Could someone please

[LadyGodiva]

Tell me the story of how this forum got started?

Eli

[Sponsored Links]

[jjwq8]

It was a dark and stormy night.....................

[John K]

A few of us were on another board and trying to help people with there tile issues. The moderator use to bash the people and kickem to the curb and John B. would clean their wounds and invite them to his new web site. The rest is history.;)

[LadyGodiva]

So John B. is really a kind of nurse then? :D

No wonder he let me stay here!

[LadyGodiva]

Originally posted by jjwq8
It was a dark and stormy night.....................


I'm waiting to see where you're taking this JJ... don't think I'm going to let you off the hook so easiy :shades:

[jjwq8]

Waiting for another dark and stormy night :D

[LadyGodiva]

As JJ waited for another dark and stormy night...

One suddenly appeared as if by magic:D

Then JJ looked up to see what was making a swishing noise just above his head, and realised that it was the infamous Lady G riding in on her horse, with swords pointed directly at his head!!!

I know how this ends JJ, but you could always add an alternative ending if you'd like...being a guy, you'd probably want to make it sound like you could overcome this female, and just for your ego's sake, I'll let you 'think' you can!!!

:D

[jjwq8]

If you are intending to relieve the patent stupidity that resides above my shoulders methinks you will have to get in line:yeah:

[John Bridge]

It sort of just kinda started all by itself. :D

Three or four years ago I put a little forum on my web site, not anything like what you see now. A person would stop in every day or so and ask a question about something, and a few pros began checking in. The software I used was cheap and out of commission much of the time, so I bought the current software and launched it. It has now reached a point where I can't run it, and I don't. I have several helpers/partners, and I depend on the good people who gather here to keep things going. :)

And John K. is correct. I scoured the Internet, answering questions wherever they were asked. People are treated like dirt on other boards if they are not just ignored. I decided that's not the way to gain friends and influence people.

Many very good people attached themselves to the forum and began shaping it into what it is. It can only get better as long as we continue to attract intelligent, thoughtful, informed people. There are few rules. You can't be mean and hateful to folks. Otherwise, it's truly a free marketplace of ideas. :)

[Kevin756]

John,

I have added the obligatory thanks and "this board is a great resource" to the posts I've made at what you guys used to refer to as the "shallow end". This thread seems like the proper place to say a little more on the subject. If you search back at my posts, I am for the most part a lurker, however I do read the board on a regular basis. I also read quite a few other bulletin boards on topics such as fly fishing, traveling in Baja, BBQ, home repair, vegetable gardening and others to lesser degree. I have to tell you this is by far the best board and participating community out there. The advice given at the "shallow end" is always matched up with the skill levels of those asking the questions. I have never seen a thread where the OP had to keep asking for things to be explained so they can understand. Your contributors seem to have an excellent sense of how to go about dispensing the advice based on how the questions are asked. I have also never seen a thread where anyone was condescending to anyone. That happens alot in other forums where those who do something for living give advice to those who don't. I have also followed a few threads where opinions differ and the level of respect everyone gives to those with differing opinions is great. Other boards routinely have large scale flame wars because a few posters are not respectful of any opinion other than their own. I'm getting a little long winded here, so let me just say you have succeeded in creating a place where people can receive great advice on tile issues or just exchange ideas on other topics and trust/respect the information they learn. Thanks again for providing this.

Kevin

[jjwq8]

John,
you should stick with "it was a dark and stormy night.

Kevin,

You're obviously reading the wrong threads :D

[LadyGodiva]

Kevin,

That was a wonderful response, and you're quite right, it's truly a remarkable forum. I've been to others before asking for advice on home improvement, and gotten some pretty nasty replies. Made me feel very dumb:(

It's different here and I feel like I could ask any question and get a decent response... except for JJ! Now what are we going to do with him?:D

[Billy]

John,

You have created an excellent atmosphere on this board. Great people, excellent advice, healthy debates, almost always friendly, and never condescending. I have not seen this combo on any other message board. It makes it a joy to read. Whether or not I am looking for specific advice, I know that I can always learn something new or interesting. I met Rob Z and he came over to my house to teach me to be a mud man ;-). He's one heck of a nice and smart guy who really cares about the quality of his work and doing things the right way. And I think there are many other like-minded people here.

My brother lives in Greenville, SC and Steve Hauser is doing work for him now. It sounds like he's a super guy too, and they both go to the same church, etc.

You built a great place John, thanks. You could not have done without the help of others, but you set the rules and the atmosphere -- just like a CEO. ;-)

Billy

[e3]

a regular Don Trump he is!! "The John" The" Bridge" that links us all together in one big happy tile family! I still like the dark and stormy night...

