Would you like to play pass the Kodak digital camera around the world?

Maarten, Dino, Julie & I are posing an idea to pass a "Kodak 1 Use Digital Camera" around the world to all the SC Buddies.

A) I will purchase the camera(s) depending on how many of us participate. I will buy more cameras if needed.

B) The ideal picture would be one of yourself. But, if you'd like you can take one of you & your SO, or you & your family members, your friends, your pets, your countryside, your car, your school, whatever you want. But, you only have one shot. So make it a good one.

C) We should have the camera start off in the United States (on the West Coast) then up to Canada, then sent to the mid western states.
Ending up on the East coast. To be sent on to Europe, then on to Australia.
Then back to Europe( Netherlands) to Maarten so he can up load the pictures to a site for all to see.
(Maarten: I will send you money to develop the camera.)

D) There are only TWO catches.

[1]After you take (ONE)1 picture (depending on how many of us participate) you MUST be willing to "pay the postage" & to wrap up the camera & mail the camera on to the next SC Buddy.

[2]& you will have to trust the person who will be mailing the camera on to you. MEANING: You will have to be willing to trust at least one person on this site to have your snail mail addy. So, if you are feeling a bit reluctant to send your email/snail mail addy to someone perhaps you can trust me to send it to you. One way or another we'll figure out a way to send it to you.

POST NOTE: I've sent a lot of stuff throughout the United States, Europe, South America, Australia & Canada. Depending on where your next SC Buddy lives you will have to foot the postage there. No more than probably $4.00 to $5.00 at most(hopefully)

It'll be so much fun to know that the camera you are using has/will be handled by other SC Buddies around the globe. If you have any thoughts, concerns, questions, input or feedback please let us know.

Votes	Answer
42	Yes! I would love to participate in sending the SC camera around the globe.
17	No! I'm not interested in participating in this universal effort.
6	I would participate but, I don't trust anyone here at SC to have my snail mail addy.
6	I would participate but, I can't afford to send the camera on to the next SC Buddy.
4	Other

