BS: Why are there so many idle people here?

Subject: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Nick
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 01:09 PM

Every time I visit mudcat now it tells me how many idle people there are here.

Come on people!

Get a life and do something!

Go for a run or something!

Get a job!

And it seems to be growing...

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 01:16 PM

How do you know they aren't doing those things as well as being Mudcatters Nick? And what about those of us who are retired and/or not well enough to go out? I don't think many of us are online 24/7. You sound like my Gym mistress! ("Come ON girls, move those LEGS!")

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 01:23 PM

Well said Eliza.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 01:26 PM

You call communicating with friends all over the world being idle?
I hate running, thats why I learned to fight.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Charmion
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 01:26 PM

Hello, Nick, you normative thing, you:

I am a 56-year-old civil servant with asthma who doesn't have nearly enough time to play her mandolin during the rest of the week.

In Ottawa, Ontario, it is currently (a) Sunday and (b) -22 degrees Celsius (8 degrees below zero Fahrenheit) outside.

On the whole, I rather think I belong indoors today, don't you?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 01:31 PM

Good gracious Charmion! Minus 22C ! And I've been moaning about minus 10C here in Norfolk UK! Is it even possible to go outside with that degree of frost? I should think one would get frostbite after a few minutes! I'd stay under your downie with a nice hot cup of tea and keep warm. I visited London, Ontario in 1967, but (thankfully) it was summer.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 01:58 PM

People. I never will understnd how anyone can scoff at something others are doing that they are doing themselves.   

My brother once worked at a mental institution. When he came home, he reported that one inmate spent all day wordlessly peering into one corner after another.

Another inmate followed him around all day, loudly railing at the uselessness of what the first man was doing.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:00 PM

Idle? When I read or post here, my mind is busy! ;>) I can have more interesting & varied interaction with people and their opinions here (partly because I can pick & choose which ones) than in most 'live' processes.

I DO 'get out' and 'have a life', but as Charmion notes, it is cold out...and gas is expensive.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:07 PM

...responding to Ebbie's post...

I have a cartoon of a guy staring at a TV screen disdainfully, and remarking.."To think! People are watching this!"

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Micca
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:15 PM

I have spent the entire afternoon, (London England,cloudy and damp 8degC) indoors with a slightly iffy knee, reading, phoning and talking to friends,surfing on here and reading (both on line and in paper) and drinking Good coffee, and I see it as an afternoon well and productively spent. I will not let these nay sayers that think everyone should be "busy" disturb the even and pleasurable tenor iof my Sunday which would be perfect if Classic FM didnt insist on playing Bach!! ( I switched to a Random mixture of Folk (including a few Mudcatters) and Mozart with just a touch of Mahler on my CD player)

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:18 PM

What Bill D said. At the moment, I am watching the NFL On Fox pregame show, teleconferencing with two old buddies while they watch the pregame, chatting in another internut venue, trying to get warmed up after scraping the driveway and changing the oil in my generator, and telling you to sod off.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: BTNG
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:21 PM

Name: Nick

Career: windup merchant

Favourite hobby: winding people up

What Nick would like most: a life

memo to Nick: get over yourself sunshine

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

Eliza, imagine if you will -34 celsius and that was without the windchill factor, and yes some of us had to go to work... This was in Regina Saskatchewan this past week

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:21 PM

Oh... since you obviously have nothing better to do, why don't you pop over and scrape the rest of the ice off my driveway as it's NFL semi-finals today.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:24 PM

Good Grief BTNG!!! I just can't imagine cold like that! I must stop whingeing about this winter here in UK being a bad one. You must all have very hairy legs!

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: BTNG
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:28 PM

Long underwear for the men and flannel nightgowns and bed socks for the women are considered to be sexy lingerie at this time of the year! :-P

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:32 PM

Not all, Eliza... the ptarmigan have downy legs.

BTNG... welcome to The Mudcat Café. At least, welcome from the POV of becoming a member.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:32 PM

"Long underwear for the men and flannel nightgowns and bed socks for the women" BTNG

Great visual. lol

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:35 PM

But that's exactly what I wear here in UK !!

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: BTNG
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:37 PM

gnu, thanks, I've been a member for sometime, unfortunately (and NICK pay attention here!) work and other committments do tend to get in the way of regular posting. I'm enjoying the time I can get, to read the threads and postings that catch my eye.

BTNG
(which stands, of course, as many know, for Bollocks To Nick Griffin) :-D

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: BTNG
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:39 PM

But that's exactly what I wear here in UK !!
-Eliza

I think you and the family would be right at home in Saskatchewan!!

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Janie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:40 PM

Folks, I think Nick is playing off of the new "visiters to Mudcat" counter at the top of the page. Usually shows a hundred or more "idle" with 20 or so reading and maybe 4 to 7 writing.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:43 PM

How wonderful! I just love hearing about what people are doing! And we certainly are doing - connecting, learning about each other.... Such a pleasant and often thought-provoking way to spend one's time. One only has to choose threads carefully and bug out of ones that bug us.

