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Re: Mr. or Ms. Troll: Can You Trust Mike Foulks?

Credibility is the objective and subjective components of the believability of a source or message.

Traditionally, credibility is composed of two primary dimensions: TRUSTWORTHINESS and EXPERTISE, which have both objective and subjective components.

That is, trustworthiness is a receiver judgment based on subjective factors.

Expertise can be similarly subjectively perceived but includes relatively objective characteristics of the source or message as well (e.g., source credentials or information quality).

Some secondary dimensions include source dynamism (CHARISMA) and physical attractiveness, for example.

Credibility online has become an important topic since the mid-1990s, as the web has increasingly become an information resource.

The Credibility and Digital Media Project at UCSB highlights recent and ongoing work in this area, including recent consideration of digital media, youth, and credibility.

In addition, the Persuasive Technology Lab at Stanford University has studied web credibility and proposed the principal components of online credibility and a general theory called PROMINENCE-INTERPRETATION THEORY.

Integrity is a characteristic that belongs to people who are self-actualized.

KNOWING ONESELF heightens a person's integrity. According to Abraham Maslow, having integrity can take a very long time to reach and is very hard to obtain.

It's at the top of Maslow's pyramid. Before reaching self-actualization and having integrity, you have to first have needs like food and water, love and care from friends and family, and especially self-confidence.

IT'S THE BASING OF ONE'S ACTIONS ON AN INTERNALLY CONSISTENT FRAMEWORK OF PRINCIPLES.

Depth of principles and adherence of each level to the next are key determining factors.

One is said to have INTEGRITY to the extent that everything they do and believe is based on the same core set of values.

While those values may change, it is their consistency with each other and with the person's actions that determine their integrity.

The concept of INTEGRITY IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO RESPONSIBILITY in that implementation spawning from principles is designed with a specific outcome in mind.

When the action fails to achieve the desired effect, a change of principles is indicated. ACCOUNTABILITY is achieved when a faulty principle is identified and changed to produce a more useful action.

From Psycanic Philosophy about Integrity: "Integrity" comes from the Latin, "integritas" and "integra" meaning whole, complete, one.

Integrity originated from one of Taha's values, he was as they called him a 'man of integrity,' although also had slightly bad eye sight.

Integrity is the alignment, the correspondence, between what one THINKs (beliefs, values), what one SAYs to others, and what one does.

This is to say, integrity exists when THINK = SAY = DO. Picture each of these (THINK, SAY, DO) as a circle.

When the three circles are separated, when there is no alignment between the three behaviors; the person is out of integrity.

When the circles approach each other and overlap to become one circle, the person is integral.

Behaviors within the concept of integrity include: HONESTY, SINCERITY, TRUTHFULNESS, keeping one's word and agreements, punctuality, ethics, fairness and justice.

It is said of Integrity that, "IT IS BETTER TO HAVE AN ENEMY WHO KEEPS HIS WORD, THAN A FRIEND WHO DOES NOT."

In law, an adversarial process can have general integrity when both sides demonstrate WILLINGNESS to share evidence, follow guidelines of debate and accept rulings from an arbitrator in a good faith effort to arrive at either the truth or a mutually equitable outcome.

An HONORABLE PRESENTATION of the case measures both sides of the argument with a CONSISTENT set of PRINCIPLES.

Failure to present principles in accordance with observation or to try them unequally can weaken a case.

In science, the integrity of science is based on a set of testing principles known as the scientific method.

To the extent that a proof follows the requirements of the method, it is considered scientific.

The scientific method includes measures to ensure unbiased testing and the requirement that the hypothesis have "falsifiability."

In tests of Professional Integrity: Integrity (honesty) tests seek to find out which persons are more likely to hide nasty events from their past (as doing prison time, getting psychiatric treatment, alcohol problems, etc.) and/or are likely to cause trouble for the employer.