Comments (433), Pages:prev next1 2 3 4 5

User	Comment
Cleo	(reply to darkshadowsseeker) posted 11-Jul-2003 12:39am (Something weird just happened) Oh well, here is my reply to Irene: >We are going from WEST to EAST.............. & on that note the camera has already been sent out to Kate. We're still waiting to hear from Zang. He appears to be MIA right now. However, I have sent your email addy to Carol & Miaow. If in fact you are the last one up there (Going from West to East) you will need to send the camera down to Minnesota to Lilly333 & she will pass on to the buddies in & around her area like, justjulie in Wisconsin, to Rockman & Glassa in Missouri to Wolfchik9 & Southernyankee in Louisiana, to Amanda in Mississippi, to Jettles in Florida & then up to Ohio where Julie & ASB are, then one of them will pass to the buddies on the east coast like Romkey,Bill,Enheduanna,topper,grmbrand & some others & then THEY will pass on to the buddies in Europe. Whew! So ,if you or anyone here knows Zang's where abouts PLEASE tell the Canadian Buddies. Cause inquiring minds want to know.
Cleo	(reply to LindaH) posted 11-Jul-2003 12:48am Haaaaaaaaa! Your so cute! But, that IS funny tho...... Hey woman! How the heck are ya? Missed you around here. (((((HUGS))))
Cleo	(reply to Zang) posted 11-Jul-2003 12:57am Zang.......your Canadian SC Brothers & sisters are waiting to hear from you.... & seeing as how I don't have your email addy you will need to email me........or Matt, Carol, Irene or Miaow. The camera has been sent & soon Mandy & Sue Bee will receive it & will need to pass it on to one of our Candian SC buddies up there. (most likely you)So please get in touch with the buddies you will be receiving from & who you will be passing to. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here is what Irene said: >Zang is at the other end of the country to me. Are we going East to West or West to East? If you start with Zang, you could end with me if there is no one from the East Coast. I can send it to Biggles from here. If we're going West to East; it would be from Zang to Carol, to Mat to me... Isn't there a few in between? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ & this is what Matt said to me: Irene is really close to me so either I could pass it on to her or she pass it on to me.
LindaH	(reply to Cleo) posted 11-Jul-2003 1:28am
they	posted 11-Jul-2003 2:48am I'm in Cincinnati, OH.. Send me that camera!
Cleo	(reply to they) posted 11-Jul-2003 3:37pm Okay I hear you loud & clear sweetie..pinches your cheeks I just emailed ASB a moment ago to see if she will receive from Jettles or receive from you. When she gets back to me I will up date you on that. Till then hang in there girlfriend. & welcome back!!((((HUGS))))))
Cleo	(reply to Glassa) posted 11-Jul-2003 5:03pm Just to let you know.....it only cost me $2.44 to send the camera from California (me) to Kate in Oregon. So, I'm thinking it may cost you less. Wait....looking over her tacky 17 X 22 inch place mat of the United States your passing to Wolchik9 right? That might be just a smidge more but, not much more than that. ROCKMAN's got your snail/email addy right? Cause he needs it to pass to you cause, he's receiving from justjulie.
Zang	(reply to Cleo) posted 11-Jul-2003 5:03pm Yeah, Mandy and Sue can mail it to me. I'll mail it to Matt I guess...I think he's a little closer, I'm not sure...
Zang	(reply to Matt) posted 11-Jul-2003 5:10pm You can email me your address at: z.dong@shaw.ca
Cleo	(reply to Glassa) posted 11-Jul-2003 5:28pm So your saying that Mandy & Sue have your addy right, Zang?
Matt	(reply to Zang) posted 11-Jul-2003 5:35pm Ok, I'll email it to you when I get back home.
Matt	(reply to Zang) posted 11-Jul-2003 5:36pm I'm actually in Montreal, Quebec, not much closer.
smurf	(reply to skylark) posted 11-Jul-2003 5:37pm Hey skylark, looks like I'm in and you're sending me the infamous camera Email Cleo, she has my details
Zang	(reply to Matt) posted 11-Jul-2003 6:03pm Oh. I thought you were in Ontario for some reason. Irene is in Quebec too, right? I'll send it to you if you're closer...even if it isn't by much.
Matt	(reply to Zang) posted 11-Jul-2003 10:16pm Yeah, she's real pretty much in Montreal too, there are users in Ontario though, but I'll send you my address and you can send it to me and I'll forward it to Irene.
Zang	(reply to Matt) posted 11-Jul-2003 11:43pm It would seem that CarolL is in Ontario (just found this out now), so it should probably go to her first. Unless lily333 or Miaow are closer. I'm trying to sort this out in Forum. I'm sure we can figure it all out by the time I have to mail the camera...
Matt	(reply to Zang) posted 12-Jul-2003 12:12pm No worries, I'll follow the conversation in Forum
they	(reply to Cleo) posted 12-Jul-2003 4:06pm Okie .. ASB lives less than 1/4 mile from me so I'm sure it would be fine either way.
Zang	(reply to Matt) posted 12-Jul-2003 6:19pm Okay!
wolfchik9	(reply to Cleo) posted 12-Jul-2003 8:51pm I hope my name is on the list!!!! I remember talking to you and agreeing to do it so make sure I'm in! Thanks!
