DEAR FREEPERS (FROM PUKIN DOG) * VANITY *

E-mail | February 22, 2005 | PukinDog

[arasina]

Dear FReepers,

I wanted to say hello to all my friends out there, especially the usual suspects; arasina, Peach, Rokke, Long Cut, and all the rest. I received an email from arasina with a few messages in it from some of you, and it touched me to find that I am still on the minds of some of you, without assuming that all those thoughts are good ones.

Fact is, my last month on Free Republic was an example of what happens to someone falling into depression. For a number of reasons, personal and professional, I became unhappy with my life. I was unsuccessful at my attempt to rejoin the Navy or the Reserves in order to teach Rokke that there is still some skills in these old bones, and you all know that I work for the worst airline of the face of God's earth. (Yeah, you bastards, fire me. Please!)

I don't think it is right to be flying essentially a big-ass bus in the sky, when my former compadres' are risking life and limb in the Middle East. The retirement of the Tomcat is another thing that I have not coped well with. These and other issues caused me to spend a lot of FR time either apologizing for, or at least regretting something that I had written. I decided to leave FR in order to get better control of myself, because I realized that I was using FR to stoke my ego, as opposed to just being one of the crowd.

So, where have I been? In Proverbs. I read Proverbs every day of the week. I have made a promise to my God that I will live by what Solomon told his son. I wont return to Free Republic until I can write something without the need to win the argument, slap someone else down, insult someone, or generally behave like an a-hole. That will happen when I have worked through my 'issues' and learn to walk better with God. The fact is, I started believing my own 'press'; the PD Fan Club, and all that. The Bible has taught me about my folly, and my need to humble myself.

To Long Cut:

What the hell did I tell you? Do you feel stupid? Return my salute, Boy! I am proud of you. The one thing you need to remember is that none of us has any idea of what we are truly capable of accomplishing. Doubt yourself again, and I will hunt you down.

To Rokke:

Okay, I am old, but I will still wax your fanny given the opportunity. I might stroke-out when it is over, but no G-limiter would get in my way, son. You fly a pretty jet, but fighters should be mean and ugly, like me. Stay safe.

To everyone:

I still lurk on FR and laugh with much satisfaction over what is happening to the MSN. (can I be allowed just one "I told you so"?) Pat yourselves on the back, FReepers, because whether or not you get the credit, YOU are the ones that made this happen. YOU have taken away their power, and inspired the blogosphere to kick ass and take names in a big way. I salute you. We won the election, and there is no stopping us now.

I could say more, but I will not. The fish are still safe and alive; the rain will eventually stop, as will my sour attitude. God blesses me daily. There are too many of you to mention directly, but I have forgotten none of you.

Pukin Dog.

P.S. - Hunter S. Thompson is a pussy.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

ROGERS & HAMMERSTEIN REWL!!!!

(Broadway score Smiley.)

-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)

[arasina]

("OK-lahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains...")

I saw that R & H musical as a kid, brohamie. I so wanted to be like Gloria Grahame and must've gone around singing "I'm just a girl who cain't say no!" for about a month afterward. My parents eventually bought the soundtrack album but I was on to other songs by then.

RoDgers & Hammerstein Rewl! :o)

[Dog]

PD...it's time to report for duty....FR needs you again.

Arasina was that a photo of you....for real?

[AmericanMade1776]

To Pukin Dawg,

Hey....just be glad you have the time to waller in self pity, what with Dan Rather whupped, Bush re-elected, and Howard Dean head of the DNC...you could not of picked a better time.

Battle Fatigue can be tough at times, But just remember what a warrior you are, and get your R&R and come on back! We still have some Battles to fight.

Cheers Americanmade1776

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

No doubt.

-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)

[ken5050]

Always enjoyed our occasional exchanges...trust all goes well with you..wanted to offer one small suggestion..which may or may not resonate..

Good that you recognized some things in your own behavior that were upsetting you..but, writing, especially on FR, can be cathartic..so, keep writing,..keep a journal..but don't post it..do it for yourself..maybe, perhaps, if ever. someday, you'll want to share some, or all of it here, or not, as the case may be, whatever..

Stay safe

Ken

From today, Wednesay, 2/23..a happily Clinton free Chappaqua..one's in Iraq, the other's in Hong Kong..we are safe..

[TChris]

May the Almighty bless you as you humbly work to recover. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Long Cut]

"To Long Cut:
What the hell did I tell you? Do you feel stupid? Return my salute, Boy! I am proud of you. The one thing you need to remember is that none of us has any idea of what we are truly capable of accomplishing. Doubt yourself again, and I will hunt you down."

Salute RETURNED, SHARPLY!!!

When you gave me the original advice, you gave me just what I needed...a swift, two-fisted kick in the arse, tough-guy style.

So now, since that paid off for me in spades (oh, and I ALSO picked up not one, not two, but THREE new decorations since then), let me return the favor. With all due respect, Sir...

WHEN YER DONE WIT' DA NAVEL-GAZIN', I BEST SEE YER POSTERIOR BACK ON STATION AND TOURIN' DA NATION IN SHORT ORDER AND WIT' BELLS ON AND YER SHOES SHINED BRIGHT!!!!!

You've had your time...now it's time to continue with the mission. You don't look good playing "Maverick" pining for "Goose".

Note, I say all this with the HIGHEST possible respect and admiration. I also say it whilst trying to come Med-UP after a serious injury in the line of duty. I want to deploy with my squadron this year, and I WILL go, pain or no pain.

[international american]

It's a lot more fun when you are in the FR trenches. Come back when you are ready!

[RightWingMama]

Arasina, thanks for the thread. PD we miss you. Take care and come back soon.

[arasina]

Thanks for stopping by the thread, RightWingMama! I'm taking this opportunity to give 'er a little BUMP! :o)

[Myrddin]

I appreciate every minute Pukin Dog spent training or engaging the enemy in our F-14 aircraft. It's a risk everytime you get that beastie airborne. Many of us share the frustration of having age as a disqualifier for staying in the game. I expect such restrictions will remain until we find ourselves between a rock and hard place with insufficient skilled resources. Until then, just maintain your fitness and proficiency as much as possible.

[Quix]

Please communicate my prayers and caring and a hearty

CONGRATULATIONS on immersing himself in PROVERBS.

THX.

[Twinkie]

Pukin' - Hope you get to feeling better every day. Get you some of those REVEAL full spectrum light bulbs from Walmart and put one in every lamp where you spend any time in your house. SADD (seasonal affective disorder depression) is horrible this time of year. We just don't get enough sunlight and can get very depressed from that. Our bodies need a bit of sunlight for health. Gray days don't help much to say the least. In winter, the full spectrum light bulbs help.

Pukin' Dog - A name change might improve your self-image; something like "Vomiting Canine" would sound more pretentious and sophisticated. That in itself could cause you to turn the corner.

Be careful up there!

[LisaMalia]

As one who knows, depression is a cross to bear that only one who has truly gone through it knows the affect it can have.

My prayers are with you Dog. Please keep in touch. If you ever want to talk, I'm here to listen.

Lisa

[windchime]

Thanks for posting this, arasina!

Pukin Dog, you are missed. Look forward to reading your insightful and humorous posts again.

[El Cid]

God Bless Pukin.

Trust in the Lord. He IS in control. If He has different plans for you than what you intended - just Praise His Name and serve Him.

[Kevin OMalley]

I hope Pukin Dog reads this thread and realizes how much we would appreciate his return and consider this proposal to see if it would help preserve the asset of patience. From a humble and contrite spirit... a sampling of another thread:

"Pukin Dog... being the most well known resident expert on fighter topics, he frequently found himself having to explain things like why the triplane is no longer the greatest threat in the sky".

