When do I get to see the parole board?

[Brettus]

It's official, as of today I've served my 5 years in this nuthouse! Thinking back a lot has happened in that time but some things never change thankfully. Though members have come and gone (some tragically taken from us) the Org spirit lives on and endures.

I've been here long enough to know it isn't just happen-stance though, it doesn't just happen because of the assortment of users, there is a good deal of (usually) unseen forces, subtly keeping the place stable. No mean feat when you consider the collective box of frogs we all form ;)

Because of this place, I've explored other forums pertinent to my life like nissan Juke forums and photography forums, none of them are quite like here. A crucial part of that is that despite it being a forum originally designed to unite people with a similar kind of bike, often those who change bikes rarely change forums. So we are more than the sum of our parts, we still have a huge pile of metaphorical spares thanks to people sticking around.

What still amazes me every time I ask a (sometimes very) random question, there is always someone (usually quite a few) people on here who are skilled in whatever area I may be pondering lately. We are such a diverse group of people, brought together by such a simple unifying factor of model of bike.

So I'd like to thank every one of you who has given advice on what may at the time seem like a wild goose chase or a stupid question. I appreciate every answer and my mind is just odd in that it comes up with random ideas that seem to barely relate to anything.

In closing I'd like to thank all those who have helped keep my bike on the road, many of you have given advice, pointers or recommendations. And a brave few have had to actually get your hands dirty to keep my bike going, poignantly, I recall John (Admin) saving me from being stranded on a rideout through the Elan Valley with the stock tool kit, I'd been messing with my usual level of skill and installed something to the battery. I'd ridden it for 2-3 days to work and for 100 miles of the rideout, but when I came to start it up to make the ascent out of the valley, the speedo was throwing up random numbers, the lights were flickering in odd patterns :confused: In my panic of knowing 10-15 orgers had just left the scene and would be waiting up ahead I had no diagnostic skills whatsoever, the TEC hadn't left yet, I just shrugged my shoulders when he turned to me wondering why I hadn't left yet. He dashed over and had a look at the problem and was asking the usual pertinent questions and through the haze of incoherent thoughts I mentioned battery! A quick tighten of the nut gave it the good contact required and it was behaving itself again. A stupid mistake to make but one I'll never make again.

Right, I was trying to keep this short but I seem incapable of making short posts but I have to go to work so my final thought is that I'm glad you are all here, every one of you make the place what it is, I feel this place is pretty unique. Like the search for life in the universe, the internet is so vast. Like planets, there are so many forums that there MUST be other places out there like this but I've not found anything close yet and I've no inclination to look :)

Thanks guys*

*when I say guys I actually mean it as an all gender encompassing thing, the non gender specific pronouns all seem to sound weird (everyone, people, all, etc) so if I use it in other posts, I'm not trying to exclude women or anything.

[Specialone]

That post sounds like a farewell post :)


I remember you're bike not starting in élan, we was starting to get worried as it had been so long :(

[Brettus]

That post sounds like a farewell post :)

hah! True, sorry to burst anyone's bubble, I didn't want to finish it with the cheesy "and here's to many more years" although that was implied :-) I can't leave anyway, I'm institutionalised by you all :-D

[garynortheast]

Great post Brettus and very eloquently put. You're making me think I should come along on a rideout!

[widepants]

welcome to the 5 year club. Parole meeting booked here too

[chezvegas85]

As a fresh faced newbie this is an encouraging - sense of community instilling - thread. I'll see if I can post something similar 5 years down the line.

kudos

[flymo]

....stuff....

What a really nice post to start my working week. Very well said.

[Brettus]

You're making me think I should come along on a rideout!

Rideouts are a definite, I wasn't sure about that as I'm not a social person but the odd rideout and even the fortnightly meetups have definitely improved my experience.

(feel free to skip the rest of this but given a few newer members have commented I thought I'd expand on my first rideout experience)

I don't go out drinking with friends, most of my friends I keep in touch with online to be honest so that is the extent of it. I wanted to go on a rideout to see how others rode and learn as I went, figuring I'd turn up and stay on the sidelines and move off with the rest I'd be OK. I got given mobile numbers of a few key members also on the ride so that if I got lost or anything I could contact and be contacted. At the time I wondered if that meant it happened a lot but it isn't the case, people are just prepared.