These tests are based on certain assumptions, namely that such persons report more dishonest behavior, they try to find reasons in order to justify such behavior, they think others are likely to commit crimes (like theft or so), they are impulsive and are more likely to think that deviant behavior has to be severely punished.

The pretension of such tests to detect fake answers is crucial in this respect, because the naive really believe such outright lie and behave accordingly, reporting their past deviance because they fear that it may otherwise be detected from their answers.

Other Integrities: Studies of integrity also exist in philosophy of action, philosophy of medicine, the mind, cognition, consciousness, and politics.

It may also be seen in light of different philosophies of wholeness, such as commitment, authenticity or esteem.

If you must choose between trusting a Troll or Mike Foulks, choose Mike!

If you must choose between trusting a Troll or Mike Foulks, I humbly ask that you choose me.

By the way Wolf, it is a mistake to think that one can't have integrity without food or water.

You seem to THINK and SAY. What do you DO?

-Mike Foulks

P.S. I think most can trust me more than you, but they also might trust a Troll before they trust you. I think Trolls might be actually seen out and about more than you have.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

Credibility is the objective and subjective components of the believability of a source or message.

Traditionally, credibility is composed of two primary dimensions: TRUSTWORTHINESS and EXPERTISE, which have both objective and subjective components.

That is, trustworthiness is a receiver judgment based on subjective factors.

Expertise can be similarly subjectively perceived but includes relatively objective characteristics of the source or message as well (e.g., source credentials or information quality).

Some secondary dimensions include source dynamism (CHARISMA) and physical attractiveness, for example.

Credibility online has become an important topic since the mid-1990s, as the web has increasingly become an information resource.

The Credibility and Digital Media Project at UCSB highlights recent and ongoing work in this area, including recent consideration of digital media, youth, and credibility.

In addition, the Persuasive Technology Lab at Stanford University has studied web credibility and proposed the principal components of online credibility and a general theory called PROMINENCE-INTERPRETATION THEORY.

Integrity is a characteristic that belongs to people who are self-actualized.

KNOWING ONESELF heightens a person's integrity. According to Abraham Maslow, having integrity can take a very long time to reach and is very hard to obtain.

It's at the top of Maslow's pyramid. Before reaching self-actualization and having integrity, you have to first have needs like food and water, love and care from friends and family, and especially self-confidence.

IT'S THE BASING OF ONE'S ACTIONS ON AN INTERNALLY CONSISTENT FRAMEWORK OF PRINCIPLES.

Depth of principles and adherence of each level to the next are key determining factors.

One is said to have INTEGRITY to the extent that everything they do and believe is based on the same core set of values.

While those values may change, it is their consistency with each other and with the person's actions that determine their integrity.

The concept of INTEGRITY IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO RESPONSIBILITY in that implementation spawning from principles is designed with a specific outcome in mind.

When the action fails to achieve the desired effect, a change of principles is indicated. ACCOUNTABILITY is achieved when a faulty principle is identified and changed to produce a more useful action.

From Psycanic Philosophy about Integrity: "Integrity" comes from the Latin, "integritas" and "integra" meaning whole, complete, one.

Integrity originated from one of Taha's values, he was as they called him a 'man of integrity,' although also had slightly bad eye sight.

Integrity is the alignment, the correspondence, between what one THINKs (beliefs, values), what one SAYs to others, and what one does.

This is to say, integrity exists when THINK = SAY = DO. Picture each of these (THINK, SAY, DO) as a circle.

When the three circles are separated, when there is no alignment between the three behaviors; the person is out of integrity.

When the circles approach each other and overlap to become one circle, the person is integral.

Behaviors within the concept of integrity include: HONESTY, SINCERITY, TRUTHFULNESS, keeping one's word and agreements, punctuality, ethics, fairness and justice.

It is said of Integrity that, "IT IS BETTER TO HAVE AN ENEMY WHO KEEPS HIS WORD, THAN A FRIEND WHO DOES NOT."

