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The life of a thread
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Subject: The life of a thread From: GUEST,folkie Date: 04 Aug 07 - 04:59 PM Looking at a number of threads, there seems to be a definite pattern to the way that they begin, usually slowly, then peak, dip down into middle age, sometimes experience a renewal in later life and finally drift off into obscurity. The life cycle obviously varies according to the subject i.e. how contentious, personal or interesting it is. Could this be a good subject for post-grad research for a student of sociology or something? |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Cluin Date: 04 Aug 07 - 05:03 PM And they can be revived years later and taken out for another waltz around the room. Unless Joe or one of the Clones puts a stake through their heart. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Little Hawk Date: 04 Aug 07 - 05:12 PM Indeed, they are a fascinating lifeform. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: GUEST,folkie Date: 04 Aug 07 - 05:16 PM It must be awesome to have the sort of power that rests with Joe et al. To be able to merge, move restrain or even KILL a thread Wow, the responsibilty!
-Joe- |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: gnu Date: 04 Aug 07 - 05:33 PM "Could this be a good subject for post-grad research for a student of sociology or something?" Gosh. You haven't been aboutst this madhouse very long, have you? You could write a number of post-doctorate theses and postulates and hypotheses and analyses about these 'Cats. I include myself in that group. Analyze me! |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Bill D Date: 04 Aug 07 - 11:19 PM We're into historical stuff...so, with few exceptions, everything we've posted for 11 years is still here. Some of it is durned valuble, too! Kinda fascinating, but scary.... |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: JennyO Date: 04 Aug 07 - 11:26 PM I'd like to see them try to analyse the MOAB! She's been going over 4 years, has collected over 18,000 posts, is still posted to frequently, has rarely (if ever) dropped off the bottom, and has her own set of characters, both real and imaginary. MOM's children are dedicated to keeping her alive forever, visiting her daily and catering for all her needs. It's one of the first threads I visit when I log on to Mudcat - occasionally to post, but often to just lurk. This probably sounds odd to those who have never been game to approach her sheer size and age, but then again, this is no ordinary thread, this is The Mother of all BS threads! |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Little Hawk Date: 04 Aug 07 - 11:32 PM So true, Bill. Merely the arguments that you and I have had here over various arcane subjects would suffice to fill several volumes by now, and could reduce both Plato and Socrates to tears, I expect! ;-) (though whether it would be tears of despair or of laughter is a moot point...) As for the MOAB, forget it. No one is insane enough to try and analyze that. It has become a tiny club for the terminally verbose and Shatnerless types who lurk at the fringes of society, desperately hoping against hope that something they say or do actually matters. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: JennyO Date: 04 Aug 07 - 11:58 PM Ha! I've seen you on there, Leedle Hack! |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Amos Date: 05 Aug 07 - 01:03 AM Ach, Monsieur Hack!! You are EXPOSED!! Oh, zee hypocrisy. You call on Mom like a zhentleman, and zen you lurk around dese BASE establishments engaging in slanderous gossip about 'er. Zee SHAME of it. Eet is unCONSCIONable, 'ow you say. You will meet on ze Field of Honor at dawn, sir!! IF you can even find it. A |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 05 Aug 07 - 03:29 AM There are many besides Joe, afraid to boast of the skill, who can also kill a thread.... |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 05 Aug 07 - 03:32 AM What's the life of a thread anymore than a sneeze A thread has its season, so why should we grieve Though all thru its life, it appears fine and gay Like the sneezes they will wither and soon fade away EAT MORE ORANGES! |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Georgiansilver Date: 05 Aug 07 - 04:01 AM You may well debate the life of a thread, Invariably some of them end up 'dead'. But some come again through resurrection, If someones interest makes a connection. EAT MORE BANANAS! |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 05 Aug 07 - 03:15 PM I've noticed that a good thread often deteriorates in one of three ways toilet humor caviling over English usage and spelling politics For example, look at the thread on the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. I posted some technical information, much of it reassuring to the general population. What follows are mostly smart-alec posts criticizing politicians. Setting aside the snots who ridicule someone's English usage, among the threads that stayed on topic longest and were the most enjoyable were threads about language. I believe Mudcatters talk about language more than anybody. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 05 Aug 07 - 04:36 PM I've started threads that got only one response, and one that's closing in on 2,000. Makes sense to me, without a doctoral thesis. Threads that are very specific don't last long... lyric requests, for example. Once 26 variations with complete discographies are posted, there's not much else to say. Threads that are of borderline interest to the community (Jazz and rock and roll in the music section) die a rather quick, but dignified death because there aren't enough people to keep it going. Threads that are more open-ended, or encourage witty reparte are the ones that last the longest. And of course, the political ones. But, even the political threads are relatively short-lived if they are about specific politicians or issues. There's always another goblin lurking in the bushes, ready to be vilified. Threads about Republicans have a much longer shelf life than ones about Democrats... Jerry |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Amos Date: 05 Aug 07 - 08:28 PM Stand and answer for your base offenses, Monsieur Hack. Do not show yourself as a scurrilous poltroon as WELL as a blackquard. A |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 05 Aug 07 - 09:48 PM So leenia, your post should be categorised under, a) , b) , or c).... ? ;-P |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Janie Date: 06 Aug 07 - 01:17 AM My threads have three incarnations, always. First in the office, then in the garden or camping, then in the rag box:O) Janie |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Little Hawk Date: 06 Aug 07 - 03:22 PM I was away, Amos. I was engaged in business, yes, vitally important business! Ooooooo....I just bet you wish you knew what it was. But I'm not going to tell you. Ha! Ha! Ha! So. You dare to issue a challenge against mois, do you? You shall pay dearly for that foolish decision on your part. I choose Chongo as my second, and I think I'll let him choose the weapons too. ;-) |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Amos Date: 06 Aug 07 - 04:03 PM Pfui on your feeble excuses, poltroon and varlet of defaming tongue. Your time has lapsed and you ar ein default; your castle, lands and chattel are mine. Lest you try and fancy footwork, let me pioint out that your awayness was not so demanding that you could not visit the threads and post to them over 25 times from the time I posted this challenge to the time you protested you were away, away. It is too transparent, you are a Republican in your own mind. Go to. Lo, how the evidence reveals your duplicity: 7 Little Hawk RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads 06-Aug-07 - 03:15 PM 8 Little Hawk RE: Diane - Who DO you like? 06-Aug-07 - 01:55 PM 9 Little Hawk RE: BS: Spy Network in U.S. 06-Aug-07 - 01:50 PM 10 Little Hawk RE: BS: In every thread someone has to be last! 06-Aug-07 - 01:49 PM 11 Little Hawk RE: BS: And the next US President will be 06-Aug-07 - 01:47 PM 12 Little Hawk RE: BS: Circumcision: pros and cons 06-Aug-07 - 09:52 AM 13 Little Hawk RE: Diane - Who DO you like? 06-Aug-07 - 09:50 AM 14 Little Hawk RE: BS: And the next US President will be 06-Aug-07 - 09:43 AM 15 Little Hawk RE: BS: Conflate THIS!!! 06-Aug-07 - 09:27 AM 16 Little Hawk RE: BS: Circumcision: pros and cons 06-Aug-07 - 09:26 AM 17 Little Hawk RE: BS: And the next US President will be 06-Aug-07 - 12:58 AM 18 Little Hawk RE: BS: Bridge Collapse over Mississippi River 06-Aug-07 - 12:13 AM 19 Little Hawk RE: what phrases do you hate? 06-Aug-07 - 12:08 AM 20 Little Hawk RE: BS: A Death Wish? 05-Aug-07 - 08:36 PM 21 Little Hawk RE: BS: Circumcision: pros and cons 05-Aug-07 - 08:29 PM 22 Little Hawk RE: BS: And the next US President will be 05-Aug-07 - 08:15 PM 23 Little Hawk RE: BS: And the next US President will be 05-Aug-07 - 07:06 PM 24 Little Hawk RE: BS: And the next US President will be 05-Aug-07 - 06:53 PM 25 Little Hawk RE: BS: Circumcision: pros and cons 05-Aug-07 - 06:43 PM 26 Little Hawk RE: BS: And the next US President will be 05-Aug-07 - 06:35 PM 27 Little Hawk RE: BS: Circumcision: pros and cons 05-Aug-07 - 06:20 PM 28 Little Hawk RE: BS: Circumcision: pros and cons 05-Aug-07 - 02:28 PM 29 Little Hawk RE: BS: Spy Network in U.S. 05-Aug-07 - 02:16 PM 30 Little Hawk RE: BS: And the next US President will be 05-Aug-07 - 02:16 PM 31 Little Hawk RE: BS: Conflate THIS!!! 05-Aug-07 - 01:48 PM 32 Little Hawk RE: BS: Frequently asked questions 05-Aug-07 - 01:47 PM 33 Little Hawk RE: BS: Frequently given answers 05-Aug-07 - 01:43 PM 34 Little Hawk RE: BS: A Death Wish? 05-Aug-07 - 02:02 AM 35 Little Hawk RE: BS: Conflate THIS!!! 05-Aug-07 - 01:56 AM ===================================================== Date: 05 Aug 07 - 01:03 AM Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Amos - ================================================== 36 Little Hawk RE: BS: And the next US President will be 04-Aug-07 - 11:40 PM 37 Little Hawk RE: BS: Circumcision: pros and cons 04-Aug-07 - 11:37 PM Perhaps your Mister Shatner will now come and beam you out of this most dishonorable embrassment. A |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: MMario Date: 06 Aug 07 - 04:17 PM wait, wait, wait! the MOAB has imaginary characters? When did this happen? |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Little Hawk Date: 06 Aug 07 - 04:23 PM Oh, piffle. All those here who are curious must follow this dispute up at the MOAB, posthaste. That is... The Mother of all BS Threads. That thread needs some new blood now and then anyway. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Severn Date: 06 Aug 07 - 04:39 PM Is this anything like being "The Life Of The Party"? Is this supposed to be Biography or Autobiography? Is this the thread that you hang on for dear life by? Is this a better way to live than "The Life Of Riley"? Is this a "Life Threadnening Situation"? Or more like a thread of threaded wheat in the woven wheat wafer of life, and we but Poor Wafering Strangers? Until it DOES actually die, are we "where angels fear to thread"? |
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Subject: RE: O, For The life of a thread From: Severn Date: 06 Aug 07 - 05:50 PM Does this come with a 5000 mile threadwear guarantee? |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Little Hawk Date: 06 Aug 07 - 06:02 PM The puns are getting threadbare around here... ;-) |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Amos Date: 06 Aug 07 - 06:50 PM Jaysus, Severn, you are in a veritable fever of low-order creativity!! The answer depends on the nature of the thread. Some have double-reply construction which provides longer thread life, others are built on a distinct bias, which offers less threadwear. The most primitive ones are built overly-simply and rely on injections of compressed hot air, which means they can blow a thread out very easily, as they tend to drift excessively. A |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Greg B Date: 06 Aug 07 - 07:02 PM "What's the life of a thread any more than a sneeze" Gawd. That fucker Dibdin STILL gets his tentacles into everything. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Janie Date: 06 Aug 07 - 07:33 PM This thread seems to be unravelling.... |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Amos Date: 06 Aug 07 - 08:47 PM I think it would be interesting to see an autobiographical thread. "Although you would not know it to see me today, I was born in the midst of a fevered pitch of neurosis and insomnia, in the darkest hours of the night. My original author could not sleep, and conceived me in a tortured state between unwanted waking and a thirst for dreaming. As such, he knew I would be a perfect thread for the Mudcat, and there he placed me, hoping I would grow. "And so I did. ... I never will forget the first time I was posted to by a troll. I felt abused, even violated, my standards ignored, forced to contain the worst drivel this perverted, broken soul could spew through his lousy dial-up connection.... "In the flower of my blooming youth, I was a thread to see. Some of the greatest posted to me!! Big Mick, Joe Offer, even the legendary Catspaw. I was the belle of the forum, with a full dance card of posts and counter posts every evening, and doubly so on Saturdays. "...But as I grew older, I found they came knocking on my title less frequently, and I gradually became forgotten, as though everything that could be said had been, and I was abandoned for younger, more attractive threads. Thus I settled into a long state of disuse, with only an occasional meandering reader checking up on what I had once had to show the world so brightly. The day I first fell off the bottom of the screen was a day of horror. Where I had once floated amongst scores of interesting threads, rising up to the top often, and drifting among fellows of my kind, all at once I was cast into blackness. I cannot describe the feeling of falling off the bottom of the list. I prayed for someone to look me up, but the long dark silences continued, until I gave up hope. ...." :D Sad life. A |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Azizi Date: 06 Aug 07 - 09:38 PM Great post, Amos! |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Azizi Date: 06 Aug 07 - 09:39 PM Putting aside the play on words, and seriously considering this subject, it seems to me that some threads need more nurturing than others. Without nurturing from the thread starter or some other person or persons posting to that thread, the thread may fade away sooner rather than later. How does a thread receive nurturing? One way is that the threadstarter or another poster or posters moderates the conversation, interjecting comments and questions directed to a specific person or to the thread posters at large. The thread starter-or some other person who takes on the role of nurturer/energizer of that particular thread-also might post informational links or move the conversation to a tangential but promising area of consideration-thus giving that thread a new lease on life. Pity the poor thread that has no nurturer to look after it. It's hard for a thread to be out there on its own for how can a thread live all alone? But on the other hand, it depends on the nature of the thread. Some threads are more independent than others. These threads don't care-at least don't act like they care-how many posts they get from other people. What they care about is whether the information they want to share gets out there in cyberspace. Sometimes the only person who post to these types of threads is the threadstarter. And that threadstarter may post information that she or he thinks is worthy of sharing-again and again and again. What motivates these threads is the knowledge that they never really die {that is, unless someone with the power kills them}. These threads are patient. They know that five weeks, five months, five years or more from the time of their last post, someone somewhere may read them and have an Eureka moment or maybe not. Maybe that person will vehemently disagree with the information, or comments, or opinions carried by that thread. Maybe that person disagrees so much that he or she will find the energy to post on that thread and in doing so gives that thread a new lease on life. This, too, is the life of a thread. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Little Hawk Date: 06 Aug 07 - 10:20 PM That was truly magnificent, Amos. When you're good, you're good. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Celtaddict Date: 06 Aug 07 - 11:57 PM BillD says: Some of it is durned valuble, too! Wonderful typo! You could have meant, with only a single letter change, either 'valuable' or 'voluble'! |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 07 Aug 07 - 08:13 AM Too many Warfarin Strangers could poison a thread... |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Cluin Date: 07 Aug 07 - 04:44 PM "...I prayed for someone to look me up, but the long dark silences continued, until I gave up hope. ...." Then one day I was roused from my involuntary torpor and ill-used by a spammer. The spammer was quickly shown the door by one of the bouncer clones, but not before I had found new life. New posters weighed in with their takes, old friends returned to reminisce or reflect on perhaps a mellowing of their stance as the years had passed. And I found I had not been forgotten. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: GUEST,Pass Date: 08 Aug 07 - 04:45 PM If you want a thread to stay open, never make your thread contribution sound like the final word, but always leave something in your post that another can hopefully add on to and flesh out, like Amos did off some of Severn's puns. Leave something new for someone else to hang a thought on. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: GUEST,folkie Date: 08 Aug 07 - 06:26 PM What sort of something were you thinking of Guest ..Pass? |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Little Hawk Date: 08 Aug 07 - 07:35 PM If you want a thread to stay open, make your thread contribution one that is guaranteed to piss off and enrage certain people who read it... The thread will definitely stay open for at least a few more posts, if not a veritable flood of them. ;-) |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: JennyO Date: 09 Aug 07 - 06:48 AM There speaks the voice of experience ;-) |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: Little Hawk Date: 09 Aug 07 - 07:17 AM Yeah. (grin) I don't do it just for that purpose, though... It's an occupational hazard of being a bit unconventional in my views. Some might even say, radical. One thing for sure. If you wave a red flag, any lurking bull will find it almost impossible not to charge. |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 09 Aug 07 - 08:20 AM Well, that certainly sounds like a load of Bull, LH.... :-P |
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Subject: RE: The life of a thread From: JennyO Date: 09 Aug 07 - 09:18 AM How much does it charge, and can I afford it? |
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