I read with interest the posts which offer us a glimpse of who we are, the denizens of this board. Judging by the responses to such posts as what our ages are, who the lurkers are, who the "oldtimers" are, and the like, I think many of us want to get to know one another by more than our names/handles.

I am a manager in a direct mail advertising company. What do you do?

-- futureshock (gray@matter.think), February 11, 2000

Answers

Are you sure you aren`t the Tax-man? :}

-- mutter (murmur@ya.com), February 11, 2000.

I don't think Macy's window is an appropriate venue for this.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), February 11, 2000.

Mutter:

LOL-Have I breached any netiquette by asking this question?? I firsy came on board on 1/3/2000 and have been addicted since. I am not a shill-just a person interested in the issues and in sociology, and this place is more interesting than any physical place I have ever been, including an Ivy league college.

-- futureshock (gray@matter.com), February 11, 2000.

Looks like the flames have started on an otherwise innocent question. I just thought that with all these people either stating their occupations on other threads, or bringing up their credientials, that his might be interesting.

I guess I brought this to the wrong board, what with so many privacy and paranoia issues.

I apologize to everyone in advance and will restate that I had no other intention but to get to knoe/understand you'all a bit better.

oh well. Guess the matter wasn't thinking.

-- futureshock (gray@matter.think), February 11, 2000.

I'm a computer programmer and author.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), February 11, 2000.

Futureshock,

Sorry, but there are just some rude people on the net.

I believe that you hit some nerves with your question because part of the appeal of the net is that is that our RL (Real Life) doesn't matter, not to mention that some people are very tired of being asked personal questions. If you doubt that, surf over to Hyatt's board (link and look for the thread about the 2000 Census under the government intervention section (or some such).

As for me, my occupation is Dumpster Diver! (LOL)

-- (kb8um8@yahoo.com), February 11, 2000.

Specific link to the 2000 Census discussion on Hyatt's board:

h ttp://www.michaelhyatt.com/discuss/ubb/Forum37/HTML/000024.html

-- (kb8um8@yahoo.com), February 11, 2000.

futureshock (gray@matter.think) said:

"I read with interest the posts which offer us a glimpse of who we are, the denizens of this board. Judging by the responses to such posts as what our ages are, who the lurkers are, who the "oldtimers" are, and the like, I think many of us want to get to know one another by more than our names/handles.

I am a manager in a direct mail advertising company. What do you do? "

I am the Senior Network Security Analyst for a bank in NC. I get paid to stop hackers from stealing bank assets. Interesting job.

-- Jay (havocuz@mindspring.com), February 11, 2000.

futureshock,

My field is in the botanical sciences; I also have some background in accounting and auditing.

I'm also very good at being quite paranoid (although I'm always open to suggestions as to how I could make a living out of it) -- that's why I won't be divulging more than that about this -- at least for a while.

And pay no mind to any taunts from a very small, roving band of Visigoths that may come your way; just toss them a little raw meat and stand back... :)

-- eve (eve_rebekah@yahoo.com), February 11, 2000.

Hi, futureshock. Belated welcome to the board.

I teach computer programmers and electronics engineering technologists at a technical school. Most of my colleagues are electrical engineers.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), February 11, 2000.

I am a newspaper journalist, background with major metropolitan dailies, and currently freelance writer, online Y2K-plus newsletter editor, and a personal-initiative and business coach.

-- Normally (Oxsys@aol.com), February 11, 2000.

Physics (nuclear and semiconductor materials), Electrical Engineering, computer science (with a fair amount of programing) helps me pay the bills.

-- Helium (HeliumAvid@yahoo.com), February 11, 2000.

New to the board~didn't find ya til after the first but at Gary's Biker

-- hd5574 (hd5574@hotmail.com), February 11, 2000.

LOL back to you futureshock. :} just couldn`t resist messin` with you. As for i have background in auditing,and emergency medicine. [the last being where i developed such a sick sense of humor] thanks for the post, and picking up on the `giggles`.

-- mutter (murmur@ya.com), February 11, 2000.

New to the board~didn't find ya til after the first but lived at Gary's and lots of others. But even if I had found you I wouldn't have time to post...fled the city to the country last year. I'm a Biker...it's about freedom. My umteen great-daddy's best friends were such as Madison as in James, Henry as in Patrick.. I think you get the picture... my family has been in this fight since the beginning and has every intention of staying in it for the duration.

-- hd5574 (hd5574@hotmail.com), February 11, 2000.

futureshock- I too am a `newbie` here. Found this site around the same time you did. [great minds run together, huh?] Been hooked on this site ever since. It`s been the only place i have to go to find intelligent life. Thank you TB2000!

-- mutter (murmur@ya.com), February 11, 2000.

bassoonist

-- Peter Gravlin (gravlinp@home.com), February 11, 2000.