I googled the meet point and even had an offer from Quiff to meet up en route to there if I needed some help or a smaller introduction. I can confess this now but at the time I'd only seen Quiffs posts and the banter to be had with him and had made the assumtion that his personality was going to be too overwhelming for me. (such a stupid conclusion in retrospect, Quiff is one of the nicest guys I've had the pleasure of meeting) but the point is still relevant for others, don't make a judgement based just on peoples posts.

Anyway, I arrived at the meet point and trundled round to lurk on the sidelines, not quite sure what to do with myself. Immediately people came over and introduced themselves and Daryl explained a bit about the ride and what to expect. It was one of the first rideouts of the year, to Barmouth and as it turned out, the best attended I've been on to date. I think the best part of 50 bikes turned out for that run, encompassing some awesome roads through shropshire, across to the horseshoe pass, bala lake, Barmouth, then back along some of the best roads mid wales and south shropshire have to offer.

At every stop more riders came and introduced themselves and involved me in conversations etc.

One other point to mention, being nervous and shy I was concerned about the marker system which I'd gone over several times with people just to be sure that I wouldn't screw it up for everyone should the time come. As it happens when you are in a group large enough to require markers (riders stopping on junctions to mark the way for the rest of the group, then catching up once the TEC arrives) you can trundle in the rear half of the group and you will likely not ever be called on to do any marking. A rideout or two later I had to mark a junction and realised again that I'd made more of an issue out of it than it was. (I may be alone in doing this but if a newer member is in the same position I was I'd have appreciated the extra heads up, for 80-90% of people will be scratching their heads and wondering why this is an issue but hey ho, it takes all kinds)

Since that first rideout I've done marking, gone on a pre-ride recce, attended evening meets and rode as the TEC. I'm still not an outgoing person, but I was welcomed and made comfortable enough to take on the different things and I've enjoyed it all.

Anyone who is pondering going on a rideout, do it. Check out the nature of the ride too as some are arranged to suit newer riders better or some are just shorter routes which gives a great introduction too.

More long windedness but its my Orgiversary and so I'll warble if I want to ;)

[flymo]

so Brettus, where would you recommend people start when it comes to rideouts. Are they mostly regional or do people need to wait for ARs to get involved?

[Drew Carey]

I am also one of these.......5 years last week.......can't believe all that has happened in that time. Crazy.

[-Ralph-]

I originally joined on 21st June 2006, so recently passed 6 years. Where is my feckin' parole board??? I'd love to get out, but this place is too damn addictive.

[Sir Trev]

I'd love to get out, but this place is too damn addictive.

No you wouldn't Ralph, although I agree on the adddiction.

I've tried a few other forums and they're always full of newbies saying hello, rubbish jokes, arguments or nothing. Like a lot of you I don't have an SV any more but feel part of this bunch of loonies and will stick around as this is a far more rounded and sensible place than most!

Was a spotty teenager (a long time ago) and bit the bullet, turning up for a Suzuki OC* rideout. I had a similar experience to Brettus in the friendly welcome and kept active for several years, until family and job commitments slowed me down. One of these days I will surprise my local mob (Thames Valley) and turn up to an evening gathering now that I have a bit more free time again. And who knows, if I'm actually free for an AR one year I might just show up there too.



*in case any of you are curious, SOC has a very boring forum and although I remain a Life Memeber I'm far more likely to ride out with you lot than them these days.

[Owenski]

This place is one of a kind, no idea how or why but its evolution brought it to here and I wouldn't change it for the world. A true family environment and I love it, may many more years it reign.

[Brettus]

As Flymo mentioned, your first rideout is likely to be found in the regional forums. I assumed everyone looks there but probably not when I think about it. I still only look in my particular region despite being aware that there are 2-3 other regions that are within my reach.

I've not yet shown up to an AR, it's on my todo list when time, money and circumstances come into that rare alignment but regional rideouts are due to be starting in earnest as soon as monsoon season passes.

For those in the west midlands, lower north west or north wales I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Mister_C's Buxton chippy run. I don't want to lay any obligation on it happening again but it has run a couple of years now and is usually geared towards a half day session for beginners and experienced riders alike. Plenty of stops and a pace to suit all.

There are lots of other choices and I'm sure other regions have a similar rideout so have a look for the routes and see if one takes your fancy.

