BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer

Subject: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Amos
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 11:53 AM

Well, I have gotten home from a lovely week in the North Carolina pines where I got to spend a lot of time with Brother Joe. We'd both shown up at Dani's place to make a combined Getaway expedition, and she took one look at the two of us and took pity on us, haled us up by the back of our collars and took us in in order to shake some sense into us.Well. also. we were both wetter than junkyard-dogs on account of the rain. I'd have to say it was effective, but in the course of that therapy Joe and I got to talk a lot, fueled by both inspiration and other fluids.

Now Brother Joe3, as you know, is the most salient and well-known of the various moderators of the Mudcat, This means that when someone doesn't like something that happens on the 'Cat, it has to be Joe's fault. Of course that isn't necessarily so, but he's taking point, so he gets a lot of the heat whether due him or not. And he's mostly a very patient and kind guy and tries to deal amicably with all kinds of idiosyncrasies and melodramatic chest-poundings and collisions of egos and what-have-you. And he's been doing this for a looong time.

So in the course of all these textual misadventures he has developed a certain amount of wisdom, which our late-night sessions allowed him to share with us while we were drying out (on the outside, anyway) at Dan's place.

Anyone who's known Joe for long will probably have a few gems or tidbits or knucklebones to add to this collection, but here are two of my selected favorites.

Most people aren't half as bad as other people think they are. And,

Most people aren't as good as they think they are.

(Humbly offered as a gift to the collective Wisdom of the Cat).

A

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: akenaton
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 12:32 PM

Sure Amos, Joe's a lovely guy. I miss his hands on the tiller on Mudcat.

My only worry is his idea that the Church can evolve to fit in with the latest fad of society......The Church is a conservative organisation and that is how it should remain if it is to survive.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 12:45 PM

Joe is indeed a wise feller about lots of stuff! I have traded thinkable thoughts with him on many things... including the complex 19 years of Mudcat.

(but Ake... there is no one 'church'... and some are not very conservative. Survival is not a requirement, anyway... for churches or us)

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 12:53 PM

I always enjoy Joe's posts. They are thoughtful, civil and are always informative. I also appreciate that he knows when to walk away from circular arguments. I wish we had had more like him, then we could enjoy civil dabate and be free of toxic arguments.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 02:35 PM

I think Joe is one of the good guys. Sadly this thread has already been doomed by those who will use any opportunity to promote their own brand of bigotry.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Megan L
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 02:35 PM

After that eulogy Joe ahm no sure if ahm meant tae gie ye a bowl o gruel and a comfy chair or anither coat o shellac :)

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: GUEST,#
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 03:19 PM

I checked Google Images for Joe Offer. He's ok by me.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 03:19 PM

I can imagine Joe Offering some variants on those two

Some people aren't half as good as other people think they are.

Some people aren't as bad as they think they are.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 03:41 PM

special Offer!


https://soundcloud.com/denise_whittle/tribute-to-joe-offer

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: gnu
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 04:00 PM

Thanks, Joe. Many, many times.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 06:17 PM

My hat too is off to you, Joe! Endlessly patient man. Until he isn't, of course. The man has limits. Bravo, Joe!

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Bert
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 06:47 PM

Joe, do you have a picture of you singing campfire songs? I have a cherished memory of you with a hat on, standing on one leg singing at a campfire at one Getaway.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 08:44 PM

Well, now, I know some things about Joe Offer and I'd better tell them before this thread gives him a swelled head.

1. Joe Offer is an okay guy. Better than most, but I know for a fact that the last time he tried to walk on water he sank clear up to his ankles.

2. Joe lives in California, but that shouldn't be held against him. Decent people do live there.

3. Joe is welcome at my house anytime he loses his mind and wants to visit Idaho.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 09:00 PM

In the original post Amos wrote, "Now Brother Joe3, as you know, is the most salient and well-known of the various moderators of the Mudcat, This means that when someone doesn't like something that happens on the 'Cat, it has to be Joe's fault. Of course that isn't necessarily so . . . "

Which makes me think of the famous Gershwin song, "It ain't necessarily Joe."

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 01:01 AM

Damn. With all these people saying all these nice things about me, You'da thunk I'd kicked the bucket, or somethin'...

I ain't dead yet.

I think of myself as a person who speaks slowly. I think that's a good trait. Comes from the Great Midwest. I do, too.

Amos is quite the philosopher himself, and we had some interesting discussions over the last week. Good thing Dani was there to referee and feed us.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 03:37 AM

Thanx Joe

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 07:30 AM

I will say that the most important thing I learn from hanging around with Joe is to wait for that slow speaking.

