Letter to a Moving Train

brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,088
edited December 2012 in A Moving Train
Dear Train,

How else can I put it? We're a wreck. I'm sorry to be so blunt but seriously, look at us: A record number of our cars have been decommissioned, some of us who are regular riders seem to insist that vitriol is the fuel of choice to keep things moving, the locomotives are trying their best to pull us along but the baggage car (and I mean baggage) seems to be trying is best to tip the whole line over and cause a derailment. Among our string of hoppers, box cars, flat cars, tankers, mail cars, observation cars and coaches, the only car that seems to not have been tampered with badly is the lounge car- thank goodness! I appreciate that very much and mention it not for my ego but simply for the fact that it so often seems the last place of refuge on this rickety ride.

I haven't talked to our engineers, brakemen and conductors lately so I can't say this for a fact, but I'm guessing the crew are at least a bit miffed with we who are along for the ride and I think we owe them at least a little gratitude (thank you!) and certainly a lot less grief. Hey, me included. I'm no angel and I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular.

Again, I'm sorry to be so blunt and surely don't mean to sound self righteous. I've screwed up and received a few well deserved :nono: before myself.

So, fellow riders, I hope we can keep the wheels on the tracks. It's been one of the better, more interesting, often inspiring and educational rides I've been on in my time and I'd be very sorry to see this thing end up in the scrap yard.

I'm off to the sleeper. Good night ladies and gents.

Sincerely,

Brian
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.
Democracy Dies in Darkness- Washington Post













Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • StillHereStillHere Posts: 7,795
    :thumbup:

    I got off at the 2nd stop on the line.

    You guys enjoy the ride.
    peace,
    jo

    http://www.Etsy.com/Shop/SimpleEarthCreations
    "How I choose to feel is how I am." ~ EV/MMc
    "Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends." ~ One Stab ~
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,088
    StillHere wrote:
    :thumbup:

    I got off at the 2nd stop on the line.

    You guys enjoy the ride.

    Get up, make coffee, check in on the train...

    Hmmm.... I'm with you, Jo. There's always AET. Think I'll ride there or sit on the Porch for a while. I'm getting off on the next stop.

    Here it is! Later everyone.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.
    Democracy Dies in Darkness- Washington Post













  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    We're (mostly) adults here, and while it's nice to have guidelines in place regarding how we treat each other, people need to keep themselves in check, just like in the real world.

    And if they can't?

    Time out, just like a tantrum-throwing child.

    Been reading some of the threads over the last few days, those locked and not. Posted some, held my tongue on some (or "Churchilled", aka CBG - I love that), other times just said fuck it and walked away; would rather focus my energy on something else.

    There's no need for extremism - if there's a valid point trying to be made, it'll be lost in, or at the least, diluted by, the melodrama.

    So...yeah. Other ways to let off steam and release.
  • redrockredrock Posts: 18,341
    edited December 2012
    You're right Brian.

    I need to walk away too. But it's difficult when some things you just feel you need to 'highlight' (for lack of better, non provoking word). Might have missed my stop... :oops:

    Might just go to the lounge and have a coffee (can't drink yet - need to drive a bit later).
    Post edited by redrock on
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    this debate has been building up for awhile now.

    it was like a tinder box waiting for a spark, and unfortunately a spark came on friday.

    unfortunately this event has brought out the worst in all of us. tensions are high and i think it is going to be that way for awhile.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • JeanwahJeanwah Posts: 6,363
    Eh. Think I'll get off this train for a while. My faith in humanity still exists but it doesn't exist here right now, that's for sure.
  • I've retired from AMT. Can't take the sheer negativity and baiting and bullshit anymore. too many self righteous people.
    Gimli 1993
    Fargo 2003
    Winnipeg 2005
    Winnipeg 2011
    St. Paul 2014
  • pandorapandora Posts: 21,855
    I had to look first to see if it was last years farewell letter. ;)

    No matter the opinion let kindness rule ...
  • Agreed. I think we should get together and discuss the awesomeness of music, how it has made us stronger and better people. For brevity sake, we should try to just focus on one band, perhaps a band that we all have ties to that have equally changed our lives. Know any bands like that?
    Virginia Beach 2000; Pittsburgh 2000; Columbus 2003; D.C. 2003; Pittsburgh 2006; Virginia Beach 2008; Cleveland 2010; PJ20 2011; Pittsburgh 2013; Baltimore 2013; Charlottesville 2013; Charlotte 2013; Lincoln 2014; Moline 2014; St. Paul 2014; Greenville 2016; Hampton 2016; Lexington 2016; Wrigley 2016; Prague 2018; Krakow 2018; Berlin 2018; Fenway 2018; Camden 2022; St. Paul 2023; MSG 1 2024; Baltimore 2024
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    yeah it is brutal on this forum lately.