It'd be interesting to have a years service report to see how many members have been around so much longer than I. I wasn't insinuating that 5 years was a long time of course, just a milestone that I happened to notice before the date happened.


Also, whilst I'm taking to the soap box once more, I'd like to mention that when I first joined I rarely ventured into idle banter, figuring I can get random chatter anywhere but I find myself here more and more. Primarily because of the wealth of information we as a collective hold. In one of my first forays into here I saw a PC question posted and pounced on it expecting to be the geekiest person around so surely I would be able to answer it....:cool:
It had already been answered 2 or 3 times and some of the answers were more technical than what was going through my head anyway.

Now that may sound disheartening, my main skill area being eclipsed but I enjoy being around people smarter than me :notworthy:, I learn something every time I visit. Like the battery incident further up, I will do stupid things but I try at all costs to not do them twice. The org and its resident expertise has made me a better person, constantly improving my knowledge and increasing my appreciation of its residents.

I've found no matter what question is asked (not ALL random questions are asked by me, it just seems that way) there is usually someone (if not a small group) who can answer it.

One point to mention, no matter what area of the forum you post in, don't take ANYTHING personally.
If you take nothing else away from my love-in of a post then pay attention to that line, the thing I have seen most in my time is that nothing results from two or more opposing heads being banged together. Differing opinions on discussion is another matter, that fuels creative thinking and refines an idea down to a more accurate result but questioning someone's parentage/sexuality/IQ accomplishes precisely nothing.

It shames me to admit that despite all the virtues I've just extolled and the time I've spent (and money I've saved) on here, that I haven't as yet in my history as a member, hit the modest donate button at the top.
I've paid much more for things I've got a lot less out of. But that is another quality of the place, there isn't a membership fee, requirement or even perk. Some forums require a minimum post count to be able to use private messaging etc, here you are allowed the same access as anyone else upon joining. The few abusers of this are expunged by the ever present mod team.

Right, I'll stop my self righteous ramble now (it's lunch and I've been in a meeting all morning) and respond in brief on topic mentions now honest :)

[xXBADGERXx]

I often escape and go into the Woods and forage for Wolves ...... but I like to come back here and wipe my bloodied paws on the mat and have a snooze . Sometimes I allow other ORGanisms to come to my gaff ....... then wait for them to fall asleep before drawing whangs on their faces :)

[keith_d]

<snippety snippety snip...>

....but questioning someone's parentage/sexuality/IQ accomplishes precisely nothing.



And what exactly is it about your parentage/sexuality/IQ you are trying to hide??? :D

[Messie]

Brettus for forum PR boss!

[Jayneflakes]

then wait for them to fall asleep before drawing whangs on their faces :)
:notworthy:
I think I love you! :queen:

[davepreston]

mmmmm really ,in my experiance ive never found a bigger bunch of social handgrenades, weirdos, freaks and down right fecked up people in my life
and ive been about a bit


Sometimes I allow other ORGanisms to come to my gaff ....... then wait for them to fall asleep before drawing whangs on their faces :)

see what i mean *****s like this

[xXBADGERXx]

Sometimes I allow other ORGanisms to come to my gaff ....... then wait for them to fall asleep before drawing whangs on their faces :)

:notworthy:
I think I love you! :queen:

mmmmm really ,in my experiance ive never found a bigger bunch of social handgrenades, weirdos, freaks and down right fecked up people in my life
and ive been about a bit




see what i mean *****s like this


Just under 6 months to go Matey , I`m invading your Gaff this New Years Eve by the way .... fall asleep at your peril :smt063

[dizzyblonde]

....well that makes one more, seems I've been 'ere five years too!

And Badger, never mind blocking out the face of Mr Paranoid, we need photographic evidence of DP being totally and utterly Badgered on NYE :D

[DJFridge]

Just over a year and counting and it is a bizarrely unique place. I still haven't been on a rideout but the Mrs and I will eventually.

[mattSV]

12 years for me!

I joined in 2000 on the original forum when I got my brand new W reg 650s. I keep trying to tunnel out but always get dragged back in again.

[davepreston]

http://us13.memecdn.com/There-is-No-Escape_c_111251.jpg (http://www.memecenter.com/fun/111251/There-is-No-Escape)

[xXBADGERXx]

And Badger, never mind blocking out the face of Mr Paranoid, we need photographic evidence of DP being totally and utterly Badgered on NYE :D

Yes Ma`am :salut: