This is an idea sparked by Beladonna's post in the Describe Yourself thread...

I, too, though it would be interesting to get others' perspectives on what we are like. There are lots of message boards out there that do something along these lines:

Say something nice about the person posting before you. It MUST be something nice and CANNOT, in any way, bash or belittle the other's political views .

Since I'm the one starting the thread, the first poster would say something nice about me and then the next poster says something nice about that person and so on.

Charming idea.

kmsouthern is obviously a loving, caring mother.

Oh Km , you make it too easy, Im going to get in now.

You have taken SOOO much time to enlighten us on race relations and affirmative action. I remember when you first came, although your posts were long, they had alot to say with clarity. I had agreed with your points of view beforehand, but I didnt have the information you did, so I learned. You never seem to get upset when noone is really listening and beating the same dead horse, you just plug on with diligence.
I always see you in my mind, through a sunny wndow with flowers around as if your life is always Springtime. I feel you are a charitable type and would go out of your way to help others in need. I bet you are a great mother and a good friend, as well as strong with a smile when things are not so good, you make the best of it and encourage others to persevere.

OOPS! Victoria and I were posting the same time. Now what? I can do Victoria too, or she me then her and set it straight? EEK!

OK, I'll go.

Artemise has a really beautiful avatar.

Victoria, you strike me as practical and pragmatic as well as a little eclectic, a thinker outside the boundries of the common forms. Ive often wondered if your avatar is actually your picture, which would mean you are very beautiful, even if you only picked this for yourself. I always thought you might be a nurse, so I wasnt suprised to get an inference to pharmacology in a recent thread. You never run hot or cold but always even keel. I remember reading that you are somewhat known on the net for 'other' endeavors, more artistic, which makes me think there's much more to you than you let on here. Kind of a mystery, thats you, mysterious.

Artemise, you are obviously a very passionate person and an independent thinker. I get the impression that you are free-spirited with an occasional bit of wanderlust thrown in for good measure. You are a strong woman with a connection to nature, and as your moniker suggests, you might very well be the goddess of the hunt.

I like this idea. Thanks, km you're kind of like the room mom of AD lately - will you bring snacks to the next chat?

Ok - my dear Cyan.

You have been a member here for nearly a year. In that time, not only did we gain a valuable member, but I have made a fantastic friend. You have been there for me during forum emergencies and stress. You have been there for me to make me laugh and to laugh at my stupid jokes. Your passion for the forum is boundless and appreciated.

I could gush on and on about you. You are one amazing person and a great friend.

Hey I'll jump in now!

First, what sort of snacks shall I bring? I'm not the healthiest eater in the world, so to me snacks = warm chocolate chip cookies and milk (hmmm how grandmotherly of me)!

Now, if course me being a relative newbie to AD, I don't know too much about many people here yet, but I will say that you, Jaime, have always been extremely kind and helpful to me (and I'm certain that you haven't singled me out among all of the AD members...). I would also say that you are always "fair" (when it comes to "moderator" stuff) and seem to be as impartial an unbiased as humanly possible, something I imagine must be VERY difficult! You seem to be a caring and considerate person and one who likes to make peace

Km Southern, You responded to my education topic! I like that. Your post was very thoughtful too. The reason I like this website is people like you.

RU, you’re quite precocious, a brilliant Reggae lover and one-of-a-kind. If my boys turned out to be like you, I surely wouldn’t mind.

(Thought I’d go with the rhyming style you gave kmsouthern, although I’m not sure it was intentional, I liked it).

Mrs Pigpen,

You are an inspiration and a relief to me in your postings. You are a living example of intelligence still in the world. You have always represented many views of my own in ways that i have appreciated immensely when i read your posts.

Thank you for your insight,




Quane

QuaneCorsaire, you have been a welcome addition to the forum. You are polite, and you handle your arguments gracefully and diplomatically.

