DH and I were just watching the news about ANOTHER teen who was killed while driving drunk -- ANOTHER young man with so much potential is dead and his family and friends are devastated. And for what??? alcohol??

I am just SICK TO DEATH of all the tragic consequences of drinking alcohol -- I wish to God that alcohol would just disappear from the planet

Seriously, just think about how different the world would be without alcohol. I'm sure I'm much more militant because I grew up with two alcoholic parents --my father was a mean drunk -- who absolutely ruined the childhood of me and my two brothers.

I am 61 years old and have been drunk once in my life: I got drunk under controlled conditions (in my apartment with a couple of girlfriends) just so I could see what it was like. I HATED the feeling of not being in control of my faculties and never drank again. I just don't understand the attraction for people who spend every weekend out getting plastered out of their minds.

I know mothers who think they're ok because they just go out to dinner and have a "few" drinks (but admit that they get "really tipsy" -- and then they go home and take care of their babies How is that not irresponsible parenting?

Think about all the horrible, horrible accidents that have killed and maimed so many peoople, all the marriages that have been destroyed, all the babies who have suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome. Not to mention the unbelievable amount of money that has been wasted on alcohol that could have been spent on the greater good. Not to mention the massive amount of time that has been spent in a bar drinking after work instead of spending that time with a wife and family

As far as I am concerned, there is absolutely no redeeming value whatsoever to alcohol.

Really, alcohol is not good for you at all. Not even in moderation. I know there are studies which say this, but don't believe them. It is a toxic chemical that affects every hormone in your body, and poisons cells.

Just because some people have issues with it is no reason to remove it from the planet.

I mean people drive irresponsibly all the time, even without a license or insurance or driving drunk. Should we ban cars?

Although I undestand your frustration this is a little too extreme for me. They tried it once and it did not work.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

AMEN!!!!!!! I agree with you on the no alcohol. But, someone would figure out another way to alter their mind and there we would go again.

Excellent point.

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@@@
l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

It's not the (insert item here) that's the problem, it's the people that use it.

My Grandma feels the same way about computers. All she hears about is the hacking, child predators, cheating spouses, etc.

No one NEEDS alcohol (but no one needs computers either), but there is a time and a place. If I'm going to drink, I NEVER drive.

The problem is that the penalties aren't harsh enough for drunk driving. (Not to mention how bad this gets with celebrities! How many times do they have to get caught before they even get the slightest bit punished?)

Any offense needs to mean a lot more than it does. People just aren't afraid of getting caught.

__________________

We can hardly chastise our youth for underage drinking, when grown adults make alcohol look so fun, glamorous, romantic, sophisticated and acceptible. We should be standing up and serving as an example, and not drinking alcohol!

My mother always told me, "Never marry a man who drinks!" And I listened to her! It just upsets me so much to know that you young ladies think nothing is wrong with drinking alcohol. I am assuming your husbands are drinkers as well. This just isn't good! A grown adult should be WELL PAST the age where they want to consume a psychoactive drug. As I said, my mother always told me to NEVER marry a man who drinks!

I'm telling you, ladies, alcohol is a TOXIN. Please don't get mad at me. I suppose the moderators will ban me for speaking up against this. It would be just my luck. But I'm telling you, alcohol is a toxic drug that affects every hormone in your body, and poisons cells. It has been linked to cancer and birth defects. But even if it were healthy, it is a MIND-ALTERING DRUG!!! Just because it is legal doesn't make it right.

Water, good old H2O, taken in excess can be toxic.

Sex affects the hormones in your bodies, has been linked to certain types of cancer, can spread diseases and has been proven that it can alter your state of consciousness, and if practiced in the extremes can kill you--that doesn't mean it's bad!

I do understand the frustration and anger over seeing a young person or any person that is injured or killed because of DUI/DWI. But, keep in mind, just about everything when taken to the extreme can and does kill

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I agree. I've read that there were more drunks in the US during prohibition than at any other time. It's frustrating but people do stupid things all the time. Kids get pregnant in their teens...so should be require birth control for all girls? People die of lung cancer...should be ban cigarettes and cigars? Banning things is not the way to go. It's education. Sadly, there is a lack of it. As already said, the media clearly shows it's "no biggie" to drive drunk.

