If you could travel backwards in time and stop yourself becoming from a member of AT.

[HamburgerBoy]

No. I have been coming here for over ten years, but it has never been an important part of my life. Amusing at times, disgusting at times, and sometimes downright annoying with the trolls. But I take this place as a recreational outlet for amusement and education. I couldn't care less if I visit once a month or 8 times a day. And on that note...I am almost too frequently shocked at how much other members are invested in this online forum. Posting about very personal situations or thoughts. It is almost sad and pathetic to realize how much life people have invested in an online social community with other folks they don't even know. Really...truly, sad.

I know people online better than I do most people in real-life. In spite of the many internet millionaires and Harvard graduates, I think a lot of people use the internet as a dumping ground for things they would never admit to in real life.

 

[mcurphy]

I know people online better than I do most people in real-life. In spite of the many internet millionaires and Harvard graduates, I think a lot of people use the internet as a dumping ground for things they would never admit to in real life.

Sounds like a sad life to think you know people you really don't know.

Seriously. I truly couldn't ever imagine myself making that comment.

I do not "know" people online. It is so impersonal. Period.

I work an average job, with average people, in a probably below average town. I have no problem admitting this online or in real life. I would never air personal problems on this forum. I have friends, family, even coworkers that I would turn to before I would seek advice from a bunch of asshole strangers on truly personal matters. Really...I mean look, you have 12 year olds, 50+ year old foreigners, and the most inexperienced/ anti social people on the planet here, WHY on earth would you even think to take into consideration any bit of advice from some asshole on this forum??

Yes, the internet is a dumping ground, but that should never be considered normal or proper.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Sounds like a sad life to think you know people you really don't know.

Seriously. I truly couldn't ever imagine myself making that comment.

I do not "know" people online. It is so impersonal. Period.

I work an average job, with average people, in a probably below average town. I have no problem admitting this online or in real life. I would never air personal problems on this forum. I have friends, family, even coworkers that I would turn to before I would seek advice from a bunch of asshole strangers on truly personal matters. Really...I mean look, you have 12 year olds, 50+ year old foreigners, and the most inexperienced/ anti social people on the planet here, WHY on earth would you even think to take into consideration any bit of advice from some asshole on this forum??

Yes, the internet is a dumping ground, but that should never be considered normal or proper.

You mad bro? Who cares if he does or doesn't know people. Maybe he really does as for some people this might be their only outlet and they get to know each other well.

 

[Kaido]

These forums are funny. First you hate ‘em, then you get used to ‘em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That’s institutionalized.

When I joined, I had just gotten into computers and mostly stuck to the hardware sections. I vowed never to come into OT because of the lunacy back in mid-2000. And yet here I am, 25K+ posts later :biggrin:

I blame Stockholm syndrome

 

[yhelothar]

I love the knowledgeable and witty folks here. I could do without all of the negativity and e-peen waving.

 

[OverVolt]

Joining a forum was likely the least of my mistakes in 2002. They weren't really mistakes though there was no way to know the shit storm that was about to happen.

Its silly that people blame forums for not learning 4 languages by now. It just doesn't work like that. Where you're from and the schools you went to define who you are much more than whatever random skills you teach yourself in your spare time. Language would've been a waste of time if you had gotten into finance, or programming, etc. Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[KidNiki1]

i would rather go back and thwart the circumstances that lead to me finding these forums when/how i did.

i think i would have still found about about them eventually, just through different channels. so all would be well in the end.

 

[dennilfloss]

I would have registered sooner instead of lurking.

This. ^_^