I feel kind of dumb having done this, since I have barely posted on this new forum, but I hope it's okay anyway. A new guy posted on the CS forum looking for pagan homesteaders...you can guess the rest. I replied that he should check out THIS forum for more like-minded folks. Then, a couple other people inquired about BTS, so I gave them the address. I hope this was okay...not sure if BTS is by invite-only or if we can refer people. Glad to see that this forum has taken off so well! I'll be around.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Answers

Hi Shannon,

Don't worry about it. We were by invitation only in the early stages of the forum but that's no longer the case. I think we all realized that people would find their way here on their own. We just didn't want to advertise our presence too much in the early stages of our forum for fear of attracting trolls and disrupters.

Fortunately for us, people have been abiding by the rules so the forum has been quite peaceful these last two months (Can you believe it? We're only two months old!). I'm hoping civility will continue to be the case as more and more people check our forum out.

Having more people on the forum is a double-edged sword, IMO. On the one hand, more people contributing means more active and lively discussions. On the other hand, more people on the forum could lead to some of the unpleasant behavior we witnessed on the Countryside forum.

As our little forum grows I hope we have much more of the former and little, if any, of the latter...

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

If we do get trouble-makers on BTS, I'm in favor of the owner/moderator kicking them right off! SOMEBODY has to say "enough is enough." Democracy is a wonderful thing, but still has its down side...

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Shannon, we contacted him by private e-mail and said the same thing. It's a judgement call that any of us can make. There's been enough cross-forum discussion that most of the CS and FSR regulars are well aware of our presence. I hope they all check us out and feel free to join us. If we're too touchy-feely or civil or un-Christian, they don't have to say anything. If we all remain civil and resist provocation, it will be hard for anybody to change our character.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Greetings everybody, I'm likely the new guy that posted on CS that Shannon was refering to. If ya'll are a bit touchy feely that's ok with me. They seem to be mostly touchy at CS.LOL Anyway, I've found you here, don't know how well I'll fit in here either since I'm really not that liberal. 'Course I'm not all that conservative either, I'm just my own mix of oddball beliefs and politics. All three forums seem to have their appeal, and if I ever need to have a good argument I can head over to CS or FSR :-).

Anyway, just to intrduce myself, I'm still a prospective homesteader though I hope to have some land this year or early next. I'm from Idaho and have always been a country boy except for a few stints in the city, just could never get back to the country fast enough. I am a heathen looking for some more of like mind in the hopes of building a community or tribe of self sufficient folks. That's the dream anyway. I'll go it alone if I have to but would really like the tribal idea.

Hope everyone is doing well, and I'm sure I'll be chatting with many of you in the future.

Rick

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Glad you stopped in Rick. Welcome!

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Welcome to the forum, Rick.

I'm kinda/sorta in the same boat as you politically. Conservatives think I'm liberal and Liberals think I'm conservative. I think of my self as more of a radical libertarian so I can find some areas of agreement with BOTH camps. But I find that they only see the areas of my politics that they disagree with and consequently only focus on those areas. I've found that quite a few people - especially on the Internet - are really quick to judge others without taking the time to get to know them first.

Anyway, welcome to you again, from one non liberal/conservative to another. ;-)

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Jim, I just think you're nice . . .

Which is the important thing here, Rick. You don't have to agree with everyone, you just have to be nice about disagreeing. Welcome aboard. And do take the warning I gave you about viruses seriously. Several people have been recipients for having disagreed with others!

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

Hi Rick! I'm glad you came over for a visit. As was said before it really is OK to disagree here. I think different views make it very interesting to say the least. Really makes me think! I'm still not sure where I am politically, so I get lots of great ideas. I also enjoy the peace and tranquility on this board. The best of both if you ask me:)I hope we'll hear more about your plans and goals for your community and how it all unfolds. Enjoy your day!

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Oh JIm! I meant to say that I also think you're nice!!!

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Welcome Rick - I noted you on the Countryside Forum, but was reluctent to post a response. :-) It only took a few nasty e-mails for me to almost stop posting entirely.

Jim, I also think your nice, and have enjoyed checking things out at the peaceful homesteaders group. I'm so glad your here. :-)

Peace to all.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Hi Rick I'm glad that you're here. Your idea for an Asatru tribal homestead sounds interesting, we're pondering creating a Celtic Reconstructionist/Druidic tribal homestead here in Indiana. I know of one group who has done it, but they have a very rigid hierarcy (sp?) to their tribal structure and we're really not into anything that strict. I wish you luck.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!! Sounds like a real good group here. Jim I know what you mean, seems like some folks like to find something to argue about even if you agree with them on many things. I'm probably one of them sometimes. I guess I just like to think for myself and make my own decisions about everything without needing to fit in with any one group. Sherri C, I'd be interested in hearing more about your Celtic/Druidic group. My roots are about half Scots, and have always felt a pull in that direction also. I think there is considerable similarity between the Germanic and Celtic traditions. Neither side takes a lot of guff without getting riled.

