Life without Put
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When I joined this forum about a year ago there was a poster by the name of Put Trader. Put, god bless his soul, had the unique ability to push just the right button to piss people off, regardless of the subject. He used this unique talent to suck people in. Usually he wasn't gentle in his opinions or observations. He would call an errant poster in a heart beat. He would also, in his special way, call those who weren't so errant. Put was smart, well read, and a fountain of information. That is, if you could get past the invective. Then one week I went on vacation and when I came back to the board Put was gone, banished by the moderators. I miss Put, the information side of Put but, the board is a better place without him.
The problem with Put was that he had angered so many people, and I'm not saying he was right in doing so, that he couldn't post without several people jumping on him. What amazed me was the way Put would suck forum members into a debate in which they were defending who they were. And the worst part, for the defenders, was that Put usually had them on the ropes. As soon as someone got sucked in they lost. It didn't matter what they said, respond to a taunt and you lose. And I know it's tough not to respond. I got sucked in too. And I was an idiot for defending myself. All in all Put was a pretty smart dude, who out smarted all of us, at least most of the time.
I come to this board to see if there's anything I can use. There are many good ideas posted here as well as usefull insight. The problem with Put was that most of the threads he was involved with degenerated into ass kicking contests. The valuble content of the thread was lost. And to be perfectly honest, many times it wasn't his fault.
As entertaining as it can be to read through a flame war it's generally not time well spent. Recently we've had several threads go the PUT way, right down the tubes with people whipping out their MENSA memberships and SAT scores. The thread's content was lost.
Personally, I believe there are many smart and successful people posting to the forum. For me at least, you don't need to prove it. As hard as it can be, when you're called out in public, try not to get sucked in. Send a private message. I know it's not nearly as satisfying as pounding someone into the ground publically, but the rest of us would appreciate it.
Here's a rule to live by: Nobody cares. That is, outside of your family and a few friends, nobody cares. Nobody cares how smart you are, what school you went to, what you do for a living, how much money you make doing it, how many kids you have, or claim to have, where you live, how much you paid for your house, and whether or not you're a good person. These are all things that are, of course, important to you. They are part of who you are. Getting called out on an internet forum by someone who doesn't know you, doesn't want to know you, and is just pushing bottons doesn't deminish who you are and what you've accomplished. Responding to them is pointless.
You prove yourself on this board by the quality of your contribution. Want to prove who you are, just post. We'll all see soon enough.
Ahhh, but the beauty of the internet, is that Put can be reincarnated. I don't know if he'll ever come right out and admit it, but Put has been back since the end of last August...and yes, I'll admit it, I enjoy following the combat and occasionally taking a poke myself. It's all in good fun as far as I am concened. You'll never find me saying that nothing from Put is of any value. I don't always agree with him, but I can usually find some information in his posts that is of some value. For that reason, I hope Put II doesn't get banished.
tjc, as usual, well said. When I see your name, I always stop and read. Our styles are a bit different in practice, but you've given a lot of quality advice, and many of us are in your debt for that. You'll just have to forgive me if I get some occasional joy out of a little verbal combat...
In my experience, board moderation can do wonders for inane posters, as messages with no real content magically disappear. For instance, the guys at avsforum.com do a good job of this, and that is one busy place.
Regardless, we're all adult enough to look the other way, but it would be nice if those who wish to play the flame game would do so in special threads/forums for that purpose, and leave alone the threads seeking meaningful input.
[quote=opie]In my experience, board moderation can do wonders for inane posters, as messages with no real content magically disappear. For instance, the guys at avsforum.com do a good job of this, and that is one busy place.
Regardless, we're all adult enough to look the other way, but it would be nice if those who wish to play the flame game would do so in special threads/forums for that purpose, and leave alone the threads seeking meaningful input.[/quote]
Opie, I agree, even though I know I've been guilty of hijacking my share of threads in the past. We should create a "Put vs. the world" thread and let everyone flame away there, while making a ladies' and gentlemen's pact to try and stay, at least for the most part, on topic elsewhere.
[quote=Indyone]
Ahhh, but the beauty of the internet, is that Put can be reincarnated. I don’t know if he’ll ever come right out and admit it, but Put has been back since the end of last August…and yes, I’ll admit it, I enjoy following the combat and occasionally taking a poke myself. It’s all in good fun as far as I am concened. You’ll never find me saying that nothing from Put is of any value. I don’t always agree with him, but I can usually find some information in his posts that is of some value. For that reason, I hope Put II doesn’t get banished.
tjc, as usual, well said. When I see your name, I always stop and read. Our styles are a bit different in practice, but you've given a lot of quality advice, and many of us are in your debt for that. You'll just have to forgive me if I get some occasional joy out of a little verbal combat...
[/quote]ditto....
it is hardly productive time, although sometimes entertaining.....
tjc45-
Your message has inspired me and I am humbled by your knowledge.
I will pay-pal an offering later.
If I fall again, just remember... The Devil Made Me Do It!
Was just doing some filing in the back and caught up with Dr Phil...he said something that made me think of Put Easy.
Something to the effect of people who feel mentally inferior have two options. They inflate their own egos to look greater in the minds of others or work aggresively at deflating the egos if others (you slob you heathen, you motherless child, you've forgotten to capitalize).
Hi Hulk (without the I)!
I think you'll have to miss him from afar, as I believe that his latest incarnation has been retired.
[quote=Devoted SA]
Was just doing some filing in the back and caught up with Dr Phil…he said something that made me think of Put Easy.
Something to the effect of people who feel mentally inferior have two options. They inflate their own egos to look greater in the minds of others or work aggresively at deflating the egos if others (you slob you heathen, you motherless child, you've forgotten to capitalize).
[/quote]precisely!
roflmfao @ "Put Easy"
Well I'll be a son of a gun...Put/Big Easy got the boot again...
Well, I guess it's back to our regular programming...I don't know how I'll cope without being smacked around for my overuse of emoticons...
[quote=Starka]What, in particular, did Put/BEF post that you thought was worthwhile?[/quote]
Starka, below is one example of a BEF post that I thought was pretty good...it's just a shame that 90% of Put Easy's posts were just angry arrogant diatribes...that's what got him banned last time and I would have thought that he'd learn...oh well...
mrgrinch77 wrote:Are there any young reps out there that feel like they are without a mentor? That they don't get the hand holding they need to take their book to the next level. I would think it would be a little disheartening to see some big shot come in with million dollar book and nice signing bonus while you're sitting at your desk trying to figure out how to get to the $500,000 level.
It is disheartening, and it's a problem as old as time that is dealt with by those leeches called managers.
Firms with formal "mentor" programs find that they work wonders on paper, but when put into practice there are a zillion reasons why they fail.
Suppose you were mentoring me. You're probably not a teacher by training, and you're probably also an achiever, so it is quite likely that you will become a combination of bored and irritated by just about everything I do and I don't do. Our relationship is not going to last long--even though we both hope it would.
What about your manager? Another reality is that they are often distracted by lots of things that are far more pressing--they really are--than what the new kid has on his mind. All too often they'll be abrupt and dismissive which sends a signal they don't mean to send, but they send it in spite of themselves.
Everybody who ever made it made it pretty much on their own--trial and error, nose against the grindstone stuff. Watch what goes on around you, if somebody seems to be firing on all cylinders ask them if you can buy them a drink after work and chat about it. You'll find that a producer who is being flattered is far more interesting in offering advice than a manager or mentor might be because there is no flattery there, it's part of their job, and you're not doing what they suggest.
The cold, unvarnished, reality is that this is a business that rewards "self starters" and that concept goes all the way back to day one.