Shark, my comments toward you had nothing to do with your grammar but more so with the content of your message. Again, my comments towards you have not a thing to do with your grammar, I assure you.

Why is it important to disclose your name? Because it's pretty easy to throw stones at anybody when nobody knows who is throwing them. I and many others don't feel it neccessary to hide behind our handels, we own up to what we say. By not telling his name, he is just throwing stones and then going back into hiding. How much would you respect an anonymous letter of criticism?

The "I AM" thread was created for a reason, and for those who don't see the reason, well I'm sorry. It's impossible for me to value anybody opinion nearly as much as long as they refuse to be held accountable for some of the things they say.

You seem to hold some serious ire towards me, and I can't figure out why.

[This message has been edited by SquareOne07 (edited 11/1/2006 12:31p).]

Square -

I have been trying to put this in a way that you would understand. Clearly you don't understand why people illegally lit a bonfire that they had spent months building. Here is my cheesy attempt at a scenario. The events do not compare and I am well aware of that, but just have an open mind.

Grandma has been cooking Thanksgiving dinner for 2 days (My grandma does and she is the best!). Right before we eat, an announcement comes on the TV saying that you should not eat Thanksgiving turkey. The FDA has “kind of” given you a valid reason why you can’t eat the bird but it isn’t to your satisfaction. More than anything, you would love to march right over to the FDA president’s house and ask for a valid explanation!

So do you throw out the bird that grandma has been slaving over (all while balancing working part time and her love for reading and soduko) or do you eat it anyway?

A little far fetched, but you get the point. Have a sense of humor and enjoy the story.


Also, as far as the post you just presented, I hope no ire towards you and if I didn't learn how to speak to people in my youth I could say ugly things about people as well but I just see no reason to. The point I am getting at is that people have a right to hold their identity a secret if they want. No where in the guidelines for this site does it say I have to give my name or my phsyical address or anything else. Would that make me a coward? People have reasons for the why they do anything. Shoot them a personal message and maybe get back on topic.

No ill feelings. We have a lot in common. A love for what we believe in and an even greater love for the ability to speak our mind.

Shark,
I understand what you're saying, and the story makes sense. However the deal with the illegal lighting made Bonfire look bad, and the burn ban was in place for a reason. Some expert somewhere somehow decided that any fires, especially MASSIVE onces like Bonfire, posed a considerable threat. Is all that hard work really worth something that we're seeing over in California right now? By the way, 5 men have died trying to fight those fires. So while I understand your story, and while I respect the hard work of the hundreds who work on Bonfire (I was of them last year) I also respect the laws and those who make them. Such things are in place for a reason.

As far as the identity thing goes, that's fine I respect that totally. But I think when you refuse to say who you are, you forfeit your right to critisize others, is that too far fetched? Nobody is asking for your physical address, and I'm not asking for his. I don't mean him harm at all, that's ridiculous. It's much more difficult to look down on somebody who you can identify as a person.

I agree with you, things in common. For that ONE post I talked down to you, I'm sorry. But if you took care to read the vast majority of everything else I've posted, you would know that I've respectfully done a lot of speaking to the issue while others have done what you (and I) are speaking out against.

Have a good afternoon, Shark.

Terry

If you wish to hold any further conversations with me, why don't you just send me a message. This thread is not about you or me, although it seems like it. Send me a message if you want. We can do the back and forth on our own time. Oh, and I don't care if someone sends me an annonymous note. What are the facts in the annonymous note? Are they true or totally false? I am more concerned with content...karma gets people in the end anyway.

Let's get back to the thread...

What this forum used to be about...

It used to be about the memories people had.

So how did I know about Bonfire? I moved into my dorm and met a super cool gal and her buddies. Some loved it and some hated it. I went to my classes and found out that a lot of poeple were talking about it, so I thought I would try it out. It is a lot like eating spinach. Mom and Dad say it is good. Well, I will try anything once, so I went out. Turns out it was something I wanted to be associated with so I stuck with it.

People don't get that experience now. If there was a vast majority of the student body population who had something to say about it like there was back then, more people might give it a try. I don't think those days will return anytime soon. I am so glad I got to experience seeing all the hairy boys in class, and driving into town and smelling the campfires, and getting bonfire buddies.

Something you may relate to is Replant. I hope to God A&M is still doing replant. I liked it! People know about replant. There are signs posted and people are all organizing groups to go for the weekend. More importantly, people are talking about all their experiences with going to replant.

What I am trying to say, very simply, is that there is no buzz in the air about Bonfire...so that is one reason why trying it out (like spinach, which I now love!) isn't on the top 10 lists. Back then it was darned near number one!

This is where you and I may disagree.

If someone does not tell me their name, that does not give me automatic right to criticize them or talk down to their ideas.

You asked if this is too far fetched and in my opinion, I say yes.

Again, this is only my opinion. My concern is more on what someone has to say rather than what their real name is. I don't need to know their name. I know they are a real person and care enough (or don't) about the same issues I do enough to post on this site.

Shark, I'm trying to go eat lunch here, can you at least give me a 5 minute break to get out the door?

I can't send you a note, we didn't pay. But you have to admit, you put more creedence into something with at least a name on it.

I think it would be awesome if people still had access to the sorts of memories you talk so fondly about. Back then Bonfire wasn't nearly as devisive as it is now. I wish, just like you, that there could be a return to normalcy, because even those of us who never expereinced Bonfire as it was, we still get that feeling every now and then.

I've never been a part of replant, and unfortunately, it doesn't seem as well publicized as it was in your time, not to make you seem ancient!

Bonfire could slowly make the climb up that "to-do" list, but before it does so, in my opinion, it just has to clear out some of the things holding it down or giving it not the best of names.

Talk to you...after lunch!

quote:

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Something you may relate to is Replant. I hope to God A&M is still doing replant.

---

They're still doing it. I even did it once, before they started having it on the same day as Cut.

Illegally lighting did make Bonfire look bad, but do those guys regret the fine they received? This I don't know the answer to.

Would I rather eat my grandma's turkey and be fined $ 100 for breaking the law or eat McDonalds. I can get McDonalds any day I want but Thanksgiving only comes around once!

We can choose to disagree on that matter then. I suppose something like that might be best handled on a case by case basis. Agree?

[This message has been edited by sharklady00 (edited 11/1/2006 3:04p).]

SquareOne07,

Are you an angry, miserable person?

Not at all, what made you think that?

I read through most of the posts on this thread and my impression is you're on the verge of a coronary or a major emotional breakdown... or... you're an angry and miserable person.

Again, not at all, you're entirely mistaken. Thanks for offering up your...opinion? I guess.

I know you don't believe this, but you don't exactly give off a positive impression. You of'course won't see it this way. Sometimes I have a hard time seeing what others see in me. Then again, this is just his opinion and you may just come across in writing in an unfavorable light.

[This message has been edited by sharklady00 (edited 11/2/2006 12:47p).]

I don't have the most positive impression of the way things are going right now. That doesn't make me a negative person. And even if I was an eternal pessimist that certainly doesn't put me on edge for an "emotional breakdown". In my opinion, approaching things with the most positive attitude can get you in trouble sometimes.