Art Bell

[The General]

I was merely applying visual emphasis, not yelling.  We hear what we want to hear in our minds (and many times ONLY what we want to hear), even as some others, like me, wish to see what they want to see or have to see due to poor vision.

Again, what is profound is subjective.  One man's meat is another's poison.  Can't you be less opinionated and show more understanding... or tolerance at the very least?  Or are those rudimentary things too much of a tall pompous order for you?
   
This thing about using large fonts:  Why didn't you complain about it in another thread when someone's post which immediately preceded your own post there, used even larger fonts than the one you're complaining of here.  You didn't object to the much larger fonts there.  (Unfortunately, that other person's post has conveniently vanished from the thread.)  Why do you pick on me and discriminate against me with your double-standards?  

Please, if you want my continued respect, back off from picking on me and discriminating against me.  That is as straightforward as I am telling you and reminding you now.

It bothers me when anyone does it lately.  You seem to be the most flamboyant offender.  It's just a humble request, don't take it so personally.  It's just font size.  You're acting like I said something derogatory about your mother.  I know nothing about you but I'm sure your large font size is not any attempt to compensate for anything on your end...

[The General]

3.) "Discriminate" question ... He didn't get his "fifth star" so is in a bad mood. He might think you're a flowery new age type while he is grounded in that anal, drone/robotic unquestioning discipline and arrogant since he believes he is a senior officer? If you were cordial and he shits on you then he feels that your praise of him is to be expected since you're an "underling". Basically, "Hail Caesar".

I'm not a <a href="http://www.ddgnevada.com/other/ab/ab.html">real general</a> you know...

[Oversoul]

Oversoul, with respect (I realise you might not believe that), I'm going to boil this issue down to one sentence:

People 'don't like you' because you consistently come across as 'unlikeable'.

Most respectfully, BobGrau, that is the funniest thing I've read here today.  LOL.  Honestly.  No offense meant at you.  It's just that if you knew me in person, you'd understand why people I interact with in my personal and professional life like me and love me.  Your statement is just so glaringly incongruous with my experience outside this piece of cyberspace. 

I take no offense at your opinion, though, because I am aware it is a stranger's unfounded judgment of me, of who I actually am as a living breathing person, not an avatar or cyberposter on screen. 

And I also understand that many people here are very judgmental: I see it in the way they regard and treat the persona of George Noory.  You see, I know where they are coming from, and I therefore can understand their behavior.  I just have to.  As Francis of Assisi prayed: To understand and not to be understood.

Peace to you, brother.  Be on your way.

[onan]

Hello, Zircon.

(1) Why is it that when other members use large or colorful fonts, no complaint is thrown at them?  But when I do, I get this kind of a complaint from this person?

I am not Zircon, but succinctly put, because we are all dicks. We are the internet.

You seem like a bright guy to me, albeit in a whiff and poof direction. Your posts did seem to promenade the esplanade with some grandiosity. I guess lots of us do that. I think the stumbling point was to suggest your thoughts were somehow better than others... I may be projecting... don't think so.

for what it is worth... if it is possible to bury the hatchet, I would like that.

I don't agree with most of what you post but you certainly have the right to say it and do so pretty much anyway you want.

[BobGrau]

Most respectfully, BobGrau, that is the funniest thing I've read here today.  LOL.  Honestly.  No offense meant at you.  It's just that if you knew me in person, you'd understand why people I interact with in my personal and professional life like me and love me.  Your statement is just so glaringly incongruous with my experience outside this piece of cyberspace. 

I take no offense at your opinion, though, because I am aware it is a stranger's unfounded judgment of me, of who I actually am as a living breathing person, not an avatar or cyberposter on screen. 

And I also understand that many people here are very judgmental: I see it in the way they regard and treat the persona of George Noory.  You see, I know they are coming from, and I therefore can understand their behavior.  I just have to.  As Francis of Assisi prayed: To understand and not to be understood.

Peace to you, brother.  Be on your way.

It's a judgement on your online personality. I'm sure you're a great guy in real life.
I'll use the example of the infamous 'locked thread' to try to explain this.

You wanted to start a discussion on the subject of 'temporal illusion' - great! Time perception, and the concept of Time in general, is/are right up my street. I could talk about wacky far-out temporal paradoxes and historical loops till... er... till the gnaB giB and beyond. Also, I think you were hinting that holmes had indulged/experimented with autosuggestion, self-hypnosis etc. Again, fascinating stuff. If you haven't already, I suggest you read the fiction of Grant Morrison, Alan Moore and others.

But your whole tone is that of a hack tabloid journalist ticking off the button-pushing bullet points that will generate the most controversy. And your constant trumpeting of holmes as some sort of misunderstood genius just left a bad taste in the mouth.

