I have always been impressed with the intellectual level of your posts in general. I always imagined you to be in your late twenties or early thirties because of your command of the language. I was very confused when you got emotional over high School sports (re. the Whitewater affair.) My Word, I don't know that I am one of the local people who could somehow actually change your voting thought process on a national level (which I find incredible), but I will tell you this. I don't get worked up over football, basketball, or other college or pro sports. I have not been able to truly enjoy such things since 2001, because what I get worked up about are wars that over 100,000 of our brother's and sisters are fighting while we eat popcorn and drink sodas. I get worked up about the greatest nation on the face of the Earth having faulty pre war intelligence, yet her citizens seem unmotivated to ask the "why" and "how" questions. I don't like feet trampling on the constitution. I think Habeus Corpus makes America the great nation it is; a nation of the rule of law, and I don't know why the former champions of "the rule of law" now have their fingers in their ears and hands over thier eyes. If this seems too "personal" or "angry" to you, just feel fortunate that you aren't in uniform, actually dealing with a situation in the middle east facilitated by liberals and conservatives that did not get angry enough early enough. I do not think it suffices to say "mistakes were made, but here we are." We must ask the uncomfortable questions that lead eventually to accountability. We must learn from these mistakes and hold war profiteers accountable. If this is too emotionally taxing for you, I understand. But try to look at Iraq in the context of high school football, and you might see life from my perspective.

Cheers to you, MYWORD_Mark,

Kevin "Hack" King

I understand why you are disgusted with this board/blog. That which makes this website interesting and thought provoking is also what makes it disgusting and hard to stomach sometimes. You get the good with the bad.

1. Anonymity-Most of the posters are hidden behind their moniker. This produces some very honest and sometimes obnoxious opinions. People often feel restrained if they know their opinions might come back to haunt them, so being anonymous allows them the luxury of speaking their minds. This is a good thing, but then again, if your opinion is one of merit, albeit, unpopular, then laying it all out there with your full name gives it more credibility. IMHO

2. Spontaneity- I know I occasionally will write a LTE and when I do, I generally read and re-read the post to make sure that what I am attempting to say is thoughtfully written. When you respond to an online blog, often its more off the cuff and emotional. Thoughtful reflection is usually the best means to write a response, but that dang "enter" button gets hit before you realize it. The ease with which we can respond often produces some very arrogant and angry replies.

3. Politics- This subject matter alone is enough to cause some rather emotional debates. Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or lukewarm, people are generally very much vested in their political opinions and serious debate is hard to maintain when politics is the subject.

4. Antagonists- And finally, some people on this blog are just generally what I refer to in my office as PITA. (Pain in the Rears) They pride themselves upon stirring the fires of discontent even when the subject matter is somewhat neutral. They like the rush they get when they "push" others to respond to their hyperboles. I suppose I could be found guilty of this as well, although, I make sincere efforts at not behaving this way. Still, I'd suggest that most of the replies are akin to the latch key kids who arbitrarily call random numbers and ask if we have Prince Albert in a Can, then hang up while laughing their heads off.

Nonetheless, one of the reasons that I have been absent of late is that the level of discussions have been rather juvenile. I find more thought provoking debates on my children's MYSPACE websites. I also find that I am too busy to respond to every ignorant comment made by those that have little common sense.

So, my suggestion to you would be to just take a back seat to these ongoing diatribes. Ignore the looney left comments and reflect upon those topics that you find most interesting and appropriate for honest discussions. But don't leave summarily, instead just be a lurker until the time is right.

Is this where we're supposed to beg you to stay, Mark?

You are by far the most thin-skinned poster on this site, quite a dubious achievement. I'm quite frankly surprised you've lasted as long as you have here.

I remember when you first showed up around here, trash-talking Whitewater kids when they beat Starr's Mill in football. I ignored you, because I thought you were just one more high school kid woofing at another. You took great delight when Whitewater lost in the playoffs, rubbing it into the Whitewater fans faces. Such class. I figured you for just another immature kid.

I was very surprised, as were many here, when it turned out you were a 30-something or maybe 40-something adult. It put you in a completely different light, and not a particularly good one. Many people here have commented on your fixation of arguing with high school kids. I wouldn't go as far as to call you a "pedophile" due to the sexual connotation, but your propensity to fixate on the high school threads is, in my mind anyway, just plain creepy.

I've noticed two things about your debating style (perhaps "lack of style" is more apropos): your tendency to repeat the same point over and over and over (google your name and "only cat in town" for example) and you inevitably took it personally when someone disagreed with you. Look at your exchanges with Gump and Alanrc!

Football season ended and you seemed to calm down a little. You and I locked horns a few times. You came after me when I tweaked your life partner Enigma for calling me a sycophant. Again, I basically ignored you, after all you once called Jeff Carter an "extremist" so I took your petulant posturing with a grain of salt.

When the Whitewater basketball season ended the bad ole Myword_mark was back in full force. You once again blathered about perceived slights coming from Whitewater. You ripped into sportswriter Mike Boylan because he had the absolute temerity to disagree with you, and you droned on and on about that stupid sign at the Whitewater gym, getting more worked up with each post. Then you declared yourself the "winner of the debate", and I told you to grow up. Naturally, you had a meltdown. Funny thing, though, when the smoke had cleared, Tug13 agreed with you but virtually everybody else sided with me. Some "victory"!

Now, I know you are the sort of person who has an innate need to get the last word in, so I'll exit this thread. You can declare "victory" now if you like. I'd be lying if I didn't say that I expect to see you back here in the fall under another name, in the Whitewater football threads. So I won't say "goodbye"...I'll just say "see ya around".

Oh, and Mark?

Grow up.

People who decline to sign their letters or postings have no incentive NOT to be rude, abusive, crude, petty, childish, hurtful, nasty, etc. I, too, have noticed that the most vicious personal attacks consistently come from those who cowardly throw their barbs as they hide behind screen names. Sorry that you've been wounded here but what can you expect of cyber-terrorists who delight in throwing their bombs from hidden cover?
David Epps

Yeah, I may change my name also. Gotta keep em guessin! Anybody who would keep the same name forever is looking for recognition rather than giving advice.

If you feel strongly enough about a subject, stand you ground.

If you feel that there are those that shouldn't be bothered with, ignore them.

There are many that need to "learn". If you stop now who do you think they'll learn from?

I've debated with both you and Enigma over drug testing in schools.

I didn't agree with you, but I did learn.

If you still feel like letting go, enjoy wherever it is you land.

mark, don't stop blogging! I miss you and Enigma! You have a lot to say and several of us want to hear it! I've learned a lot from you and Enigma. I'm hoping that you change your mind.
God Bless
Tug

We all know who you're talking about. The same old hateful, bitter trash talk. Personally, I think it's kinda sad. Nothing better to do than blog blog blog....how productive.