In law, an adversarial process can have general integrity when both sides demonstrate WILLINGNESS to share evidence, follow guidelines of debate and accept rulings from an arbitrator in a good faith effort to arrive at either the truth or a mutually equitable outcome.

An HONORABLE PRESENTATION of the case measures both sides of the argument with a CONSISTENT set of PRINCIPLES.

Failure to present principles in accordance with observation or to try them unequally can weaken a case.

In science, the integrity of science is based on a set of testing principles known as the scientific method.

To the extent that a proof follows the requirements of the method, it is considered scientific.

The scientific method includes measures to ensure unbiased testing and the requirement that the hypothesis have "falsifiability."

In tests of Professional Integrity: Integrity (honesty) tests seek to find out which persons are more likely to hide nasty events from their past (as doing prison time, getting psychiatric treatment, alcohol problems, etc.) and/or are likely to cause trouble for the employer.

These tests are based on certain assumptions, namely that such persons report more dishonest behavior, they try to find reasons in order to justify such behavior, they think others are likely to commit crimes (like theft or so), they are impulsive and are more likely to think that deviant behavior has to be severely punished.

The pretension of such tests to detect fake answers is crucial in this respect, because the naive really believe such outright lie and behave accordingly, reporting their past deviance because they fear that it may otherwise be detected from their answers.

Other Integrities: Studies of integrity also exist in philosophy of action, philosophy of medicine, the mind, cognition, consciousness, and politics.

It may also be seen in light of different philosophies of wholeness, such as commitment, authenticity or esteem.

Re: If you must choose between trusting a Troll or Mike Foulks

I don't trust trolls, they are only as real as fairy tales.

Of course, so is Mike!

Re: Mr. or Ms. Troll...

Strike One: You admitted you have never seen the brochure. You begged to get your hands on one.

Strike Two: You weren't at the meeting. You have only proven untrustworthy second hand information.

Strike Three: YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SQUAKING ABOUT. You pretend you do, but it is only pretense, not real.

You're OUT!

Then you come up with this line of manure: "Some contributors of this site have attempted to re-write history, particularly with the episode of the controversial flier that Prateek Sampat of the TWO Project (AFSC) circulated which (most likely with intention, and at least, foolishly) misstated other individuals' and organizing factions' positions on the cabdrivers' issues."

Pure supposition, or pure hogwash or pure lie. You don't know the facts, but you shoot your mouth off anyway.

"If you repeat the lie often enough...." said the Brown-shirted Fascisti Storm Trooper to his lacky.

Talk about (a lack) of credibility!

Unfortunately for you mr. megalmaniac* (a pathological egotist), you can not be the judge, the jury, the prosecutor and the hangman. That is way Fascisti.

-----------------------------------------------------

* meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a

1. A psycho-pathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence; 2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.

-----------------------------------------------------

Arabic: مُصاب بِجُنون العَظَمَه
Chinese (Simplified): 妄自尊大的人
Chinese (Traditional): 妄自尊大的人
Czech: megaloman, -ka
Danish: person, der lider af storhedsvanvid
Dutch: megalomaan
Estonian: suurushull
Finnish: suuruudenhullu
French: mégalomane
German: größenwahnssinnig; der, *die Größenwahnsinnige
Greek: μεγαλομανής
Hungarian: megalomániás
Icelandic: mikilmennskubrjálæðingur
Indonesian: penderita megalomania
Italian: megalomane

Japanese: 誇大妄想狂
Korean: 과대 망상증에 걸린; 과대 망상증 환자
Latvian: ar lielummāniju apsēstais
Lithuanian: didybės manijos apsėstas (žmogus)
Norwegian: (en) som er stormannsgal
Polish: megalomański, megaloman
Portuguese (Brazil): megalomaníaco
Portuguese (Portugal): megalomaníaco
Romanian: mega­lo­man
Russian: страдающий манией величия
Slovak: megalomanský; megaloman
Slovenian: megaloman
Spanish: megalómano
Swedish: person som lider av storhetsvansinne (megalomani)
Turkish: büyüklük hastası
------------------------------------------------
What a dink: A euphemism for being delinquent on training; a penis; military slang for a recruit in training, "Desperately In Need of Knowledge"

I just hit your first pitch out of the Ballpark, Wolf!