***That was probably the best insult I ran across during this thread: Just the right amount of hyperbole, dry humor, easy to understand, pointing out exactly how foolish I was appearing to the experts, even making me feel a little guilty. Good work. It was the insult that keeps on giving. With your comment in mind, it would make sense that the Fighter Pilot fan club might consider starting a Rules Of Engagement page that would list the current vetted primary source authors, the secondary authors, and the rules for arguing with these particular guys on matters relating to Aviation & defense policy (wouldn't apply to other matters such as religion or pothole filling policy). If their patience is even starting to wane, they direct the arguer to the ROE thread, the very next post from the arguer would be required to be "yes, I have read the Yingman FAQ and the ROE, and agree to discuss matters on these terms" with no qualifications whatsoever (no "yeah, but"). If the arguer doesn't post that, and continues on with the argument, time for a ZOT. If the guy wants to argue about the ROE, feel free to send them to me -- I'd be willing to perform this service as an act of contrition. I was tuned for primary source material and I found it here, in spades. It is an extremely valuable resource that needs to be properly guarded. No one should be able to come in and cause so much disruption. We freepers can't allow the current lack of structure to exasperate these valued commentators to the point that they stop coming. Between the Yingman FAQ and the ROE, there should be enough structure in place to have freewheeling discussion without the exasperation.

[snip]

One further thing. This ANNOYING MAN thing really rankles the pilots, and the solution seems obvious to me. Build an FAQ thread on Free Republic labelled something like, "Jet Fighter Technical Tips, Tricks, and Updates". We certainly have a good start with this thread material, although I would clean it up when we transfer it over there. You'll attract Inquisitive Man Looking for Source Material as well as his bitter cousin, ANNOYING MAN, maybe even High School Kid and General Public. Anyways, you pass the word to all your buddies to send ANNOYING MAN to Free Republic. Rokke could sign up with an additional screen name -- Annoying Man would scare off too many, I'd suggest something like Yingman and we could all laugh at the inside joke. All the Primary Source fighter pilots who are vetted would get Yingman's password, so only those few Alpha Freeper Pilot guys could post & answer all the ANNOYING MAN questions they ever come across. They tell their friends to send ANNOYING MAN to Free Republic. If ANNOYING MAN ever shows up on another thread, they send him over to the Yingman thread, and if the guy still persists, bore him a new orifice. In the meantime, ANNOYING MAN becomes a new freeper and the pilots build a solid FAQ. That's what I would do. The material would probably make a good book when all is said & done.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1342535/posts?page=108#108

[arasina]

I hope Pukin Dog reads this thread and realizes how much we would appreciate his return and consider this proposal to see if it would help preserve the asset of patience. From a humble and contrite spirit... a sampling of another thread...

WHAT? "Rokke could sign up with an additional screen name -- Annoying Man would scare off too many, I'd suggest something like Yingman and we could all laugh at the inside joke."

Is that what you call a humble and contrite spirit? Is it a new kind of 'ad hominem humor' or something? What am I missing here?

[Rokke]

Sorry it has taken so long to reply. It is unfortunate this thread became as ugly as it did. Everyone is an expert at something, and all of us have a passion for things we aren't experts in. The great thing about FreeRepublic is that it seems to have a very large mixture of both. Unfortunately, that mixture doesn't always mix very well. I think that is why so many threads on FreeRepublic end up just like this one. The trick is to not take it personally. But of course that is exactly what I did when you tried to get USNBandit booted as an fraud. I don't think there is any need for an ROE thread any more specific than the one listed on the homepage of this site. In the impersonal world of the internet, there is bound to be a certain amount of arguing by people who would probably behave with a lot more maturity if they were speaking face to face.

With regard to ANNOYING MAN, every profession is faced with the same problem. Imagine being a doctor who is constantly "informed" by his patients what the correct treatment is. Or the stockbroker who is given investing advice by his clients. Or racecar drivers who have to explain that being good at X-Box doesn't really mean you are ready for the track. Or football coaches who are told in no uncertain terms why all their decisions were wrong...etc, etc, etc. And in almost every case, the "ANNOYING MAN" is someone who has absolutely no practical experience in the subject they are offering their opinion in. I have been the ANNOYING MAN many times in my life. I'm a type A personality fighter pilot. What could be more annoying than that? But again, that is part of what makes this site so great. I can be the ANNOYING MAN to any number of experts. I can spout my opinion to my heart's content. I can take hits from them, and toss a few back. And then I can step away with no real damage done, and maybe just a little new knowledge. If all people are looking for is information, they can go to Goggle. If you want to discuss and argue about that information you come to a site just like this.

By the way, I flew in a large exercise today off the coast of North Carolina. We had four Harriers join us. I thought about this thread and had to laugh. Of course, they did great (they were on a strike mission). They made it to the target area and back again without engaging a single bandit. And that is just the way it should be.