Shamelessly borrowing the idea from Pamie's forum question yesterday...

Since things seem to have gotten a little tense on various forum topics here over the past couple of days, I thought maybe it would be nice to take a step back and be positive ('cause I'm one of those sensitive guys and all).

So consider this a chance to say something nice about someone.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Answers

I'll start:

This site kicks ass and is pretty much the highlight of my mornings, particularly on days like today when the coffee machine's broken and I desperately need something entertaining to keep me awake. My days are always significantly brighter when there's a new journal entry or web log up.

Also, everyone who sent in the wedding toast advice to my earlier forum question, thanks a lot. You all rock!

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Good idea -- that scary forum topic (you know the one) gave me a headache and made me very, very sad... so. This site DOES kick ass, it's my favorite one by far. I try to keep myself from reading it until my lunch break, but I usually cave in and check it sooner, because I can't wait that long...

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

I'll do my part. I love my forum; I would never want to have another journal that didn't also include a forum. I love the type of feedback that happens here: people give their own opinions and share their own stories, whereas in e-mail, people mostly tend to comment on what I've written. I'd rather hear about you than hear what you think about me.

So, yeah. I love you guys. *Sniff*

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

I really enjoy the forum, if only to get a question to answer every day. Then it's interesting to see what other people answer.

I liked Beth's journal anyway and the forum just adds to it.

Thanks, Beth.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Me three.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Ok - I think Mike is a pretty cool guy for having started this thread. I think that Beth has a lot of charisma - what started as simply a personal forum on a personal site has developed into a real community of people, who, for the most part, are more interested in lively conversation and some goofiness than flaming. That didn't just happen by accident, and Beth deserves a lot of credit for providing this space.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

I can honestly say that I am a better educated and informed person from following many of the threads on this forum.

I love reading Beth. Even though she can be a hard ass(and I know I would not want to meet her unprepared in a dark alley ..joking..), you can tell she had a huge heart. I love hearing her views and opinions. She is a strong woman. I have learned a lot.

This forum is addictive! There are so many interesting people who post here. And for the most part everyone is very accepting and open.

Cheers!

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

I got to meet Doc, and I have to say that while Beth and Jeremy are charming, Doc is the one who stole my heart. I think Doc should start his own journal. I know Bailey would read it.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Doc was particularly well behaved that day. I was proud of him.

He also seemed to highly approve of your husband, Stasi, did you notice? I haven't seen him like a stranger that much on first meeting since he was a teeny little puppy.

(I thought that since someone else was saying nice things about my dog, I should, too, especially since I spent the entire entry yesterday talking about how I'd like to kill him.)

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Janet Reno is not a vampire who feeds on the blood of young children, after all. I really mean that.

Oh, okay. Seriously:

Beth, here's to DJR, If You See Her Say Hello, et al. -- I have have always envied your gift for writing. The BHD entry on the proper use of the word f*ck in legal briefing has been circulated to all of my colleagues. Jackie Collins, you have added a lot of fun to this forum in recent days -- I enjoy your U.K. phrasing and wit. Mike, good idea to put up this forum topic. To what in the hell does "fire bad" refer?

I take it I am now permitted to go back to being nasty?

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

I'm going to join in with nice things to say about Beth. I've been reading this since Xeney's Guide to the Galaxy and I was promptly addicted to this site upon reading directions for "Chocolate Easter Bunny Pie" I've forwarded legal commentaries (particularly the death penalty one) of yours to my friends in law school and your gardening has made me finally put real effort into reviving mine. I enjoy the forum because everyone is free to express themselves and have nice, big discussions. I enjoy your journal entries because a lot of times I can relate to things you might be experiencing and it's always nice to know that there is someone out there who has dog-killing days, too. I like the fact that if I check online around lunch, you've usually posted by then and I don't have to eat lunch and read stupid magazines I've already read three thousand times. Plus you're funny as hell. I like the fact that I usually spend the last hour of work responding to forum questions--which essentially kills two birds with one stone-- it makes the last hour fly by and I look like I'm doing real work while I sit here and type away, thereby avoiding any boss-worker interactions.

I bet you didn't know you were contributing to job inefficiency, huh? Yeah, you probably did.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

I've only been reading BHD for a couple of months now, but it's the start of my day every day. I love the journal entries and the forum, and I'm consantly blown away by the diversity and the kindness of the folks who contribute (for the most part, anyway). Thanks to Beth for making this space happen and to all for bein' here. Y'all rock!

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

You guys are really nice. Thanks.

I have another nice thing to add: I'm reading through Gabby's really old archives right now, what there are of them (http://www.fellaheen.net/; follow the "'enry 'iggins" link), and they are really, really good. You should read them. Really.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Xeney.com is something I look forward to each and every day. Unfortunately, it also ruined all other weblogs for me. No other weblog I've found has ever been as consistently fun or as interesting as Beth's.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Could I have said "really" more times in that post? No, I really don't think I really could have.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

What was the entry on the proper use of the word "fuck" in a legal briefing? I'd go look it up myself but don't actually have the time right now.

Nice thing: um well, Beth, this is a consistently interesting journal and an almost always interesting forum. To quote the evil Cartman from the parallel universe: "Eh lerve yew geyz."

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Last summer, I went to e*Faction and had the honor of meeting young and incredibly talented young adults.

http://www.halfempty.com

is where a good number of them are at - specifically James Patterson who creates honest to god art with Flash. I was in total awe of his work.

also: http://www.tickertape.net and http://www.sleepy.org - for some very good photography and writing.

These are the nicest kids you'd ever wanna meet. They deserve the world on a platter.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

I too look forward each morning - about 1/2 way through the morning routine - of seeing Beth's latest entry.

And more than anything, I love the pictures. You & Viv Landers (and my incredibly awesome next door neighbor) have inspired me to look at the small things. And that makes me appreciate my life so much more.

You're the best! *sniff*, *sniff*

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Thank you Tom!! What a sweet thing to say!

This is such a great forum, and I'm so impressed by the way a large number of people with very strong opinions manage to discuss really contentious issues here, without much difficulty at all. Sure, occasionally people get a little heated, but on the whole everybody is always very adult. And that's really cool.

I've also learnt a lot here, and it's the first thing I read every morning now - the time difference is great because you guys have all posted while I've been sleeping, so I have loads to read and then several hours to respond!

Beth, you are a rare and valuable individual to be able to host a forum like this, and I have no doubt that the general spirit of educated comment entirely reflects you - so thank you!!

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000