Futureshock,

I'd been thinking about askin' that one myself. I'm a newbie here as well (12/27/99). Considering that there are so many tech folks here, I was a bit reluctant at first to divulge how I earn my living.

Clue 1 - I work in a small ERP software company in New England.

Clue 2 - I have zero technical expertise (although I CAN change light bulbs!)

Clue 3 - My co-workers believe that for me to be successful, I must lie.

Clue 4 - I play a sh*tload of golf

Answer - That's right!! I am a (gasp!) software salesman.

Hey CPR, see that? I actually do have a clue. Several, in fact. ;-)

Jimmy

-- Jimmy Splinters (inthe@dark.com), February 11, 2000.

I will have to defer to those less html-challenged for the specific link...a couple of long-ago threads (Sept + Nov 1998) had several hundred occupations and backgrounds of various readers and writers.

I'm a nuclear engineer, software tester and debugger, QA manager, and band parent/Girl scout parent/grandparent/and (grey) hair apparent. Had 10 years building and testing power plants (and other heavy construction and mechanical systems) in various shipyards and commercial sites, then enojyed twelve more years in CAD, design, efficiency and distribution management, programming testing and configuration management, government programs and funding etc.

Background includes the usual nuclear engineering stuff: nuclea rphysics, radiation effects and rad health issues, transient and theorectical nuclear physics, plant designs, electrical control, electronics (not too much recent PLC work though, lots of it in the analog/relay days!), power distribution, concrete, civil and concrete, piping, pumps, plumbing, civil water + waste water systems, natural gas transmission and distribution, a little bit of refinery work (more chemical engineering than oil production though), shipping warehousing and packaging, HVAC and mechanical design, structural theory, solar power, wiring, household and building construction .... pretty light on financial and banking, not too much on flight avionics. not very much biological and medical. And I hate cooking - it's a waste of time, money, and effort.

(If we were on desert island, I can get you power, water, food, shelter, heat and light....but don't let me get near the kitchen, the garden or a surgical knife.)

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), February 11, 2000.

I'm a computer programmer, systems analyst, 25+ years (who cares about the title anyhow) and author.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), February 11, 2000.

I am the absolute ruler of every being on the planet. But it hasn't been announced just yet.

In the mean time I pay the bills by being a Quality Control manager.

His Kookness

-- Y2Kook (Y2Kook@usa.net), February 11, 2000.

We usher souls to the threshold of heaven.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), February 11, 2000.

Although my job doesn't compare with those requiring technical expertise, critical thinking, danger or intrigue.... I do consider it highly valuable to the future of our country. I am a professional nanny...caring for the minds of my children and instilling values which will help create honest, contributing citizens. While not particularly exciting, each day does bring new challenges, an opportunity to be creative, smiles, hugs, and a lot of laughs. It brings far more worth to my day than many jobs ever could. What I put into my job can't be 'round filed', deemed irrelevant, criticized, or challenged. I go home each dy with a sense of accomplishment, the rewards of which are incalculable.

My training ? Wisdom from God, and success in rearing my own children....one is pediatrician with a PhD in immunology, another is a homeschooling Mom of five, and the youngest a budding accountant. All happy optimists and wonderful contibutors to our society.

-- Kenin Marble (kenin17@yahoo.com), February 11, 2000.

refuling outages at nuclear plants. eve,if your not paranoid then you have not been paying attention.

-- charles (chatcher@hcnews.com), February 11, 2000.

A previous question by Futureshock...

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl? msg_id=002UFe

"My question is, why do ya'all feel buying a gun should be the same as buying Pokemon cards?? Oh, right, there will be no logical answer to this-The passion with which you NRA's oppose any background checks is impossible to debate."

I stopped answering FS after this ridiculously uninformed question. There is be no purpose in this one except to troll for personal information.

-- Powder (Powder47keg@aol.com), February 11, 2000.

There are 5 "what about you" type threads. MNAY of us are there, many of the newbies today are NOT.

click here

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000I3k

For your edification and pleasure. Old timers, you can find folks you have missed, newbies you can find out the quality of the folks who, like me misjudged a lot by a lot, but you will find that we are ANYTHING BUT classic tinfoil hat wearers.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), February 11, 2000.

The first one:

What About You?

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), February 11, 2000.

Thirty-three years as a computer nerd. Mainframes thru process control to networks. Currently build and maintain Web servers, Mail servers, File Servers and program interfaces between PC's and PLC's (Programmable Logic Controllers).

It's been fun learning all this stuff over the years.

wally

-- wally wallman (wally_yllaw@hotmail.com), February 11, 2000.

Y2Kook, or 'His Kookness'

LOLOLOLOL

You're posts crack me up...been meaning to tell you that for awhile now. This place wouldn't be the same without you.

Future, I'm a professional Polloomer...it's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. =)

-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 11, 2000.

