Miata Mailing List: November 1999, Message #705

sponsored by

--part1_0.1da07a10.2554c000_boundary
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

AOL is playing funny tricks on me again....here's a post I sent earlier 
today...or tried to:
FWIW,
Cat still CATTOYless and will be at least until Wednesday :(

--part1_0.1da07a10.2554c000_boundary
Content-Type: message/rfc822
Content-Disposition: inline

Return-path: M97C94B90@aol.com
From: M97C94B90@aol.com
Full-name: M97C94B90
Message-ID: <0.4ea7fb1f.2554905e@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 14:56:14 EST
Subject: Re: This Place
To: Miata@list.miata.net
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Mailer: AOL NetMail version 2.0

In a message dated Fri, 5 Nov 1999  9:54:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, BHotaling@aol.com writes:

> I agree that the NMC has taken over.   As someone told me privately the other 
> day, they "only post fluff to the net and answer any serious stuff 
> directly...the net has become a joke and a social scene." 

OK, was gonna stay out of this...but confession...the above was a private exchange between Bob and I and I appreciate him keeping my name out of it!  Thanks again, Bob, a man of character and Miataphile extraordinaire!!!  I have been *very guilty* of posting only "fluff" (though I believe I phrased it silly non-sense, so nah Bob :P) stuff to the big list and indeed posting all my technical contributions off list.  Seemed fitting with the current tone of the list and also leads to low expectations from others of oneself so thus easy to live up to.  ;^)  Upon my return to the list I seemed to find it a bit frustrating at first as from my original sub in 10/97 to my unsub in 3/99, while it did have its social atmosphere, the discussions seemed to revolve more around Miatae and Miata related activities with only occasional banter and jokes.  Over the past two years the banter has increased and technical content decreased at an alarming rate...thus my comment that the list has beco!
me a joke (my apologies and was merely my opinion expressed in private to an off list friend with whom I often have very frank discussions).  Rather than get frustrated or upset I tend to joke things off...just me...sorry.  Rather than get upset when I resubbed in Aug. I also joined the power list (closet lurker trying to gleem tips for the deciated racer :) and the Miata.net forum (which contains all things for all people even banter but is at least categorized for easy reading).  These are good places to get the Miata content we used to get here.  I'm not one to let simple things get to me and do my best to joke life off!!  So I sought what I missed elsewhere and contributed to the chaos here.  Looking back not a good choice on the latter!  I do apologize for contributing so profusely to the noise content...being Miataless makes one do crazy things.  :P~  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!  =D

The big list is the list and has its pluses and minuses.  I do sorely miss the "old days" of the list...but I am in fact a neophyte compared to those that have been subbed since '94 and can only imagine their pain.  Bob's comments of "check the archives" are due to his time on list and the fact that though a topic is new to you it has most assuredly been discussed here several times over...it all has...over and over and over again...check the archives and see for yourself...LOL.  It just doesn't seem to be the same without the old time gear heads monitoring it. I miss the days of yore when I could post a "hey guys and gals how do I...?" and get 10 - 20 on topic responses in a matter of minutes that answered my question and in fact often anticipated my next one and answered that too!  La Sonja comes to mind!  A truly gifted Miataphile who's knowledge of both technical and asthetic appeal which could not be surpassed by any on the list, who's advice was given freely, poetically,!
 and often times with a smile.  But she is only one example and I fear with the current trend any such knowledgeable Miata freaks will soon disappear nar to be heard from again on the big list.  :(  How sad!!!  

The social content is fine when it is not the mainstay.  I, in fact, have made some very good friends due to this list!!!  Mz. Sonja is great and I hope the new folks will some day get to experience her special brand of Miatadom.  I've traveled to events I would never have known about or if I had heard about them never thought I'd go that far just for a Miata event...but the enthusiasm on the list is sometimes overwhelming and very encouraging when you need that extra little push to go.  :)  It is the people behind the posts that make the list so great.  This leads to the social aspect...which can be good if contained or taken off list (and I'll do better at this too!!!).  I've met people from all over the country and in fact a few from foriegn countries with whom my path may not have crossed but for this list.  Some are only acquaintances, some have become Miata buddies, but some have touched my life and become good friends (old and new and you know who you are)!    

So I'm adding my .02 once again where it was not asked for and vowing to reign in my frustration and keep the non-Miata chatter down (at least a little ;).  Anyone else care to join me?   Anyone else remember what the list *used* to be like?

Now back to the chaos that is this wonderful list...
Cat and the ever wandering tigress "CATTOY" '97 M who's still MMIA (Miata Missing In Action)
Team - Frou-Vroom (looking good tearing up the asphalt)
Team - wallflower wannabe longing for anonymity (thanks to JLF!!! and my new Team Frou-Vroom sidekick!) 
Team - We HATE Fish Cars  :P~

--part1_0.1da07a10.2554c000_boundary--