Cyan has a lot of great qualities she brings to this forum. She has a good head on her shoulders and brings good reasoning to her arguments. She is very responsible in her postings, and she also has a fun-loving side that comes out in the casual conversation threads. She also is happy to help find just the right avatar for people like me who might not know their way around the Internet as well as she does. She is supportive of the newbies.

Paladin Elspeth is a sweet woman with a good heart. She's very fair and even tempered and I always look forward to debating and chatting with her! She makes this site worth coming too! (There's others too, but this is about her!) She is considerate and intelligent also. Oh, and she sticks to her guns on issues she's serious about and I respect that.

Billy Jean,


You impress me to no end. I admire your level head and non party line thought patterns on each issue. Though we do not agree on many issues, you almost always present your side in a light that allows me to understand where you are coming from.

I think you remind me of one of my best friends of old. a great lady, free thinker, both socially, religiously, and politically. and i admire you for being just that.



Quane

Billy Jean is a very unique insightful lady. Hope to here more from her!

CP

conservpat, you seem to be an open minded, strong willed individual. while conservative you are willing to learn about view points that are not completely in line with what you understand, or may be the complete opposite of yours. you stand by your beliefs as well, which I admire, even if I don't agree with them.

Unabomber, you are not blind to the suffering of your fellow human beings, and you want every person to receive the basics in life: food, clothing, shelter, health care. This is a high ideal.

The fact that so many people are concerned only about themselves angers you, but instead of posting inflammatory comments, you use reason to inform if not to persuade others of the rightness of your cause. And yet you possess the wisdom to acknowledge that any governmental system is effective to the extent that the leaders must be dedicated and not give in to greed.

Huzzah, Descendant of The Bruce!!! You have my respect.

Unabomber, You're a crazy guy and I mean that in a good way. Your non-conventional ideas are admirable in this conformist, consumerist society. Keep fighting the good fight but don't use explosive to do it.

Edited to add:
PE, you're pretty sneaky getting in before I could post You're a very smart, empathic and caring person. Those are some great qualities.

PE, you never take issues personally but stick to your guns. Unlike some, you give the title Christian a good rep.

Hugo,

You are intelligent, brilliant and witty. You make Einstein look like an imbecile. Somehow despite all your greatness you maintain a sense of modesty.

You do need to remember not to double post.

Hugo,
You keep me on my toes with your humor; I never know what to expect from you. But behind the wit is a person whose depth can amaze. Sort of like a (young) Gary Cooper with a sense of humor. You know, the good guy in High Noon.

I am honored to be able to praise Paladin Elspeth in public. She went out of her way to send me a long and kind private message in regards to my inquiries about spirituality. She was very open and willing to discuss her own odyssey of faith in great detail. The fact that she was willing to do this for a total stranger is truly awe-inspiring. She loves her fellow human beings.

Victoria Silverwolf is a woman of gentleness who possesses a keen mind. Her avatar is beautiful, and the words she writes complement the image. She is well educated and yet does not flaunt her knowledge in posts; rather she quietly asserts her positions and does not cast aspersions on those with dissimiliar views.

She is not afraid to say "I don't know," and she is gentle with those who, when they write, indicate that they lack knowledge.

Victoria is a lady in the very best sense of the word. We all benefit from her presence here.

PE,

After 16 years, I can't recall that I have ever heard an unkind word from you. You have an ability to see the best in even an old grouch like me.

Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon,
You seem to be a person who takes great care to not post frivolously, and when you do it is always piercingly intelligent, relevant, and insightful. I have learned much from your posts . You are also a truly good and thoughtful person (as is your wife), and an inspiration to all of us. Although you claim to not be a good communicator, you are among the most effective and best communicators I've ever known (of course, I only know your writing style )

Mrs. P:

Insightful, well thought out posts is just one of your strong points.

Putting the well-being of your children first is another.

You are a great debater.

