I have been around for a while on AD.
Before we start let us get one thing absolutely certain and clear.
I am what I am, you are what you are

I will never be anti-American folk.

I'll be the first.

I LOVE having you here, Alan. You were our first "international" member. You have challenged a number of narrow minded thinkers to open their minds on a number of occasions.

I admit, there are times I get frustrated because you get off topic and seem to want to lecture us about our evil leaders. Not that it's not necessarily unwarranted, but my job is to deal with on-topic, constructive and civil debate. So, I sort of come from a different perspective than many other members here.

Our off forum PM's and your appearance at the chats have made you more than just another poster at AD. In my opinion, you are truly an asset to our debates. I am delighted that you are a member here and I look forward to years of debating you.

Your posts are valuable to me because they almost always reflect not only my viewpoint on an issue but also the reasoning behind it.

It helps knowing there are a few other people out there that might just see the world as I do, especially these days when I sometimes get fed up and discouraged over the fact that my opinions are less than popular in this country.

Thanks for being you.

Al,

My real thoughts?

I love you man!

Okay, enough hugging

I don't mind your occassional rant at all. What the heck, if you can't vent among freinds, then you have to vent among strangers--and we are both too old to take on the whole bar, eh? Only half the bar, but then there's a little logistical problem with distance to get together in one bar.

Or do you call them pubs? What's Australian for watering hole?

When you're seriously trying to figure things out, that's when I get the most from the posts. Keep 'em coming, and keep on explaining what the heck things like "onya" means

I like your posts, and think you're a valuable asset to the forum.
I really enjoy receiving opinions from people living in countries outside the United States, it makes me feel more informed. I wish there were more posters like you and moif

I'm a newbie here Alan so I don't have a good feel for your positions yet.

I do love your accent though.

g'day mate

Billabong. The ones that serve beer (pronounced "bee'-uh") seemed to be called pubs while we were there last year.

Your posts are always interesting.

I think you are a very valuable addition to the debate, Alan. As one of our few international contributors, you always bring an illuminating perspective to the threads in which you participate. I think your presence here (like that of moif and Julian and our Canadian contributors) is helpful in reminding some of us that American opinion isn't the only - or even the most important - opinion in the world, even on "American" topics.

Also, the Irish and Australians have a lot in common and, while I was living in Ireland, I had a number of close Aussie and Kiwi friends. So, on a personal note, there's an extent to which you frequently remind me of the country which I still often think of as "home".

Keep 'em coming...

OOPS! Sorry I forgot about Julian and UJ. Let me restate...I wish there were more contributors like you, Moif, Julian, UJ, and any other international participants I might've forgotten.

Alan, I think that you're fantastic, and I hope that you'll stay with us for the long haul. I can empathize with Jaime's sentiment about getting off topic, because you do have a tendency to do that, but I always enjoy reading your posts, and I tend to agree with you on a lot of issues. I'm always happy to read the views of our international members.

Thank you all from this old fart

Thank you for being you lot and allowing me to be me.
Thank you for putting me back in my box when I wander and waffle.

Most of all thank you for allowing your mate to be a crotchety old fart.

Keep the faith Alan!

Some times when I'm reading your posts I wonder if you are really angry or just provoking people. Most of the time I agree with you, but I'm so belligerent that I often feel like arguing the opposite opinion just for the sake of an argument.

Usually though, I just crack a smile and nod...

You help us gain perspective in a lot of our arguments. And you take your lumps and still come up smiling (most of the time). There's a lot to be said for that!

And I thought "fart" was "trump" in English English...

Hang in there!

You are the tiny bit of habenero pepper that adds the spice to my salsa.

Alan, I generally agree with your assessment of international situations in general and US policy in particulkar. As Jaime intimated, your debating stule is more shotgun than rapier, but that is not necessarily a bad thing



Mrspigeon. I am VERY hurt by this!!! (sob)

Hey Alan, You're alright man. You have a good head on your shoulders. You bring good insights to debates

Good to have you here

Nope - "fart" is good old Anglo-Saxon in British English. In fact we have lots of words for rectal eructation - a fun link is here, which takes you to a swearing dictionary. It makes me laugh every time.

And THANK YOU to all the nice things people have said about my posts. It's alway nice to be appreciated.

EEEK! So sorry, Jonbon. I forgot you. I like your input... I actually forgot you were international, too.

In some instances, I guess being international justifies being a crackpot...

You aren't anti-American, you're anti-US government.

The Illuminati haven't taken over the US government, Alan. I just wanted to let you know.

Your posts are illuminating, I must admit Alan. But I usually ignore you, just like you expect...

Please forgive me for not replying to your posts sooner, and thank you for being the 'mates' you are, hate me or not.

I had to have a few more appendages removed after my self inflicted 'digital adjustment'.

Care, my best and thank you.

Regards Alan.

Glad to see you're posting again, Alan. Sorry about the fingers.

I've often thought that every one of your posts, is riddled with trolling, inflammatory, anti-american flames. Mostly just unsubstantiated venting.

Why it gets under my skin as much as it does, I'll never know. Perhaps that is something I should work on. After all, dissenting views, no matter how far on the opposite side of my own, should be embraced.

But know this: You're a valuable asset to AD. And having you here, makes it a better place.

--cheers

Hey Alan! Great to see you, er, most of you, back.

I can't imagine typing must be too fun now. I hope it doesn't hinder you too much from telling us how to run this country

I really am glad to see you back. Catch you around the forum.

