Okay my thoughts on the issue (you had to know they were coming):

Jo: I am not sure whether you are a new poster or an old poster with a new screen name. If its a new screen name, why? Just say what you feel and sign your name to it. If you are new, please excuse me and honestly, welcome.

You made alot of great points either way. I agreed with almost all of it.

What I find troubling about this whole situation is this and I'll put it bluntly as I always do:

Fellow MBer's: Jana, Mel, Stef, Diane and a few other older posters (I refuse to call them most trusted members even in jest. And yes I realize that Barsky may have been joking) come back to the board and everything goes up in smoke. Now I know Jana's comment about Birthday gifts, Barsky's comments on his board and their general posting style rub people the wrong way. But all of this - well it just makes them more important than they are. You are feeding into the hype. You don't like them? Just ignore them.

Jana, Stef, Diane, Mel: Honestly, I have no real problem with you personally. I may after you read this post. You did and do have a way of posting that is very wink wink nudge nudge. But thats your right. And I remember when I first joined thinking that your's was a very exclusive club and quite frankly mean. I apparently wasn't the only one who thought this as I discovered months later that you were dubbed the "mean girls". Maybe you have no intention of being exclusive or mean. Maybe you just wanted to joke with your friends. Thats cool, but you should be aware of how thats perceived on a public message board. Megz touched on this point earlier. If so many find you to be exclusive and mean - isn't there a hint of truth to it? Can you even admit it? Would you even examine your behavior? Either way, you are free to do as you choose and I will defend your right to do so. But it doesn't mean that I like you or respect you very much.

Fleur: we have had a lot of back and forth. Generally, you seem like a nice person and being from Philly gives you bonus points in my book. But when you responded to Megz - why did you respond to Megz? Its very telling that you thought that was all directed at you when your name wasn't even mentioned. I said this to you before on another thread - you help prove the arguement by doing so.

Okay, thats it for now. This post is a gramatical nightmare. But I hope it will seen for what I intended it to be. An honest statement.

MeganT

quote:

Gossip is usually the dissemination of personal information for conversational purposes. Usually done by those who either really know or are just guessing. It's more than often done privately by a select few. Like a chat and not so much a message board. When done in front of others not in on the gossip it's done for effect. I'm well aware of how things run. Don't ever expect for one moment more positives to out shine the negatives. Such is the nature of things. Even Disneyland ain't Disneyland all the time. I know the enlightened ideal is that we are all one group. Sadly I am afraid this not so true. There is noticeably different agendas about. That wouldn't be actually so bad if a little more grace was doled out with them. But it's not always. And yet it could be.

Gayle I couldn't have said it better.

I will continue to stay around. Most of the time
I have a good time on the MB. Even when I
disagree with what is being said, I still find
it interesting.

I will just pass on by the high school like
posts of grown women who have met Mike, and by
their posts try to make it seem that they this
personal connection. They are special. Maybe
it's time for some people to get their heads
out of the clouds. Just because you have met
Mike, Doug and they were nice or down to earth-
They are not your friends.

Never forget that DJ and every thing connected
to it ,is their work. Even though they take
the time to meet fans, remember we are only fans. And if any one else really believes
differently I feel sorry for you.

Even though I have said all this I still
would like to meet Mike and the crew. I enjoy
the show very much, and find Mike very easy on the eyes. I'm only human!

Maria

A friend is someone you can call in the middle of the night when you are in desperate need and they will come. You've got to know somebody awhile before you call them friend.

I don't know Mike or Doug or anyone on Dirty Jobs. I just enjoy the show very much and count myself lucky to have met them. A brief conversation does not a friendship make.

yikes, ouch!

Jorey

Maria,

The only thing I disagree with is the bit about the people that have met Mike and are acting like they have some personal connection and that it is "high school behavior".

How do you know they don't have a connection with Mike? Did he say so? This is what I don't like, assumptions. What IF Mike knows these people? So what, right? What if he doesn't? So what, right? (NOT trying to be snarky here, I really mean it)

What they say and how they say it, is very similar to the way others have spoken on this MB about meeting him. The most recent Mike Meeting had posters talking similar. I didn't think THEY were behaving immaturely, I don't think the people that have a longer history with Mike were either.

Why is it a crime to have met Mike and an even BIGGER crime to have met him first or a number of times on this MB?

I understand that this is your opinion of what you see. This is my opinion on Mike Meetings and the subsequent tomfoolery on the MB.
Please, no hard feelings.

Thanks,
Diana.

I come here because I am a fan of Mike and the show. Although Mike has never replied to me, I love to read his answers to other people and enjoy the silly and humerous threads of others. If Mike were not to post here anymore because of bickering on this board, I would not enjoy it quite as much. Why? Because I look forward to seeing what he has to say. I choose to have fun on here and not get caught up in things that involve arguing and pettiness, unless someone personally attacks me; then I will defend myself. I don't take anything on here too seriously; I prefer to come here for enjoyment and fun.

Deb

quote:

I find it curious that a new member has caught wind so quickly of the general environment here.

