Unofficial Tex Murphy

I'm sorry but I just have to voice this and get if off my chest folks.

Why is it that some people are so devoid of a sense of humour? Naturally, I'm referring to Jim the Old Guy's latest postings. But first, let me pose you a question: Is Jim actually concerned about any of us, or does he just want to legitimate irresponsibility, laziness, and infidelity? After reading this letter, you'll definitely find it's the latter. His policies sound so noble, but in fact, the only weapons he has in his intellectual arsenal are book burning, brainwashing, and intimidation. That's all he has, and he knows it. How is it that I knew from the beginning that he would provide contemptible conspiracies with the necessary asylum to take root and spread? Am I smarter than everyone else? No, not at all. I'll admit that I'm smarter than Jim the Old Guy but that's like saying that I'm smarter than a toad. I knew what Jim would do because I realized that if he were as bright as he thinks he is, he'd know that an armed revolt against him is morally justified. However, I think that it is not yet strategically justified.

The problem with him is not that he's silly. It's that he wants to fragment the nation into politically disharmonious units. Some people have compared splenetic, voluble Luddites to shallow, mad pissants. I would like to take the comparison one step further. How on earth these administrators can think of themselves as anything but self-righteous, incorrigible spivs is beyond me.

However, the central paradox of Jim's words, the twist that makes Jim's campaigns so irresistible to coldhearted hermits, is that these people truly believe that Jim answers to no one. This is not the place to develop that subject. It demands many pages of analysis, which I can't spare in this post. Instead, I'll just state the key point, which is that his stories about nihilism are particularly ridden with errors and distortions, even leaving aside the concept's initial implausibility. Jim's stratagems have merged with alcoholism in several interesting ways. Both spring from the same kind of reality-denying mentality. Both defuse or undermine incisive critiques of Jim's oleaginous, despicable behaviour by turning them into procedural arguments about mechanisms of institutional restraint. And both make clericalism socially acceptable.

Because I unfortunately lack the psychic powers that enable Jim to "know" matters for which there is no reliable evidence, I cannot forecast when he will next try to make conditions far worse than could ever have been the case without his flighty efforts. But I can unmistakably say that Jim is absolutely determined to believe that bad things "just happen" (i.e., they're not caused by Jim himself), and he's not about to let facts or reason get in his way. As everyone who has access to reliable information knows, he decries or dismisses capitalism, technology, industrialization, and systems of government borne of Enlightenment ideas about the dignity and freedom of human beings. These are the things that Jim fears, because they are wedded to individual initiative and responsibility.

He really struck a nerve with me when he said that his opinions represent the opinions of the majority -- or even a plurality. That lie is a painful reminder that if Jim can give us all a succinct and infallible argument proving that we ought to worship intrusive lummoxes as folk heroes, I will personally deliver his Nobel Prize for Heartless Rhetoric. In the meantime, I shall return to this point in particular. Let me rephrase that: Jim's long-term stratagems of infiltration and mass propaganda have been so successful that he can now deprive individuals of the right to insist on a policy of zero tolerance toward jingoism. (Actually, the rectitude of prætorianism has become a matter of theological conviction for him, but that's not important now.) I want to unify our community. Jim, in contrast, wants to drive divisive ideological wedges through it. Curiously, from secret-handshake societies meeting at "the usual place" to back-door admissions committees, his spokesmen have always found a way to lower scholastic standards. I have travelled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people. I can therefore assure you that I can indubitably suggest how Jim ought to behave. Ultimately, however, the burden of acting with moral rectitude lies with Jim himself. What I had wanted for this post was to write an analysis of Jim the Old Guy's outbursts. Not an exhortation or a shrill denunciation, but an analysis. I hope I have succeeded at that.

-Cub.

Sometimes, when we wish to make a profound argument, we tend to go beyond what is necessary and or logical. While I understand you feel strongly about this; I feel I should remind you that this is a Tex Murphy Message board. Our commonality lies not in our political views, or assessment of civil life, but in our shared joy over a game. Jim, has certain views, and he has every right to them, as this is a freedom this board gives him. And, you have your views. Respect of someone else's views even when they are contrary to yours shows not only maturity but respect.

I feel the community, as a whole, probably feels not nearly as strong as you do or Jim might about this issue - I cannot speak for Jim, nor would I anyways, as he has not responded yet. Cub, we like you, heck you're a staple of the community. Jim is also a staple. Our political views should not embody nor disrupt the nature and contention of this board. No sort of mutiny is necessary as no one commands this board. James, our delightful admin, does not attempt to control us. Both Jim, and you, have no more power here than someone who just signed up and made their first post.

Let's just remember that it's easy to get angry but that makes it hard to forgive.