Thanks.
Just thanks.........

For those who read me as 'Anti American'[I]...........I do not apologise for my belief's.
Nor will I apologise for my absolute conviction that the most powerful millitary nation on earth has gone[I] 'ferral'.

Please bear with me because this 'Old Fart' cares for people.

For those who read me as 'Un Patriotic'.........My patriotism is my belief in the good of my country and it's people.
My people do not want my armed forces to be anything other than a defence.
We are becoming as 'ferral' as america and are sad that america is no longer the hub of freedom but the centre of dictation by might.

I didnt know you were 'an old fart' Ick. Now Ill read your posts adjusting for senility.

My way of thanking those gentle Americans who find it hard to say the things they think may hurt me.
My way of thanking those friends who did.


[quote=Jaime,Jun 1 2003, 01:36 AM]I'll be the first. 

I LOVE having you here, Alan.  You were our first "international" member.  You have challenged a number of narrow minded thinkers to open their minds on a number of occasions. 

I admit, there are times I get frustrated because you get off topic and seem to want to lecture us about our evil leaders. [/quote]
Thanks Jaime for the gentle way you put me back in my box.
Very nessessary at times.

[quote=Danya,Jun 1 2003, 2:42 AM]It helps knowing there are a few people out there that might just see the world as I do....[/quote]
I should thank you for allowing me to understand that there ARE Americans who see the world from a more humanitarian standpoint.

[quote=AuthorMusician,Jun 1 2003, 08:19 AM]Al,
My real thoughts?
I love you man!..........I don't mind the occasional rant at all. What the heck, if you can't vent among friends, then you have to vent among strangers....and we are both too old to take on the whole bar, eh?.[/quote]
Cheers AM for allowing me to rant and even bigger ta's for knowing it's not against you.

[quote=Mrs. Pigpen,Jun 1 2003, 08:40AM]...........I wish there were more posters like you and Moif.[/quote]
Please dont wish any more like me on our long suffering members.
My wishes go to you and yours.

[quote=Wertz,Jun 1 2003, 12:08PM]......I think your presence here (like that of Moif and Julian and our Canadian contributers) is helpful in reminding us that American opinion isn't the only - or even the most important-opinion in the world, even on "American" topics.[/quote]
I would wish more internationals join us, then, a true cross-section of international opinion could be achieved.
As it stands, the sheer nature of the beast attracts the minority with strong opinions to AD and others.

[quote=Cyan,Jun 1 2003, 03:22 PM]Alan, I think that you're fantastic.........I can empathise with Jaime's sentiment about getting off topic, because you do have a tendancy to do that........I'm always happy to read the views of our international member.[/quote]
Aw, c'mon Cyan you're making me blush .
As for getting off topic.........dead right and as I have already said to Jaime....I do need to be put back in my box at times.

[quote=moif,Jun 2 2003, 06:53AM]Keep the faith Alan!..........are you really angry or just provoking people.......[/quote]
I cannot claim to be devious enough to be provoking so I am afraid it is just the old plain and ordinary serve of ANGRY with a side serve of whipped FRUSTRATION.

[quote=Victoria Silverwolf,Jun 3 2003, 09:38AM]You are the tiny bit of habenero pepper that adds the spice to my salsa.[/quote]
Thank-you biggies.
My only hope is that I remain digestable.
Wishes to you and yours..........

[quote=JonBon,Jun 3 2003, 07:19AM].......As Jaime intimated, your debating style is more shotgun than rapier,.......[/quote]
Yup!!.
This came from the early days when I was the only international putting my apparantly extreme and un-patriotic views forward.
It sorta stuck, much to my shame.

[quote=goamerica,Jun 3 2003, 07:53AM]Hey Alan, you're alright man. You have a good head on your shoulders. You bring good insights to debates.[/quote]
Ta mate.
I REALLY have learned a great deal about Americans from AD.
All positives..........the negatives I already knew

[quote=Amlord,Jun 3 2003, 10:40AM]In some instances, I guess being international justifies being a crackpot....................
Your posts are illuminating, I must admit Alan. But I usually ignore you, just like you expect.......[/quote]
In our individual ways perhaps we are BOTH crackpots? and in our individual ways we will both try to justify being such, no matter our nationality.
There we part company because I always have enough regard for you, as a human being with views, to read your posts and try to understand.

[quote=Digital Patriot,Jun 19 2003, 11:24AM]I've often thought that every one of your posts, is riddled with trolling, inflammatory, anti-american.............Mostly unsubstantiated venting.

Why it gets under my skin as much as it does, I'll never know.[/quote]
I really don't want it to get under your skin at all.
I want ME to understand your form of patriotism and YOU to understand my fear.
As far as the 'trolling...inflamatory...anti-American' parts of my posts are concerned you have the right, as I do, to see it your way and me mine.
Onya for saying your bit.
Care to you.

[quote=Artemise,Jun 23 2003, 03:24AM]I didnt know you were 'an old fart' Ick. Now i'll read your posts adjusting for senility.[/quote]
Oh dear...Oh dear.
Sorry Art, can I please ask you stop using really long words such as se..semi....senil........
senility
And please speak up. The batteries in my hearing aids are flat.
Care to you from me.........

Yeah, your okay, for a liberal . Actually as much as I disagree with, well, everything you say , your posts are always well articulated and sometimes even well reasoned . Keep being what you are!

CP

Alan, how are you doing these days? I haven't seen you around much. :pout: