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Actually, rather than “long lost cousins” it feels more like a rather close cousin situation. I spoke with my mom about this when she was visiting this weekend and tried to relate to her how strange it is. She’s pretty much confined her internet use to communicating with family and close friends, and hasn’t gotten involved in any forums like this.

Different world...

Hi, just checking in briefly, and I was struck by your post.

One of the things I have always cherished about FR is that it allowed me to meet such interesting people. In my everyday life I have few friends I see often (being at home and not working) and so my social contacts are pretty much confined to family, church, and whoever I talk to at the grocery store.

This site gave me a place to share my thoughts and opinions, and to meet such fascinating people in the process. Who knew that there were so many people who would get a joke about Cthulu? Who knew that there were so many gardeners? Fascinating people, well read, good writers...just a wonderful place to make some true friends.

And they are true friends, because we share such important parts of our lives with each other. I have a hard time remembering how it was before I signed onto FR.

Things have changed, though. You don't find too many in-depth discussions. Mostly name-calling, gossip, and flame wars. This is not what I am interested in, so I check into ATRW, look at the other news, and then go out and work in the garden. The horrible people have spoiled the place for me.

Just about every morning I open my computer, run downstairs to make coffee, come up here after all the diddling a computer makes, then open up ATWR then back down for 2 cups, one for me and one to wake up Roomey, THEN....I begin my day here to see how all my friends are, wonder about those who have not been finger tip communicating. I miss those who are no longer here and wonder about them. One I can call and check on her and family. In fact I have a picture of her little family on my desk. This is such a great place to begin the day. When I mention AFPhys or Bit, or Miss M, Roomey, at first, wondered if I’d gone off to lala land, but now knows the neat people we have here, after meeting my good friend in FL.

I spoke with my mom about this when she was visiting this weekend and tried to relate to her how strange it is. She’s pretty much confined her internet use to communicating with family and close friends, and hasn’t gotten involved in any forums like this.

Right now, tempers are so hot on all sides that I'd say that she's pretty smart. That thread on Rudy last night was the nastiest I've seen since I was on the old AOL political boards where liberals and conservatives went head to head. Those got so ugly, especially around impeachment, that I gave up trying to reason with any of those idiots. It wasn't worth the headache. My last post was an Opus that took about 7 screen pages nailing a liberal who was attacking one of my conservative friends. I had compiled two years worth of name-calling, lies, etc., and I and two others put them together in one nuclear package.

I was a hero to the rest of the conservatives, but I felt nothing but regret, not because I'd helped her, but in doing so, had sunk to their level. I left AOL a short time later and found this place.

This thread, since the bad old days of USAvsClinton, to now, has always been my shelter from the lunacy that goes on outside. When I come to this thread, I know I'm among friends, and when one of them gets banned for something so petty, I get pretty upset.

it is good your mom is at all involved with the internet & email. I am amazed how many people 40 & above who do NOT have computers & aren’t interested in them. I believe that is mostly due to the fear factor.

I am in process of getting a computer ready for my friend Pat. Her first computer. She uses on at work but it is a work related program only & NOT internet & NOT email.

I will start her out with some good word processing & photo programs. Will put on all the pix I have of her over the years & a good slide show program (MY fav is Fuji Film)

I hope it will go well & she can find the extra $$ for internet/DSL etc. She is on a tight budget.

I have hopes of getting my laptop ready with a wireless card to connect to my Internet connection so my mom too can play around. I think she would love being able to write to my brother & her great granddaughter, Summer.

How is the little Miss J doing?