joke. - 17/03/2011 03:19:56 PM 623 Views
nUUUUUUUUUUUd *NM* - 17/03/2011 11:32:57 PM 302 Views
Well, you could just be silly instead - 18/03/2011 09:52:46 PM 622 Views
Alas, I am not a resident of Camelot. *NM* - 19/03/2011 08:16:59 PM 312 Views
'Tis a silly place. - 21/03/2011 10:26:49 PM 529 Views
Don't feel to bad - 17/03/2011 04:27:15 PM 680 Views
Ha! - 18/03/2011 09:51:19 PM 567 Views
I think part of the problem is people are simply not posting fun stuff any more - 17/03/2011 05:03:52 PM 580 Views
I think that's near, if not at, the heart of all this - 18/03/2011 09:50:37 PM 621 Views
My problem is I just like to argue - 18/03/2011 10:12:03 PM 647 Views
I don't think you like me. - 18/03/2011 06:27:45 AM 735 Views
So ignore him. I like you. - 18/03/2011 07:32:47 AM 690 Views
- 19/03/2011 04:43:55 AM 637 Views
Yeah, if you've been avoiding me over an internet fight, you really do. - 19/03/2011 08:56:03 AM 580 Views
What can I say, I have issues. - 20/03/2011 04:21:12 AM 702 Views
I like you. - 18/03/2011 01:10:16 PM 680 Views
*splutters* - 19/03/2011 04:45:03 AM 577 Views
*giggles* - 21/03/2011 01:10:21 AM 1032 Views
random thoughts is yours? Talk about your unlikely pairings.... - 18/03/2011 04:32:17 PM 702 Views
Re: random thoughts is yours? Talk about your unlikely pairings.... - 19/03/2011 04:46:59 AM 656 Views
Skype is your friend. - 22/03/2011 10:47:41 PM 768 Views
Really? - 18/03/2011 08:41:35 PM 874 Views
Really. - 19/03/2011 04:41:46 AM 758 Views
- 19/03/2011 01:49:30 PM 644 Views
It doesn't help that you don't tend to post things that make you likeable. - 18/03/2011 06:55:04 AM 799 Views
I always took those posts as attempts to include people. - 18/03/2011 05:33:55 PM 694 Views
10-11 years ago, I might have thought I was a major part of this site. Uncertain of that now, - 18/03/2011 09:36:26 PM 706 Views
Offering a perspective. - 18/03/2011 10:03:58 PM 631 Views
Re: Offering a perspective. - 19/03/2011 01:46:06 PM 772 Views
The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind - 19/03/2011 04:19:10 AM 675 Views
Tangled up in blues - 19/03/2011 01:50:52 PM 948 Views
I haven't changed at all. - 22/03/2011 01:44:12 PM 719 Views
Re: I haven't changed at all. - 22/03/2011 11:37:47 PM 591 Views
You just only propagated, that's all - 23/03/2011 12:33:20 AM 582 Views
- 23/03/2011 01:15:01 AM 649 Views

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