An OT Lounge Dilemma

John:

I'm pretty sure we get credit for thanked posts. We just don't get credit to our post count.

By the way, your coffee cup called me this morning. He said you've haven't talked to him in days. He's lonely.

Yes, we get credit for the thanks,just doesn't increase the post count.
I quit caring about post count long ago,but I have to admit the thanks on occasion makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside at times......

When I was new to the forum, I checked post history often but I wasn't trying to gauge everything one person said on a subject. I was trying to ascertain what kind of person they were. i.e contradict themselves, spammy, rude, poor grammar etc.

So I have to ask, have you actually experienced any negative effects from your OT posts or are you concerned about possible future problems?

I agree that newbies may not immediately know that the OT is where we have fun but I think most people can tell the difference between a joke and seriousness. If they can't, just imagine what horrible customer they'll be.

'Let them that have eyes, see.'

Nothing worse than someone you can't be real with (or who never gets your jokes or sense of the obscure).

(Plus they will detect you are not being genuine, if you are hiding)

This brings to mind someone I know that has a long-time business on the internet (and who does substantial business with offline companies).

We were talking about the maniacs actually and he has always been someone I envy because he is so kind and always professional even when being attacked mercilessly without cause in email tirades.

Well he told me - (sic) 'you know, I used to bend over backwards to prove that my service works, how devoted I am to it, and outlined all that we do whenever I was attacked - they just keep up the maniacal behavior and no matter what I said, it didn't matter'.

'Well now I just basically say it is what it is and tell them I am issuing them a refund with no argument (even if they haven't asked for one).' '...and you know what, then they have a fit about that- do not issue a refund - I want to keep this service!'

So that has made me realize that we have to maintain the control - whether we control by being nice or by being firm and steadfast - being ourselves.

We do not need to beg.

So 'like it or lump it' - (with all due respect).

John, I'm just speculating here, but I don't think too many newbies bother looking at profiles. Have you checked yours to see who is actually visiting it? I could be way wrong, but anytime I've had occasion to visit mine the last bunch of visitors is mostly established members.

Thanks for the answers guys... It was not so much about hiding your fun side as it was about providing a consistent line of targeted posts, although sometimes I DO tend to joke pretty hard and it probably would affect ones image as a "teacher"....

On another note a @ Dennis, yeah people look up my post trail alot actually. Not in OT so much, but in my niche area, Im one of the top teachers...I even have several people who habitually save every post into a file... No saying that in an arrogant way...

I dont guess its that big a deal, it was just a question that popped in my head. I have always heard to be on your best because people look up your post trail, and in my case it does happen alot. Not because Im better than anyo0ne , but rather because of the highly targeted nature of our subforum (offline) people search really hard for more stuff from their fave teachers.

Our joking is harmless in OT of course, its just that sometimes I will post in here for hours at a time, and a person would have to really dig on some weekends to find anything relevant if they were looking for offline stuff... Perhaps, after reading this , its not really as big a deal as I was thinking the moment I typed the OP. though Lol. Im open to that.

Wow, I didnt know we got thanks in OT, I have been thinking for a year now that they didnt count. Learn somethin new everyday! Agree with Kim, they do you give you that nice warm fuzzy!

Anyway, I rarely ask concerned citizen type questions here...but here was one.

Thanks for the input guys and gals.

-JD

BTW Terra, did you catch the one about the cankles? lol I pictured you laughing on that one. In the fashion thread.

@ Halcyon

"So I have to ask, have you actually experienced any negative effects from your OT posts or are you concerned about possible future problems?"

Not really I guess, on the first question... Another good reason for asking here, because you all help us think these things out. Honestly I just get frustrated at my OWN self, when I look at my post trail and see inconsistency in the message sometimes..I guess I tend to even look at things like a post trail as art that should have continuity...

But I just LOOOVE OT ! lol and could jump from subject to subject all day in here! You guys are a blast and some of my best friends.

Thanks everyone, for the insight!

Pps. Patrician, that post was SMOKIN!

John, why not suggest to students to subscribe to the particular thread they are following/interested in.

In all seriousness, There are several sides to all of us, put those sides together and you have a more developed sense of the type of person you are dealing with.
You take those senses and determine if you can make a relationship with someone or not, and the bottom line,business,and this applies to almost every business, is about relationships.
Going through this thread, I feel a relationship with every single person that has posted,some more degrees than others. No Offense Dan, I feel I "know" you the least,so I'm still getting the "feel" of you.
Pat I've known the longest, John and the missing RoadDog, are like brother's I've never met, and even Dennis,the first time we had contact was in the main forum arguing over something silly, Now I consider you a friend.

What's my point? In getting to know everyone,the good,bad,funny,sad, we have built ,at least in my mind, a relationship both personal and professional. And if any one of you asked me to do something I'd be here for you,and many others on the forum.

Because the bottom line is, it IS all about building relationships.

Duh, John, the bottom line is its ok to let those that follow you as a teacher/mentor see the fun side of you.It just as much a part of you as the business side. It lets you be seen as real.

And no,I don't follow and cut and paste every post you make, but I know someone that does....lol

John I think too many people know you to ever label you as anything other than a teacher. I also don't think people form less professional opinions of others when they joke around. Maybe I'm wrong but everyone has to have fun from time to time.

I'd be more concerned about WHAT they were joking about. Like using foul language over and over, telling racist jokes that were more offensive than funny... but thats nothing I ever see you do.

Plus when you have the authority that you already have in the offline forum I think it would be damn near impossible to ruin that. Well you'd have to try REALLY hard.

I don't really know though will see what others have to say.

-Red

John,

I think most people on the forum rarely spend anytime outside the Main Board. The one's that are interested/interesting enough to venture into the lesser known forums are invariably the people you develop relationships with.

Laughter is a great 'bonder'. I would not have got to know KimW as an example if I had not wandered into the OT section.

Di

Huh, I find myself facing the opposite dilemma. I often worry that I post too much upstairs and that the downstairs people won't like me .

In your specific case John, you have nothing to worry about. Shoot, we never interact (or deal with the same kind of business it seems) but I've known who you are and what you're about character-wise for quite a while now.

Seriously, I was thinking it would sound something like that! Yes. Okay mystery solved...lol Whew!



(as her sleeks out of the thread by the skin of his teeth...)

Saved by Miss T!

Why did John's last post make me think of this?

@ Kim

ROTFLMAO

Me and my brothers when we were kids didnt know what they stood for, and we would watch those guys on TV and say "Im the cop, no Im the indian....No! You cant be the cop AND the indian, I'm the indian...!"


....(Humming) ...."I want 2 be a MACHO!!!" lol

I just like the video in last ! haha