Small business owner(Commercial HVAC & refrigeration service company). Know just enough about anything to get me in trouble.

-- TM (mercier7@pdnt.com), February 11, 2000.

I am the best double deck pinochle player. I also teach the game. Before I was retired I was an accountant and programmer for 28 years. Took Fortran and Cobal in college and taught myself the rest I know. Also a doomer/survivalest and very mistrustful of the government. So now I do what I can afford and what the .gov will allow.

-- Mr. Pinochle (pinochledd@aol.com), February 11, 2000.

ditto, powder.

-- Cowardly Lion (cl0001@hotmail.com), February 11, 2000.

60 years old. RETIRED and mashing them.

Was an Industrial Instrument technician for 21 years prior to retirement. A gunslinger for Uncle Sammy for 21 years before that.

S.O.B.

-- sweetolebob (buffgun@hotmail.com), February 11, 2000.

I fly a plane for FEMA.

-- Chemtrail Pilot (ate@my.cookie), February 11, 2000.

Ya know, I never answered one of these before, so here goes nuttin'. I worked 8 years for Comcast and then 5 years for Cablevision, as a bench technician. (repairing pc boards and loose wires in converter boxes mainly) I quit my job in November 99 when my husband told me I no longer needed to work full time, and took a part time job in a local Maaco auto repair as a Bookkeeper. They laid me off the day before Christmas, and I've been out of work since. I have recently taken to being a "homemaker" and I've been enjoying it. (What's not to enjoy??) I can't decide what I'd like to do next with my life. :-)

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), February 11, 2000.

9 years as a software quality analyst. Went to school for molecular biology. Go figure.

-- Ivan (workin@therailroadallthelivelong.day), February 11, 2000.

TO Powder and Cowardly lion:

ROTFLMAO-cause ya must be joking. If not, then it must be wonderful to simply refuse to speak to, acknowledge, or debate anyone who does not agree with you. That is hilarious.

Powder, I guess you went against your own advise-you say you stopped answering my posts, and then you post-obviously in an attempt to disrupt the thread and draw suspicion to my question. My friend, either answer or do not answer, but don't answer to say you aren't going to answer!!!!! I have no malice or subterranian desires to gather information on you guys or anybody else, specifically.

Thanks to all who have replied so far. Most of you are wonderful, and there is no place in the world where there is such a gathering of eclectic people. To this who responded in the previous threads, thanks. Since there are so many new people, I guess this becomes once again an interesting question.

-- futureshock (gray@matter.think), February 11, 2000.

I'm an old time lurker and Registered Nurse. I do pediatric homecare. Also weave and spin as hobby and a bit'o extra money.

-- Debi (LongTimeLurker@shy.com), February 11, 2000.

Currently working for a financial securities firm.

Job title: Senior Systems Programmer. Job description: "Create new stuff that makes us money. And Fix everything that breaks. And do that proactively, meaning before it breaks. And don't tell us about it, it's too scary."

Previous fun was had in the healthcare, sofwtare and tellecom industries.

-- Bemused (and_amazed@you.people), February 11, 2000.

Biz card sez: Le Keywhacker Extraordinaire World traveller Soldier of Fortune Swinger Last of the big spenders Known to take an occasional sip.

Have Laptop, Will Travel

Specialist in: Snorkeling - Rare Oriental Art - Bar Room Brawling - Bacchanalian parties - Smuggling - Social Parties

On request:

Anything from the exotic to the erotic

Any other questions? Oh, part-time goat herder, also...

-- Nom (nom@de.plume), February 11, 2000.

center off?

-- Nom (nom@de.plume), February 11, 2000.

@^$##&&!!!# HTML!

-- Nom (nom@de.plume), February 11, 2000.

another 48 year old! psychotherapist at residential treatment program for children and adolescents....

-- Annie (afraidof@nukewar.com), February 11, 2000.

futurshock

I work for the N.S.A. Please don't tell anyone. I can't afford to lose my job.

-- ~***~ (~***~@earth.ebe), February 11, 2000.

Looks like a great group of heavy weights who definitely have some expertize in their fields which help validate many of the theories posted here.

As for myself, officially, I'm an Identificaton Clerk. Unofficially, I'm the dummy ruining her eyes attempting to read and classify fingerprints, trying to put a name to a face. I've bought my first pair of bifocals and now I feel older than dirt.

-- Trish (adler2@webtv.net), February 11, 2000.

I'm a 52 year old retired farmer and operate an aerial application business for the benefit of mankind.

-- John Thomas (cjseed@webtv.net), February 11, 2000.

I am a 43 yr. old Supermarket employee in Connecticut-No title,but different job functions and/or responsibilities.I have been lurking on TB2000 since November 1999. I enjoy reading all the posts and look forward to hearing from some of you.

