---

Um...what Welshy said...sort of. I don't think I'd be that harsh, but Welshy makes some good points. If you're sick of certain topics, avoid them. Realize that threads get hijacked. It's just the nature of the beast. But most of all...chill out! No one's done anything maliciously. Renee got pissed off, but you know what...she's Renee. If she gets pissed off, more power to her. She's got enough cache here to justifiably vent a little.

Also, nothing wrong with lurkers. I'm not for pecking orders. Anyone, IMO can post what they want. But realize that some of us feel a bit protective when it comes to certain others of us. So if you rag on someone, know that you may get some back.

This forum rocks, and none of us want to see it turn into something that sucks. I think if we all step back, take a deep breath and just calm down, it'll all be ok.

Anyone for a big ol' BT love fest tomorrow? I think we could use one. Here's a suggestion: everyone start a thread called "I like <insert BTer's name> and this is why." I'll start...

I agree with you guys also...Haley, Janelle, Jim, Welshy, Steve R, and anyone else that I talk to on here on a regular basis are my friends and silly little inside jokes and ragging on each other are what friends do.

As for Renee it seems every time she gets her panties in a wad she has to come on here and pick a fight to make herself feel better. Its an internet forum, if it has that much meaning in your life then get a new hobby!

Thanks Welshy. I agree with you completely and had a long post written, but it was just another form of what you said. You are much more eloqent and tactful than I so I will leave it at "I agree".

Just my 2 cents from a semi-lurker:

While this is a public forum, sometimes I found it confusing and distracting to see it flooded with threads with inside jokes and stories related to the same few people.  I don't follow them much, and when I do read them, I got really confused.  For example, I thought "changing a flat" is an educational topic about bike tire maintenance, and I found I didn't understand a thing from those postings. 

I maybe a little uptight and shouldn't take it too seriously in "My Cup Of Joe".  Thanks for reading. 

I unerstand and agree with your point, DK. I can see where some of the frustration comes from. My only issue is folks getting nasty about it and coming out of the wood work to pile on. As someone who has been here since back when there were just a few people on the site and 100 total was a milestone, I really appreciate what Ron has done and is continueing to do - and that includes growing and diversifying the site's subscribers - lurkers or active posters.

THIS is why we need a faq! Ron?

Celeb...I totally get what you're saying. I hate the thought of anything that approaches beingexclusionary (is that even a word?). So on the one hand, I like the inside-jokishness of this site, but on the other hand, I hate to think it may be off-putting (let me clarify that...I don't mind if it's off-putting if you get the joke, but if people are just plain confused, well that's no good). So maybe a faq, or if you don't get something, maybe just PM somebody. I think I can say with almost near certainty that there's no one here that wouldn't mind doin' some 'splainin' if asked.

Hey, Brett. Thanks for the analysis. Where do I send my check? Hope this is cheaper than my normal shrink...

Venting about things that annoy me does make me feel better. Isn't that the point of venting?

Glad I did something other than offend!!!!

Excellent, excellent post! And I for one am glad that this is such a diverse group, tied together by a common love for triathlon.

I was going to make a joke about the 95% of the time but thought I, instead, should humbly thank you for saying such a lovely thing about me. Thank you.

I get along just fine with people who disagree with me. On the other hand, I'm a bit wary of people who always agree with me.

Ok, can't post without some levity... The INTJ prayer: Lord, keep me open to others' ideas, WRONG though they may be.

If you can't laugh at yourself, you're probably a danger to others.

I agree with you Renee.

And I don't care how many posts you make or what your post count is, my point was that people who don't post yet judge the content of  those that do is crap.