Your posting style is that of an enlightened master talking down to the uninitiated. Now, I personally am always happy to learn more. I can work from the viewpoint that I'm just a novice with a lot to learn. But if enlightenment means that I start treating others like shit, I'm going to stay down here on the Earth plane, thanks very much.

[Oversoul]

It bothers me when anyone does it lately.  You seem to be the most flamboyant offender.  It's just a humble request, don't take it so personally.  It's just font size.  You're acting like I said something derogatory about your mother.  I know nothing about you but I'm sure your large font size is not any attempt to compensate for anything on your end...

That's my point: You know nothing about me.  But you should open yourself to knowing some good things about me, largely through my contributions here, as some members have learned.

Take my point of view about you: Because of this Weblog, I know you are a person who recently purchased a very good quality telescope, and I know that you are discovering the joys of backyard astronomy.  And I rejoice with you in your excitement of discovery for the simple reason that I used to be an amateur astronomer, myself, when I was a kid.  I know first-hand by personal experience the satisfaction and wonder of astronomy.  Through the touchpoint of your astronomy posts here, I have come to know something about the real you, beyond the mere Noory bashing we all seem to be doing here.  That is the opinion I have and keep of you, despite your avatar -- that of a gentleman astronomer.  It supplants the image of your avatar unless your words, the text in your post, begin to tell me otherwise.

I am a colorful person, and I guess that colorfulness will tend to carry over and spill into my posts.  I tend to be an artist when it comes to using my computer, so I depart from monotony in the visuals and dullness with the text.

[The General]

It's just that if you knew me in person, you'd understand why people I interact with in my personal and professional life like me and love me.
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That's my point: You know nothing about me.  But you should open yourself to knowing some good things about me, largely through my contributions here, as some members have learned.

Do you not understand how pompous you sound?  We all have wonderful lives outside of Coastgab.  Who cares?  Most of us are not here to win the admiration of strangers, we're confident enough in our own lives without having to seek the approval of the internet.  Get over yourself. 

[Oversoul]

Do you not understand how pompous you sound?  We all have wonderful lives outside of Coastgab.  Who cares?  Most of us are not here to win the admiration of strangers, we're confident enough in our own lives without having to seek the approval of the internet.  Get over yourself.

Excuse me!  Me, pompous?  You reeeeally don't get the point.

But I'm truly getting the picture here with you.  To you, we're all here at CoastGab just to engage in Noory bashing, so very apart and separate from our personal lives.  Bashing is all we do here; ergo, we also bash one another.  Forget discussing other worthwhile topics; just bash, bash, and bash.  Jeez.

Go fight your cold war.  It's over, in case you haven't heard.

[analog kid]

You're still at it, Oversoul? What the hell? Are you having an existential crisis of self or something?

[BobGrau]

This is your legacy, Art Bell. Boy you must be proud.  :

[MV/Liberace!]

I'm not a real general you know...

to me you are.

[coaster]

[Zircon]

Oversoul ... from all of us to you ...

The Crystals - He's a Rebel Uh ... don't anybody get the wrong idea here 

[guildnavigator]

First year of this thread was as fast as anything.


Second year CRAAAWWWLLLS.

[ziznak]

damnit... I opened this thread hoping to read maybe another comment from the master about Noory sucking and premrat kissing his ass... but no... the shitfight continues and now it's spreading

[McPhallus]

It is effective -- extremely effective, I am told, -- for those who know how... and are pure of heart.   

But the latter is difficult to attain because of the inherent evil in men's hearts, which causes injustice of many types. Man's inhumanity to his own fellowmen.  The kind that seeks to kill and destroy MALICIOUSLY.

I always try to kill and destroy out of goodwill.

[Oversoul]

I always try to kill and destroy out of goodwill.

Keep it up, bro.  You make an excellent job of it.  KUDOS! 

It is highly toxic to one's inner system.  Can't wait to see you implode in it.     Bonne chance! as the French would say.

[Oversoul]

Oversoul ... from all of us to you ...

The Crystals - He's a Rebel Uh ... don't anybody get the wrong idea here 

Zircon, you may never make it to the history books or to humanity's Hall of Fame, but you are a GIANT OF A MAN.  An authentic human person with real character... and a brave golden heart and a noble brain/mind that the Lion and the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz would kill and die for.   A man like King David -- after God's own heart.  (You're also funny. )

Bless you, Zircon.   If I may borrow your own words from a thread by you:  May you be blessed a million times with  "Great late nights listening... out in your yard with a breeze blowing, stars glowing and a Mockingbird singing its songbook here on the Great Plains."  God bless you, man.  God bless those Great Plains that nurture your soul, and God bless this great and proud nation, the United States of America, for people like you.

