BajaNomad - Nomad- think of it as a big beach bonfire

Nomad- think of it as a big beach bonfire

thebajarunner - 8-20-2008 at 08:20 PM

Lots of folks sitting around the bonfire,
Mellow evening,
quiet conversation,
everyone in synch- not all on the same topic, but mellow nonethless.
New folk arrive, pull up chairs, join in the conversation,
all is good.
More new folks, more new ideas, more mellow,
Then a drunk shows up
Loud,
obnoxious,
off color
possibly making rude noises, etc.
13 year old comes up, starts kicking what was already a perfect fire.
More nice folks come, more good topics,
lots of topics,
not any general trend, just nice mellow talk about all the places they have been in Baja, the roads traveled, the people met.
Another rude, loud arrival.
What to do?
Pick up your chair and leave?
Nahhh, this is too good, but still "where did this creature come from?"
Oh, by the way, did I mention, this is a private beach,
Nice guy owns it,
loves to have visitors and guests and mellow talk,
But, he does have rules,
No profanity,
No nudity,
No drunken stupid behaviour,
Hmmmmm, when to call him in and ask for relief.
And, the bonfire burns on,
the conversations continue,
and still, on occasion, here they are,
the rude
the obnoxious
the name callers.

Why do they bother,
They clearly don't fit in,
This is all about friends, talking about mutual interests,
Friends don't badmouth
Friends don't call names
Friends can (and should) disagree, but not with personal attacks.
And the bonfire burns,
and good people sit and chat,
and new folks come and are welcome,

and, sad to say, the rude people still show up, on occasion,

and that, my friends, is NOMAD>>>

Diver - 8-20-2008 at 08:34 PM

If you say so.

And what about the story of the folks that were having a blast when some do-gooder arrived and started telling them what to say and what not to say ?

Why didn't you tell the part about the overly sensitive do-gooder who was anti-Carlin ? :smug:

[Edited on 8-21-2008 by Diver]

Anti-Carlin? Not I...

thebajarunner - 8-20-2008 at 08:42 PM

I happen to think George was a pretty funny guy,
And Lenny Bruce was often hilarious,
their humour and their language just don't happen to fit the rules of "the guy that owns the beach."
Nor, and I hope you would agree, is their material fit for younger ears, of which many are here.
Sorry, your logic once again escapes me.

805gregg - 8-20-2008 at 08:43 PM

No private beaches in Mex.

Diver - 8-20-2008 at 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thebajarunner
Sorry, your logic once again escapes me.

I knew that.
You like your own private beach.

Nomad - think of it as a little beachside cafe

tsgarcia69 - 8-20-2008 at 08:49 PM

A small little 6-table beachside cafe with high rent.
The cafe needs to turnover each of its few tables several times each day to pay the rent and show a profit.
Every morning the same group of old retired people come in.
Every morning they sit at the two best tables in the cafe.
Every morning they order just one cup of coffee and sit all day, talking to themselves.
Small groups of tourists drift in and order a meal.
The tourists sit and talk about what they value most.
The old retired people overhear, and interupt the tourists.
The old retired people tell the tourists they don't know anything.
The old retired people tell the tourists how great the cafe was back in the old days.
The tourists leave and don't come back to the cafe.
The cafe can't pay the rent.

tsgarcia69 - 8-20-2008 at 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grover
Truly a sad ending. It was a near-miracle the cafe paid the rent for six years before they arrived...
Please don't interrupt; old retired people.

I have an idea, my little blue pitufo. You seem to be failry free and easy with other peoples money. Why don't you send the board owner a U2U and ask him if he makes more ad and revenue sharing revenues it there are more "tourists" clicking onto Baja Nomads, or if his revenue is the same no matter what. Then ask him if he would prefer more or less "tourists". I've seen your posts over on off-topic and I think it is about time you learned how businesses really work. After all, your wife may get sick someday (God forbid) and you may actually have to leave the house and get a job.

I'll await your response.

By the way, how do you like your little cafe table by the window, the one with the ocean view that has your name written all over it?

thebajarunner

longlegsinlapaz - 8-20-2008 at 10:10 PM

There's one other little voice out here in the wilderness this evening who appreciates your analogy! :tumble:

jeans - 8-20-2008 at 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
There's one other little voice out here in the wilderness this evening who appreciates your analogy! :tumble:

And another :dudette:

Diver - 8-20-2008 at 10:44 PM

Sherlock "Grover" Holmes !! Jolly good show, chap !! :lol:

danaeb - 8-20-2008 at 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tsgarcia69

The tourists leave and don't come back to the cafe.

Does this mean you're leaving?

[Edited on 8-21-2008 by danaeb]

tsgarcia69 - 8-20-2008 at 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grover
You're going to need a lot better memory to keep track of those usernames.

Or else, you are going to need a longer memory. Remember the other day when I said I googled you and came up with that Mad Marjorie stuff?

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=33137&pag...

Well, that's when I found your life's story on BN. Go ahead and google "grover" and "bajanomad". 697 hits. You really are ubiquitous. Do you even sleep?

BajaNomad - 8-21-2008 at 02:14 AM

Thank you.

Quote:

Originally posted by thebajarunner
Lots of folks sitting around the bonfire,
Mellow evening,
quiet conversation,
everyone in synch- not all on the same topic, but mellow nonethless.
New folk arrive, pull up chairs, join in the conversation,
all is good.
More new folks, more new ideas, more mellow,
Then a drunk shows up
Loud,
obnoxious,
off color
possibly making rude noises, etc.
13 year old comes up, starts kicking what was already a perfect fire.
More nice folks come, more good topics,
lots of topics,
not any general trend, just nice mellow talk about all the places they have been in Baja, the roads traveled, the people met.
Another rude, loud arrival.
What to do?
Pick up your chair and leave?
Nahhh, this is too good, but still "where did this creature come from?"
Oh, by the way, did I mention, this is a private beach,
Nice guy owns it,
loves to have visitors and guests and mellow talk,
But, he does have rules,
No profanity,
No nudity,
No drunken stupid behaviour,
Hmmmmm, when to call him in and ask for relief.
And, the bonfire burns on,
the conversations continue,
and still, on occasion, here they are,
the rude
the obnoxious
the name callers.

Why do they bother,
They clearly don't fit in,
This is all about friends, talking about mutual interests,
Friends don't badmouth
Friends don't call names
Friends can (and should) disagree, but not with personal attacks.
And the bonfire burns,
and good people sit and chat,
and new folks come and are welcome,

and, sad to say, the rude people still show up, on occasion,

and that, my friends, is NOMAD>>>

The only thing this threads lacks is a couple of graphics!

ELINVESTIG8R - 8-21-2008 at 04:39 AM

Russ - 8-21-2008 at 05:01 AM

Nice! Now we have a great fire. Who we gonna burn at the stake? The drunks and bad mouthed rowdies just headed for that quiet little cafe, now a noisy little bar. ! I know! we'll just enjoy the fire and make nice.

palmeto99 - 8-21-2008 at 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by danaeb

Quote:

Originally posted by tsgarcia69

The tourists leave and don't come back to the cafe.

Does this mean you're leaving?

[Edited on 8-21-2008 by danaeb]

Why would this poster have to leave. He posts more important info on this board than anyone else and does not play this gotcha game unless he is attacked.
The cafe anology is the best example as my favorite cafe suffers from the same problem. The owner is way to polite and just waits out the oldtimers who order only coffee and
solve the worlds problems while the rest of us just wait for them to leave.
What utopia does bajarunner come from or want to live in where we all sing from the same sheet of music.
I like the exchange of ideas and different points of view and my skin is thick enough to take the barbs which come from the usual suspects on this board. :cool:

thebajarunner

David K - 8-21-2008 at 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
There's one other little voice out here in the wilderness this evening who appreciates your analogy! :tumble:

and another! :smug:

oxxo - 8-21-2008 at 07:35 AM

Reminds me of a song

Put another log on the fire.
Cook me up some bacon and some beans.
And go out to the car and change the tyre.
Wash my socks and sew my old blue jeans.
Come on, baby, you can fill my pipe,
And then go fetch my slippers.
And boil me up another pot of tea.
Then put another log on the fire, babe,
And come and tell me why you're leaving me.

and another small voice

Keri - 8-21-2008 at 09:13 AM

Pescador - 8-21-2008 at 12:50 PM

Bajarunner, that was fantastic. When they say a picture is worth 1,000 words then truly a word picture such as the one you painted can only be infinitely more valuable.

Osprey - 8-21-2008 at 01:21 PM

See what they said about my thread about Nomad campfires last June.

Go to http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24959#pid2320...

and another small voice

oxxo - 8-21-2008 at 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Keri

and another insult from an "old timer."

Thumbs up from the Jefe- PRICELESS!!

thebajarunner - 8-21-2008 at 02:36 PM

Thanks to all of you for all the great affirmation,
and especially thanks to our fearless leader for his 'thumbs up" this morning,
It makes me feel like I, in some sense, captured what Nomad is (or should be) all about.

