Hobo Jungle

[webenda]

Stevenson... another wordsmith who seems to find just the right words in his pen (or keyboard if he lived today.) Thank you Mike. Perfect start to a Saturday morning.

Posted from Tucson, 9:40 AM.

[The Dirt]

Wayne, that was an outstanding and gorgeous photo of that poppy. Well done!
It's my new desktop photo.

Bikermike, loved the poem!
The very roots of the Jungle!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Gentlemen, I got two phone calls this morning, one from Tramp, who took me to task for deleting my post about my suspicions about Shushupe's personality trait. I do admit I 'caved', when it appeared to me that Rick was feeling 'hurt' and apologetic, and when I thought that we had possibly finally gotten through to him. Maybe I have a bit of the 'pollyanna' about me, but being who I am, and doing the work I do, I do try to find the best part of every person who comes under my care, and even the largest % of the worst, most angry, most ignorant, most miserably anti-social people who comes through, have a part of them to which you can appeal, to help them calm down, feel better if not hopeful, and to which to show some respect.

I don't share the IQ and education and varied Life-experiences of the rest of you guys. Mostly, I have spent my life stumbling along, but I am guided by one principle, which came from a German philosopher named Geothe, which in essence says this...

If you treat a man as he is, you will make him worse than he is.
But if you treat a man as the person he would hope to be, he will become that.

...which I always took to mean that if you treat an angry hostile person as though he were an *sshole, he will remain an *sshole, or worse, but if you treat an angry hostile violent person with calmness and respect, he will settle down, and act and become worthy of that respect. Maybe I have this misinterpreted, but it very rarely fails me, and I believe it is no small reason why I get the appreciation I do from those whom I try to help, and why I have so much success with the out-of-control patients, (I seem to be the main go-to nurse on my unit), and why I do as well as I do with those who can't learn their lessons, and come in angry and hostile for the second, third, even 15th time.

But then sometimes I go too far in the opposite direction.
I bring this up because I am concerned that I may have eased-up too soon on Shushupe, not that I regret that, but that I worry that I might incur the frustration and disappointment of all you guys who rallied and came to my support in the midst of the worst of that with Shushupe.

So anyway, once again, I was very happy with how the 'wagons got circled', and if he was sincerely apologetic, the collective help was, I believe, instrumental. But if I got 'played', well I'm learning. I'm always learning. But whatever I'm doing, I remain deeply respectful and appreciative of all you guys, and what you did, and it was one of my more amazing moments on this very cool forum. Long may we reign!!

The second call was from Jon, 2n3railjon, who told me that our eminent webmaster has once again removed Shushupe from the forum. Hopefully, some peace and quiet have returned!!

[rogruth]

Dirt,

I think we may be a little similar in the way that we feel about people in general.Basically I trust everyone until they do the wrong things to my friends,family or self.I will,within my means,try to help anybody.It is hard to realize that some are not reachable.

[2railjon]

Tramp, the beverage cart has already made three stops with more to follow! I spent the morning replacing the front bumper on my truck and mowing the yard. Now it's to relax with some ale and throw a pork loin and sausage on the grill.
Mike, terrific poem!
Pete, it was great to hear your voice again!e
I also got a chance to do some catching up with Hev yesterday.
Roger, thanks for the drink at Gomers!
I've got the next Round!

[Tramp]

Pete, you make it sound as if I phoned "to take you to task" over the removed post. Not why I called though actually it was you who called me; I just returned the phone call. I had no issue with you being nice to the troll—I even invited the guy for beer, which was obviously ignored—but I just particularly enjoyed the deleted post because it labeled and defined him rather neatly. You handled yourself as a gentleman in the true sense of the term. Anyway, back to beer. I'm trying to match Jon and I figure a head start is imperative.

Mike, keep the poems coming. You write well for an Englishman.

Dennis, your photo gets a beer from me. Maybe even a short.

Jon, I saw your post after I wrote. Today is my day! It's these Canadians in the silvery cans with the maple leafs, nostalgic 50's look, pulled from the freezer.

[kerr]

Wayne, that was an outstanding and gorgeous photo of that poppy. Well done!
It's my new desktop photo.