You make Art Bell's heritage mighty proud.  And as Jedi knight Yoda said in The Empire Strikes Back: There is still hope.

[nightmaster]

The dude is FILTHY RICH and has a 19 year old wife and is probably banging her 10 hours a day! No wonder this guy over 60 does not want to come back and do real work! Dude is retired and having fun! Bummer cuz he was the bomb! George "Sushi Boy" Noory sucks!!!!

[nightmaster]

I think the dude quit because he is FILTHY RICH and banging a hot 19 year old filipina!

[BobGrau]

The dude is FILTHY RICH and has a 19 year old wife and is probably banging her 10 hours a day!

He could call this 'the Art Bell weight loss program'. Shape up, America!

[Corona Kitty]

I really wish he would come back.

[b_dubb]

o m f g .... still?

[Zircon]

Zircon, you may never make it to the history books or to humanity's Hall of Fame, but you are a GIANT OF A MAN.  An authentic human person with real character... and a brave golden heart and a noble brain/mind that the Lion and the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz would kill and die for.   A man like King David -- after God's own heart.  (You're also funny. )

Bless you, Zircon.   If I may borrow your own words from a thread by you:  May you be blessed a million times with  "Great late nights listening... out in your yard with a breeze blowing, stars glowing and a Mockingbird singing its songbook here on the Great Plains."  God bless you, man.  God bless those Great Plains that nurture your soul, and God bless this great and proud nation, the United States of America, for people like you.

You make Art Bell's heritage mighty proud.  And as Jedi knight Yoda said in The Empire Strikes Back: There is still hope.

Oversoul, your response was far more than I could have ever expected. You are way, way too generous with your praise for me as a person. Believe me, if you knew me, you'd think (more than) twice before an assessment like that.

I want you to know that your honesty and exposing your inner self invites arrows. Now, by so doing a level of arrogance can be perceived and this can rub people the wrong way. Before I think I knew you better my eyes rolled a time or two when reading one of your posts. There, I am being honest.

Still, the career paths you've taken and the reasons you offered up for so doing are bold to say the least. Most people, and I'm probably one of them, wouldn't be so inclined. I tended to stay with what paid the bills and what I felt reasonably competent at. In my profession there are always people that can make you look like an idiot. The older I got the more out of the main stream in technology I became. Eventually shown the door. So here I am. Retired (modest pensions as I moved around in Seattle a bit and never got the big retirement package), social security and my wife an RN. I think I may get a 25 hr/week job at Wal*Mart of a bookstore.

Other than cosmology/physics, speculative history and dreaming of the future I do art work. Am thinking up some new pictures that will highlight my family and my relationship with each member. Want to get this stuff done while I'm still among the living. Also do some mystical/spiritual kind of stuff. I do a lot of "dreamscape" and night pictures (moon, reflections, glowing things etc.). Right now I am listening to an endless stream of really great meditation, relaxation and ambient music. It is so soothing. You can think and dream while remaining awake. Can be revealing as you can take a voyage through your inner self. Little things become highlighted and take on new meanings. I've come up with a couple of ideas just this evening listening for about an hour.

I also want you to know it takes dreamers like you, "rebels" and people willing to stop what they're doing in the mundane world and really ponder of the reason you're here. Who and what are you? Why are you where you're at? What do you actually believe? Where do you want to go? Why are you here?

It can be very therapeutic as I'm sure you've found. Personally, I am a conflicted person and have a short fuse. World situations, government bullying and the perpetual lies from people in control that you are expected to trust set me off. So while swinging my fist one second I'm picking up a pastel chalk the next. Hell, I'm actually a moody person. I'm even taking anti-depressants as it is a genetic thing with me that I found out about five years ago after a life often with rough edges.

Hang in there Oversoul. Forget what you perceive as "picking on you". We're all good folks around here. Toss some of it back. Might want to take a deep breath before responding some time. I should practice what I preach huh?

Continue your journey Brother. I'll try to as well. Perhaps we'll meet one day in another plane existence? I'll be speaking with you regularly. My best to you and yours.

[McPhallus]

It bothers me when anyone does it lately.  You seem to be the most flamboyant offender.  It's just a humble request, don't take it so personally.  It's just font size.  You're acting like I said something derogatory about your mother.  I know nothing about you but I'm sure your large font size is not any attempt to compensate for anything on your end...

One of my graduate professors used to talk about how (and this was before the Internet was mainstream) that use of bold, italics, caps, etc., is a sign that your language isn't working.

But I think our friend Oversoul is all about histrionics.  You'll notice he posts lengthy, busy-looking responses to messages that are maybe 5-10 sentences.  I think there's a lot of energy getting misdirected from somewhere.