Everyone have a great day,
those of you in Baja
and those of us that wish we were there...

shari - 8-21-2008 at 03:01 PM

another big voice...affirmative amiga

A voice from the wilderness

Baja Bernie - 8-21-2008 at 03:46 PM

Doug, looks like we need much more than a thumbs up here............It has been a while since I posted because of several things...one of the most important is most of the folks that have made this a fun place to visit seem to be hiding just as am I.

Thanks Runner for your efforts.

tsgarcia69..........no need to google me because everyone on this board knows who I am and how I think!

Silly little threats somehow do not worry me... but quite the opposite they make me think of honing my old and unused skills.

Diver you have always marched to a different drummer and that is/was fine because, to my knowledge, you never threatened anyone as does this 'gentleman'.

palmeto99 - 8-21-2008 at 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja Bernie
Doug, looks like we need much more than a thumbs up here............It has been a while since I posted because of several things...one of the most important is most of the folks that have made this a fun place to visit seem to be hiding just as am I.

Thanks Runner for your efforts.

tsgarcia69..........no need to google me because everyone on this board knows who I am and how I think!

Silly little threats somehow do not worry me... but quite the opposite they make me think of honing my old and unused skills.

Diver you have always marched to a different drummer and that is/was fine because, to my knowledge, you never threatened anyone as does this 'gentleman'.

I have just reread the posts and saw nothing that could be interpreded as threatening by anybody.
Is it just me or are some people being drama queens here.
Lighten up people, the ruskies have not taken over the board and you can still post whatever and whenever you want.
What next. A general strike until all bad news stops being posted. I agree that the sniping should be curtailed but it has to stop where it begins . With the older members who can not resist jabbing at all posts they do not agree with.
:cool:

Diver - 8-21-2008 at 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja Bernie
Diver you have always marched to a different drummer and that is/was fine because, to my knowledge, you never threatened anyone as does this 'gentleman'.

Well thank you, Bernie; really.
I wholeheartedly agree with you and others against offensive behavior in general.
I just had a little, tiny issue with the poster who made the assumptions.
It's all good !

This is a Very Eloquent and Evocative Metaphor

Gypsy Jan - 8-21-2008 at 05:52 PM

Bajarunner,

The only thing I can think of to add is that when I attended beach campfires with a large and diverse group of people, I learned to keep moving around when the conversation got combative and descended to the, "Oh yeah? If I am, so are you, etc." level.

We have a internet universe with the freedom to respond or not, to seek out other conversations and to start our own and see what results.

Unfortunately, this freedom also offers an temptation to some to vent; to be rude and vulgar anonymously in a way that these persons never would have the courage for in a face-to-face confrontation because there are no consequences.

The only penalties at this virtual beach campfire are the verbal scorn of other, more balanced voices.

I am happy and grateful to have this community to share with and as far as the negative ones go, feh! They will soon get worn out with their bloviating if no one feeds their ego with responses.

longlegsinlapaz - 8-21-2008 at 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by palmeto99

Quote:

palmeto99, IMHO, if you'd read the majority of posts touching on this topic from thread to thread, the MINOR issue is bad news, the MAJOR issues are foul language, personal attacks & rude & disrespectful comments. It's an apparent lack of respect for other individuals, Doug & all members. It is possible to agree to disagree! Just as it's possible to state your opposition to an opinion/experience other than your own without being rude, crude, abrasive, threatening or demeaning.

Quote:

With the older members who can not resist jabbing at all posts they do not agree with.
:cool:

What is your definition of "older members"? Are you referring to length of membership? Chronological age? Either way, I believe you've been doing a lot of very selective reading; what I've read in the majority of posts is that it's been most experienced posters opinions & experiences which have been receiving the most flack. Granted, the return salvo's have gotten quite heated. That's called self-defense.

You apparently feel it's okay for rude, disrespectful posts, in the name of honesty. Well, one can be honest & respectful at the same time.

It appears to me that one person; with multiple pseudonyms; has made it their life's mission to destroy Baja Nomad, and they've gotten a good start at that by driving many, many long-time posters away with all the rude & disrespectful posts! I'm not opposed to new members of any age! What I am opposed to any new or long-time member who feels it's alright to let common human decency, human respect, preservation of human dignity & respect for the posted Board Rules fall by the wayside. When that happens, as it has been for the past couple months, it takes a huge toll to the Board, it's owner, and by extension, the entire membership.

IMO, it's no different than posting a sign that reads "This is your beach, please keep it clean." This is our board & it's obvious throughout the majority of threads that what's been happening "around our campfire" has driven many people off, it's caused others to be fearful of posting under a very strong likelihood of a rude, crude, abrasive response, and it's brought out the worst in some who choose to brave the swamp! IMO; & the opinion of many I've spoken with; the entire flavor of the board has changed for the worse. A few posters are ruining the site for the majority of members, and I think what you refer to as "jabbing" is the reaction to those actions. There are a lot of people fighting here to preserve this site as a viable, informative place to ask for & receive information...in a pleasant & respectful environment.

Can you understand my point of view? Whether or not you agree with it, can you at least acknowledge that not everyone is looking through the same knothole you are, so there can be differing views to each person lined up at the fence?

Udo - 8-21-2008 at 06:26 PM

IMO???

IMHO???

LOL????

See the above a lot in posts.

Thanks!

longlegsinlapaz - 8-21-2008 at 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by udowinkler
IMO???

IMHO???

LOL????

See the above a lot in posts.

Thanks!

Udo, assume you're asking for definitions?

IMO = In my opinion
IMHO = In my humble opinion
LOL = Laughing out loud

BajaGringo - 8-21-2008 at 06:35 PM

I have had the good fortune to meet some really fine people from all walks of life here on Baja Nomad. Some in person and others via online discussions and personal mail. I really do appreciate Doug for providing the forum as well as the nice folks who pay to sponsor the forum. You all get a big thumbs up in my book!

I hope that we can agree to keep the discussions on issue and when we disagree to focus our energy in response to the discussion at hand - not in personal attacks. It sure will make this bonfire a whole lot more pleasant and fun to be part of. We can argue as to who threw the first punch and I could easily dig up lots of posts to make a case one way or the other - Hopefully we are beyond that now.

New posters will come and go, banned members will just rejoin again under yet another new alias (besides the other ones they use here already). Not much we can do about that except to just refuse to play along if and when they do decide to start in with the personal attacks again. I have just made a point to ignore any thread they start and it has made my time here on the forum one heck of a lot more pleasant.

Done!

So who needs a refill on their margarita???

k-rico - 8-21-2008 at 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

Quote:

Originally posted by udowinkler
IMO???

IMHO???

LOL????

See the above a lot in posts.

Thanks!

Udo, assume you're asking for definitions?

IMO = In my opinion
IMHO = In my humble opinion
LOL = Laughing out loud

The age before emoticons.

I don't see ROTFLMAO too much anymore. :tumble:

CaboMagic - 8-21-2008 at 08:08 PM

Stopping in to say thanks bajarunner for a much enjoyed post.

[Edited on 8-22-2008 by CaboMagic]

[Edited on 8-22-2008 by CaboMagic]

ELINVESTIG8R - 8-21-2008 at 08:21 PM

TENGOMIEDO - 8-22-2008 at 08:38 AM

Que cute son los camiónes.

vandenberg - 8-22-2008 at 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by udowinkler
IMO???

IMHO???

LOL????

See the above a lot in posts.

Thanks!

Udo, try:
http://www.gaarde.org/acronyms/

rpleger - 8-22-2008 at 10:10 AM

I'm with RUNNER, stop the personal insults...

David K - 8-23-2008 at 09:41 AM

Have patience, be willing to get attacked verbally, be strong enough to not let the anti-nomads chase you off...

Sure, I have been worked up and insulted over my years here and before on Amigos, but my passion for Baja and sharing with you all keeps me here... Why people feel a need to attack others, vs. a friendly disagreement is beyond me... As said above, we should be able to agree to disagree and then get back to friendships and good Baja times!

I have been honored to meet so many of you over the years and I hope to meet the rest of you some day! You know what I look like and what I drive, so please honk, wave, say 'hi', join me for a cold one, research some Baja history or geology, or just have a relxing time around a campfire together!

Viva Baja Nomad!

spelling edit

[Edited on 8-23-2008 by David K]

Paulina - 8-23-2008 at 09:47 AM

If any of you start to smell something bad, it was only me. I melted the bottoms of my tennis shoes resting them on the rocks around the fire pit.

Sorry.

P<*)))>{

jeans - 8-23-2008 at 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina
If any of you start to smell something bad, it was only me. I melted the bottoms of my tennis shoes resting them on the rocks around the fire pit.

Sorry.

P<*)))>{

I hate it when that happens! :yes:

DianaT - 8-23-2008 at 11:46 AM

Interesting to read what others think a forum should be----just interesting --- just as it is interesting to read how some people define a "friendly" disagreement.

Lots of opinions-----

[Edited on 8-23-2008 by jdtrotter]

Gadget - 8-23-2008 at 12:35 PM

I like the camp fire analogy very much.
I actually like most of this thread.