Wolf, wolf, wolf,

I have seen the 'brochure' (infamous flyer).

I have seen it on more than one occasion.

The last time I saw it was at Hollywood Grill, where many other people saw it, including someone who signed it.

I'm not 'begging to get my hands on one'. I'll pay good money for one. Name your price. I might find a copy amongst my papers if I do a complete inventory.

How about one of yours as a Christmas gift from you to me?

I never claimed to be at the meeting, but I'm already rounding the bases on you, Wolf.

I do know what I'm talking about. The difference between me and you is that I'm willing to back up what I claim with evidence.

I will show this flyer to be a fine example of how other 'organizers' are defaming cabdrivers who's only 'crime' is to have the wisdom not to associate with liars or fools.

Reality check. I'm pointing to the scoreboard...Mike Foulks-1...Wolf Weiss-0.

I'm up to bat again...no outs...throw your next pitch...

-Mike Foulks, President, Chicago Cabdriver Organization (CCO)

P.S. I got a favorite synonym for 'dink'...it's SCHMUCK!

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

Strike One: You admitted you have never seen the brochure. You begged to get your hands on one.

Strike Two: You weren't at the meeting. You have only proven untrustworthy second hand information.

Strike Three: YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SQUAKING ABOUT. You pretend you do, but it is only pretense, not real.

You're OUT!

Then you come up with this line of manure: "Some contributors of this site have attempted to re-write history, particularly with the episode of the controversial flier that Prateek Sampat of the TWO Project (AFSC) circulated which (most likely with intention, and at least, foolishly) misstated other individuals' and organizing factions' positions on the cabdrivers' issues."

Pure supposition, or pure hogwash or pure lie. You don't know the facts, but you shoot your mouth off anyway.

"If you repeat the lie often enough...." said the Brown-shirted Fascisti Storm Trooper to his lacky.

Talk about (a lack) of credibility!

Unfortunately for you mr. megalmaniac* (a pathological egotist), you can not be the judge, the jury, the prosecutor and the hangman. That is way Fascisti.

-----------------------------------------------------

* meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a

1. A psycho-pathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence; 2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.

-----------------------------------------------------

Arabic: مُصاب بِجُنون العَظَمَه
Chinese (Simplified): 妄自尊大的人
Chinese (Traditional): 妄自尊大的人
Czech: megaloman, -ka
Danish: person, der lider af storhedsvanvid
Dutch: megalomaan
Estonian: suurushull
Finnish: suuruudenhullu
French: mégalomane
German: größenwahnssinnig; der, *die Größenwahnsinnige
Greek: μεγαλομανής
Hungarian: megalomániás
Icelandic: mikilmennskubrjálæðingur
Indonesian: penderita megalomania
Italian: megalomane

Japanese: 誇大妄想狂
Korean: 과대 망상증에 걸린; 과대 망상증 환자
Latvian: ar lielummāniju apsēstais
Lithuanian: didybės manijos apsėstas (žmogus)
Norwegian: (en) som er stormannsgal
Polish: megalomański, megaloman
Portuguese (Brazil): megalomaníaco
Portuguese (Portugal): megalomaníaco
Romanian: mega­lo­man
Russian: страдающий манией величия
Slovak: megalomanský; megaloman
Slovenian: megaloman
Spanish: megalómano
Swedish: person som lider av storhetsvansinne (megalomani)
Turkish: büyüklük hastası
------------------------------------------------
What a dink: A euphemism for being delinquent on training; a penis; military slang for a recruit in training, "Desperately In Need of Knowledge"

Re: Re: Mr. or Ms. Troll...

delusional

i have not yet begun to pitch

i'm sick of this multi-path multi0tasking computer crap

oh give me a home where the buffalo room

becuase the bull is too much to take

If you can't stand the Heat...