I am reminded of an IBM employee of many years ago who, I was told, simply walked the hallways eating ice cream bars or such like. IDLE??? Not at all. He was paid big bucks - to think. A job he, apparently, did very well.

Some of these threads are challenging to my little grey cells. Some amuse me. Some trigger my thoughts about what I need, or want, to get doing.

So does FB and I will soon clear out of here to write a letter to the editor. Since it is only 5 F in Montreal and only 52 in our house. I am wrapped up and have computer on my lap, keeping warm. Now I am going to get hat and gloves to keep a bit warmer.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:44 PM

BTNG... oops... sorry... I only went by the fact that you had less than 50 posts, not by the date you joined. My bad.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: BTNG
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 02:46 PM

50!! blimey, I didn't think I had that many!! I really need to ...never mind! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 03:00 PM

Has anyone considered that Nick was referring to the new stats box that shows up sometimes at the top of the page, showing how many users are reading/writing/idle? That it might have been an attempt at humor?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 03:16 PM

Usually shows a hundred or more "idle" ...

The ones it shows as idle are those who popped in but were interrupted and had to go "do something else," and left the machine waiting until all the other stuff gets done.

What that means is that there are far too many people allowing other trivial and non-essential distractions to interfere with their attention to mudcat.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Janie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 03:26 PM

Hear Hear!

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 03:27 PM

Hmmmm What am I missing? My page doesn't show anything like that. Is it in the drop-down list?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: BTNG
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 04:12 PM

my view of the page was showing it earlier on, now it's not...odd... showing the number of people in Mudcat, that is !

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 04:54 PM

Where are yoiu finding the time from your busy life to watch, Nick?
;)

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Janie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 04:57 PM

Refresh it a couple of times, Ebbie. It rotates with "random links"

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: kendall
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 05:00 PM

Do you know that a recent study showed that flannel night gowns are the second biggest cause of divorce?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ed T
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 05:01 PM

It was -10C today where I live. The coldest I ever experienced was
-40 C about thirty years ago and it was in Ottawa, Canada. Winters a good time to stay in the warm indoors, to play with your instrument, catch up with friends, or post on Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 05:09 PM

I was involuntarily 'idle-ised' in 2005, at the agr of 57. I tried to get another job but all that was available was working in a call centre. After a few months I thought, "sod this!" and left. I'm now happily idle full-time. Well, actually there are lots of things to fill my time with - but when I get bored with those I can go on to Mudcat for a few minutes - and there's no-one looking over my shoulder who can register disapproval.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 05:14 PM

"Do you know that a recent study showed that flannel night gowns are the second biggest cause of divorce?" Kendall

Assuming that is a serious stat, Kendall, I would suspect that it is actually the cabin fever aspect of winter that casts the final straw. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 05:16 PM

current visitors to mudcat.org are:
35 reading / 8 writing / 155 idle

Thanks, Janie. I've never seen that feature before.

And my apologies to Nick.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 05:18 PM

Shimrod, when I retired some years ago, I soon filled my time. It was an opportunity to do loads of things I'd always wanted to do, and also just to sit and reflect, a luxury after a busy working life. Like you I'm enjoying spending a few minutes on Mudcat to air views, see what other people are thinking and doing, it's great. I should imagine working in a call centre was often dire.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Janie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 05:50 PM

I confess to have truly been quite idle all day. The bills are still in a pile waiting to be paid, therapy notes are not written, taxes have not been worked on, refrigerator has not been purged of leftovers past their time, and the last load of laundry has not made it from the washer to the dryer.

Oh yeh, and I didn't make my bed, either.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 05:50 PM

Geez, you wimps! In 1963 here in Pocatello, Idaho, it was -35F (-37.22C). Tomorrow's high will be around 0C. Wimps.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: michaelr
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 05:58 PM

I think "idle" on that counter means "logged in but not currently reading or posting".

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: maeve
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 06:29 PM

Tonight's temperature will be -18 to -20F (-28 to -29C). Is it idle of us to not go sledding at midnight?

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 06:30 PM

Rap... "Tomorrow's high will be around 0C."

Balmy. Lucky you.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 06:35 PM

My brother in law told me today that in North Carolina, where he lives, this is statistically the most severe winter they have had in 89 years. They even had snow on Christmas Day!

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 06:58 PM

There is a Suburb of Leeds , Yorkshire called Idle - AND it has its own Working Mans Club , which I would LOVE to join , then I could be an Idle Working Man Officially !

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 07:07 PM

In Oregon, there's a town called 'Boring'. Don't move there, Terry. It would not fit you. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Janie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 07:27 PM

It's true Ed, why, today, I don't thing the high went above 38 or 40.

Brutal.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 07:28 PM

If you think the people who post here are idle, you should see my dog...

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: kendall
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 07:52 PM

Ebbie, the number one cause of divorce is marriage.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 07:54 PM

:)

Subject: RE: BS: Why are there so many idle people here?
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 07:57 PM

Because I'm idle-ized by millions.