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Removing alchol is not the answer. Tougher laws when people drink and drive might help.
I always give money to MADD. However I am not seeing that is does any good.
Honestly most of the time that someone kills someone by getting behind the wheel drunk they have had at least 1 other DUI if not more.
My DD's father had at least 3 DUI's that I knew of. I always told him he was not to drive any place ever with her in the car and if he did and somehing happened to her I would spend the rest of my life hunting him down and making him suffer a long and painful death. His sister always said I was a B* and he would never drive and put anyone's life in danger. Even though this same sister threw a ton of money at it every time he got a DUI and somehow he always got his license back within a year. ( of course even though he did not have a license sometimes he drove) Well finally he ended up drinking and driving and killing his current girlfriend. She left behind 3 daughters all under 14. He ended up spending 4 years in jail and of course his family thought that was totally unfair that he had to even spend a day in jail. He lied to his family and told them that "she" was driving even though she was killed instantly and buckled in the passenger side. His blood on the drivers side and hers on the passenger side. His family BELIEVED him that he was not driving. The courts gave him 4 years for taking someones life and of course he had at least 3 other DUI'S.
My friend just went to court of a traffic violation and while she was there there were 3 people who had DUI''s One was on his 3rd one. The judge gave 2 of them $100 fines plus court cost. The one with the 3rd DUI got $300 plus court cost and suspend his license for 6 months. Then she told him next time
it is gonna be $400 and loose his license for a year. WTH????
I just dont understand. Why dont they make these people pay more. Put them in jail I know there has to be more they can do before it is too late.

Actually, drinking alcohol in moderation has some great health benefits including:

Reducing your risk of developing heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and intermittent claudication
Reducing your risk of dying of a heart attack
Possibly reducing your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes
Lowering your risk of gallstones
Possibly reducing your risk of diabetes

So for those of you who don't binge drink and are able to sit at dinner with a nice glass of wine you are doing your body good. My dad's cardiologist actually told him to have a glass of red wine a day. How bout that

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Shauna

That is so true!! Red wine in fact is great for red blood cells and we encourage a glass or two a week to some of our patients.
I dont agree with removing it totally. Better laws and harsher consequences my help the issues...

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GO TONY!!!!!!!!!!! # 20!!!

Yes, I absolutely agree. More patrols in the evening and harsher consequences for driving drunk. Why spoil it for all of us who don't have addictive personalities and who don't drive drunk. In my very large group of friends we ALWAYS agree to designate a couple of us to stay sober and drive everyone home. We take turns every week. I for one love to have a couple beers at dinner or while I'm sitting around the house watchin TV, or out with friends.

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Shauna

SHauna,
The fact that someone stays sober to drive shows RESPONSIBILITY!! That is the difference between those who can drink and have a good time and those who go out killing people whole driving drunk...
I too enjoy a few beers while sitting around on the weekends or when out with friends.. But RESPONSIBILITY is the key...

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GO TONY!!!!!!!!!!! # 20!!!

In our area, it's not so much that teens are driving drunk -- it's that teens are driving reckless, fast and wear no seatbelt (even though we have the buckle-up law). We have had so many teenagers die on our highways in just our county and the adjoining ones. And it's most because of over-correcting and not paying attention.

I don't think the answer is alcohol removal. I think the answer is trying some way to get our teenagers to wake up and realize that driving is serious business. I mean, they see their friends die, they go to their funerals, cry and then continue on with their reckless way of driving because 'it won't happen to me'.

Alcohol in moderation does have its benefits as some have described. Another one is if you're suffering from kidney stones, drink a couple of beers and usually they'll pass.

It's definitely a generation where they all feel invinsible. The number of teens dying of drug overdoses and driving wrecklessly, getting pregnant and STD's is unreal. I'm only 25, but kids weren't like that 10 years ago when I was their age. It makes me scared to have children...I'd want to shelter them from the world! ha

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Shauna

Anybody want to address any of my other issues above instead of just the drunk driving?

