If you take a look at the Reader's Comments forum - you can find the emotion, the passion and all the rest that this forum is lacking ----- Thank God! --- the slagging, insults, the "my driver is better than your driver."

Perhaps age and the death of too many heroes have curbed our emotions?

F li.

There is no reason to act like children. We get into some heated discussions but name calling and insults no. And that's the way it should be.

Art NX3L

Gwen,

Damn right! - How's Art by the way?

I'll happily sling off at Art ... leaves his wife to cavort with nurses when he should be letting them look after him!
And what about his spelling?
At least he has some good memories, even if they are tainted with thoughts of steam trains and huge diesels...
And he doesn't even have a wreck in his backyard to keep the junker going!

Hi Gwen!

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

f li.

Art has been reincarnated to his old self and the nurse has been fired.

Gwen

Ray Bell.

I shot him this morning! And he has returned as a good guy.This will be Gwens last post.

Gwen

Now what can anyone say about a forum having shortcomings when someone gets shot because of it?
Now I just hope Nomad calls so Mark and I can meet up with her before she jets out, lots to tell her...

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

By the way, Nomad, 0414 85 7721 or 0410 53 3280 will get me most of the time, but the more time you give me the better chance of organising Mark...

I think the emotions are still there; they’ve just developed and become more rounded. With time we’re able to see different points of view and don't find it imperative to defend our own (we already know we're right).

I still enjoy the current scene but I find myself more detached than I once was. For me it happened after the death of Peterson. Because of all the tragedy we have witnessed we understand how fleeting is life and choose to enjoy it more slowly. What's the point in bashing today’s drivers when they are a pale representation of the drivers we cheered in our youth? Who cares if Mika is better than Michael or visa versa when we have a Moss, Fangio or Clark to think about.

I for one would no longer visit this forum if we became something else nor would we have attracted such people of the stature of Karl Luvigsen or my friends Ray Bell or Barry Lake.

------------------
Regards,

Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david

Life is racing, the rest is waiting

Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/



[This message has been edited by Dennis David (edited 03-14-2000).]

That was the long answer; here's the short: NOTHING!

------------------
Regards,

Dennis David
Yahoo = dennis_a_david

Life is racing, the rest is waiting

Grand Prix History
www.ddavid.com/formula1/

Well, I don't know about the others, but Karl and myself, well, we're some sort of class, anyway!
The people I really appreciate are Yelnats, Desmo, BRG, CVAndrew, Fast One and those others who can throw in facts and figures that have authority.
But I don't really like authority...
And I would like your comments on the AGP of former days thread, f li - is that different or what?

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

There is nothing wrong with this Forum that I can see. There seems to be a lot emotion spent on finding the true parentage of the GT 40. DNA testing may help... And Art you got to lay off the Viagra for a while.

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"Speed cost money, how fast do you want to go?"

Greetings,

Now that we know what's wrong with this forum, it's time for the next question - can we keep it this way? I love the no-backstabbing, no slagging, no namecalling (must I apologize for "calling" Art Gwen?) that exists here. May it live long and prosper!

It lives as long and in the way WE let live it!

And I must attest, I enjoy the momentary explosion, seen the last about 14 days. But I'm not able to contribute as f.e. Ray does - for not only one reason: First I'm only 42 and complete unknowing, I'm just too young and so I can only learn here; second I always must first translate, what I'm going to say, as you know, and this is a bit slowing down my posting; third I've to work a lot; fourth ...

And Ray, YOU are simply the best! What you brought on AGP is not to strike. Go on and bring more please.

E.T.

Ray

I appreciate your appreciation! And it is very much reciprocated. Hell, ain't we civilised!

f li

This is a forum for grown-ups (both young and old). There is plenty of room elsewhere in this BB for the more emotional stuff (and most of us sometimes drop in there as well). Opinions here are expressed in a calmer and more measured way, but are every bit as firmly held. What I like is that, with a bit of rational discussion, we can win each other around from time to time, unlike the fanaticism that often pervades Readers Comments.

But we still enjoy ourselves and I hope we don't take ourselves too seriously - I know I don't!

------------------
BRG

"all the time, maximum attack"

NOTHING!!!!!

