This looks like the old TB2000 forum to me, except that free speech is allowed here. This could be a good thing, if we all try to be respectful of each other. Great work, great forum Old Time TBY2K Regular!

For the record, the thread at the old TB2000 website that started the quest for a forum that allowed free expression and wouldnt just "ban" people for their views or because the forum moderator had a bad hair day was http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=002hHU.

A number of forums besides this one were immediately opened:

Charles Underwood Farley started the RefugeBomb2000 site at:

http://pub8.ezboard.com/brefugeebomb2000.html

Anita started a board just to discuss the Y2k Aftermath at: http://pub8.ezboard.com/fpeoplearepeopley2kaftermath.html

And a defender of free speech started this site:

http://pub8.ezboard.com/ffreespeech2000welcome.html I like the linear thread of this forum, so my preference is to use this one, but I will try to drop by the others as well, I do not want their efforts to go unappreciated. I encourage all those who once posted at TB2000 to visit this site, and I give my thanks to Sysman, Doc Bill Schenker, Eve, and many others who defended one poster who should never have been banned from ANY forum that that valued intellectualism, Flint's articulations were always interesting, even if you didn't always agree (and I did not, never met anyone I always agreed with, have you?) This can be a good forum, I suggest we try to get off to a good start by addressing the topic, and not attacking each other (and yes, I will try to do my part in this, lol). I can see that a few posts have already been made to disrupt the new forum. I suggest you ignore those, these are the same people that didn't value free speech in the old TB2000 forum. So who's here? Roll call please (come on you regulars, you know you hate the format at EY's new place...feel free to join us!)

-- FactFinder (david@bzn.com), March 04, 2000

Answers

Rebuke troll

-- No Name (no@number.com), March 04, 2000.

I'z here. =o)

-- cin (cinlooo@aol.com), March 04, 2000.

Well. Having "hung" with the "alleged" doomers and the "alleged" pollies to a degree greater than many folks these many months, I guess I oughta check in here.

It seems natural to me that there would be multiple spinoffs from the old TB2000 forum.

Why? In my humble opinion--since about September of last year--the beginning of the "potential Y2k trouble window" all forums began to morph. Then again--I'm somewhat of an old-timer, so perhaps I look at this from a different perspective than those who arrived later in the process.

Regardless, any Web forum worth its salt--including my own--should welcome spirited, intelligent debate.

However--recognizing that forum moderation is by-and-large a volunteer effort--I can certainly understand how time-consuming it can be to moderate "cat-fights," and eliminate foul language, etc.

Just my two cents. Worth what ya paid for it.

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), March 04, 2000.

FM, Excellent points, I even told Diane once that I did appreciate what a tough job it is to be a moderator, with the spamming being the worst. I like the linear threads of the greenspun software, but from what I've heard it isn't easy for the moderators to adminsister and delete spam.

Tough job for moderators, I agree. But rules should be clear, and they should be fair. At the old TB2000, they were selectively inforced, based on ones views. Long live free speech, as long as it isn't spam and vulgarity and personal attacks....and even that should be tolerated to a degree.

-- FactFinder (david@bzn.com), March 04, 2000.

Doubt you're going to get a roll-call FF, since many of us feel we're going against the party line, but heck, since I already posted here, i'll be counted. I miss the old forum and format too.

-- Chris (!@#$@.pond.com), March 04, 2000.

You forgot one thread: Yourdon's NEW TBY2K thread

http://pub5.ezboard.com/fyourdontimebomb2000

It's where everyone else is hanging out.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUSTOMIZING AT NEW FORUM:

http://pub5.ezboard.com/fyourdontimebomb2000.showMessage?topicID=266.t opic

New forum participants should print this out before participating. You need to register to have full access to all functions. You can still be "anonymous" ... but you do need an actual email address to register.

Cool new features: Automatic Hot Links - Search Function - Other Automatic HTML functions

Good luck with your new forum.

-- (ForgotOne@thread.com), March 04, 2000.

Good point "forgot one" (why do those TB2000 insiders always use fake emails? lol). I should have linked it, with this caveat - you may be banned if your views are deemed unacceptable or if the forum moderator has a bad hair day....

Best wishes "forgot one" with the allwable thoughts at YOUR new forum....:)

-- FactFinder (david@bzn.com), March 04, 2000.

Well... you can count me in. I'm known by two names, most recently as Sheeple@Greener.Pastures and before that cannot-say@this.time. I'll lurk here, and post in my wise ass moments.

