I have been on the internet for quite some time, long before there was such a thing as the World Wide Web and browsers, when usenet contained only hundreds of groups and there was no graphical interface, only ASCII text.
I've been on many, many forums (we called them bulletin boards back then), some for years and years, and have made quite a few true friends, a number of which I was fortunate enough to meet IRL, others which have remained e-personna.
However, I find this foolish, little forum unique.
I find myself constantly amazed at the generosity, friendliness, humo(u)r, advice, and good-natured ribbing that goes on here without the rancor or hostility (well, not much anyhow) that is so often found elsewhere.
But I'm especially dumbfounded by the "bombs", gifts, and donations (of which I admit to some guilt)!
Here we are, in actuality strangers, exchanging items of some significant worth, at considerable inconvenience (especially when "crossing the pond"), with people we truly know nothing about except for the personalities they project here. Much like religion, we seem to be going on acts of faith to do nice things with our fellow BOTL's. There are no tangible rewards other than thanks, so clearly, there's something else at work here.
So, I would like to propose that we officially adopt "UKCF Syndrome" as our de facto tenet, with UKCF Syndrome defined as: "Doing the right thing is its own reward."
What say, chaps?
I've been on many, many forums (we called them bulletin boards back then), some for years and years, and have made quite a few true friends, a number of which I was fortunate enough to meet IRL, others which have remained e-personna.
However, I find this foolish, little forum unique.
I find myself constantly amazed at the generosity, friendliness, humo(u)r, advice, and good-natured ribbing that goes on here without the rancor or hostility (well, not much anyhow) that is so often found elsewhere.
But I'm especially dumbfounded by the "bombs", gifts, and donations (of which I admit to some guilt)!
Here we are, in actuality strangers, exchanging items of some significant worth, at considerable inconvenience (especially when "crossing the pond"), with people we truly know nothing about except for the personalities they project here. Much like religion, we seem to be going on acts of faith to do nice things with our fellow BOTL's. There are no tangible rewards other than thanks, so clearly, there's something else at work here.
So, I would like to propose that we officially adopt "UKCF Syndrome" as our de facto tenet, with UKCF Syndrome defined as: "Doing the right thing is its own reward."
What say, chaps?
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