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"I Was Born Ready"

When I drop into the Reader's forum, I become a little angry because my intolerance for one sided debate and people bashing tends to trip my defences into top gear. Anyway, this forum is great, iformative and nice, and everyone is generally open minded and not vindictive or overly biased (and if they are, then it doesn't show! )
I'll do my reading hear from now on, (with the exception of the games forum ) away from most of the children!

Perhaps we could have a 'Current Nostalgia' forum?
We could discuss current affairs as featured in Readers Comments, but without all the noisy children.

Perhaps we'd need some sort of code so that poeple thought we were talking about the Old Days - maybe subtract 50 years from all dates?

:-)

Nice idea, Matt.

I reckon that 1949 was the most interesting year of the 1940s, but I still prefer the racing in the 1920s...

This may take some getting used to....

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BRG

"all the time, maximum attack"

What this Forum has to offer to me is mostly those great stories about drivers and happenings-for I`m very, very intrested in hearing (seeing really) them from people I think are not just saying things to impress someone or to brag.

I just read about your "day job." If you don't mind my asking, how did you manage a navy commendation medal?

[This message has been edited by Pete Stanley (edited 03-15-2000).]

Don,

So sorry to give you a shock, - but this thread really is a celebration of the sane, rational, exchange of ideas and knowledge that was made possible by only because this forum exists.

May it live long and prosper!

Aw, Ray, thanks for the compliment! I’m getting a little misty eyed here- after all, I’m just a brand new semi-refugee from the sometimes erudite, sometimes surrealistically esoteric, frequently pedantic and usually ridiculous AOL Grandstand board. (Don’t worry- I’ve scrupulously avoided telling them where I’ve been hanging out, no matter how bitter the fights get over there- you want raw emotion on the most trivial of minutiae, well, I can direct you. But you’ll probably come right back screaming!)

P.S. Ray- I’ve really enjoyed reading your stuff, even if I occasionally get rather lost. A lot of it takes me way, way back to stories I heard as a kid about the rebirth of American racing after the war- only most of our wildest and wackiest innovation was confined to dirt ovals and drag racing. I wonder if it’s a Southern Hemisphere thing? You guys just seem to have more of an affinity for going around corners than we do.

I'll tell you what's wrong with this Forum. Everyone here knows way more than me, that's what. I have known relatively few people with the same passion for racing, especially racing as it was in its prime, so this is like a gathering of good folks I always wished to know. Sometimes I go for days without posting (quiet moods), but I always read... and learn. The "wing" debate was fun and informative, as was Joe's GT-40 fantasy thread. Topics like that drive me back to the books and articles I had nearly forgotten, and lead to other pleasures and discoveries while there. Dennis and Don, and now Karl, are walking encyclopedias.

I still check the Readers Forum from time to time, but get turned off by the disrespect and name-calling. This Forum has been a breath of much-needed fresh air, and I thank Don, Dennis, Ray, Kier, f li, BRG, and everyone else for making it that way. Now, if you could all kindly "dumb down" a bit, so I could feel like I'm not in over my head here, I'd appreciate it.

Poor old Irishman Eric hasn't had a compliment, and it's really an oversight - sorry Eric...
You blokes are right, especially the point about 'friends I'd like to have gathered with before.'
What a shame we can't all get together for a big pow-wow.
But then, it might be a disappointment after this!

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

I haven't had time to look at Readers' Comments and now think I don't need to make the time.
My main interests were this Nostalgia forum and the Technical forum. And I can barely make time to keep up with those.
For years I used the Internet only for sending and receiving e-mail because I never was able to find intelligent people with whom to communicate.
Now we have an opportunity to do that, please don't lower the standards. There are plenty of places for other people to go.

I hope you don't let on that it was me who introduced you to Atlas F1. I'd hate to get a reputation. By the way, is Graham Howard looking in secretly?
You can't trust some people, can you?
But seriously, the standard has shot up since December or so, when I first arrived. Not that it was my fault, but look at the people who have come in since - Karl, Keir, Eric and a few others, all of whom are newcomers and all of whom contribute quite a lot. Not Austria, of course, he asks too many questions and makes us all scratch our heads....