-- Joseph F. Monroe (JoMoBrown@webtv.net), February 11, 2000.

I am a 43 yr. old Supermarket employee in CT.- No title but have different responsibilities and have worked in different departments in my 26yrs. in the business. I have been lurking here on TB2000 since Nov.1999. I enjoy reading all the posts. Hope to hear from some of you.

-- Joseph F. Monroe (JoMoBrown@webtv.net), February 11, 2000.

I'm retired US Air Force, over twenty years in flight simulation, real flying in F-4's, development engineering and flight operations management. Currently I'm working as a quality engineer, doing systems engineering and test at a company which builds flight control systems for many different aircraft.

Been a TB2K lurker and poster for roughly two years now, first learned about what came to be called Y2K in 1985.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), February 11, 2000.

I prefer to be centered too...

;-D

Information Navigator
Internet/Competitive Intelligence Research Consultant

CEO, Sacred Spaces (a future eBusiness under development)

Moderator: "Sustainable Business & Living iForum"
(Newly forming)

Somewhere on one of those prior threads I spilled *some* of my background...

On-line information research since 82
Silicon Valley S/W development start-up
CD-ROM industry
Computer imaging
Sustainable Business consultant

Then theres the right-brained stuff like...
Feng Shui Practitioner
Aromatherapy
etc.

*Engaging Grin*

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 11, 2000.

Oh goodie, another chance to post my resume (grin).

I've been getting "paid to program" since 1968, even though my title at that time was "computer operator". But the following year, it was official.

Today at work, I'm "Systems Programmer" on an IBM mainframe, and "Network Administrator" for a 50 user PC LAN.

At home, computers have been my hobby, since even before that first job. I love Assembly Language, no matter what flavor. Mainframe, PC, it doesn't matter, even though they are two very different animals. Oh, I do COBOL and BASIC and a handful of other languages, but Assembly is my true love.

Yea, I know, I'm a little strange... <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 11, 2000.

I do systems engineering for a telecommunications company.

-- David L (bumpkin@dnet.net), February 11, 2000.

Robert Cook... loved your answer. I hope if I'm ever on a boat with Gilligan and Skipper, that you are there too, just in case. Maybe we should just call you The Professor! Mr. Pinochle...I haven't played much for years... but my mother is the Princess of Pinochle. Perhaps you have heard of her? Translate... astoundingly lucky! She practically breathes double pinochles. Have you played racehorse? I fell in love with the most charming electrical engineer on the planet. I know... charming engineer sounds like an oxymoron, but trust me, the great ones are out there and I've been married to one for almost 22 years. We are raising seven great kids, and no matter what I do in the future, that will be the most important contribution of my life. I dabble seriously with photograpy... but give away the work because too busy for a business. Love to read, love animals, love the theater. This forum has given me the opportunity to 'meet' and correspond with some people who are gems. I lurk here once or twice a week now, and still feel this is one of my best sources for news. Thanks to all of you who are still faithfully posting news and updates....

-- Mumsie (shezdremn@aol.com), February 11, 2000.

I'm just a bored, struggling screenwriter wannabe. With a day job I dare not reveal lest I incriminate myself. 8^}

-- just a bored (struggling@screenwriter.wannabe), February 11, 2000.

Looking at the qualifications of others here, I feel pretty humble. I do Social Security Law, with respect to disability applications, work incentives, problems with benefits, retirement, or mbr records.

-- suzy (HAYSandCO@aol.com), February 11, 2000.

What do I do for a living? Well, right now, I'm the COO and CFO of "WilfCo"...[g]...I keep our 'homestead' running smooth. In addition to being "Nannie" to wonderful grandchildren, a 'dog- herder', and a neighborhood revitalization champion, my part- time 'job' involves small scale gardening and antique acquisition. Also manage to 'consult' on an as needed basis with 3 sets of elderly parents. :D

What have I done? Well.....

Health care administration

Marketing and public relations

Helped manage a commercial pottery

Worked as a 'doula' -- helped mothers birth babies

Specialty caterer

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), February 11, 2000.

Here in Macy's dept. store window? Pretty hard for the paronoids like most of us who understand that the government has literaly declared war on the citizens of this nation. But then I also understand that nobody can hurt me unless they have permission from God Almighty first or else contend with legions of very powerful angelic hosts. OK.

Print shop owner, operator. ...sdb

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), February 11, 2000.

I publish two free newsletters.

1) The Millennium Bug Update: reports on latest glitches and computer crimes.

2) World News Review: Latest updates on current events from publications around the world.

Just send your name along with e-mail address. Specify which newsletter you are requesting. This is a free service and cancel at any time.

Richard Markland

-- Richard Narkland (newsman@bright.net), February 12, 2000.

I'm a prostitute:>

-- Not Me (F@kehandel.com), February 13, 2000.