Think about all the horrible, horrible accidents that have killed and maimed so many peoople, drunk driving which has been addressed

all the marriages that have been destroyed: marriages are destroyed by all kinds of things, not just booze. I bet more marriages have been ruined because of adultery than booze or abuse (verbal or physical).

all the babies who have suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome.: there is no law against people being stupid. Unless you "fix" every stupid woman who will do something dangerous to her fetus, you can't stop it

Not to mention the unbelievable amount of money that has been wasted on alcohol that could have been spent on the greater good: I don't tell you how to spend your money, don't tell me how to spend mine.

Not to mention the massive amount of time that has been spent in a bar drinking after work instead of spending that time with a wife and family so are you saying that only men drink and spend time in bars??? How about people who have affairs who "work late" or people whose jobs keep them away from their families often. These are choices we make. They aren't always pretty. There are plenty of people who stay at home with their families and yet spend no time with them. They are each off in their own little world.

I'm not asking for the world to hand out birth control to teens so they don't get pregnant but I hate that so many teens are becoming parents. I don't ask that tobacco be banned even though I detest it with every oz of my soul. We don't live in a bubble wrapped world. Crap is gonna happen

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Growing up with a drunk for a "father" will show you first hand what alcohol does.
It kills family life, a normal childhood, love, and having enough money to run a household!

__________________
Square dancing is friendship set to music!

I'm not saying it doesn't do those things. I know that having alcoholic parent(s) can ruin a family. My point is just that many other things can also do the exact same things. We can't ban everything....

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

It is my opinion that you could substitute many things for the word alcohol. It's really not about the substance or behavior it's about addiction and responsibility.

People eat everyday but not everyone eats to excess where food causes health and wellfare inssues for them.
People enjoy a healthy sex life without taking it to the extreme that it causes calamity in their life.
People attend religious services regularly seeking guidance and community without it becoming an obsession that controls every facet of their life.
People are prescibed medications everyday for the control of pain and disease and are able to use them in the manner directed.
People shop for goods without it bankrupting theirselves and their families.



I think that reading this you can think of someone whom you know or have known that has allowed something, wheather substance or behavior, to become an addiction.

Addiction, unchecked, by it's very nature ruins lifes.

I would also like to add that I believe every person has at least one addiction. It's all in how they control and take responsibility for their addiction(s) and their actions.

Again this is just my opinion.

__________________

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

I think you've got it right there. You can ban selling or possessing something like alcohol, but you can't remove it from the world, because you can't remove the process of fermentation. Nor can you remove the tendency many people have to abuse otherwise harmless substances or behaviors. I'm frequently amazed at the substances people will mix and/or imbibe to alter how they feel. Even those who choose not to use chemicals can do other dangerous things. Helping people find ways to cope, and to avoid situations the lead to dangerous choices is a lot more practical than hoping that banning one substance will fix a huge problem.

I pretty much agree with everything that Cashchik has said.

I believe that even if you magically took alcohol out of the world people would find other ways to kill other people, hurt their unborn children, ruin their family lives and so on and so forth.


I really think this is more about the decisions that people make then it is about the alcohol. If people made the decision to have a designated driver or stop drinking when they are pregnant then alcohol wouldnt seem like such a toxin.

Just about everything in life can be bad for you or others if it is done in excess.

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Sell crazy some place else, we are all stocked up here.

ITA! Exactly what I was saying earlier. It's the PERSON, not the THING.

There are some exceptions of course, like smoking - that's just not good for anyone at any time - drugs - same thing. But people are the root of the problem a lot of the time and lack of any REAL accountability makes it even worse.

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alcohol Kills
Legal Drugs Kill
Illegal drugs Kill
Guns Kill
Huff ing Paint Kills
Unprotected sexual Drives Kills
Crazy People Kill
Over Eatting Kills
Undereatting Kills
Sober Driving Kills
Wreckless driving Kills
Abuse Kills
Mental Health Kills
Jealousy Kills
This is just a small list of things, There's 1000's more if you dig deep enough.

