Who would you bring (back) to GCA.com?

[JMorgan]

Sometimes it gets a little old around here. Like anything, I suppose there are only so many times one can discuss  favorite CBM templates, the bastardization of ANGC, golf course maintenance practices, MacKenzie's bunkering schemes, and so on.

But I don't understand why anyone would leave the site because the subject matter is old. There is always something new to discover -- some nuance of a particular interest, whether it is a James Braid course one never heard of, a crease in the approach topography that makes all the difference in a bump and run shot, the caddy at the Old Course who made your trip a Top 3 of all-time lifetime moments, an email exchange with another GCA member regarding a questions about a certain architect, the Beef Wellington -- or simply the people you meet here.

If you could invite five people to participate in the GCA Discussion Group -- including former participants and first-time callers, who would you ask, and why?  What would you tell them about this place?

[Joe Hancock]

JMorgan,

I don't know about the last question, but first of why anyone would leave has to do with perspective. I think it works a bit like church; the ones who are serving continue to do so, and the ones who are there only to be fed eventually tire of the diet and move on.

Joe

[JMorgan]

JMorgan,

I don't know about the last question, but first of why anyone would leave has to do with perspective. I think it works a bit like church; the ones who are serving continue to do so, and the ones who are there only to be fed eventually tire of the diet and move on.

Joe

Good analogy, Joe.  What do you think it would take to get DeVries back here? Better communion wine?

[Joe Hancock]

JMorgan,

I don't know about the last question, but first of why anyone would leave has to do with perspective. I think it works a bit like church; the ones who are serving continue to do so, and the ones who are there only to be fed eventually tire of the diet and move on.

Joe

Good analogy, Joe.  What do you think it would take to get DeVries back here? Better communion wine?

That, and an uglier secretary........

[Adam Clayman]

MIke has not left. He recently posted on some of the work he's done at Sunningdale CC in Scarsdale, NY.

[JMorgan]

Joe, that has to rank up there as one of your best witty GCA retorts of all time. I give it a 10 on the Doak scale.

[paul cowley]

....great analogy Joe....makes me hungry.

I think I will go make some peanut butter toast.

[John Mayhugh]

I haven't participated for all that long, but it's hard to imagine my GCA interests being furthered by not participating on the site.  The only logical reason to leave is if you were no longer interested in the topic.

[Ian Andrew]

You’re brought here by the subject matter - you’re driven away by people's ability to say anything - not matter how spiteful - due to the anonymous nature of the internet.

[Ken Moum]

JMorgan,

I don't know about the last question, but first of why anyone would leave has to do with perspective. I think it works a bit like church; the ones who are serving continue to do so, and the ones who are there only to be fed eventually tire of the diet and move on.

Joe

Remember what I said when I met you in Orlando? Well, this is a perfect example of why I said it.

Sometimes your perspective on things makes me feel very very shallow.

Ken

[Wayne_Kozun]

Because too many Subject lines of threads are questions?

[Joe Hancock]

Because too many Subject lines of threads are questions?

Maybe?

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

JMorgan:

You can't be serious.

"Because I have a life," would probably be the most popular answer to your question followed by, "because I'm in the business and I realize most people who post are talking out their ass," with a close third being, "because I'm back on my medication."

Other popular responses: I've developed some self esteem; I've come out of the coma; the warden took away my computer priviledges.

Anthony

[Joe Hancock]

MODERATORS:

It appears Danny Gans has figured out how to log in and post using Anthony Pioppi's account. Please take appropriate measures.

Joe

[Jim Thompson]

Who would I like to see here?

Jim Zabel - penultimate dirt guy in my book
Dave Demerest - Former project manager for Landscapes Unlimited
Bruce Roerig - Former Palmer guy and now midwest course operator
Ray Wiltse - ocean skipper, great fisherman, oh yeah architect, would need an anonymous account
there's one more, but even mentioning him could be trouble for him- shaper

Why would I leave?
Excessive use of the word thumbhole

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

Jim:

Are you related to the Jim Thompson who wrote "The Killer Inside Me," which should be required reading by every high school student in the United States?

Anthony

[Jim Thompson]

Anthony,

I don't know.  Actually I'm a real genealogy buff and can get my family most of the legs of my family back to around 1000 AD.  My wifes' side I can get back to Adam if you believe in the Marovengian line through Charles Martel or in Joseph of Aramethea.  The only sticker is actually the Thompson line.  My great great grandfather was Elmer Ellsworth Thompson, named after the founder of the Zouave movement in the US, born in Feb of 1863.  So maybe.  My mothers line goes back to a group of Prussians who were run out of the country during the reformation as well as Presidents, Martin Van Buren and Theodore Roosevelt.  I'll do some research to find out though.  Oddly enough their are some who would say that a book of that title might come from my mind.  You never know...

[Eric Pevoto]

  My wifes' side I can get back to Adam if you believe in the Marovengian line through Charles Martel or in Joseph of Aramethea. 

Some guys will do anything to impress a lady.

[SPDB]

JMorgan:

With varying degrees of frequency, I think you will find people's participation waxes and wanes, some of which is related to current events on GCA.com, and some which is totally unrelated.  In my 8+ years on here, I am posting less often than anytime I can remember, but I suspect I will return to regular posting, much as I have following similar periods in the past.

Often it seems, people sort of hit their stride in years 1-3 as they are still soaking up all of the rich contributed and original resources this site offers, digesting it and regurgitating increasingly thoughtful commentary.  Except for the most strident, this gets pretty exhausting and can begin to feel unoriginal.

There are a few "noisy" departures that often seem self-righteous or self-absorbed, rarely are these contributers sorely missed or difficult to replace (apart from what camraderie or friendships we share with them).  Often its the impact of the quieter departure that is more profound (e.g. Tom MacWood)

As for your other question, I think this board would stand to benefit from thoughtful posters who are associated with Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and other architects whose design philosophies or methods are seldom represented or advocated. In the early days of GCA.com, it would be unthinkable given the crowd. Nowadays, it might seem possible for such persons to come on board without the corresponding Kulturkampf.

Good thread.

Sean

P.S. While beautiful, isn't that footer picture a little much to be accompanying each post?

[Jim Thompson]

Eric,

As a seminary survivor, an Eastern Religion degree holder, and little bit of OCD.  I'm constantly doing research and the genealogy thing is about as addictive as it gets.  There's alway one more line, one more spouse, etc... The LDS geneaology side is incredible as well as rootsweb and my heritage.  My wife could care less and thinks I'm nuts. We balanace each other out that way.  Even though she's an auditor and legal specialist.  I'm not much for trying to impress. For what its worth, my father was a history teacher so evertime I get on a line or narrow in on a name I just get sucked in.  It is a lot of fun and I don't think there is to much BS to it.

Cheers!

JT

[Eric Pevoto]

Jim,

I was just breaking ya.  My mother spent 20+ years doing geneology as a hobby.  Taking the lines to narrative is the interesting part.

Best,
Eric
(fellow ATO)

[Jim Thompson]

VTL,

No sweat.

JT

[Jeff_Brauer]

I will never announce my retirement like some rock band setting up the reunion tour years down the road, but one of my new years resolutions is to participate less.  It's a time waster, and I do wonder about the mental health aspects of being addicted to an inernet site.

Whenever I think about logging on to post, rather than just read what looks interesting, I think of the Karen Allen character in Animal House, trying to persuade her boyfriend to not go to another, predictable, frat drunk party.

She says, "I can write you a note and say you are too well to attend!"

[Mike Sweeney]

Whenever I think about logging on to post, rather than just read what looks interesting, I think of the Karen Allen character in Animal House, trying to persuade her boyfriend to not go to another, predictable, frat drunk party.

She says, "I can write you a note and say you are too well to attend!"

Jeff,

I do not think this is a comparable situation. Katy did marry Boon. And yes while they did get divorced later on, we have no idea why!

Certainly most women have already sworn off GCA participants and ONLY divorce is on the horizon. If we had a GCA meeting at a strip club, I fear that we would get tossed for not spending any money because we would be looking for the rater discount! 

[Patrick_Mucci]

Because too many Subject lines of threads are questions?

WHY do you say that ?

Do you know the definition of the word: "Socratic" ?[/color]

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