~Keck

I always looked forward to coming here and reading all the posts, but not anymore! It seems that a certain few are starting to use this message board as a means of voicing their political views, and I really don't appreciate it!!!! It's a lack of respect to those who come here in anticipation of participating in Tex related topics. Please show some respect.
Thank you
Cindy

I think I must have missed a post because the things being described by Cub are things I havent read in Jim's posts.


Cub can you tell us what post you are describing?

Is this a joke? I don't think there was a single coherent argument made in this post. It's almost like a satire. I'm going to hope that's just what it is.

Either have a beer and chill or sober up.......

I, too, would like to know what post Cub is referring to. His statement above has totally taken me by surprise. Cub, which post - that's all I ask.

I'm sorry folks, but I am referring to this:

Click here







I think it's pretty safe to say that... you've all been had.

I just thought with all this negativity floating around we needed some humour that poked fun at the same thing that has caused so much controversy... the same thing that I have (now regrettably) had surfaced on this board in recent weeks .

And Jim, I only singled you out because I know you are probably the most light hearted kinda guy with the most wonderful sense of humour.

Now I wait for Alex Bark to put 'Access Software' in the 'Organisation' section and send if off to Aaron.

-Cub. =o)

P.S. I just read AC's message. I've really blown it now haven’t I...

You know, somewhere deep in the recesses of my soul, I kind of figured that had to have been a very clever joke.

Those words were just too damn big to be taken seriously, eh? I had trouble reading it and trying to decipher a point, honestly!

Yeah, that was definitely the type of writing that's meant to inhibit clarity. I had a laugh just cause it sounded like Jim was trying to turn this message board into a fascist dictatorship and that in itself was ridiculous.

Oh and Jim, in case you do get any ideas about becoming an Overseer (Clever Tex reference. Go me!), i have one response, Viva la revolution!

I read the letter from AC before seeing this post, and I was a bit thrown, although parts of it smacked of satire.

A well executed spoof.

I started reading it and then it got a little verbose and I started to think "OK but what exactly *is* this about!?" And I'm not even as active as many here (so I lag behind in posts) but I still ended up thinking "I can't think of how this (what little of it I could understand) could relate to Jim The Old Guy at all, am I missing something?"

So I skipped the rest and decided to skim the rest of the thread to see if I could make sense of it and voila! I'd like to thank my lazyness *lazyness bows*

Very surreal thread, I've seen a fair few 'joke threads' in my time (you start to take the policy of skim first shoot later with them ), and well it's a credit to Jim that we were all like "No way! What's going on...?", Jim The Nice Guy
EDIT: sidenote, this is the first thread I read *goes to read other threads*

TOG (crying and luaghing) is greatly relieved. I told my wife last night that I hoped to see a post from Cub stating something like the aforementioned. (Big sigh of relief) Thanks, Cub. I couldn't imagine coming here and feeling there were strained relations between the two of us. You are an absolute pillar on this board and it could not continue without you being good ol' Cub. Whew!

The following is my wife's typing:
Hi Cub, Well, needless to say that is a relief. I was ready to hunt you down. I asked Jim if we could call you. Thank you all for the nice comments about Jim, he's not as old as he thinks. Although, due to a lack of sleep last night, he may have aged a little. Thanks again, The Old Guy Wife, Diane.

Very funny indeed!
For a moment there I was afraid that this forum was taking an evil turn towards a typical scratch-fight forum.

Looking at that site, it's amazing how they can construct such large general statements and make it sound believable to the reader. It's kinda like fortune telling really.

Oh folks... I sincerely apologise if my cheeky little gag was in bad taste. And I apologise to Jim for his loosing sleep, and to Diane (Mrs. Old Guy? )

But as I said before, within recent weeks this board has drifted into territory which should never have been introduced into the community and I take full responsibility for that ...and so I thought I would try and bring everyone back together with a good laugh at the expense of some of these ridiculous political issues and arguments.

To Jim: You are an amazing character and a father of this community and you would be the last person I would ever want to disappoint... and you are the most fun to be around which was my motivation to incorporate you into my little prank.

litlkeck: Even though the original post was a synthetic creation, your words showed genuine concern and its good to know that you will always be a kind hearted and level headed participant of our community.

Cindy: (me hopes she has not packed her bags yet?)

McDonis: I don't think we will ever agree on anything political and so I will make a solid promise that from here on in I will exile myself from any political nonsense!

DrPaul: No hard feelings, eh? You raised some very legitimate arguments and you are obviously a very intelligent person, and being a fellow member of the greatest community on the planet you will always be my bro.

To Alex: No soup for you!

And To Aaron Conners: I have stepped of my soap box because thanks to the voices of reason in this community I realised that I would have slipped off and broken my neck sooner of later. However, I hope you were able to return and read my prankalliceous confession.

And to everyone else, I'm back baby! Warts and all! You know, after my little April fools joke failed miserably I had to get you all back somehow Muwhahahaha! I remember when I found that site the first thing I thought to myself was "Oh boy! I can't wait to trial this at UTM!"

-Cub. =o)