Manythings can and DO lead to killing. If we only remove one of the problems, People will Only turn to another..

You can take anything off this list and it has, did or can destory Lifes, Marriages, Families.

Money can be better spent on anything in the list as well.

The LACK OF Responsibilty is whats at fault here,

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MyCoupons Is #1 for Holiday Shopping

If you ever speak with someone who has lived through Prohibition, you'd hear that it didn't work. There are still dry counties in some states (ie Kentucky) and people will find ways around it if they try hard enough.

I understand what you are saying. If your life has been touched badly enough by something (like alcohol), it only reinforces your conviction that its 'removal from the face of the planet' is the solution.

BUT, as others have mentioned, if someone has the personality to allow alcohol to become a solution to their problems, they will only find something else if the alcohol is removed.

Yes, dangit, I do. Two more legal citizens dead in this country after what appears to be an illegal sneaker invader who drove the wrong way on Atlanta's perimeter recently and slammed into the family's car, killing the father and seventeen year old son.

Again, people, it isn't the alcohol, or the tobacco, or the guns or the vehicles that cause the problems. Bad decisions have bad consequences. IMHO, it's one thing to make a poor decision and kill yourself. Whole different ballgame when you kill somebody else. Punishments needs to be swift and hard.

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I want to keep ALL of my paycheck and eliminate the pyramid scheme known as Social Security (there is no lockbox ). Do you want the same thing? www.fairtax.org

True, you could be like my ultra conservative father in law that thinks alcohol is the "Devil's Juice". What does he substitute for it? FOOD! You should see him eat (it is NOT pretty). His diet will kill him someday and I don't think it's far off. (Sadly)

Moderation, people. I'm an RN and I hear doctors all the time telling patients the benefits of alcohol in small amounts. Just because some of you (or your family members) don't understand moderation don't go shouting from the mountain tops that it should be illegal. Sounds like it's the PERSON with the problem not the actual alcohol itself.

Moderation... such a key word.

While I definately think alcohol can be a problem, I lean more towards more control over it. Start prosecuting tha ADULTS that the teenagers get the alcohol from, you know someone had to get it for them, whether they got an adult to purchase it for them, or robbed their parents liquor cabinet the adults involved need to be held responsible. For those that have multiple DUI's (or even 1 DUI chances are they are an alcoholic) make them attend a treatment program, or a combination of jail time with treatment, of course the counties and states would have to come up with the money for that (so the county and states need to be held more responsible). There is just not enough money put into treatment. When a person decides they want to go to treatment, there needs to be an available spot immediately, not that they have to wait 30 or 60 days for a bed to open up (which is typical). People will use/abuse all kinds of things, as far as kids getting hold of it, that can be stopped or seriously cut down on if the adults were prosecuted for providing it for them. While I personally don't have any use for alcohol nor do I want to be around anyone drinking, I do not think that everyone who uses it responsibly should be banned from using it.

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I wish alcohol was banned from the planet too.I honestly believe the world would be a better place.It makes me parenoid everytime I leave the house ,I 'm on constant guard .watching every car around me paranoid wondering,Is that driver on drugs,has that driver been drinking?Could that driver be on meds? You just don't know who to trust.I panic every time I go through a green light,or come to a 4 way street ,even though I have the right away,that there is someone that is going to fly out of nowhere and hit me because they aren't all there.

even drinking too much water can kill you


A California woman who participated in a radio station contest to see who could drink the most water without using the bathroom, died of water intoxication. Jennifer Lea Strange was discovered dead in her home in Sacramento at about 2 pm on January 12th. Strange had participated in the radio station competition earlier in the day. The winner of the competition was to receive a Nintendo Wii.

The contest started at 9 am at 107.9 KDND “The End.” The “Morning Rave” morning show had a contest called “Hold Your Wee for a Wii.” Each contestant had to drink an 8 ounce water bottle every 15 minutes. After the first contestant dropped out each remaining contestant had to drink a larger quantity of water. Many of the contestants later related the negative symptoms they suffered. One described the symptoms much like a hangover.

