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We are both in agreement. However, what I am trying to show you is there are some who do get and need public assistance that have done all they can to plan for the future. Even after they receive what is necessary, the continue to try to minimize that assistance with whatever efforts they can--I am one of that some. I did not disclose all my situation but the initial debilitating events that put me down the path of total disability was cause by a hidden disorder of a severe childhood disease that suddenly manifested itself in adulthood.
Livecontent
I'm not in disagreement with you at all. Certain unfortunate and unavoidable circumstances, or a string of them, can derail even the best laid plans. That's a given. There's a valid reason we have some safety nets as a society and no one regrets more than I their erosions. Professionally I worked on behalf of many who needed and deserved advocacy and intervention and never have nor ever would think less of them. The need has touched a number of people dear to me.
In "conversation" with someone tunnel-visioned, self-absorbed and controlling, peripheral issues will always be discouraged. That's not discourse or discussion. That's diatribe.
Well, fellow Missourian (in spirit )...I have to agree with SG on this one. It seems so easy for posters (myself included) to be tempted to bring the discussion to ourselves with commentary that has no bearing on the topic at hand.
City Data forum was created, I believe, for the main purpose of giving people information on relocation (why it's called City Data)--demographics, schools, crime stats, kinds of housing, jobs outlook, and the like. Over the years it's morphed to threads that have nothing to do with providing hardcore facts and personal impressions on geographic locations. So folks who just want that basic info have to weed through all kinds of commentary that have nothing to do with the facts or impressions needed.
It's also difficult when someone in need, financially/economically, posts asking for information only, and those who are well-off chime in on how well they planned starting from Day One and make judgmental comments about the poster. As I said, it's easy to do, going off topic and before you know it the OP's original question is buried in pages of tangential commentary.
Again, I wish that the OP message could be embedded on every CD thread page, as a reminder as to what the topic is about. I wonder if a Moderator could address this question.
Well, fellow Missourian (in spirit )...I have to agree with SG on this one. It seems so easy for posters (myself included) to be tempted to bring the discussion to ourselves with commentary that has no bearing on the topic at hand.
City Data forum was created, I believe, for the main purpose of giving people information on relocation (why it's called City Data)--demographics, schools, crime stats, kinds of housing, jobs outlook, and the like. Over the years it's morphed to threads that have nothing to do with providing hardcore facts and personal impressions on geographic locations. So folks who just want that basic info have to weed through all kinds of commentary that have nothing to do with the facts or impressions needed.
It's also difficult when someone in need, financially/economically, posts asking for information only, and those who are well-off chime in on how well they planned starting from Day One and make judgmental comments about the poster. As I said, it's easy to do, going off topic and before you know it the OP's original question is buried in pages of tangential commentary.
Again, I wish that the OP message could be embedded on every CD thread page, as a reminder as to what the topic is about. I wonder if a Moderator could address this question.
Ironically, your advocacy of staying on-topic (a reasonable thing, certainly) is itself off-topic. I recently started a thread on the issue in "About the Forum".
Ironically, your advocacy of staying on-topic (a reasonable thing, certainly) is itself off-topic. I recently started a thread on the issue in "About the Forum".
Sometimes it's better to post within the thread that has the comment you are referring to. Not everyone is going to run over to another thread to cross-read on issues. That said, your point is noted. As I was saying to Curmudge, doing CD is getting to be a lot of work.
On topic...I hope the OP is getting the info he wants.
...I have to agree with SG on this one. It seems so easy for posters (myself included) to be tempted to bring the discussion to ourselves with commentary that has no bearing on the topic at hand.
City Data forum was created, I believe, for the main purpose of giving people information on relocation (why it's called City Data)--demographics, schools, crime stats, kinds of housing, jobs outlook, and the like. Over the years it's morphed to threads that have nothing to do with providing hardcore facts and personal impressions on geographic locations. So folks who just want that basic info have to weed through all kinds of commentary that have nothing to do with the facts or impressions needed.
It's also difficult when someone in need, financially/economically, posts asking for information only, and those who are well-off chime in on how well they planned starting from Day One and make judgmental comments about the poster. As I said, it's easy to do, going off topic and before you know it the OP's original question is buried in pages of tangential commentary.
Again, I wish that the OP message could be embedded on every CD thread page, as a reminder as to what the topic is about. I wonder if a Moderator could address this question.
Thanks once again newenglandgirl. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Actually, every time you post a reply the heading bar informs you of the thread name and therefor (theoretically) the intended topic. Problem is, users of this forum who see every new thread as a fresh opprotunity for bombastic self-promotion disguised as "peripherial issues" are oblivious to things like that. For them the actual purpose of the thread is "peripherial" to their primal need to assert alpha status concerning all matters under the sun. (Remember the character Cliff in Cheers?)