Bikermike, loved the poem!
The very roots of the Jungle!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Gentlemen, I got two phone calls this morning, one from Tramp, who took me to task for deleting my post about my suspicions about Shushupe's personality trait. I do admit I 'caved', when it appeared to me that Rick was feeling 'hurt' and apologetic, and when I thought that we had possibly finally gotten through to him. Maybe I have a bit of the 'pollyanna' about me, but being who I am, and doing the work I do, I do try to find the best part of every person who comes under my care, and even the largest % of the worst, most angry, most ignorant, most miserably anti-social people who comes through, have a part of them to which you can appeal, to help them calm down, feel better if not hopeful, and to which to show some respect.

You have nothing to reproach yourself for or feel apologetic about, in my opinion. I thought your retracting the remarks went a great deal further in extending the hand of friendship than I would have done under the circumstances. My reaction would have been to extend an olive branch, wait till the bugger was well and truly out on said limb then take an axe to it! Nothing like a blade if you want to get really personal...

http://family.webshots.com/photo/1079310737046422273PReEgU?vhost=family

[2railjon]

Here are some shots for Pete's son, Airborn. It's Rugers brand new piston driven carbine lil' brother to the SR-556 heavy barrel. They shortened the barrel to 16 inches plus fluted it taking a whopping 1/2 pound off the front end. SWEET!

[sarge]

I never questioned in my mind your pulling the post, nor felt hung out to dry because of it. It was the act of a gentleman.

My inclination was to let him drop a piano on himself, rather than waste a flick of the Sykes about his carotid artery.

On the other hand, for the first time he actually apologized to someone. I hope it was genuine and perhaps a little progress. I wish him no ill. Of course, I must admit to being a bit miffed at the lad.

Meanwhile, I shall give all due attention to my being a "pompous blowhard", and consider how I shall improve myself to become a better pompous blowhard.

Hives, another round for my friends please. When you have a moment, of course...

[webenda]

Right on Sarge! (score ten).

Dirt,

Thank you about the poppy image. We had a lot of winter rain--that is always good for summer flowers.

If you treat a man as he is, you will make him worse than he is.
But if you treat a man as the person he would hope to be, he will become that.
--Geothe

R.D. Laing had the same philosophy, i.e., if you berate your children as "no good" most turn out no good. Occasionally one child will take it as a challenge and excel at life. Those tend to be over acheivers because their parents repeat the "no good" message no matter how good they are.

Regarding adults, I agree. I tend to get back whatever I give out. Insanity* (I use that term lightly here) seems to breed insanity. My wife, who is a psychiatric nurse, is like you. She greets angry people with, "You seem angry, what is the problem? Can I help?" I am amazed how many open up to her. She always agrees with them, and offers how she handles aggravating situations. Most of the time when she does this (and I see the person she is talking to has calmed down) I head off to the toy isle to see if they have any new 1:43 scale cars. (She has to talk with her new friend for at least another thirty minutes.)

*Humans are the most insane people I know.

[Tramp]

Wayne, do you collect model cars?

[The Dirt]

Sorry Tramp, poor choice of terms on my part. I was typing fast before I had to leave to work, and yes, your gibing was entirely friendly!

Jon, good to talk to you also.
Airborne, at home, anxiously anticipates the picture of your new toy.
Wished you lived in Pennsylvania. Imagine the mischief...

[webenda]

Tramp,

I deny that I collect "model cars." I collect "toy cars."

Here is a push back spring motor powered toy truck from Wally World.

One day, while lost in the mountains north of Wilcox, AZ, my wife and I came to a cattle ranch and asked directions. The farmer was making steers out of old spark plugs. We purchased the one you see in the back of the toy truck.

I have some toys from diecastdirect.com. They often come with their own display case.

[Tramp]

Wayne, any particular theme or scale or price point? Why the toy over model distinction?

Pete, I'm trying out drink Jon but I fear he's winning once again. But tomorrow is another day! The weekend ain't over yet. I guess no one like my Ben Franklin quote.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

........ Insanity* (I use that term lightly here) seems to breed insanity.

Hmmm......perhaps there is something to this..........

[webenda]

Tramp,

Theme... cars, pickup trucks and tow trucks 1959 or older.

1:50 to 1:43 scale.

I don't really have a price point, but the most expensive was $29.95 and that one I gave as a gift.

Why call them toy? Price and detail. My truck has an engine, but no wires to the spark plugs. In fact the plugs are just bumps and painted green like the rest of the engine. I have seen (on MTJ) one of your model cars. There is no comparison.

I think the timing was off on Ben Franklin and the Bears. I understood your meaning but was ready to move on. Happens all the time to me.

Rufus,

I guess it works in both directions.