[Zircon]

I agree that at times it is a bit over the top. And like the General said and the expanded interpretation you provided on bolded/large fonts, they are most often used for the reasons you mentioned. Something seems to have him rattled.

I think it could be a frustration in trying to express too much in just a few sentences. Hard to do when you're trying to explain the universe etc. We're all interested in what he has to say as he is insightful. He is a very spiritual person and perhaps finds it hard to understand why others don't see what he sees (?) - just a thought.

[ziznak]

I used to post crazy colored and multi-sized text a lot. Not here but on a few gaming forums.  Over time though I've found it's really just an annoyance to many posters.  I kinda like to see different fonts sizes and colors but thats just me.  I know that when I was posting in this manner for me it was like an artistic flair... felt more like I was making the post my own.  Over time though I've come to the conclusion that its all about what you say not how you say it online.  Keeping it formatted simple gets the message across better in the end.

[Zircon]

You got that right ziz. What makes it worse is if you're getting after someone anyway and you fly around with oversized bold red etc. I mean they're already going to be pissed - all the artistic flair does is fan the flames.

[Oversoul]

Oversoul, your response was far more than I could have ever expected. You are way, way too generous with your praise for me as a person. Believe me, if you knew me, you'd think (more than) twice before an assessment like that.

You deserved every single word of my compliment to you, Zircon.  It comes sincerely from the heart and mind of someone, who sees character and authenticity in your posts, beyond the superficiality of an avatar. 

I admit it was not the case earlier when our first blog encounters were clashes of ideas or opinions.  But you started to share things in your posts to other bloggers (not me) about yourself, your background -- service in the Navy, college degrees, career, family, work in Seattle, your struggles, etc..  In effect, you started to reveal facets of the actual person writing behind the avatar.  I began to see beyond the typical opinionated blogger and the cryptic avatar image.  You revealed something about the real living person behind the label of "Zircon," beyond a shared commonality of being a George Noory basher at CoastGab. 

People normally throw in a lot of BS over the Internet because they feel safely hidden behind their cyberspace personas, avatar masks, or usernames.  Just look at the Craigslist personals for a typical, good example.  It is exceptional for a person to "tell things as they really are" about themselves or their lives because that requires honesty and self-confidence, above all, upright and indelible human character.  I realized that here was a person in Zircon who was being authentic and honest about the things that figured significantly or mattered in his own life other than a mere radio program (C2C) and its hosts.  In other words, here was the human face behind the avatar mask.  It was an exceptional revelation from an unexpected blogger.

You will recall... that was when I complimented you for living a "full, interesting, varied and colorful life, with more mileage to go."  It came to you as a surprise, as your reply post to me showed.  The fact is, hardly anybody else picked up on your sharing.  I did not want any attention to myself.  I did that because I value authenticity and true character in people.  They are the basic stuff true friends are made of (I speak at least of mine.). 

I try to affirm praiseworthy people online when I can, thinking that for all I know I could die and exit this life without ever meeting the person.  Life is way too short.  Better that I praise a deserving person now than never to have done so at all.  Also, I personally know the power of a kind word or deed by a stranger, said or done at a critical moment in a person's life.  I have experienced being the beneficiary of such things during points in life when I needed the uplift.  So, I know what it can do and I try not to pass up opportunities to give others much deserved praise.  Life has shown that there are many instances when a stranger's kind word or unsolicited act of goodwill unwittingly makes a tremendous difference in the other person's life.  I have read that in some instances, it can even spell the difference between life and death -- the prevention of a suicide or a killing.

You see, I am perceptive.  I try to read posts carefully and well (here or elsewhere) without letting my preconceptions or prejudices interfere, for fear that I might miss something truly significant in the post and thereby misunderstand the poster in the process.  Conversely, my posts may be longer than normal at times (not every time, mind you) because I do not wish to be misunderstood by readers or I simply have a lot to say (as in the present case).  Don't be overwhelmed by my praise or my writing.  They're just words coming out from a keyboard.  Look at their meaning and intent -- the unseen elements that lie between words.

No human being is perfect.  I'm not perfect.  I know you are not perfect either.  But you do not have to be perfect to be praiseworthy.  Look at Charlie Brown of Peanuts comics fame... He's not perfect.  His friends call him a "blockhead."  He lacks self-confidence to approach the red-haired girl at school he has a crush on.   BUT Charlie Brown is a "good man."  And that is enough.




You deserve every single word of my compliment to you, Zircon.  It takes confidence in yourself to stand up and honor another in the midst of an atmosphere of mob adversity and hostility.  It takes a righteous soul to be his brother's keeper.  It takes courage to be a true man.  And like Charlie Brown, you are a good man, too.

[McPhallus]

What an astounding display of ball sucking.  Likely one of the greatest I've ever seen.