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

OK, OK, Ray

I promise, I Will slow down.



------------------

E.T.

Fortunately, our heads aren't made of wood. Therefore, we get very few splinters and the pain is not so bad.
Austria - keep asking whatever questions you like...

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

Thank you Ray, I am relieved. I really felt fear, your crown beeing serious bloody abraded. If there, nevertheless, any problem occurs, then I am able to suggest you a very, very good veterinary doctor.

------------------

E.T.

Re: Don's "day job"

Any website which has a link on the home-page to
"Weapons of Mass Destruction" is OK by me

I happened to stumble over this today.....

At the time the forum had perhaps a few dozen followers, the threads numbered in the low 10's and the number of posts might have exceeded the thousand or so mark by this time -- most by Ray judging from this thread....

WOW!

Don, not such a bad idea for all of us to search out some of the older threads.

Henry

I didn't look at the post date for the early posts and automatically assumed it was recent as Racing comments are exactly the same now, probably worse.

Much nicer and more interesting on here.

HM couldnt agree more, especially when I first joined and its something that every now and again I try to do, however with 17000 + threads I find I can either start at the very beginning and page back or to go one year back. How would I go to thread no 1000 for example without having to go page by page. Is there an easier way

So true!

There is an easier way.
Just click here
Now all you need to do is change the thread number at the end of the URL

thanks

Ditto. Out of all the forums I've witnessed, no other comes close to TNF in terms of having so many experts that are recognised in the field. Not only that, but - unless they're pros in disguise - even the 'amateurs' put my knowledge to shame. I can hold my own against the vast majority of 'petrol heads', but TNF is in a different league.

I'd like to thank the professional historians for putting up with hacks such as myself - we're not worthy!


Justin

What a hoot!

Btw, it's the first time I've "heard" Woodstock talk!

Nothing is wrong with this forum, and a heck of a lot is right. Firstly the knowledge of so many contributors always astonishes me. Clearly many of you are either anoracs or at one time was actually in the middle of the scene in those days ie drivers, mechanics, whatever. Secondly the contributors are grown ups with none of the cringingly awful name calling and bad language I've come across in other forums. Can you believe people getting heated in GARDENING forums?! Thirdly, the posts are often so well written. I have a personal gripe in that I refuse to read any post which lacks capital letters, spelling or punctuation. If the writer is too bone idle to check his post, I can't be bothered to read it. I'm particularly pleased at the growth of the various motorcycle racing threads although my knowledge of all those clubby pics on the 1970/1980s thread is woeful. And my knowledge of the European riders even worse.

All in all, the forum gives me a great deal of pleasure and I'm very grateful to you all.

^ What he said.

I think this forum is excellent for all the reasons already stated.

Examples abound elsewhere as to how not to respond and/or disagree online. Personally I am very grateful and interested in the contributions on TNF not least in my professional capacity as a 'scribbler'.

So thank you one and all for sharing your comments and personal knowledge.

What is wrong with this forum? That far, far too many here take this forum entirely for granted....

Don,
Can you please clarify what you mean?

There was the curious business last week of a thread relating to a ten-year-old topic being, quite rightly, moved by a moderator from Racing Comments to TNF, a practice that is common on other forums and then being deleted by Bira along with one commenting on it being moved. Is your oblique remark related to that?

I accept that if this forum were to disappear it would leave a big gap in my [internet] life. Is there a real risk of this happening or is this simply a stir on your part?

What's wrong with this forum? It's too bl***y addictive, that's what!

"That far, far too many here take this forum entirely for granted....."

Is that it? Are you just going to leave it there? Explain............please.

I would rather say , please do not explain!!

Personally I think that what makes a good forum is the spread of knowledge throughout the contributors. Undoubtedly TNF has the greatest collection of eclectic knowledge and for that I can not see much wrong.

I do agree that if it is taken for granted (and by that I mean the contributors are taken for granted) then it could well go to the wall. I most certainly hope that it does not!

In the mean time keep posting!

(and by that I mean the contributors are taken for granted)

By whom? Can we please have some plain speaking here instead of the riddles? I get enough of that with my wife. I've clearly missed something in the 'translation'.