Amlord, though we may not agree on much politically, I can tell that in person we would likely get along very well. You are intelligent, your posts are well thought-out, you are practical and you have a good eye for detail. You are very restrained when debates get personal. I always know that, if I am debating you, you will be fair and open-minded. Like the best people of any political persuasion, you recognize that we all share almost the same goals, and differ in the means to that end.

Quarkhead, I always look forward to reading your posts, because I find them to be inspiring, and because you generally have an even temperament that makes it pleasurable to debate with you whether you are on the same side of the issue as myself or the opposition. I also enjoy your creativity and your extremely fun sense of humour.

Cyan has the best avatars on AD and often has very good things to say about the posters on this site. You are a good soul and a wonderful part of this web site.

first Eeyore has a very fitting avatar

second, Eeyore is a good spouse, and a good parent. (as was evidenced in his 9/11-where were you post- he was caring for his sick kids )he makes his wife and rugrats content and keeps them that way (ok I cheated and looked at his profile )

he is strong in his beliefs. he seems to care for those that are not "well off" and seems to dislike that the rich benefit while the poor are hurt. he is also intelligent. he is not afraid to criticize something or someone he feels is wrong, which admirable. he is also a huge "american" football fan (see his response in the Presidential Address thread ) he is also very kind (I Think that he posts in EVERY happy birthday thread) overall he is kind caring, intelligent soul, and I am glad to know you (as well as all ADers, even those I disagree with)

Perhaps the most admirable thing about Unabomber is his honesty. His posts always speak his mind and, whether he is shooting from the hip or composing a more considered response, he makes no bones about his feelings on any topic, regardless of how unpopular some of them may seem. He's equally honest about himself - his personal life and how that has impacted on some of his positions. While some of those positions may be more extreme than those of many here, his arguments tend to be heart-felt and relatively "spin-free".

Wertz is a passionate believer in a vision where the United States is safe and secure but we do not intimidate or scare or friends and enemies. He sees a vision of our country that has social justice and is based on compassion and love.

Eeyore,

You are a very thoughtful and considerate debater. You never seem to get too worked up over any issue, no matter how cocky or rude the people you argue against are being.

Quane, I admire your foresight and level of thought. It seems to me that you know just what you want out of life. Sometimes you know how to get things done, but I disagree with what it is you are trying to accomplish. Conversely, you often realize what should be done, but I then disagree with your method of achieving it. Whatever the case, I could always agree with you in some form or another. I think you are a logical person who has influence and is not afraid of accomplishment.

pheeler: You are one of the most civil contributors we've got. Plus you're intelligent, articulate, and stimulating - and your postings are among the most compassionate I've seen here. With Elspeth, you are one of the most genuinely Christian people I've come across. You're also a good, entertaining addition to any Live Chat - and you're pretty damned hot, too.

Brice: Unlike many who share some of your opinions, you tend not to preach at great length or get too strident. Your posts tend to be short and to the point, unlike some of the more long-winded people around here. You also had the humility to offer to withdraw from the board because you felt the unpopularity of some of your positions might be disruptive. (In addition, you had the consideration to go back and comment on Quane, whose second posting here got skipped. )

Wertz, what can I say. You are a tireless researcher; you strike a perfect balance between selling your arguments with rhetoric and with the facts to back it up. You have taught me a lot, about debate, about researching. What I am constantly amazed by is the fact that, having a job and all, you still manage to post more than almost anyone here - and your posts are rarely short!

You have a stunning breadth and depth of knowledge, and above all else you work hard to foster the sense of community here on AD. All praises to the Wertz!

Quark, one of my most respected enemies. Never personally attacks anyone, stays civil, but keeps to his guns. A liberal, oh, sorry independent [yeah right ] that even the most conservatives could like. Here's to ya

CP

Conservpat has a good sense of humor, doesn't take himself too seriously, believes in his positions passionately, but doesn't clobber others over the head if they disagree and I'm sure he probably likes apple pie, cute little kids and is kind to old ladies crossing the street.