I love reading the agricultural threads, since that is the direction I'm heading in. But I sure do like to chat religion and politics, it seems to be a good way to see who someone truly is. And to me that's a great part of forums like this. The knowledge is great to accquire, but the community is what it's all about. I've lived in a lot of different places but how often do you get to choose your neighbors. Well I'm looking forward to getting to know my new neighbors here at BTS. Good day all.

Rick

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Rick: Fwiw and for clarification re: Joys warnings about viruses etc. As far as I know all that stuff occurred when all here were real active at CS. At that point alot of folks dropped out and their voices were silenced. This is a friendly group who don't always agree but we are consistantly respectful of the differences.

We just had two major threads on religion/philosophy without even a minor skirmish and I say, good for us!

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

HI Rick,

Yeah, I'm the same Cindy who told those guys to behave over on CS. These are my thinkin' buddys over here, quite an intellectual bunch of homesteading folks we have here. I really enjoy the time I spend here, it keeps my mind active and learning. I am surrounded by all my animals all day, and yes, I do talk to them, I'm alone up on this hill till Steve comes home in the evening, so I need this bit of contact with real people! You'll like it here and us kids play nice. I still have hopes of starting a homesteading community, but you know people who dream of that are few and far between. There's not many of us left who think the way we do. Anyway, welcome, and if you need any flint for fire-starting, let me know, we're sitting on top of a ton of Kentucky blue flint. I traded some for a flint- knapping kit with a fellow I met over the internet. (oops, thread drift!)

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001

Hi Rick.......yes, Cindy kind of hit it. I am alone with my animals most of the time when the dear one is working off the farm and this is my "social life" such as it is. Hope you feel like you can participate, I must say I was a bit surprised at how we have been discribed here on some of the other forums. I love being able to "brain storm" with other homesteaders on a variety of issues. I happen to be a born again Christian, but my views aren't "acceptable to the right" so I feel more comfortable here. I tryed to visit your website by the way, and didn't learn anything as to what you believe. Hope you will share here, as I am totally ignorant regarding your "tribes". welcome to BTS.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001

After the recent rants (6-11-01) re: JOJ on CS, I thought I'd check you guys out over here since you sounded more likeminded. Any time someone tells me where to find godless goatwomen, etc. I listen up!

Before I post a question/comment I want to be sure of any 'unwritten' rules. Could you enlighten me? Thank you.

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001

Hi Anne!! I think we tried to invite you but didn't have a valid e- mail and didn't want to post an across the board invite at first, as we were afraid that the difficulties some of us were experienceing on CS would follow us here.

Unwritten rules? Ummm...play nice? You can be bitchy, but you can't be mean - or rude. Be supportive of the others. Thread drift encouraged!

Anyone else think of any?!

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001

Hi Annie, I kept hoping that you would show up!!! Welcome, and I hope you can have fun here. "Godless goatwomen" still trying to figure that one out!!!!

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001

Welcome Annie......we are kinda silly here, kinda philosophical, and I find lotsa love here. From your email addy, sounds like you'd sure fit in with us touchie-feelies!

By the way, my daughter has a good bumper sticker which fits I think: BLESSED ARE THE CRACKED, FOR THEY LET IN THE LIGHT!

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001

Hmmmm. Maybe it was sposed to be Goatless Goddesswoman. I stick up my hand to be counted!

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001

Oops, hit send too quick. Welcome, Anne -- we WERE trying to figure out how to alert you to come on over. I, at least, figured you'd discover us sooner or later!

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001

oooooooooo I like that one Joy.....me too....

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001

Hi Anne, welcome to the forum. There really aren't any unwritten rules. What Polly described is pretty accurate on how we try to operate.

Here is what I have posted for rules and guidelines in case you missed them:

RULES
1.) No Spam
2.) No Porn
3.) No Proselytizing or Witnessing

If you violate any of the above rules you will be asked to stop. If you continue to harass the forum your posts will be deleted and your ISP will also be contacted.

GUIDELINES
1.) Be civil & follow the Golden Rule - treat others as you would like to be treated.

That's it. Welcome to you again, Anne.

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2001

What a friendly crew. I do have a valid e-mail I use now for sites like this. Thanks for welcoming me!

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001