I am now close to that coveted gaudy cellestial object.

Though why I should want one, I couldn't tell you.

I guess I want one because it's a goal to aim for...
and one that it is within my capacity to achieve.

Most of you have got one...
and I may add...
achieved gold by doing just this!

This would be a good opportunity to deal with an issue which has recently arisen.

Two days ago, on this forum, I was accused of being a "sycophant".

The OED defines "sycophant" thus: " A mean, servile, cringing or abject flatterer; a parasite, toady...
An informer, tale-bearer; a calumniator, slanderer."

It hurt as it was intended.
It continues to rankle.

When a respected colleague used the word jokingly I behaved less than generously (and for this I'm sorry.)

I do care what other people think of me!
I crave the good opinion of others!

But the person, originally employing this epithet, then applied it to another regular poster, leading me to conclude that "he who shall not be named in this forum" has an effective but limited range of invective.

Couldn't agree more Lewes.

Makes you wonder how repetitive thier dialogue must be...

Upon re reading the offending post, I see that to be a sycophant in the eyes of " he who shall not be named in this forum" one has merely to agree with the majority opinion.

Most of us are conformists.

I am a middle class, middle aged, middle brow, middle income, middle-of-the-road,medium-fitting, average sort of person.

I have a job, my own home, I pay my bills and taxes, always have an up-to-date TV licence and usually obey the law.
Are you in there, somewhere?

Most of us before submitting our play to TPTT read the T&C's:
I'm sure no one deliberately submitted an off-the-wall-in-breech-of-the-rules number in order to appear different or eccentric and charm the judges by your wackiness into short listing their entry.

Well maybe there was one?

It's safe, secure and usually beneficial to be in the majority.

Could tell,
All's well!!

My last poem, i promise.

By birth I am in a minority.
I didn't choose it, I don't know why it chose me.

No, it isn't because I'm the only person with a fig tree as a significant other.

I have a disability, not one of the obvious ones identified by a wheelchair or a white stick, but one significant enough to cause me problems.

It is significant enough for me to mention it on my application for my current employment and have to go through two medical boards:
the first to satisfy my potential employers that I am capable of doing the job;
the second to argue against being officially registerd as disabled (and become elligable for a range of special provisions).

I don't want to be treated as a special case or treated any differently, I merely wish to be one of the team and to be abused and exploited on equal terms.

There are a very occasions when I'm happy to be in a minority.

Opinion polls consistently show some 67% of the British people would vote for the return of the death penalty.

I'm with the minority here.
He who steals from a thief is a thief.
He who kills a killer in my name, though he does it painlessly and unemotionally, makes me his accomplice.

Quite apart from the purely practical arguments; human fraility; the inadequacy of the legal system or malice by witnesses;I find the whole idea deeply repugnant. Human beings are not expendable.

It might interest you to know that i reported the post you refer to by mb as offensive when he made it.

It's lonely out here on my own.

I want to rejoin you guys.

So let the jokes flow!

Let there be bad poetry!

Give me your recipes for cats and surplus children.

Your methods for assembling flat pack furniture...
flatpack furniture? flatpack furniture! twitch twitch

Look on the bright side - you've just joined the Gold Star club!

Congratulations!

Thank you, Jays

BTW: Why doesn't this forum have a spell check facility?

And another positive - the moderators have been in... You might have noticed that a certain thread by "he who shall not be named" has disappeared...

Many thanks to the moderators!

Lewes

No implications intended; you can be black, yellow, red, white, healthy, 'medically challenged', tall, short, thin, fat, gay, heterosexual, Labour, Conservative, rich, poor, lower, married, single, middle or upper class, unemployed, tradesman, artisan or professional ... you're ok with me, as is everyone else who regularly chats on this site (bar the one), and I will break bread with you, share wine with you and give you the hospitality of my home at any time; you may call on my friendship and the friendship of my family as a fellow writer and a fellow dreamer, and the promise of a non-judgmental ear whenever and wherever you need it.

The problem with a chat room, an e-mail, even a written page, is that it is non-verbal; inflection, tone and meaning are sometimes diluted and even lost. But I hope (and I genuinely think) that we have all found a 'good bunch' here; people who would help, who would support and who would shore up any of the others that needed it - because by the very nature of our personalities we ALL need it from time to time.

Jay said in a blog that it is in the nature of a writer to be a 'loner'. Maybe, just maybe, with DramaticSuccess we have all found what we're looking for?

People we can be alone with?

Good luck, my friend. I look forward to burying you in the final! And if it's not me against you ... I will be there for you applauding.

Lewes I'm sorry to read that you have been upset by he who shall not be named's post.

If it's any consolation, I immediately assumed when he used the term, that he used it in it's modern 'Hollywood' way - as in sycophant being a person who is exceptionally nice and overly-flattering to everyone in order not to jeopardise their future working with anybody... rather than all of the above.

In that sense it seemed like a silly exaggeration insult about you being too nice to people, rather than all the other meanings above… However, not knowing the protagonist as you do, I add - if it hurt your feelings then it was wrong – and he should be banished! No mercy!

Now, that was poetic, Adman, and funny,
and caused movement deep inside.

With your facility with words have you ever considered a career in...
Oh yeah...silly question.
{I bet Adman could sell sand to caicos!}

quote:

People we can be alone with?

I couldn't have put it better!

I entitled my thread "Supportive environment" when HWSNBN decided to have a pop at me... And I meant it. We can occasionally have a flare up, we can constantly disagree - but we all are there for each other in this most lonley of desires.

Stay positive, stay proactive, stay on track!

I'll see you (all) in the chat!

Thank you, MsMinxy.

Lewes, we love you! All of this has left me in complete shock! I can't believe anyone would used any negative description for the people I have met on this forum.

I have found it positive, uplifting, inspiring, dynamic, comforting and full of talented, progressive, enthusiastic individuals.

Long may it (and Dramatic Success) continue.

quote:

I merely wish to be one of the team and to be abused ... on equal terms.

Then stop whinging like HWSNBN and get on with life you sad old git you!

I dunno, sycophantic bloody planet, I've got no time for them I really haven't ... fire the energy beams!

There is a rumour that Tony Robinson, Mike Aston and Phil Harding are holding a competition.

Looking at the alleged T&C's you should be in with a chance, Adman

It's for the prehistoric joke.

You have a sort of jurassic park,humour wise.

Hmm, does any one else smell burning rubber?

Aurora I love you, too!

Be round tonight.

Usual signal.

I have fresh figs...delicious with fresh cream. I mean there's usually some left over...after we've finished, isn't there?

LOL! Creamy figs... mmmmmmmm!

Lewes,

Just read your post under chat on 'playshop', reckon that about sums up all our feelings.

quote:

You might have noticed that a certain thread by "he who shall not be named" has disappeared...

Shame they can't do the same to the perpetrator.

Lewes (and everybody)

One of the great things for me about this forum is that you get to know people through their writing and have no preconceptions based on the clothes they wear, the way they speak or any other factor. It is interesting to form a picture of people and it will be even more interesting to hopefully meet them at the final to see if one's imagination is correct. (I just hope that my worst fears about Jay and Adman aren't realised.)

With the one exception I don't think anyone here deliberately insults anyone else and if offence is given it will be, as Addy says, because we write as we speak and the inflection doesn't come through. Other than that it may be the keyboard has had too much wine spilt on it and won't obey the fingers.