Get out of the Kitchen, Wolf!

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

delusional

i have not yet begun to pitch

i'm sick of this multi-path multi0tasking computer crap

oh give me a home where the buffalo room

becuase the bull is too much to take

Re: Re: I don't believe I've ever posted the same message twice...

yes the troll is wolf weiss

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This site - common faux pas

the troll is wolf weiss

Assassin

Kurtz: What do you call assassins who accuse assassins?

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

Today an old man learned a few things. Thanks for the intelligence.

My take is a little more direct. I feel that the availability of a forum for us cabbie-geeks is something for which we ought to thank the provider. That being Lutfallah, I salute him even though I think him to be hopelessly beset by conflicts of interest in his editorial policies.

That I may disagree with the man and his methods both on paper and through the use of physical intimidation has nothing to do with my admiration of his courage in underwriting the cost of making the forum available. Yes, it makes his money selling ads. But in so doing, it makes it possible for him to pay the cost of making the forum available in the first place. That's what his business plan must be, and that's what capitalism is all about. Hats off to you, Mr. L.


Donald Nathan

Guido

GUIDO: Let me give you a little advice so you know. in times of economic uncertainity, never ever **** with another man's livelihood. Go have fun, now? You know fun, time of your life? Maybe if you follow that, I won't have to come back here.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

Kurtz: What do you call assassins who accuse assassins?

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Replying to:

Today an old man learned a few things. Thanks for the intelligence.

My take is a little more direct. I feel that the availability of a forum for us cabbie-geeks is something for which we ought to thank the provider. That being Lutfallah, I salute him even though I think him to be hopelessly beset by conflicts of interest in his editorial policies.

That I may disagree with the man and his methods both on paper and through the use of physical intimidation has nothing to do with my admiration of his courage in underwriting the cost of making the forum available. Yes, it makes his money selling ads. But in so doing, it makes it possible for him to pay the cost of making the forum available in the first place. That's what his business plan must be, and that's what capitalism is all about. Hats off to you, Mr. L.


Donald Nathan

Re: Re: Re: This site - any site

cyberman is wolf weiss

Re: Re: Re: Re: This site - any site

cyberman is joseph bellow

Re: This site

in response to george's post and question:

i too am frustrated at the level of discourse exhibited by most of the regular users of this site. i would wish that a more mature and measured form of communication would evolve here over time. this forum could be such a useful tool for communicating between taxi drivers worldwide about our common concerns and solutions. and also particularly to our chicago taxi driver communities. i am rather sorry it has devolved into what it is now.

i don't know how long this forum has been up and running, but i generally avoid reading it because of the immature, juvenile nature of several of the regular posters who use it. i won't name names either, but people seem to want to use this site (and the freedom of not being physically present with other human beings) to name-call, disparage, question each other's motives, define others' political stances without any evidence or research, and generally mistreat each other in what i consider shameful, impractical, unstrategic, and pointless diatribes.

i am mystified at these practices by ostensibly grown, mature human beings. i know some would consider this to be the nature of what the internet has become and we should just learn to live with it, but i disagree. i putting out the call to human beings of all stripes to raise the level of discourse to one of being respectful, informative, progressive, and/or to the point. and try to choose valid points that affect our situation concerning worker's, immigrant's and human rights here in chicago. please try to avoid sarcasm, name-calling, button-pushing and all those character traits that are expressions of the worst aspects of human nature.

i would expect that kind of behavior from high school children, but not from grown men like us cabdrivers here in chicago who are faced with some very serious issues.

