Where Is Our Ettrick puffer?

[puff_not_snuff]

got nothing on grumpy grumps complaining about thread quality, now that stuff chases people off. Makes them feel worried about starting threads and the like. It's amazing how that can dry out a forum fast and make dull and lifeless. But thankfully we wouldn't get people that round here.

Also, and I don't say this in jest at all but this hobby attracts a small group of people who might likely be "on the spectrum" (which seems to be the appropriate term these days to describe various degrees of autism) so it's something to be mindful of. I would hate to further alienate such a person.

I stopped drinking like 2 years ago and now when I have a drink here and there I realize just how much it can change my personality. I was generally a happy go lucky drunk until I logged onto some form of social media and saw something that annoyed me and because of the liquid courage or stupidity, I would often find myself making snarky or downright mean comments. The same sort of things still annoy me but I pay no mind to them 99% of the time now and feel better for it. Not saying this applies to anyone posting here but it might if one were to stop and consider it.

 

[AJL67]

Or both.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Also, and I don't say this in jest at all but this hobby attracts a small group of people who might likely be "on the spectrum" (which seems to be the appropriate term these days to describe various degrees of autism) so it's something to be mindful of. I would hate to further alienate such a person.

I stopped drinking like 2 years ago and now when I have a drink here and there I realize just how much it can change my personality. I was generally a happy go lucky drunk until I logged onto some form of social media and saw something that annoyed me and because of the liquid courage or stupidity, I would often find myself making snarky or downright mean comments. The same sort of things still annoy me but I pay no mind to them 99% of the time now and feel better for it. Not saying this applies to anyone posting here but it might if one were to stop and consider it.

With respect, I don't know that the demographics of pipe smokers suggest any more or less issues with any sort of condition and I sure don't want to open up that discussion, but folks should sure share as much or as little as they feel comfortable sharing, and maybe you are just reminding us that we all have challenges, and I get that.

Was always very happy to see Ettrick, and I had noticed him by his absence, but I figure if he's not here he's got a reason and at least looking in on this thread reminded me he seems to be a good guy and hope all is well in his world.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

With respect, I don't know that the demographics of pipe smokers suggest any...and maybe you are just reminding us that we all have challenges, and I get that.

Yes I was. Please forgive any clumsiness on my part.

 

[edger]

What is it about pipe smokers that elicits such contrarianism. I asked a simple question.

 

[anotherbob]

Also, and I don't say this in jest at all but this hobby attracts a small group of people who might likely be "on the spectrum" (which seems to be the appropriate term these days to describe various degrees of autism) so it's something to be mindful of. I would hate to further alienate such a person.

I am going to say this in an indelicate way but if you smoke a pipe you're already a bit strange, if you want to join a forum to talk about it.... You're a freak. That said my people are the weirdos and freaks, I not so secretly consider normal people pretty boring. That reminds me of one thing I've thought about on this forum. Which is that if our hobby needs new blood. That new blood is going to have to come from all over the place. I.e. what people call diverse. Helps that most people here are actually pretty tolerant (they put up with me).

I stopped drinking like 2 years ago and now when I have a drink here and there I realize just how much it can change my personality.

Yeah. Or at least you're awareness. I feel like I am the same person when I am drunk just only aware of what is going on five feet in front of my face and only if it's obvious. Which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the situation (and the problem with life is you don't get to always pick the situation, even with good planning).

I was generally a happy go lucky drunk until I logged onto some form of social media and saw something that annoyed me and because of the liquid courage or stupidity, I would often find myself making snarky or downright mean comments.

I guess I am lucky last thing I want to do when drunk is go online and if I do I am more likely to go down a rabbit hole of some weird subject matter.

The same sort of things still annoy me but I pay no mind to them 99% of the time now and feel better for it. Not saying this applies to anyone posting here but it might if one were to stop and consider it.

I think I dig what you're handing out.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Also, and I don't say this in jest at all but this hobby attracts a small group of people who might likely be "on the spectrum" (which seems to be the appropriate term these days to describe various degrees of autism) so it's something to be mindful of. I would hate to further alienate such a person.

Did you just call us retarded?

 

[anotherbob]

With respect, I don't know that the demographics of pipe smokers suggest any more or less issues with any sort of condition and I sure don't want to open up that discussion, but folks should sure share as much or as little as they feel comfortable sharing, and maybe you are just reminding us that we all have challenges, and I get that.

Was always very happy to see Ettrick, and I had noticed him by his absence, but I figure if he's not here he's got a reason and at least looking in on this thread reminded me he seems to be a good guy and hope all is well in his world.

I think it makes sense. One of the "symptoms" of autism is nit picking on the details of something, fixation. And joining a forum like this is a for of fixation. That said it would make sense that people with certain conditions would be more likely to be on a forum like this. Also just an important side note, when does behavior become disordered? Well when it interferes with the rest of your life. If your life isn't as rich as it could be because you would rather be here, if you have lost a job for example because you spent too much time on the forum.

 

[anotherbob]

Did you just call us retarded?

Different things. One is underdevelopment mentally across the board. The other is unbalanced mental development. One part of the brain is over developed while others are under developed. That's a pretty simple explanation of it.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Different things. One is underdevelopment mentally across the board. The other is unbalanced mental development. One part of the brain is over developed while others are under developed. That's a pretty simple explanation of it.

Oh.

 

[anotherbob]

Oh.

I don't know why but I think that's the best response ever. Though now if I ever run into you I have a story I got to tell you.

 

[AJL67]

Did you just call us retarded?

I prefer Ra-tard myself.

 

[Hillcrest]

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Back on track!!!!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Also, and I don't say this in jest at all but this hobby attracts a small group of people who might likely be "on the spectrum" (which seems to be the appropriate term these days to describe various degrees of autism) so it's something to be mindful of. I would hate to further alienate such a person

Or you work a 7 day/84 hour work week at a job with zero social interaction.

 

[craig61a]

Did you just call us retarded?

Dude… Challenged please.

 

[anotherbob]

Dude… Challenged please.

that is called a bachelorette.

 

[beefeater33]

Did you just call us retarded?

No- We are Handi- capable..............

 

[puff_not_snuff]

I am going to say this in an indelicate way but if you smoke a pipe you're already a bit strange, if you want to join a forum to talk about it.... You're a freak. That said my people are the weirdos and freaks, I not so secretly consider normal people pretty boring. That reminds me of one thing I've thought about on this forum. Which is that if our hobby needs new blood. That new blood is going to have to come from all over the place. I.e. what people call diverse. Helps that most people here are actually pretty tolerant (they put up with me).

Yeah. Or at least you're awareness. I feel like I am the same person when I am drunk just only aware of what is going on five feet in front of my face and only if it's obvious. Which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the situation (and the problem with life is you don't get to always pick the situation, even with good planning).

I guess I am lucky last thing I want to do when drunk is go online and if I do I am more likely to go down a rabbit hole of some weird subject matter.

I think I dig what you're handing out.

Well Bob, I'm glad someone here understands me! I have to say in all the posts I've read of yours you always come off as someone is utterly unmalicious even when you are trying to be snarky. Very zen-like in your un-miff-able in nature and seemingly content in this contentious, unforgiving world of ours. So cheers to that.

And to everyone else here reading... you are all special flowers to me!!

 

[Streeper541]

***UPDATE ON ETTRICK PUFFER***

Yesterday I spoke to a guy, who knows a guy, who overheard a conversation between two guys, who both knew guys, one of which knew a guy, who might've been Ettrick's cousin. Apparently, he has been abducted by space aliens and is off planet learning how to referee new sporting events and teaching them how to properly smoke tobacco from a pipe to prepare for their arrival on Earth. So, ya'll can stop worrying now. He'll be back...



I heard they crew left a message so we wouldn't get worried, but evidently, we missed it somehow.