    just like the old school train before the board became pay to post.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • I come & go, just like great threads. Part of me feels like I really don't have the time it takes to actively participate on a train that goes nowhere. Then, I try to accept that a fluid, meandering ride is what you guys want and I'm the newbie so I keep checking in to try and enjoy the ride it is --- not the potential ride I know it's geared for.
    As far as the AMT ugliness this past week; when in turmoil, we often take it out on our family & friends and that's what I attributed this past week to. Everyone here could have turned elsewhere to try and put words to their thoughts and many of us probably did. But, we also turned to here too. We all have at least one common tie here, me included, but for you guys, you've been a PJ community for quite some time and with that, more ties.
  • There are approx. 25 threads on the first page, which I may read 5-7 of them, and respond to about 3-4 or them. I may participate in 2 or 3. I believe that its unhealthy for the trains atmosphere for any person to be all over every single thread. It is much better to come and go, read and think before responding, and having empathy for others. Its easy for those to ruin threads, which is not fair for anyone on the train. Its great to have these debates, conversations and posts. The train will never derail, as we all come together when needed. We are all AMT riders first and foremost, when on the train. If anyone gets angry, mad or emotional at ANY point, they must not have a handle on themselves or the topic. Every topic should be met with empathy, curiosity, interest and light-heartedness.

    I forgot to ask Brian is our engine a Steam Engine? Do we have coal on board, cause if we do, those who act out of order should have to accept a piece of coal rather than an alcoholic beverage. LOL

    Im sure many of you hate to hear from me. "A man that stands for nothing, will fall for anything" is my approach. Im sorry but my positions are there for a reason and I believe they are best for the country and the world. I believe the world would be a dark place without a prosperous America. Thats where all my beliefs materialize from. Also, I believe that God empowers the individual and his intentions are for all people to be free. How best to free everyone in this world? Limit govt.'s overreaching brutalities. To me, that is where all my policies shape up!

    Ill come and go....and I will only respond to about %10 of the threads. To me thats a perfect blend of truth on the train from fear4freedom! Godspeed to all on the train!
    Theres no time like the present

    A man that stands for nothing....will fall for anything!

    All people need to do more on every level!
  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,124
    You're funny Brian.

    Your OP consists entirely of puns and metaphors and then you say "sorry to be so blunt" :wtf:

    ah, I'm just busting your buffers anyway....


    I gotta say though....I do not like it when an entire thread is "closed for review"...ESPECIALLY when it is done in what appears to be a multi-thread sweep.

    1) Are these "reviews" actually conducted?
    2) Are the results of said "reviews" ever shared?
    3) Has a thread ever been re-opened after such a said review?

    I think the "closed for review" procedure is just a way to throw water on some perceived fire. Without any further explanation, such "closed for review" threads inevitably come to be viewed by me as.... we the children of the ten club just got yelled out by the mommy of the ten club....and what she says goes...no questions allowed.

    If the thread is a valid one, such as the "recent shooting" one, why close it? wouldn't it make more sense to address the guideline violations/violators instead of removing the whole damn subject?!

    I really don't think we deserve that kind of treatment.


    To continue.... It does seem like contentions are carried across threads so much that people automatically get nasty and sassy with each other, which looks strange in the context of any one individual thread. I find myself often going back & rereading the thread because I think I must have "missed something"

    I'd also like to mention that constantly pointing out or addressesing what one finds annoying with another poster, is just as annoying!

    And while I'm at it, I gotta say something about that face palm "smiley"
    I very much dislike seeing it used as a condoscending tool in any thread. My feeling is ....if you are about to use it....take it as a sign that you are about to criticize somebody in a not nice way ...and just don't!
  • redrockredrock Posts: 18,341
    rollings wrote:
    I think the "closed for review" procedure is just a way to throw water on some perceived fire. Without any further explanation, such "closed for review" threads inevitably come to be viewed by me as.... we the children of the ten club just got yelled out by the mommy of the ten club....and what she says goes...no questions allowed.

    I think it is a bit of a 'time out' as things were getting a bit heated. Apart from a couple of the threads, most of the 'closed for review' ones were reopened. Gave us a bit of a breather I think....
  • rollingsrollings unknown Posts: 7,124
    redrock wrote:
    rollings wrote:
    I think the "closed for review" procedure is just a way to throw water on some perceived fire. Without any further explanation, such "closed for review" threads inevitably come to be viewed by me as.... we the children of the ten club just got yelled out by the mommy of the ten club....and what she says goes...no questions allowed.

    I think it is a bit of a 'time out' as things were getting a bit heated. Apart from a couple of the threads, most of the 'closed for review' ones were reopened. Gave us a bit of a breather I think....

    well see, what do I know? (not much I guess :oops: :P )
  • redrockredrock Posts: 18,341
    rollings wrote:

    well see, what do I know? (not much I guess :oops: :P )

    You need to get to the lounge car and have a drink with friends every once in a while! Chew the fat as they say...
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