One thing about sitting around a campfire, everyone gets the smoke in their eyes at some point.
Some get teary eyes
Some sit and take it
Some leave

Pass the s'mores

vivaloha - 8-23-2008 at 01:12 PM

I too concur with the Baja Runner's analogy...
Its helpful to picture it like that...there's been a few
bonfires so wrecked by the new crew that i've just
stumbled off to my tent a little earlier than expected...
then again, there's been some classic ones where i've found
myself kicking it much longer than expected...bottom line,
in both the bonfires and here, try to not let other peoples' weird
perspectives negatively affect you...just let it flow off you like
water off a duck's back...don't wear it, don't wear their words
and just continue to be your own happy positive person...

vivaloha

Did someone say smores?

ELINVESTIG8R - 8-23-2008 at 02:58 PM

I remember the bonfire you started in Catavina one afternoon

BajaVida - 8-25-2008 at 09:03 PM

but since I hope to ride with thebajarunner in March, I will keep the details to myself

Even your friends cannot keep a secret!!!

thebajarunner - 8-26-2008 at 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaVida
but since I hope to ride with thebajarunner in March, I will keep the details to myself

Ouch!!!
That was a different kind of bonfire, for sure,
Guess it needs to be told.
Christmas week, 2006, the little missus and I took a quick trip down to Catavina.
I took her down the secret side road to the all-time great secluded and holy campsite- WHAM- right in the middle of the fire ring is a trashed old Ford F-100.
So, I reported back this sad news to our gang of Baja Boyz and when we returned for our annual trip in March the next year we brought chains and tow straps to drag it out to the Carreterra and hope it would disappear.
Well, the good news- we got there and the truck was gone.
The bad news- someone had really stripped it and left the leavings all over the sacred campsite. Plastic, carpets, vinyl, lots of fiberglass scrap- you name it.
Well, we were too loaded down to haul it out, burying it would not be a solution,
so, Voila, major, I mean MAJOR bonfire.
At one point we thought the black smoke plume probably could have been seen from El Rosario.
Ah, but in the end, all the ash scraped into the fire ring, and the sacred (did I mention 'holy') campsite is restored,
That's my story,
I'm stickin' with it....

lingililingili - 8-26-2008 at 05:52 PM

thebajarunner: Thank you! Muy bien dicho!

Not sure which one you liked, but thanks

thebajarunner - 8-26-2008 at 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lingililingili
thebajarunner: Thank you! Muy bien dicho!

If you were liking my "Ode to Nomad" at the front end of the thread, then thanks!!

If you liked my solution to the trashed camp, well, thanks again...

muy amable hermano....

lingililingili - 8-26-2008 at 06:45 PM

thebajarunner: You're welcome. I like all of it. I have not been on a whole lot of late but I've enjoyed this thread. I know it is hard to tell by my name, but I am an "hermana".

thebajarunner - 8-26-2008 at 07:09 PM

Lingi lil

Isn't there a rule somewhere in language
that if one is uncertain as to gender that the masculine
is acceptable....

we can take a brief time out here while I continue dissembling, backing and stalling for time....

oh well

sorry 'bout dat...

as one who only has daughters I try to be very very very considerate of that subject....

lo siento mucho(a)

Von - 8-26-2008 at 10:00 PM

HEY David k

Where are some of those magic rocks you have for the fire to change color?

I love it when the fire turns blue greeneee..... :bounce:

Paulina - 8-26-2008 at 10:22 PM

Von,

Next time you're at Daggett's head up to La Gringa. You'll find the magic rocks there, close to the old toilets, if there are any rocks left.

They are pretty and might be fun to toss in the fire every now and then when the crowd needs distracting.

P<*)))>{

Skeet/Loreto - 8-27-2008 at 02:51 AM

" WINDS OF FATE" by Wilcox

One ship drives east and another drives west
with the selfsame winds that blow.
'tis the set of the sails
and not the gales which tells us the way to go.

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,
As we voyage along through life:
'Tis the set of the soul
that decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.

vandenberg - 8-27-2008 at 07:00 AM

Hey Skeeter,
What happened to your "Sabbatical" :?:

[Edited on 8-27-2008 by vandenberg]

David K - 8-27-2008 at 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Von
HEY David k

Where are some of those magic rocks you have for the fire to change color?

I love it when the fire turns blue greeneee..... :bounce:

Like this?

Photo by Bedman, Camp Gecko 2002

Photo I took in 2005, didn't come out as good as Bedman's showing the magic rock affect...

[Edited on 8-27-2008 by David K]