[John Bridge]

Once upon a midnight dreary, . . . . :D

Thanks for all the kind thoughts. I know the folks who make this place work appreciate the praise. :)

Speaking of the shallow end, we can use all the help we can get there. I appreciate that many non-pros respond to the questions there and try to help the new folks. That's really the best way to do it. Once you've built your shower or tiled your floor, you know practically as much as the pros do. None of this is high-tech, after all. Please continue to pitch in over there.

[flatfloor]

"It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents--except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness."

--Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, The Novel Paul Clifford (1830)

[Kevin756]

Jeremy, over the course of the last couple of years I have read some pretty interesting threads here. I do have to say your (and all the other ones too) postings to the joke board give me a good chuckle in this otherwise Dilbert world I have been forced to become a part of.

Kevin

[jjwq8]

Plaudits I surely don't deserve. In truth, almost all my posts on the Joke forum would fall within my own definition of ho-hum, simply because the jokes that reach me that tend to crack me up, in this backwater are invariably those that are too blue or politically incorrect to pass muster for the forum.

When I have tried to sanitize them they are failures and many are simply too focused in their scope too appeal to a broad audience.

[LadyGodiva]

Originally posted by jjwq8
Plaudits I surely don't deserve. In truth, almost all my posts on the Joke forum would fall within my own definition of ho-hum, simply because the jokes that reach me that tend to crack me up, in this backwater are invariably those that are too blue or politically incorrect to pass muster for the forum.

When I have tried to sanitize them they are failures and many are simply too focused in their scope too appeal to a broad audience.

Blue jokes? Hmmm... JJ, I'm now all ears:D

Now, does blue mean X-rated?:confused:

[jjwq8]

way way beyond x

[John Bridge]

I know I've spent too much time out in the provinces, but what the hell does Dilbert world mean? ;)

[sdaniels7114]

http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert/

[John Bridge]

Oh yeah. Thanks, Steve.

Back to the provinces. ;)

[Kevin756]

John, to put my "Dilbert world" in context, let me give you a little history. I spent 16 years farming vegetables and seed crops. After deciding the risk was not worth it anymore, I closed up and went to work for a food processing cooperative. That wasn't too bad since I got to spend a lot of time in the field compared to in the office. Long story short, they went belly up and it was time to seek new employment. I now work for the government sitting in front of a computer all day making sense of all kinds of numbers. When ever I see the Dilbert cartoons, I can really relate because compared to the settings I used to work in, this office stuff doesn't always make alot of sense. It really is a different world compared to "working with your hands."

Kevin

[John Bridge]

Okay, so anyway, it was a dark and dreary night . . . . :D

Kevin,

If it's not classified, tell us what you do for the gummint. :)

[flatfloor]

Hi Kevin, could you hook up with one of the cooperative extensions? around here we have Cornell Coop. Ext.

[Kevin756]

John, not classified at all. I work with what is referred to as "technical budget maintenance" and administrative cost allocation. The technical budget work involves working with the numbers to come up with budgets aligned with strategic and tactical plans. I don't have involvement with fiscal policy. Administrative cost allocation is how departments allocate overhead (i.e. accounting services, human resources, facilities, etc.) to programs that provide services to stakeholders (supposed to be the public). This serves to identify what the total cost of providing a service is compared to other alternatives. If you have manged to read this far, I'm sure you understand why this former "farmboy" needs to keep busy with home improvement projects. This line of work doesn't satisfy the part of me that likes to buld and fix things as well as wrap up a job and appreciate it. It just kind of floats along.

Jim, I considered the cooperative extension here, as well as the department of agriculture. I decided to make a clean break from agriculture because of the seasonal demands. After spending so many years working in the industry, I grew weary of planning vacations and other things around the time of the year. The environment I work in has alot of slack time in the summer because our fiscal year starts July 1st. All of the hard work I'm involved in is completed and vacation time off is more readily granted. After all of those years working 7 days a week, 12 to 16 hours a day all summer, it is pretty nice to take time off when the weather is nice and go camping and fishing.

My hats off to you guys for finding success in this business. The people I work with now think I'm nuts when I tell them I miss the challenges of the business world. People in large organizations tend to get used to very controlled processes that minimize risk but never really accomplish things the best way possible. I also applaud your physical fortitude. After setting 40 tiles (16"x16") Sunday, I am one sore guy. I don't know how you guys do it day in and day out.

Kevin

[David Taylor]

Kevin,

We use body doubles to accomplish the feat. ;)

Have you ever watched "Office Space"?

"You've got to get those TPS reports in on time". Too funny. :)

[John Bridge]

<<People in large organizations tend to get used to very controlled processes that minimize risk but never really accomplish things the best way possible.>>

Oh, so you're in the army.

:D

[jjwq8]

John.................John,

Can't you figure out he works for Microsoft? :D