Even if they're liberal Democrats!

I don't always agree with nighttimer's arguments, but I have definitely come to respect them. He always comes across with logic and passion, which are the best ingredients for a good debate.
He is most certainly on the short list of members that I key in on their posts, for I know they will make me think.

Dontreadonme is among my favorite conservatives here and, as he said of nighttimer, one of the participants whose posts I always read. He's also one of the contributors that I most respect (indeed, one of the Americans I most respect): a soldier with a conscience, a strategist with a vision, a participant in our debate whose opinions are considered, well-founded, and put more civilly than most liberals manage. While I'm sure he follows orders, he is not beneath questioning authority. I have learned much through his contributions and hope to continue doing so - even when we violently disagree. The country could use more like him.

Wertz throws himself into his posts. His combination of research, passion and style produce logical, thoroughly readable and entertaining posts which have helped establish AD's good reputation.

I am very pleased to be acquainted with him (as with many others) on this forum.

(And I still like your Rimbaud avatar the best. )

Paladin Elspeth is one of the people at America's Debate that really make the site what it is. Her posts always reflect her good heart, inquisitive nature, open mind, and keen intelligence. Things wouldn't be the same here without her.

If I ever needed a real fighter on my side, I would choose Danya. She is one of the most consistent posters here, bringing solid documention to the fervor of her arguments. She stands for the innocent and condemns unjustified violence and greed in high places.

Danya is the spirit of a warrior desirous of positive change in a turbulent world.

paladin elspeth, you are open minded. you are never mean in any of your posts, and always treat others here with respect, even if they don't agree. your posts are always thought out and intelligent. you have a great sense of humor and I assume enjoy having fun. you stick to your opinions when you think they are riht and other peoples are wrong, though you wouold never deny someone to have their opinion even if you think it's wrong. all around, you are a good person, and I am glad to know you and have you as an ally

Plenty of stuff for unabomber. Definitely an independent thinker (which goes a long way in my book) Rather than stick to partisan lines you call 'em as you see 'em. You're rarely without a readily accessible link to back up your assertions and you demonstrate that you care about the integrity (or lack thereof) of our public officials every time you post.

Oh and you a video gamer and not afraid to show it, I know there are some more of us out there don't be ashamed.

Turnea, usually a political ally of mine. Always comes with data to back up his opinion. VERY civil, pleasure to debate with.

Wertz, Wertz, Wertz. Now I finally get to say what I really think about you Very challenging opponent, dry humor cracks me up. Again, very civil. Always hate seing his name up cause he might prove me wrong

PE: The posterchild of opened mindedness. Always a pleasure.

Danya: Can you say formidable opponent? WOW. Always a challenge.

DTOM: Very articulate, civil, most of the time is on my side, thank God, keep up the good work

CP

CP,

Though we don't often agree, I always (almost ) enjoy reading your posts because they are well thought-out and well presented. You strike me as a caring person and are someone who is very passionate about his beliefs/values - I admire you in your convictions because you don't at all strike me as a blind follower.

Kmsouthern, you strike me as someone who is deeply compassionate, gentle, and kind. You always seem to be culturally aware and open-minded...very good traits, in my opinion. Your posts are stimulating, and your fun-loving nature is evident throughout the board. You have my respect, and I hope you will stick around.

Once again I have the honor of paying due respect to someone who went out of her way to be kind to me. Back when I was completely new to this site, Cyan took the trouble to welcome me. Out of sheer generosity, she shared some of her beautiful artwork with me. I will never forget how, out of the blue, she offered to send me a CD of some of her favorite music. This was completely unexpected, and I still can't believe she went to all that trouble. She also was willing to take a look at my amateur writings, and has frequently sent me friendly, cheerful messages.

As we all know, Cyan is always gentle in expressing her opinions, and never shows any hint of animosity to anyone. She brightens our lives.