Most of us, and I am particularly guilty, run our mouths faster than our brains. And the smarter and wiser you are, the more you should slow down.

Everything that bangs around in there doesn't need to come out. It's ok just to ponder.

Lessons 1 and 2 that I learned from Joe.

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 09:05 AM

'Tis true that Joe Offer is wise
More so than the rest of us guys
Yes, wiser, in fact,
Than the rest of the pack
For wisdom, ol' Joe gets first prize



(As proof, consider the fact that Joe Offer does not waste his valuable time composing silly limericks about Joe Offer.)

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 01:32 PM

I was impressed by the wisdom of a point Joe made about religion in a PM. Who knows, I may have been part of the impetus for the first attribution Amos made about Joe's wisdom. I encountered Joe's criticism when a complaint was delivered to him by a member. There was no typical internet wrath and anger, just misinterpretation and amplification of someone's sensitivity about religion I had not anticipated.


PS
HEY RAP, did you ever see the classic librarian movie 'Storm Center' ?

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: GUEST,kampervan
Date: 12 Oct 15 - 02:42 PM

Joe wrote...

'Damn. With all these people saying all these nice things about me, You'da thunk I'd kicked the bucket, or somethin'...

I ain't dead yet.'


Well that's true, and we're all glad that it is.

Now wouldn't it be nice if we did a bit more of this 'telling people how appreciated they are' before they die.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: michaelr
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 12:02 AM

Yeah, Joe's a good `un.

Wish the other censors, er, moderators would follow his example.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 08:40 PM

whew





jus kiddin

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 08:43 PM

With some of the objections regarding closed roads and threads this may have been started as a left handed compliment to squeamish mods

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 09:29 PM

Joe is such a nice person and has been very helpful when I have asked various questions on some of my posts. Very thoughtful and intelligent man.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Oct 15 - 11:52 PM

I thought Lin said "Very thoughtful and intelligent young man."

But no, that didn't happen.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Megan L
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 05:03 AM

Joe we may love ye but min thon wid be an awfy fib fur a kirky buddy tae say :)

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: GUEST,#
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 09:11 AM

He's a good guy. Old enough to have accumulated wisdom and smart enough to use it at the right times. For example, when he gets in an elevator he doesn't say stupid stuff like "Is this the cross-town bus that stops at Waverly?" or "Do you know George from Albuquerque?" In some contexts they would be appropriate questions, but not in yer average everyday elevator. That's what I mean by wisdom, and that's what I mean by smarts :-)

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Amos
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 12:52 PM

Seems to me Dani has some uncharted depths of her own. Good thing this thread is about Joe! :D

A

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 09:18 PM

Oh, there's no doubt that Dani is a woman of untold wisdom. But she mostly keeps quiet and smiles her beautiful smile, and people worship at her feet....

The Mona Lisa of North Carolina, if you will.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 09:30 PM

I used to know Moaning Lisa...oh. You mean Da Vinci's painting, not that never-satisfied-always-complaining young lady from my college days....

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 14 Oct 15 - 11:28 PM

Ah Joe,

I will cover all the bases, since I don't know your age.
(Well I have sort of an idea but I should say,)
"A very thoughtful and intelligent young man.
(or young man at heart) which I believe to be true of you.
"A very thoughtful and intelligent middle-aged man
(and still a young man at heart) which I believe to be true of you.
"A very thoughtful and intelligent senior man
(and still a young man at heart) which I believe to be true of you.

Always enjoy your comments Joe!

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Bert
Date: 15 Oct 15 - 12:56 AM

Dani doesn't have to be wise. Just looking at her makes you happy.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 15 Oct 15 - 11:43 AM

As Guest kampervan points out, the best time to tell people what we think of them is while hey are still alive - able to feel good when we appreciate them, capable of setting us straight if we misinterpreted them, perhaps even able to change a bit if that is in order.

Joe Offer, from what I have read over the last few years, is my choice for president, pope, arch angel, or wherever good sense is needed.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: akenaton
Date: 15 Oct 15 - 12:08 PM

Don't be so dismal, I'm sure Joe's got many years ahead of him!

If the effin' trolls don't do for 'im!

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Donuel
Date: 15 Oct 15 - 12:45 PM

If only trolls were mortal and wisdom immortal, history would not repeat.

Subject: RE: BS: The Wisdom of Joe Offer
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Oct 15 - 04:31 PM

Oh, wisdom is immortal... it just gets inundated by tidal waves of nonsensical BS until it is hard to find. People have suggested having a BS detector-- I think a wisdom detector would be more useful.