I hated that the new "forum" banned the likes of Flint and Jon. Tis a shame. Good thing that I never registered over there, because if I had, I'm sure that I would have been banned by now with my comments on the above mentioned bans. Oh well, to each his (or her) own.

I like the idea of free speach, but that does not include free spam. There is a hint there for anyone that wishes to realize it.

Decker, Gilda (LTNS), Jonathan, Flint, and Hoffy... welcome back. Let us hope that we can all continue the civil conversations that took place for many months, y2k or no....

I suggest that we all kick back, put our feet up, and call this the "comfy couch". Let us vent our steam, debate, and in general have fun.

Donna aka Sheeple aka cannot-say

-- (Donna@here.now), March 04, 2000.

Want to see this forum develop the truly international input it should have had in the first place. Will work with said goal in mind.

Gilda, we'll get along fine! Old regular, new name.

-- firefly (forest@calm.dot), March 04, 2000.

Well, I'm here, off and on.

Been cutting back on the net stuff. Combination of work, and, ahem, a promise I made to my wife.

The last few day's events have been quite interesting. I was not surprised at all at being "banned". But I find the attitude of EY, BigDog and the others really mind-boggling.

Why can't they give a simple, definitive answer on just who has been banned and why? Seems to me that would be the simplest way to end the multitude of posts questioning the decision. [Or Not..:) ]

Instead, they play these "super-secret" games.

This forum seems to be attracting the best of the old forum. And that doesn't mean "pollies". I would have labelled most here as being "doomers". What they do seem to have in common is the willingness to listen to other views.

(By the way, FM you were my guess at "Old TB2K forum regular")

-- Hoff (hoff_meister@my-deja.com), March 05, 2000.

Ahem...

Factfinder and "Hoffy," (in particular though not exclusively).

Personally, I can't say a bad thing about anyone who moderated the "TB2000" forum. Perhaps this was because I was never known to post anything remotely incendiary. My function on the TB2000 board--during the time I was an active contributor--was, for the most part, an effort to clarify Y2k reports from the government/media sector.

Having said that, I'm about to do something I may regret. If so, I'll label it a "firesale," and retract it next week in some fashion or another, if indeed I CAN.

Here it is:

Tonight, I have removed the "password protection" feature of my forum.

If Phil's software works the way it is intended, this SHOULD mean that anyone can go there, to read Chapter One (which will be revised prior to publication), Chapters Two and Three, and soon, Chapter Four of "The Toilet Paper Chronicles."

If Phil's software does NOT work the way it should, (i.e., going from a non-password protected forum to a password protected forum and back again) then I may be forced to rely upon the "kindness of strangers" to lead me to the Greenspun Promised Land [Grin].

It scares me a bit to do this. Why? I think you already know. In a word: Extremists. They exist. Rarely do their actions/writings promote a clear understanding of issues, let alone peace between "warring" parties. History teaches us this lesson.

Having said that: Here I go:

The Toilet Paper Chronicles Forum can be accessed here:

Discussion Forum and Chapter Preview: "The Toilet Paper Chronicles"

If anyone is unable to access immediately, (as in my request to remove the password protection was not implemented when it should have been) send an email to me and I will email you the password.

Send such email to: scipublic@aol.com

Peace.

:)

P.S. I am not "Old TB2K forum regular," but I could have been mistaken for worse things in my life. [Grin]

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), March 05, 2000.

I'm here............kind of redundant really because if I wasn't here you would hardly have got to read my incredibly informative and perceptive "I'm here" statement. It's foolproof really........if for example Andy was trying to impersonate me, he would say "I'm here......buy gold you pollies before you perish!!".

Anyway, my sole purpose for this informative, yet quirky diatribe, is to test the waters for tolerance and freedom of speech.

I feel compelled and strangely driven to holler from the rooftops a pearl of wisdom that will bless you all.

POOP.

Yes, that was it. I need the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes only from knowing that I can say that awful 'P' word without fear of retribution or having a large javelin inserted up my nether regions..........

I'd also like to retract any statements wherein I stated, or implied in any way, that Canada was going to attack the USA on March 5th, 2000 and also inform you that the rumors that the new attack date is in fact March 7th is completly false and without truth.

Also, I withdraw any statements made to the effect that "Your fat yankee asses are ours.......surrender or die Uncle Sam". They were made purely in jest as a sort of affectionate 'hehehehehhehe' and the landmines just north of the Montana border are purely coincidental.

