Cynique

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I can't believe I'm writing this, but the rationale for the lament I am about to make is that you miss a toothache when it's gone and I miss my "frienemy" Chrishayden! He really did contribute a lot to this board with the strident opinions he laced with ridicule and wit. But who could really hate a fella who hated negroes who hated other negroes especially when the other negroes happened to be negroes he liked. Watta guy! I can't believe Crissy didn't cross over. Maybe he's still trying to access the old board, totally confused as to what happened. He was a very knowledgeable dude but - well, you know, sometimes what was obvious didn't register with him or maybe, like me, he doesn't dig the change. Could it be that our boy is aimlessly strolling around the mean streets of St. Louis, dodging muggers, stepping over drunks, and winking at hookers, wistfully reminiscing about the Internet soap box he has abandoned. COME BACK, CHRISHAYDEN. ALL IS FORGIVEN! Your Mayberry Maven, CYNIQUE

Well, Thumper, I am of the opinion that there is no such thing as useless knowledge. Knowledge is, indeed, power. I don't think a reader can ever go wrong by broadening his/her outlook, rather than limiting it. So, in response to your question, I would say, yes, black people should diversify their reading habits. A good book is always a learning experience, and the universal themes that characterize good books are made even more compelling and enlightening when they are filtered through a culture other than one with which a reader is familiar. One of your and my favorites, "Gone With The Wind", was such a successful paragon because of a universal story line that was not only about love but about survival. In the process of reading this book, the culture of the old South was brought to life, which was something black people needed to know about no matter how galling it was. Bottom line is that one of the main things that this historical novel had going for it was that it was very interesting!

What does dredging up this long post which only included input from a fraction of the regular posters prove, carey? Aside from being a show case for your self-indulgence, what was said in the thread that was so revealing or that anybody would want to retract??? And what "mess" is it that needs to be brought to light???

A different slant on the new format is what I wanted to hear, Yvette, and you provided one. It's almost like we are analysing a Rorschach ink blot, with each person seeing this updated board in a way that reflects their unique mind set. Although I am getting better at navigating my way around, I still miss the unfettered access of the old board, - how easy it was to respond to posts and how visible the topics being discussed were, - no barriers or procedures to follow in order to jump into a debate or to read one in progress. But, I will make this my final complaint. It's Troy's call and he's the HNIC.

The mysterious poster did not proof-read her first post so I cross Robynmarie off because she is in the journalism field.

For so long, I've heard so much about "Catcher in the Rye" but in spite of it being touted as the definitive novel of my generation, I never read it because its voice was that of a white youth confronting life, something I didn't identify with. But I am now planning to check it out. I was interested to read in Salinger's numerous obituaries that this book was the "bible" of Mark Chapman, the guy who killed, Beatle, John Lennon. lnnon

Back in the day Bill and Denise were a high-profile couple and when they split, it was common knowledge that it was due to spousal abuse on his part! Your pop culture vulture signing off for now.

Black men are the ones who complain that black women are too choosy! They insist there are a lot of decent ordinary brothers out there, but professional black women with college degrees will not settle for them. The women who are featured in the first post on this thread are typical of a broad segment of single black women. After making something of themselves and acquiring possessions, they do not want to marry an eligible bachelor who has dropped out of high school and works in a factory. And they certainly wouldn't be attracted to a white, beer-swilling, hockey-loving slob who works as a pizza delivery man.

The gist of what I am saying is that dating, per se, is not that much of a problem among black women. Getting married is what is elusive. Yes, a black woman can date men of all races, but finding a non black man who she would consider marrying and - who wants to marry her is just as hard as finding a black man who she would consider marrying and who wants to marry her. The issue is actually about being "choosey". Black women are no more interested in marrying an unsuitable non black man than they are in marrying a non-suitable black one. For black women, it's not so much about broadening their choices, it's about lowering their standards - something many of them are not willing to do. Obviously, this remains a controversial issue but until fine, intelligent, personable, white men with good jobs start preferring to marrying their black counterparts rather than their white ones, then the specter of reality will continue to raise its ugly head. But this is the year 2010, and it's a whole new world out there, so - who knows???