After Strange left the radio station she called a co-worker and said she was on her way home and that she was in pain and had an intense headache. The co-worker contacted Strange’s mother who later found her daughter dead at her home.

Water intoxication happens when a person consumers too much water and thereby diluting the sodium in the body. Sodium is vital for many bodily functions and the condition can lead to headaches, vomiting, seizures, coma and death. The coroner said that Strange’s death was “consistent with a water-intoxication death.”

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Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
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My other favorites
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www.geocaching.com

I agree. I don't think banning anything is the answer. It's all about personal responsibility.

I'm sorry you had such a miserable childhood, but evidently all drunks are not created equal. My father was an alcoholic, but he was not a mean drunk, he was a mellow drunk and he loved us, regardless of his state of inebriation, he went to work every night, almost without fail, and he was not good with money, but he was not good with money drunk or sober. He was simply was not good with money. He was what I call a functioning alcoholic. He drank when he got home in the morning from his work as a machinist for a railroad, he would eat and then go to bed. No more alcohol until either the next morning or the weekend. As far as I can remember, he never went to work drunk. And almost never missed work.

Banning things like this never work. As long as there is yeast, people are going to have alcohol. I think you can make stiffer penalties for those that drive while drunk. Norway has for very long time, had some of the toughest drunk driving laws in the world and about 7 or 8 years ago, made them even tougher. Right now if your blood level is over .01 you are drunk. You can blow a that with a dose of cough syrup. They make no exceptions for legal drugs that might make you appear drunk. If you must take meds then have someone drive you.

Three weeks in jail at hard labor, one year loss of license.
Second offense within five years, license revoked for life.

Not only that, but the fines are astronomical. Something like a month and half salary or more. That's just for the driving drunk. If you don't happen to be buckled up, it goes higher.

I can remember a visit there about 20 some years ago and my husbands family threw us a party. There was a designated driver for each group who came. It was very difficult to get hold of liquor because it was all sold through state run stores and it was very expensive. They would take the ferry to Denmark or some other country to stock up on alcohol a few times a year. But even with all these restrictions, they still consume large amounts of alcohol. But they have been taught from childhood to not drink and drive, so I think many of them are pretty careful about not doing that.

Boy you lead a pretty scary life don't you? Not sure how you get through the day. A nice glass of wine might help aleviate that stress and paranoia.

Replying to dolly...


Our car was totalled (we were not hurt) when we were hit by an 82 year old man -- he was completely at fault. I still believe that he might have had a mini-stroke or something as he ran a solid red light...

Off topic but how old is too old to be driving? None of the drivers involved were under the influence of anything.

Not trying to add to your paranoia but you sadly you can't avoid everything.

LOL, and destroy my kidneys in the proccess! I was once what you would call a binge drinker about 16 years ago.I drank maybe once every two weeks but when I did I usually over did it. I went to rehab,and only binged twice in the next few years after that. Bingers are the greatest of danger to society because when they drink they usually over do it by extremes. I'm glad I'm over that .Today, I can't stand the thought of feeling intoxicated .I like feeling straight and I like having my brain all there. I don't like anything that alters my brain including this stupid Italicized letters that I can't figure out how to get straight again, .

Well I'm glad you're over it too. Congratulations!

No, you can't .Thats for sure.I feel sorry for the elderly people.My dad use to scare me when he use to drive when his eyes were bad.I worried about him constantly,especially because they travel a lot.Thankfully after a dozen eye surgeries and laser treatments and what have you.he can finally see bettter now.

the law is what sucks the guy who killed tim had 7 dui's but was not punished then a drunk kills someone and they want to say the drunk has a illness and he needs help they dont want to send them to .they say they need counseling
what about us who lost our loved one we are the ones who need help and counseling
its really sad how it works

__________________
Tim
My Husband, My Love....Best Dad
You Were Taken From Us Way To Soon
Forever In Our Hearts
We Will Always Love You
2-18-69 TO 12-23-03
http://www.freewebs.com/mcgrathville/index.htm

I say we just round up all of the weak people and place them in a corner of Wyoming.