Likewise, any derogatory statements I implied or mused about that bonehead doofus INVAR were made in fun and were in no way meant to construe that his elevator was in any way defective and did not reach the top of the building. Also, any barbs pointed at Jack for his 'Y2K Cannot be Fixed!" repetoire were unfounded and I was completely out of place making fun of him so shortly after his frontal lobotomy.......

Any shrewedly and unfairly placed SPAM-like ads I attempted to subtley place on the forum I hereby apologize for and regret intensely. I have repented and in pennance written a very clever and informative 'SPAM repentance document' which will be sent to you absolutely free upon request......please send to BOx 5541, Fort McMurray, AB. Canada, T9H 3G5 (include $19.95 for shipping and handling).

Last, but not least, I'd just like to say "Hi" to my mom......Hi mom!!!............also, I'd like to say "Hi" to all of your moms and your dads and pet cats as well. Especially, I'd like to add a hearty hello to all sex-starved gorgeous women who frequent this fine establishment, and state for the record that I will respect you in the morning.........

Bonsoir...........

-- craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), March 05, 2000.

Okay...this is weird. I simply wrote "I'm here." and it wouldn't post because someone had already written "I'm here."

It's my hope that once all the sensationalism dies down, optimists and pessimists can realize that we're all people, despite our differences in philosophy.

-- Anita (notgiving@anymore.thingee), March 05, 2000.

Present here in the Southern Hemisphere, which really DOES exist!

I lurk, post sometimes, get informed and learn.

Take care

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), March 05, 2000.

I'm here.

For those unfamiliar with the "feature" which Anita reported, it may be intended to inhibit resubmitting an answer when one's original submit was successful but was slow to appear on the thread. Perhaps in future this could be enhanced to take into account whether the posters are different. (Hey, can't a person dream.)

-- David L (bumpkin@dnet.net), March 05, 2000.

Pencil me in also FactFinder. It's a pleasure being on the same forum as those who have found there way here so far.

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), March 05, 2000.

Not that anyone really gives a Tinker's Dam I am here too.

I am also a registered alley cat over on the new board too. Since I rarely say anything of any substance, or even anything at all for that matter, I'm sure that I won't be banned for associating with the likes of you people either.

It means nothing to anyone of import, but I don't really understand your being banned either Flint. I have always considered you a whole lot like most of the engineers that I knew at work, just a little more hyper-anal at times, and exceedingly long winded at times. I don't recall ever reading anything that you posted that could be regarded as being grounds for a shunning. You are strangeat times, most unusual at times, and excesssively verbose for the most part, but that certainly isn't a crime. Nor should it be, as it can applied equally to each of us. True?

I also don't understand why Hoffmeister would be banned either. I don't recall any instance where he caused any great wailing or gnashing of teeth over any given subject.

I didn't agree with either of you at times, most times as far as that goes, but you two always seemed to me to be just two people who were misguided on the subject matter. That is no crime.

Perhaps I am just not privy to the whole story of this banning thing. I thought that Ms. Diane did a da*n fine job of moderator/sysop on the old forum. Did I really miss something?

Regardless, I too am here, and I'm also there. Should I be banned from either or both sites I will just consider it to be that party's loss and move on to other places.

Oh, and Ms. Chris, you are welcome here, and there too, as far as I am concerned. I sure wouldn't consider you as being a traitor just for posting here too. You would, after all, be in good company wouldn't you?

S.O.B.

-- sweetolebob (buffgun@hotmail.com), March 05, 2000.

SOB! Always so true to your namesake :-) So good to see you here...and there. You're right, I shouldn't be shunned there for being here, or shunned here for being there, since home is where here is...or there.

You've expressed my opinions about the bans on Flint and Hoff exactly. When Flint isn't so verbose and condescendent he sure can make a good arguement and give my brain a workout ;-) But I guess Ed and the moderators aren't interested in this sort of wild and wooly forum anymore and I respect that.

I've always liked the old TB2K forum for it's wild mixed of people, opinions and ideas, and the interesting vigorous and heated debates that often took place. Hoping the immature personal attacks will not get the better of this forum. It has great potential.

-- Chris (!@#$@pond.com), March 05, 2000.

Hi gang. Just came to say hello.

Boy, this Flint and Hoff, and co., thing really ticks me off. Yea, they are a couple of dumb pollys (very big grin), but their contributions to the old fourm were invaluable, IMHO. I just don't get it.

I think we needed a fresh start, and I hope this new forum works out. I'm willing to keep our history on the old forum, and "start over" with some of the, how should I say it, unpopular posters here. Fair enough?