It's wishful thinking to believe that black women have options when it comes to finding a suitable mate. No matter how much a single sista "refines" herself, she is still at the behest of single males, - black or otherwise. No matter how much she broadens her choices, she still has to compete with the women of other ethnicities who are too often the preferred choices of men in general. It's not about black women rennovating themselves. It's about black men being loyal to their race, and giving a good black woman a chance. What I hear a lot from single black ladies is you have to start early - latch on to a highschool or college sweetheart and hang on to him long enough to lead him to the altar. It's just an irony of life that a good black man is hard to find, and being a good black woman is no guarantee that you will win over a black guy who has his pick from a wide spectrum of women.. IMO.

Well, here I am on “Thumper‘s Corner”, fighting off claustrophobia, cloistered in my little niche that is part of a network of cubicles equipped with a maze of “links” which will not only connect members to various features, but will also enable them to make contact with other inmates with whom they can engage in a one-on-one exchange that somebody else may choose to eavesdrop on and even decide to go through the challenge of posting a response to. Some fun, huh? Huddled here in my little pod, I am full of curiosity about the state of limbo “the board” is now suspended in. Currently, except for a brave few, everybody including me seems to be at a loss for something to comment about. My inhibition stems from the notion that people will be bored with what I have to say, - because I’ve said it all before. So for anybody who happens to be reading this, you've been forewarned as I will now proceed to indulge in a little self-examination, more specifically about how the bizarre way my brain integrates things, a process which is becoming more and more quirky by the day. I am, for all practical purposes, ambi-dextrous - as right-brained as I am left brained, - able to use both hands equally well. And, as some people may have noticed, can be both pro and con about an issue and could, if I chose, argue either side with equal passion. I often tend to think like a man, and some people were curious about why the book I wrote was told from a male POV. This was something that I never gave much thought until it was brought to my attention how effectively I executed this Also, not so uncommon, is how my face is asymmetrical, with one side looking slightly different from the other. Now in my old age, I find that I have acquired a second sight. I can look at a scene and see it one way, then close my eyes and upon re-opening them see an entirely different perspective of the same scene. This especially occurs when I am waking from a deep sleep. Weird and disconcerting. I hope it is not a prelude to dementia but attributable, instead, to a former activity that involved my looking at pages of this particular book and fixing my stare on a paradigm from which a 3-D image would eventually zoom out at you! I also like to work pattern-less crossword puzzles, - blank grids wherein you follow the clues and fill in the correct words while figuring out where you should black out the squares. Games requiring you to unscramble letters to produce a word also intrigue me. I am not claiming that all of these anomalies make me unique, and, in fact just wrote all this crap as PUNISHMENT, and as a seque to a burning question! My mind is configuring this board in different ways. I need convincing that the complaints I opened with, should be regarded as conveniences rather than hindrances. Any takers?? The fun I'm having with the fonts and emoticons, are obviusly a plus. Sorry, Troy. The novelty of Match.Com is wearing off.

Let me guess. You're Kola Boof! Seriously, I can't imagine who you are.

Who could resist the charms of an old Chinese woman! Don't knock it. She was probably very skilled in the ancient oriental art of providing sexual pleasure. And thanks for welcoming me back, Troy. Nice to know you haven't run out of patience with me.

Hi Nels, Are you are you ready to ruuuuuumble???

Hi FK! Congrats on securing an agent for your book! Yes, I crossed over, but I'm currently treading water.

Well, here I am, drowning in a sea of voidness. CHRISHAYDEN, WHERE ARE YOU WHEN WE NEED YOU???? The board seems to be bogged down with a host of Obama clones - people who do nothing. Except for Xenon. Love your new user name, Babe. Hi to all my gurlfriends who, as usual, make it all worthwhile. Sorry, Troy I only give the new board a "C". "C" for cynical about change not always being better. I am still trying to figure things out. How about my hair on that goofy picture?? I've thrown in the towel, no more Clairol. My hair turned almost white over night so I've made the adjustment when putting myself together. Speaking of which, - bored out of my skull instead of doing something contructive with my time. I meandered over to Match.Com, where, immersed in my game-playing mode, I composed a provocative profile, and lied about my age, not to mention how I like long walks on the beach under balmy moon-lit nights. Not. The picture I posted was one that, altho is recent, doesn't look that much like me. It's scary - like the camera captured another "me" who I didn't know existed. Anyhoo, I was so inundated with responses, I am almost tempted to pay the membership fee which would then allow me to answer all of these losers. Okaaay. So much for my lapse into narcisscism. Have at it about Haiti, and Monique, and Obama, and Massachusetts' new Republican senator, and the NFL playoffs. Carry on.