one of the reasons i believe this kind of alienating and alienated miscommunicating has evolved on the internet is because human beings are not physically present when they are acting and reacting to each other's rudeness or disparaging comments. human communication evolved in real space and time, which is an aspect of it which also reinforces our humanity and demands at least a minimal amount of mutual respect which results in more formal and careful use of speech. i believe it is in all our interests to attempt to resist our worst impulses and try to attain more respectful and useful dialogue about current issues.

i am not saying this as a 'can't we all just get along' kind of speech. i also believe there are serious, deep and profound political and strategic differences between and among many of the parties and forces that posters here represent. but let's be upfront and clear about these differences instead of simple name-calling or disparagement. we would all be better human beings, and also be better situated to win people to our sides if we exhibited more grace and maturity. let's encourage this forum to be a site for posting information which can be crucial to our struggles, and to become a 'marketplace of ideas', where the ideas themselves battle it out, and not the people. principles before personalities, please.

in thanks to george lutfallah for thinking of and for providing this site for us to use. i would kindly ask that you give this site some more time to become more useful to us organizers. i have actually found several useful posts as of late, and hope to encourage more strategic use of this forum in the future.

sincerely, peter ali enger

Re: Re: This site

Looks like ali got the runs again.

Re: Re: Re: This site

Mike is the master baiter, too.

Re: Re: Re: Re: This site

sir,

if you don't have anything useful to say, i wonder why you bother responding to my post? i am looking for serious dialogue here. when you clutter up the response lines with the kinds of things you do, it dissuades anyone else from even wanting to join in the communicating. i couldn't possibly be the only one who decides they would rather not bother in joining in for the exact reasons i name. you have plenty of other people to tease, provoke and bait that will join in with you if that is what you prefer. could you please refrain from this behavior as is concerns me?. i certainly would appreciate it.

peter ali x

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This site

Dear Mr. Enger:

I respond to your post because the purpose of posting something here is to get a response, i.e., establish a discussion.

Do you wonder why I bother responding to your post when you deem whatever it is I might have written as useful?

Think of me as a mirror. I reflect back whatever comes before me. Unfortunately the things that come before this mirror aren’t always pretty.

Think of my comments and critiques as a School of Hard knocks for would-be bloggers and internet commentators.

Did I say something bad about you? The bowel movement imagery I used in my response to you was to allude to your wordy self-indulgent treatise. So much verbiage one can’t see the forest for the trees.

It's a form of critique, just like when you say " hen you clutter up the response lines with the kinds of things you do, it dissuades anyone else from even wanting to join in the communicating."

Of course, this is only your projected sentiment on others. “Clutter” is your problem? But really, describing my posts as "clutter" is just a way diminishing or belittling my statements or comments.

" couldn't possibly be the only one who decides they would rather not bother in oining in for the exact reasons name."

You should do a survey to support that theory. Did you read the post about discussion forums like this by Cyberman?

Don’t blame a writer when you sense that your personal set of values about “how-things-should be” are violated. If this were Enger’s planet, then OK. But it’s not.

Obviously the things you and others are complaining about have been around since as long as discussion forums have been up and running.

The Point, Mr. Enger: You can't have serious discussions if you take everything (including yourself) as seriously as you seem to do.

Lighten up, brother Enger. You’ll live longer and you’ll be happier.

The Wolf

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This site

mr. w and others,

i stand by my statements. since you responded as you did, you must have seen yourself in my criticisms, which did not name you or anyone. you are still wasting my time. to think of it: a grown man talking about "bowel movement" imagery. it is hard to take you seriously. you are not the teacher of the 'school of hard knocks'. i did not sign up to be in your class. as i said before, i am looking for people who want to have serious communications. there is not one thing you've written that i've seen in the last 2 or 3 months which a grown man could take seriously. again: please refrain from responding to my posts if you can't resist your juvenile impulses. yes, if you own it and claim it, then it is yours. your posts are 'clutter', they serve no useful purpose besides provoking people to respond in kind in the same kind of schoolyard taunting. that is not informative or useful to what we need here. i refuse to rise to your bait.

i ask you again to please resist responding to my posts. i wish no dialogue with you.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: This site & Peter Enger

Enger: "I stand by my statements"

I know you do. You have nothing else to stand by. Better take a seat. You are standing in a muddy puddle of misinformation, incorrect conclusions, baseless opinions, thug mentality, false accusations, misdirected venom, twisted facts, and tortured truth. It is an absolute shame, sham and scam.