To reiterate: Biographical/anecdotal detail that actually relates to the topic under discussion is just as welcome as hard facts. I've done this myself a few times. But anything I reveal about myself is intended either to illustrate a situation which I believe is shared by a growing class of people or as a means of offering information that I think might be of use to others. If I want tea and sympathy the last thing I'd do is fire up a computer
(Thanks also for helping me get my acronyms straight. I've been using IP - "Initial Post" - when I should have been using OP - "Original Post" -to refer to the statement of subject matter and plea for specificity with which I began this thread. "IP" - that's an internet protocol. Sorry if I've caused anyone confusion.)
Last edited by SelflessGene; 10-19-2011 at 09:25 AM..
Ironically, your advocacy of staying on-topic (a reasonable thing, certainly) is itself off-topic. I recently started a thread on the issue in "About the Forum".
I think this may be the first time the someone has identified a post as -god forbid - tautological! If that's ironic then maybe we could use a bit more irony. Have you considered the possiblity that it's actually a zen koan upon which you can meditate until you achieve nirvana? (Alone of course.)
Seriously, this matter needs to be clarified here and now. It's nice that you've created a "meta-forum" (even though this information is off-topic squared) but we have our hands full right here, thank you.
As stated in the OP I have tried to get this sort of thing going before but I made the mistake of picking a too broad and sexy thread title. Finally, after weeks of fighting off trolls, I gave up and requested that a moderator lock the thread to halt its devolution. This time I delberately picked the most specific and mundane title that still expressed the intended purpose. Hopefully this time it won't get to the point where I have to just give up, lock the thread and forget about this site. Enough people have expressed interest/appreciation and made exemplary contributions that it would be a shame to have to do that again.
BTW, since we're keeping count, I am aware that this riff is off-topic cubed. (Hey, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.)
Last edited by SelflessGene; 10-19-2011 at 09:30 AM..
I think this may be the first time the someone has identified a post as -god forbid - tautological! If that's ironic then maybe we could use a bit more irony. Have you considered the possiblity that it's actually a zen koan upon which you can meditate until you achieve nirvana? (Alone of course.)
Seriously, this matter needs to be clarified here and now. It's nice thatyou've created a "meta-forum" (even though this information is off-topic squared) but we have our hands full right here, thank you.
As stated in the OP I have tried to get this sort of thing going before but I made the mistake of picking a too broad and sexy thread title. Finally, after weeks of fighting off trolls, I gave up and requested that a moderator lock the thread to halt its devolution. This time I delberately picked the most specific and mundane title that still expressed the intended purpose. Hopefully this time it won't get to the point where I have to just give up, lock the thread and forget about this site. Enough people have expressed interest/appreciation and made exemplary contributions that it would be a shame to have to do that again.
BTW, since we're keeping count, I am aware that this riff is off-topic cubed. (Hey, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.)
I did not create a "meta-forum". "About the Forum" is a long-existing forum that you can find by scrolling all the way down (at the bottom of the "General Forums"). It is not connected to the Retirement Forum.
You may have delusions of grandeur but you cannot "lock the thread". Only a moderator can do that, and it is often done despite the wishes of the original poster to keep it open.
Thanks once again newenglandgirl. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Actually, every time you post a reply the heading bar informs you of the thread name and therefor (theoretically) the intended topic. Problem is, users of this forum who see every new thread as a fresh opprotunity for bombastic self-promotion disguised as "peripherial issues" are oblivious to things like that. For them the actual purpose of the thread is "peripherial" to their primal need to assert alpha status concerning all matters under the sun. (Remember the character Cliff in Cheers?)
To reiterate: Biographical/anecdotal detail that actually relates to the topic under discussion is just as welcome as hard facts. I've done this myself a few times. But anything I reveal about myself is intended either to illustrate a situation which I believe is shared by a growing class of people or as a means of offering information that I think might be of use to others. If I want tea and sympathy the last thing I'd do is fire up a computer
(Thanks also for helping me get my acronyms straight. I've been using IP - "Initial Post" - when I should have been using OP - "Original Post" -to refer to the statement of subject matter and plea for specificity with which I began this thread. "IP" - that's an internet protocol. Sorry if I've caused anyone confusion.)
Not clever by half and has nothing to do with your precious subject. Totally OT as you complain others have been. Cry as you will, you really cannot expect to have it both ways.
As to the matter at hand, it's good you'll looking into the possibilities now as every report I've seen lately indicates that forclosures are on the rise which could very well lead to more bankruptcies and many others may be on the brink of needing subsidized housing as well. Good luck with landing in the right place, and soon!
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)...I have to agree with SG on this one. It seems so easy for posters (myself included) to be tempted to bring the discussion to ourselves with commentary that has no bearing on the topic at hand.
It's All About The Signal To Noise Ratio