That will take care of them.


LOL

Stella,

I am so sorry (((((HUGS)))))

I am so sorry for you and your family's loss...how devastating.

It truly is unbelievable that someone with 7 DUI's could be out on the streets! I know someone that recently was charged with a DUI within five years of her first...and as much as I feel for her mother and her children, I do not agree that she should be out on the streets. They did take her license (I don't think they have decided when she will get it back), they impounded her car and she will never get it back (her mother had paid for it), she has to take classes and she is on probation. But the fact is that someone could have been injured or killed that night, and until people see that others are being punished harshly, it will mean nothing.

Yes, some laws are unfair. I'm sorry you lost your husband but is there any particular reason that you can't take a minute to use punctuation? It seems that if you could find time to post, you could at least find time to use a period to separate your sentences even if you aren't capable of using capitalization! It's very inconsiderate of you. Again, I'm sorry that you lost your husband but that has nothing to do with ordinary courtesy or your lack of it. It seems like the people on this board have been very nice to you. Is selfishness any way to repay them?

Happy Easter Everyone!

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"Madison AnnMarie " 6/13/2008

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Irishblonde,

I see you learned nothing from all your other board mistakes! It's easy to see why you're disliked by so many members! I'm not a troll and don't appreciate your non-helpful remark via your image. It's common courtesy to use puncuation on a message board and Stellj isn't even using a period to separate her sentences. It doesn't mean that someone's a troll when they point it out. It just means that they think that Stella could take a second to observe common courtesy so that readers can decipher her posts more easily! But way to fan the flames, Irish! Last time the flames were fanned, you ran off crying! People like you dish it out fast enough but can't take it. It seems that you hold a grudge instead of learning from your errors. It must be sad to be you!

PS - You really should develop a sense of humor and learn to laugh at yourself. After all, everyone else is!

Someone is bored. Part II

Opal,
I am NOT here for you to like or anyone else for that fact!
I could care less is a member likes me or not, it does not hurt my feelings at all. Every comment you have made on MC is a negative comment. It does not bother me that she did not use puncuation, why should it bother you?
I never ran off crying, I just was not going to feed the likes of you!. You thrive on negativity. And point out everyone weakness's , And I will not feed you.
This is the last I will comment to you . I do hope you have a Happy Easter

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"Madison AnnMarie " 6/13/2008

http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/g...t=8652d1ea.pbr

http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/g...t=adbcb309.pbr

You absolutely DID run off crying. You actually QUIT being the moderator of this board just because people were laughing at you! So let's add being a liar to all your other problems,

Obviously, my joke hurt your feelings and I can understand that you felt like a fool when everybody jumped on the bandwagon to make fun of you. I really think you deserved it and it WAS funny. What did you expect? You were a terrible mod and were always taking sides and insulting people who didn't agree with your favorite posters. Your personal new board *rule* was ridiculous and you should have known what would happen. It's a shame that you can't learn from your mistakes but I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks. It's obvious from your insulting post that you didn't learn one thing from your last fiasco. People like you insist on stirring up trouble and then start crying when it comes home to you. The posts responding to your dumb rule were hilarious and everybody thought so except you!

Someone is bored. Part II

Wow Opaidancing so sorry that you think how i write is bad. Yes everyone on these boards have been nice and i dont think i have ever been selfish to anyone. i consider everyone here super great ad friendly that is until i read your post.
I see its only your 12th post so i will forgive your rude uncalled for remarks and hope that you can look past how some people write or mispell a word and get to enjoy the boards like we all do.
to everyone else i thank you all for your continued support. You all know it means a lot to me and sorry if i mess up with my spelling and stuff.

__________________
Tim
My Husband, My Love....Best Dad
You Were Taken From Us Way To Soon
Forever In Our Hearts
We Will Always Love You
2-18-69 TO 12-23-03
http://www.freewebs.com/mcgrathville/index.htm