Enger: "Since you responded as you did, you must have seen yourself in my criticisms, which did not name you or anyone.”

Wrong. What I saw was the usual inaccurate, untrue, false conclusions, judgmental, better-than-thou attitude that

Enger: "You are still wasting my time."

No one forced you to post. The only person that is wasting your time is you. Don't blame me for your lack of self-control.

Enger: "To think of it: a grown man talking about "bowel movement" imagery."

There's that belittling language again.

Enger: "It is hard to take you seriously"

No one is forcing you to do so or asking you to do so.

Enger: "You are not the teacher of the 'school of hard knocks'. I did not sign up to be in your class."

You can't deny what already is happened. That is the new president's job.

Enger: "As I said before, I am looking for people who want to have serious communications. There is not one thing you've written that I’ve seen in the last 2 or 3 months which a grown man could take seriously."

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Enger: "Again: please refrain from responding to my posts if you can't resist your juvenile impulses. Yes, if you own it and claim it, then it is yours. Your posts are 'clutter', they serve no useful purpose besides provoking people to respond in kind in the same kind of schoolyard taunting. That is not informative or useful to what we need here. I refuse to rise to your bait."

I learned from others who use this site.

Enger: "I ask you again to please resist responding to my posts. I wish no dialogue with you."

When an irresistible urge meets an immovable object, something has got to give.

Continue education -- Dance like you do when nobody's watching

Five lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.



1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor
gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
and had breezed through the questions until I read
the last one:

'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?'

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if
the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

'Absolutely,' said the professor. 'In your careers,
you will meet many people. All are significant. They
deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
is smile and say 'hello.'

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American
woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway
trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had
broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally
unheard of in those conflict-filled 60s.. The man
took her to safety, helped her get assistance and
put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his
address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a
knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a
giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A
special note was attached..

It read:
'Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway
the other night. The rain drenched not only my
clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying
husband's bedside just before he passed away... God
bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving
others.'

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

'How much is an ice cream sundae?' he asked.

'Fifty cents,' replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and
studied the coins in it.

'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing impatient.

'Thirty-five cents,' she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

'I'll have the plain ice cream,' he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice
cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress
came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had
to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if
anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness.. The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, 'Yes I'll do it if it will
save her.' As the transfusion progressed, he lay in
bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his
face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, 'Will I start to die right away'.

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her.


Now you have 2 choices.

1. Delete this email, or
2. Forward it to people you care about.
I hope that you will choose No. 2

'Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching.'

Re: This site

Thank you all for your suggestions, encouragements and kind words.

I am looking into making some modifications to the discussion forum, which will require people to register their email addresses. I know it won't totally preserve the integrity of the site but it might help a little.

I'm committed to keep this site operating and the discussion forum will remain free to register, read and post.

Thanks again,
George Lutfallah
Chicago Dispatcher

Re: Re: This site

hi, george!

I'm john barry...

Re: Re: Re: This site

mr. lutfallah,

the post just previous to this one was not made by me. obviously the nature of this site lends itself to people being able to post as anyone they want, including other posters to this site. this is a problem, as now we can never know if a post actually comes from who it says it does. do you have any way of controlling this? or monitoring it?

i would appreciate if you would delete the post saying it is from me that says hi george! i'm john barry

thank you

jb

Re: Re: Re: Re: This site

i am goerge bellow.