º£½ÇÂÒÂ×

Way too political for my tastes and I saw no reason to use the F word.

I taught my daughter that there is no such thing as a "bad" word, and stand by this life lesson.

Think of another word with so many different meanings and usages.

With that in mind, I do indeed self-censor my writing to prevent reactions such as yours. Yet if we never wrote anything offensive to some, we wouldn't be writing anything worth reading.

7thPillar wrote:

..... Yet if we never wrote anything offensive to some, we wouldn't be writing anything worth reading.

Hi there,

In theory, anyone can say anything, anywhere, anytime, anyhow.

In practice, everybody says something with the result that the fools lose and the wise man wins. 

7thPillar wrote:

I taught my daughter that there is no such thing as a "bad" word, and stand by this life lesson.

Think of another word with so many different meanings and usages.

With that in mind, I do indeed self-censor my writing to prevent reactions such as yours. Yet if we never wrote anything offensive to some, we wouldn't be writing anything worth reading.

Please explain the advantage or necessity of using it.

mas fred wrote:

.... Please explain the advantage or necessity of using it.

Hey Fred,
It's just another way of Earthians attracting attention upon themselves. 

Fred and John, I think you're being a bit uncharitable here, and perhaps slightly over-sensitive. Personal blogs and websites in general are ego-trips, and attendance is voluntary, after all. I thought Pillar's was designed well enough, and well written. I don't necessarily agree with all his opinions, but I don't care and nor does he. My own blog "Barlow's Cayman" is very much an ego-trip. The opinions expressed there aren't intended to offend anybody, although some of them certainly do offend some people - on my home Island and/or overseas. Tough. I yam what I yam, as the sailor said.

Pillar's occasional use of a taboo-word is his personal choice, and shouldn't offend us. There are worse words, and worse contexts.

It doesn't offend me but I generally find, if you have to use those words without reason, the rest isn't worth reading.
Toss in the politics and it's a turn off for me.

7thPillar wrote:

I taught my daughter that there is no such thing as a "bad" word, and stand by this life lesson.

Think of another word with so many different meanings and usages.

With that in mind, I do indeed self-censor my writing to prevent reactions such as yours. Yet if we never wrote anything offensive to some, we wouldn't be writing anything worth reading.

Hi 7th,
Mas Fred is a great guy but to deal with him you must get to know him.
Just like me, he is an ironic man: he because he rides a 2-wheel iron and carries a 6-bullet iron in his holster as per pictures at his thread, me because I eat iron for breakfast.

Please do not fall into the trap of believing that everybody will worship you here before your first 100 posts because people do not worship even Bill Gates.  They all wait for him to pass away and then, by some miraculous nostalgia, they will begin talking about him as the latest Savior, the best of all past saviors.
/forum/viewtopic.p … 19#1694015

mas fred wrote:

It doesn't offend me but I generally find, if you have to use those words without reason, the rest isn't worth reading.
Toss in the politics and it's a turn off for me.

Hi Mas Fred,
You cannot be offended anymore after 3,555 posts.
You have seen many things here already and you are supposed to have a thick skin by now.

What I wondered myself after checking the F word was where exactly the follow up is.
I thought I could read some very bad remarks, bleeding wounds, trucker curses or at least some gross insults with hair-rising properties.  Alas, all the power of the F word was totally missing.
Then I realized it's just a shy let-the-steam-off type of thing.

Conclusion: one should never insult grossly if he cannot follow up on it. 

Gordon Barlow wrote:

..... The opinions expressed there aren't intended to offend anybody, although some of them certainly do offend some people  ...
Pillar's occasional use of a taboo-word is his personal choice, and shouldn't offend us. There are worse words, and worse contexts.

Hi Gord,

I am not offended by different opinions or sudden words.
Words show the temperature of the brain.

Good Gods, man!

The very last thing I'm looking for is disciples!

I'm just a reg'lar guy lookin' to get back to basics in a land that still appreciates Liberty and generally leaves folks alone.

When I carry iron, it's seldom obvious. 

A7

And I stand by the "reality" that there is "no such thing as a 'bad word.'"

Personal opinions do not affect "reality." Words is words; folks is folks, Death is the great equalizer, there is no "Death," and no contrary opinions will change "reality."