I still haven't deceided how "active" I'm going to be, and where. I do have a bunch of "friends" on TB2000, and I really would miss them, if I didn't post there. But it's good to know that I can come here, and say hi to some of my other "banned" friends.

Later. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), March 05, 2000.

Chris, you said, "This could be a good thing, if we all try to be respectful of each other."

FactFinder, you said, "if we all try to be respectful of each other."

Does that mean you're going to quit throwing undeserved barbs at me too? I'd like to remind you, I've never taken issue with either one of you until you until you bit at my heels first. Can we stop the insanity now?

Everyone's heart bleeds red



-- laura (Ladylogic46@aol.com), March 05, 2000.

Laura, touche~ I better start doing what I preach in this new "clean slate" forum, eh.

-- Chris (!@#$@pond.com), March 05, 2000.

Yes, there should be clean slates and renewed respect all the way around the forum, and respect for the forum from outside sources.

And these few precepts in thy memory See thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportioned thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel; But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in, Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), March 05, 2000.

firefly, I won't sleep a wink for wondering who you were on the old forum. Did we have a go-around? Were we pals? Glad to hear we're going to get along fine.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), March 05, 2000.

Hello all...

I haven't been able to bring myself to even lurk at the new forum yet...still so appalled at the banning of Flint and others.

I'm glad to see 'gilda' posting again too. We did have some 'go rounds', and even though I often feel humanly offended at the anti- Christian diatribes, I enjoy her honest postings and many of her contributions. (No offense meant, gilda, and I hope none taken.) I hope that most of us can agree, disagree, and agree to disagree without resorting to profanities, obscenities, and personal insults. I hope that we can wrangle and debate ideas without throwing each other in the mud on this forum.

The main reason I lurk is to catch and sift through news, but the 'personality' that is expressed on an uncensored forum makes it all so much more enjoyable.

Best wishes all...

I'm thrilled to have an uncensored forum for adults. My mouse works quite well, and I enjoy the right and privilege to exercise it.

Thanks again, Old Regular, for the time and effort to start this.

-- Mumsie (shezdremn@aol.com), March 05, 2000.

Hi Mumsie

We have also had our differences but it is great to have you here on this forum. Quality is quality, and you certainly are.

-- Ra (tion@l.1), March 05, 2000.

Hi Ra! Did you post under a different name before? It's hard for me to keep the names of my five boys straight some days, especially when there's alot of commotion. One was calling me from another room earlier today while I was juggling two skillets, washing today's eggs, and holding a toddler,...I responded with the wrong name, and he said indignantly, "Don't you know my voice?!" I had to spend time on the rocking chair with him after that. :)

Anyway, thanks for the kind words. This forum is a link to the 'adult world' for me, as much as those words can be an oxymoron on some threads.

Some belated thoughts on the prepping we did...

I'm really not sorry... for the most part. Some things I do regret. I also allowed myself to swim in some futile anxiety towards the end. I still believe that bad and unexpected things could happen to any of us, and that prepping in moderation is always a good plan and lifestyle. It's like a quiet insurance plan that remains dormant in hibernation, but there if we need it. I like that. I continue that lifestyle in a low key way now, simply because it gives peace of mind like any other insurance. I hope that some of the unthinkable disasters never befall this nation, but even with the best preps, how ready could one be for those? I could prep like a fiend, and still be caught miles away when it's needed. For me, it became a big spiritual lesson in trust. Do what I can, but trust in the One who sees each sparrow when it falls.

-- Mumsie (shezdremn@aol.com), March 05, 2000.

Sysman

The bulk of the people on this forum were not banned from the other one. That says something.

Gilda, rest easy...as far as I know we were neither foe nor friend. But I see similarities in our thinking patterns. Like many on that forum, I probably sat somewhere in the middle trying to read the waves swirling around me. To tell you the truth, though, I felt censored by the strong wills on that board and am probably one of the people who got called a "doomer" or a "polly" at different times. I was neither.

But I felt censored because so much of my personal philosophy differs a great deal from that of the more vocal presenters there and, with all of the flaming and strong wills, I did not speak out when I should have. That will change here, at least unless or until things get too rough. I just hope we can keep the upcoming philosophical disagreements civil.

-- firefly (forest@calm.dot), March 05, 2000.

Hail Mumsie, Here's to you! Yes I'm posting again. I quit because I got so tired of the way the old forum changed and so many of the people I liked had left. But this one seems to be headed in a nice direction. Maybe we'll have a good old natter again sometime..