I don't care about any of this; I’ve read it all, formed my own opinion and went on my way. What I find interesting is this particular statement.

You do know that we don’t have to be an official “Member” to read all of this right? I’ve been lurking for months. Months and months, and rest assure, there are many more like me out there lurking in the shadows.

I think we see more than you know. We don't have to be posting to know the goings on.

So trust me, we GET the general environment.

Just thought I would make that clear.

KC

[I’ve been lurking for months. Months and months, and rest assure, there are many more like me out there lurking in the shadows.

I think we see more than you know. We don't have to be posting to know the goings on.

So trust me, we GET the general environment.

Just thought I would make that clear.

KC[/QUOTE]



You're creeping me out here KC. Why don't you come out of the shadows and join the conversations?

Kay

Do you honestly believe that I’m alone out here?

Again, I am responding in general and not directed to this post.

Truthfully, I’m creeped out by some of the women here. I’d rather sit in the shadows and watch than get involved. It’s scary how some are vicious over the friendship of this man, and anyone can say they’re not, but it’s very apparent. Grown women, with husbands and children.

Does anyone else notice that? Most of the posts are fun and enjoyable and educational too, but the moment someone gets a bit personal with Mike, that’s when the claws come out for some. So what if they speak in code. So what, so what? Make your own code if it bothers you that much.

I’ve met Mike too but it wasn’t in any crowd or planned event or program, it was a random meeting with a friend and I was enamored and started visiting after watching a show and he invited us to do so. This place is really fun. I enjoy it for the most part, and believe me I’ve thought of joining many times before yesterday (frankly, I could never figure out how to) but I’ve learned from watching, that even good intentions are attacked and audacity takes over because of the “out of the loop” syndrome.

How do you know that some of these posters are not his closest friends? His family? And they ARE closer to him that you “think” you are? I can almost guarantee that if some of his hosts are posting, his best friend, girlfriend and dearest Mom are reading too.

Enjoying you all, really I am.

KC

Hey everyone,

Lots of opinions still going around over this, and from what I've seen they are not going to stop. I have not lurked but have read everything including past stuff for a couple of weeks. All this is my opinion coming in totally new and not such a huge fan. I said the show is good. It is.

We can be anyone we want to be on the internet, I am who I am. This place has some very bad juju as my fav fishy man Capt Phil says. Now THAT is a man I would love to meet. D@MN!

I agree with what was quoted above: "When done in front of others not in on the gossip it's done for effect. I'm well aware of how things run." If all of you guys who keep posturing about who is this and who is that would bother stepping into the other person's shoes for one minute, you would see you are using your attachment to Mike Rowe to make yourself more important than you are. Who is Mike Rowe that you need to be attached to him?

" A friend is someone you can call in the middle of the night when you are in desperate need and they will come. You've got to know somebody awhile before you call them friend." People are not stupid. Everyone can tell what is bragging and what is just excitement when posters come on here and try to say they have some special arrangement or attachment.

Now on the other forum, Dave Barsky is saying that they are special. However, he still names them as fans. So he is putting a few fans above all the others, which is probably a publicity faux pas. But he is not saying they are friends. They could be his sisters in law for all any of us know. Who cares. What is bad is how THEY come on again and again from what I read and let everyone know they are special. That is fine too, but they shouldn't be surprised that other fans get upset. That is the way of things. When we all want something, and only a few of us get it, then we get jealous.

There are some fun threads here. EVeryone is at least posting to each other all the time. I would say this forum is well enough. It is just a matter of whether everyonel enjoys this arguing all the time, or if everyone agrees that some people have no manners, or have some need to brag all the time. There is so much beating around the bush. You can tell someone you think that what they posted struck you as rude. And that can be said in a respectful way.

Jo

Jo,


At this point, I think everyone has said their piece. And we are trying to let it balance, itself out. Thats all we can do. The awareness, was the BIG issue at hand. And I think thats what was eating people up. I don't want people to change their posting styles. We are all different and thats what makes it FUN !!! But as long as we're AWARE of how one person does their thing. Then we can just say, Thats Jeremy, just being Jeremy. ( As a example.)



Later, Jeremy

I think Mike thinks him having such devoted fans is funny, because it seems like he thinks he is a struggling actor who is not struggling at this precise moment. But I don't think he thinks we are funny unless we make jokes. The same way he doesn't laugh at the farmers, factory workers, etc.
And this argument happens in every fandom...my friend Allyson has befriended the executive producer of a television show and periodically catches h-ll for it for being a BNF(Big Name Fan) But she also uses that connection to do a lot of philanthropy and community service and would take a bullet for even a non-famous friend like me.Am I jealous? Once in a while, although Producer Guy sent me a gracious e-mail that I still treasure.
Please don't stop sharing your Brushes with Rowe...I like reading about them, and people Out There don't get it like we would.

Ha.

Prime example of what happens when you put a bunch of people in room together....they automaitcally pick sides and fight. Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated

Why do you think politics and religon was started?

BIB
Is quilty then most but having a montcalire moment.