The Boot-Strap º£½ÇÂÒÂ×.

In the real world, swearing loses respect.
If you have to use it to make your point, you have no point.
Politics will always turn off those who don't agree with the brand you push, probably limiting your readership.
As for pushing the political virtures of any given country, that's commonly bad news as well.

mas fred wrote:

In the real world, swearing loses respect.
If you have to use it to make your point, you have no point. .....

The donkey needs to be flogged to start moving ... 

mas fred wrote:

Way too political for my tastes and I saw no reason to use the F word.

Then you would only hate half of mine.

7thPillar wrote:

I taught my daughter that there is no such thing as a "bad" word, and stand by this life lesson.

Think of another word with so many different meanings and usages.

With that in mind, I do indeed self-censor my writing to prevent reactions such as yours. Yet if we never wrote anything offensive to some, we wouldn't be writing anything worth reading.

Different people are sensitive to different "bad" words for different reasons.  As an African I heard a great many horrible words used to describe black people.  When I lived in the United States there were different words with the same intentions.  The local Africans found them offensive but they meant nothing to me.  Just as the words I find offensive mean nothing to them.

MiaCulpa wrote:

mas fred wrote:

Way too political for my tastes and I saw no reason to use the F word.

Then you would only hate half of mine.

And what will you do if he hates one half and ignores the other half?Ìý

To me, using the 'F' word and then not following up with some atrocious verbiage remains false advertising.  Empty promises with zero delivery. 

As for swearing, it's a nervous energy which needs to be released.  It is geared toward other people more than against self and gets things done when other means of persuasion failed to produce the desired results. 

This goes to show that I am a cerebral person.

MiaCulpa wrote:

mas fred wrote:

Way too political for my tastes and I saw no reason to use the F word.

Then you would only hate half of mine.

The other half of your what?

Don't get me wrong here, I swear on occasion; you should have heard me when I got a puncture yesterday whilst in a rush to get somewhere. Luckily that area is only populated by a few rats and lizards so no one was upset by my suggestion the offending nail was a sexually active product of a relationship between an unmarried couple.
However, I don't believe it adds anything useful to a blog of that nature.

As for politics - always a bad idea in a travel blog and, in some cases, it makes you sound as if you're some sort of political refugee, trying to escape a vile dictatorship. Much as I'm less than keen on U.S. foreign policy and the NSA's little tricks, I don't believe they're oppressive over there.
Last I heard, you can still say pretty much what you want without being arrested as an enemy of the state.

Oh no - a typical USA guy with a big Ego on a highly public self-expression trip!
People who try to emigrate from problems they have rarely succeed. It would be far more promising to immigrate to something he wants. In addition, a control freak like him will have to realize that nothing can be planned and catered for in third world countries. And of course that, for all its failings, living standards are still far higher in the Western world.

beppi wrote:

Oh no - a typical USA guy with a big Ego on a highly public self-expression trip!
People who try to emigrate from problems they have rarely succeed. It would be far more promising to immigrate to something he wants. In addition, a control freak like him will have to realize that nothing can be planned and catered for in third world countries. And of course that, for all its failings, living standards are still far higher in the Western world.

Now Beppi I wish I could invite for a few beers with the secret intention of getting you drunk ... 
1). Many expats make the mistake of traveling to a new place because they failed to be OK in their home country. It's strange, but true.  There are people who no matter where they go, trouble finds them again and again.

2). Your remark about 3rd world countries couldn't be truer.  I wish I could give you a special prize but for now I invite you to participate in my contest at /forum/viewtopic.php?id=332631

3). Living standards in the Western world are higher now.  For how long though do you reckon?Ìý

4). I've been thinking about this thread and wondered: why a Boot Strap º£½ÇÂÒÂ× after all?
Why is it always about cruel, bloody savings, about unemployeds, purse tightening, frugal dining, trips to the tropics paid with credit cards (not cash!), cheap flights, discounted cruises and snacks instead of a vitamin-rich 3-meal lunch?
How can we help poor men stay poor so they don't get poorer?Ìý
and after all this, when can we see the Luxury Yacht º£½ÇÂÒÂ× updates with everything at the high end?Ìý

Well, I prefer wine (but it must be red, and good). But when in the tropics, I usually don't drink any alcohol.

2. What has a contest about the number of º£½ÇÂÒÂ×-Blog members to do with third world living standards? In any case, I have no interest in silly attempts to predict the future.

3. Eventually, the third world will become first. For my part, I have already started learning Chinese.

4. I can't really follow you here. But in my opinion the best ideas on how to help the poor currently come from Paul Polak (). I talked to him a few weeks ago and might invest in some of his ventures.

Thanks for sharing your opinions and thoughts, y'all. I need all the help and guidance I can get, obviously.

For the record, I'm a US citizen by the accidental location of my birth. My folks were Canadian by birth, Native American, Ukrainian, Polish and Celtic in ancestry. So I have more citizenship options than most folks.

Although I've made and lost more in the last three decades than most folks in the world see in a lifetime, I'm just a Reg'lar Joe who prefers the wilderness to any urban centers. There are no yachts in my future. Gods forbid! I lead a simple life.

Ego? Not not so much. Y'all would know this if you read any of my articles and essays, and those folks who know me personally would laugh at the suggestion. I do however have skills that I like to hone - Painting and Writing are just two of them and although these skills have dropped a few coins in my pocket from time to time, they do not buy many rounds of cerveza.

Control Freak? No, Anarchist. I accepted long ago that the only things I can control are within my self, and have no interest in controlling others, beyond keeping my dogs safe.

I'm just a guy with a dream and the cajones to make it so. It may take longer than I'd prefer, but each day moves me forward.

And thank you, John for cutting this gringo some slack. Hopefully all of us will share a cold one together later this year.

beppi wrote:

Well, I prefer wine (but it must be red, and good). But when in the tropics, I usually don't drink any alcohol.

2. What has a contest about the number of º£½ÇÂÒÂ×-Blog members to do with third world living standards? In any case, I have no interest in silly attempts to predict the future.

3. Eventually, the third world will become first. For my part, I have already started learning Chinese.

4. I can't really follow you here. But in my opinion the best ideas on how to help the poor currently come from Paul Polak (). I talked to him a few weeks ago and might invest in some of his ventures.

1). Geez, no wine in the tropics? Not even chilled?
Sorry friend, I have no clue for what disease these symptoms are. 

2). It is not a silly attempt to predict when this forum gets its 1Mth member, and you could have won an US$26 e-book with ideas and practicalities on how NOT to do things the twisted way.

3). The Pharaohs, the Roman Empire which produced legislature on which our legal system is based, the Incas, the Ottoman Empire, all fell apart unable to cope with changes, so what to expect other than escape the huge collapse?

4). Why is there big talk only about little things, why not about nice, quality things?
I was appalled to see the Pope telling billionaires the size of Ray Dalio at Davos, Switzerland conference this past week how they should donate big time to the poor, and I wondered: why is the Pope not making US$1B and donate it all quickly to the poor?
Why do the untalented ones always try to convince the talented ones what to do with their cash?
Especially when the whole church system is rotten.

Read this revealing news which came out exactly when the Pope was playing his antics.

Priest charged with money laundering in Vatican Bank probe


5). Yes, there is a time for 'bootstrap', but hey, c'mon all the time?Ìý No new quality friends to lend a hand or to whom to lend a helping hand?Ìý

7thPillar wrote:

Thanks for sharing your opinions and thoughts, y'all. I need all the help and guidance I can get, obviously.

For the record, I'm a US citizen by the accidental location of my birth. My folks were Canadian by birth, Native American, Ukrainian, Polish and Celtic in ancestry. So I have more citizenship options than most folks.

Although I've made and lost more in the last three decades than most folks in the world see in a lifetime, I'm just a Reg'lar Joe who prefers the wilderness to any urban centers. There are no yachts in my future. Gods forbid! I lead a simple life.

Ego? Not not so much. Y'all would know this if you read any of my articles and essays, and those folks who know me personally would laugh at the suggestion. I do however have skills that I like to hone - Painting and Writing are just two of them and although these skills have dropped a few coins in my pocket from time to time, they do not buy many rounds of cerveza.

Control Freak? No, Anarchist. I accepted long ago that the only things I can control are within my self, and have no interest in controlling others, beyond keeping my dogs safe.

I'm just a guy with a dream and the cajones to make it so. It may take longer than I'd prefer, but each day moves me forward.

And thank you, John for cutting this gringo some slack. Hopefully all of us will share a cold one together later this year.

Hello 7th,
1). You an US citizen by the accidental location of birth?
You don't know how much I wished to have said that myself ... I'm unfortunately born in former communist country where for 38 years I dreamt about immigrating to Uncle Sam's country every single day.
As children, after seeing Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson in The Magnificent Seven in 1961, we thought that in USA we can shoot everybody who wrongs us ...    something we did not even dare to talk about doing to all who oppressed us in Romania ...

2). The dream of my immigrating to USA went with the wind one evening though while I was in Austria (mind you, on my way to USA) when I realized that I am truly free for the first time in my life at 38 of age.  Romanians were not even allowed to keep passports in their drawer and when we have been issued passports it was only for countries behind the Iron Curtain. Passports were mandatorily returned to Police upon coming back home.
You may have your own reasons to dislike USA, but you do not know how much USA meant to us.
However, nobody helped us Romanians free ourselves.  The liberator was none other than Gorbachev who got sick and tired of abusing people and who allowed it for socialist/communist countries to break free from their past ...
Please run at search at youtube.com for 'The end of communism is Romania' and you will see the Dictator getting sentenced for genocide in 4-5 minutes, pulled out of the emergency courtroom and shot together with his wife by firing squad.
It was a waste of bullets because heavy stones would have done the same job even better.
Mind you, he was never tried and executed for communism.
45 years of socialism came to a screeching halt in 4 minutes at Christmas time on 1989.

3). When you are down, always think at people who would love to be in your position ...

4). When I left my country, I knew it would be forever but I never imagined I would end up in a small sunny island nation working 5000 miles away from where I live.  As a dentist / dental technician and pro musician I never knew about computer or Internet in 1989-1990. Today, I earned bragging rights to say I am a master PC user.
If you fancy yourself as a bootstrapper let me tell you that I am the bootstrapper of bootstrappers 100% guaranteed.
Perhaps one day you visit the island (even if not in a yacht) and write my life story and paint my portrait (before I get too wrinkled).

5). Writing and painting like you do definitely are great artistic endeavors but ...  you need the public to buy your masterpieces.
No buyer = no healthy lunch.
No art lover buying = holes in the shoes.
While I do not suggest anyone to drop arts just to escape money problems, I shall always speak on behalf of becoming financially independent (even if not rich! ...) through a new profession in tune with the times: cyber-trading.
The art is to do what you love most but not suffer for it.

6). Here in this forum we chat this and that and sometimes irritate people who, troubled as they fancy themselves to be, do not know how lucky they in fact are ...

I, John C., coined the phrase:
º£½ÇÂÒÂ×s are the steam escaping the boiling pot. 
Do you like it?Ìý

Thanks so much for your kind words of support, John.

If my bunic, Nicolai still walked the Earth, I'm sure he would have shared the very same wisdom.

As a teen I attended a tennis camp owned by Don Kerbis, the first Romanian I recall meeting. He was warm, quick to laugh and fun to be around. You seem to be a fan of racquets, too.

Yet what were once lands to aspire too, are now lands to avoid, and vice-versa. Behind the Iron Curtain Yul Brynner (My middle name is Taras as in Taras Bulba), Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson inspired dreams of a better life for millions. In 2014, millions seek what you sought, but the dreamed of destination is different. Different Times = Different regimes = different motivations.

Thank you once again for encouraging my expat dream. I'll write a bit more about your shared wisdom soon.
A7

7thPillar wrote:

....  Behind the Iron Curtain Yul Brynner (My middle name is Taras as in Taras Bulba), Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson inspired dreams of a better life for millions. In 2014, millions seek what you sought, but the dreamed of destination is different. Different Times = Different regimes = different motivations.

Thank you once again for encouraging my expat dream. I'll write a bit more about your shared wisdom soon.
A7

Hi 7th,
Dreaming of immigrating to USA one day kept many of us Romanians out of trouble (whatever 'trouble' meant to communists).
Those who were unable to dream correctly, gave in to nervous pressures and today cannot tell any story anymore.

If you want to be an expat, the world is your oyster.