As you know, I'm a pretty liberal person--live and let live. If a post is boring or upsets me I just pass on it. But one thing that really gets my back up is censorship. I hate that. Anyway, thanks for the welcome--and same to you.

Firefly, maybe we share philosophical ideas. I too got to the point on the old forum where I wouldn't speak out. So when I got to that point, I just quit posting much, although I lurked a lot. It seemed to me that some of the most flaming and hateful posters were given full rein. Oh well, I'll have fun trying to figure out who you were on the Time Bomb. Thanks for making me feel welcome.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), March 05, 2000.

Can't let this board get to Yankee-centric, can I?!

Will stop in from time to time to see what's cooking.

I was gob-smacked to see that Flint, Hoffy and JL were banned from the new TB forum. I registered (wasn't banned - maybe they like Canadians?) and made my one and only post. I told them to enjoy their new church and bid them adieu by calling them intellectually bankrupt. No guesses as to how long that post will last.

BTW, is there a chat-room for us unbelievers?

-- Johnny Canuck (j_canuck@hotmail.com), March 06, 2000.

Checking in and using my "new millennium" handle now. I was also taken aback by the ban on Flint and Hoff at the new TB2K, and frankly all those lil' ol' graphics on ezboard are more distraction than help to me. Too many years spent in the world of green phosphor, Usenet, and newsgroups, I s'pose.

Will just have to spend some time in both forums, it seems. Kinda like going to a party where two interesting groups are in quite separate parts of the house.

-- DeeEmBee (macbeth1@pacbell.net), March 06, 2000.

Glad I found you guys!

The atmosphere at the new TB2000 made this old sailor a little uneasy.

Always found when I got that feeling to "get out of Dodge"

-- Chief (bmc@sealret.com), March 06, 2000.

Hey 'Boats', welcome aboard! USN, '57'to '67'.

-- Ra (tion@l.1), March 06, 2000.

Hello all - I'm in lurk mode, most of the time. It's great to have a fresh start - there's too much potential here to shut it down...

Best wishes all.

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), March 06, 2000.

I will be here and only here.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), March 06, 2000.

Hmmmm...lurking for now.

Might stick around as long as this doesn't become Chemtrail-believers 2000. *grin*

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), March 06, 2000.

I'm in a good mood today. Can I buy ya'll a drink?

\_/

FutureShock, I realize you're recovering, so can I buy you a cup of coffee?

(_)

(I wish they could be real.)

~*~

-- laura (Ladylogic@.....), March 06, 2000.

I am here, after discovering over the past weekend that I still have a life (a reference to my job moreso than the recent cyberevents).

I will continue my irregular posting habits here. I might even try to learn some HTML.

the soon to be an un-bachelor

-- RC (randyxpher@aol.com), March 06, 2000.

Here.

Useless, but here.

I'd run over Y2KPro in a minute, but Hoff? Flint?

Being a tech person, I'm takin some umbrage.

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), March 06, 2000.

OK, I'll chip in. I write PC BIOS and embedded system software. I am prepared now to live about a year with no external source of power, food, water, and various supplies -- and prepared to defend it. I expect to continue solidifying my preparations for as long as I can. So far, I have spent relatively little on anything I wouldn't eventually buy and consume normally, though.

This doesn't necessarily mean I expect to need everything; I hope I won't. But I don't know what I'll need, and I think it's prudent to cover as many bases as possible. I consider the probability that I'll need at least some of it to be very high - almost certain.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), September 29, 1998.

-- Archiver (Archiverr@archiverr.xcom), March 07, 2000.

RC,

If you're saying what I think you are saying... Congrats to you!

Many years of happiness to you.

-- (Donna@here.now), March 07, 2000.

Now, now lisa, I haven't made fun of you in ages, why would you want to run me over?

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), March 07, 2000.

I'm here...and at the other one as well.

-- eve (eve_rebekah@yahoo.com), March 07, 2000.

Hanging out.

not that anyone cares.

-- Super Polly (FU_Q_Y2kfreaks@hotmail.com), March 07, 2000.

LOL!!! Super Polly!!

(We care.)

~*~

-- laura (ladylogic@.......), March 07, 2000.

Thank you, Donna.

I'm marrying a nurse named Patty Maguire on St. Patty's day... woo hoo!!!

Green champagne for everyone!

(She is a Saint for putting up with me ;-)

-- RC (randyxpher@aol.com), March 07, 2000.