Cleo	(reply to wolfchik9) posted 13-Jul-2003 2:46am Sweetie! Your in there! I'm sure I emailed you the other day. If you did not receive the E please let me know. But, just to put your mind at ease a little, you will be receiving from Glassa & she will be receiving from ROCKMAN. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me anytime. The camera wont be in your area till at least 4 weeks or so.
Cleo	(reply to Zang) posted 13-Jul-2003 2:51am Zang.... Lilly333 is receiving the camera from either Irene, Carol or Miaow. Most likley Irene. Lilly333 lives in Minnesota & she will be passing to justjulie in Wisconsin If you need to email me my addy is dabprovin@msn.com
Cleo	(reply to Glassa) posted 13-Jul-2003 3:14am Have you touched base with Wolfchik9 & Rockman yet? If you need their email addy please let me know. Here's my E again: dabprovin@msn.com
Cleo	(reply to wolfchik9) posted 13-Jul-2003 3:18am Have you touched base with Glassa & Southernyankee yet? If not let me know they are your receiving & passing links. If you need my Email here it is: dabprovin@msn.com
Cleo	(reply to southernyankee) posted 13-Jul-2003 3:21am Have you touched base with Wolfchik9 & B_Labonte_Fan? They are your receiving & passing links. Dude! PLEASE email me I need to ask you a question.
Cleo	(reply to ROCKMAN) posted 13-Jul-2003 3:24am Babe! Please Email me I need to ask you a very important question. Also have you touched base with Lovelight & Glassa? They are your receiving & passing links.
Zang	(reply to Cleo) posted 13-Jul-2003 5:38am So far, from what I can tell, I'll get it from Mandy and Sue and then send it to Carol who will send it to Matt who will send it to Irene. I got the impression that Lily333 was in Canada. If that's not the case, then the only one out of the loop so far would be Miaow. I don't know where they are...
southernyankee	(reply to Cleo) posted 13-Jul-2003 4:00pm not yet. And I still need labonte's email.
Cleo	(reply to Glassa) posted 13-Jul-2003 6:27pm Please email me: dabprovin@mns.com I have ROCKMAN'S email addy ready for you so you can give you him your snail addy cause, he will be passing to you. You will need to email him when possible.
Cleo	(reply to southernyankee) posted 13-Jul-2003 6:33pm Dude email me today & I will give you Amandas email addy & you can get together with her that way... ALos I need to ask you something very important, so Email me....please! But, your set with Wolfchik then? let me know!
Irene007	(reply to Cleo) posted 13-Jul-2003 11:47pm Will do! Oops! I just checked and I don't think that I have Mat's e-mail anymore. I just wrote to Zang though....
wolfchik9	(reply to Cleo) posted 13-Jul-2003 11:59pm That's cool, I was skimming the notes and didn't see my name. I'm good now. Thanks!
kirst	(reply to Cleo) posted 14-Jul-2003 5:45pm Sounds like a plan!
Cleo	(reply to Irene007) posted 16-Jul-2003 12:37am I just saw a post to Zang from Matt. Here is Matts email: freyjamunster@excite.com I better put that in my addy book as well. So, are you pretty much set with your receiving buddy (Matt) & your passing (Lilly333) buddy? If you need anything let me know.
Cleo	(reply to grmbrand) posted 16-Jul-2003 2:20am I replied to you above but I failed to address it to you. WAY ABOVE. the only reply above with smiles holding an American flag I'm so happy that your in.
Cleo	(reply to jettles) posted 16-Jul-2003 3:03am Please contact me B_Labonte is going to be passing to you & I can't give you her email addy cause my email to you keeps bouncing back to me. Please email me. Thanks Babe! dabprovin@msn.com ((((HUGS))))
Irene007	(reply to Cleo) posted 16-Jul-2003 8:29am Better get my passing buddy in touch with me, I don't have her address!
Cleo	posted 16-Jul-2003 7:04pm According to Zang this is how he say's it will go. Mandy to him (Zang) Zang to Carol Carol to Miaow Miaow to Matt Matt to you You to Lilly33 ....(according to Zang....I don't know) But, just in case you guys should switch it around to better suit you guys, I will email you Miaow, Carol & Lilly333's email addy right now.
Frostbrand	posted 16-Jul-2003 8:49pm Sure, I'd love to. I still have Mandy's snail-mail addy so I can pass it on to her, and you have mine dab (although I'm sad to say I lost yours ) so I can get you started.
Cleo	posted 17-Jul-2003 12:35am Brian,dude!I posted to you in FORUM
Wicksy	posted 17-Jul-2003 8:43am his survey is too long winded for me to have any interest in it. Can someone explain in no more than 2 sentences what we have to do?
Cleo	(reply to Wicksy) posted 17-Jul-2003 2:53pm There is a camera being circulated from SC buddy to SC buddy. 1)If you've signed up here, you take a picture of you or something of interest with the camera being passed around. 2)When your done taking a picture, you take the camera to the post office, pay for postage & send it to the next SC Buddy.
Cleo	(reply to Frostbrand) posted 17-Jul-2003 3:00pm Please scroll back 3 replies.
Wicksy	(reply to Cleo) posted 18-Jul-2003 4:08am interesting I AM IN!!!!!
skylark	(reply to smurf) posted 18-Jul-2003 9:15am Thanks. I've got your address now... I'll e-mail you... sometime in the near future.
skylark	(reply to Cleo) posted 18-Jul-2003 9:19am Actually I drop by every now and then - at least a couple of times a month - yet my visits don't seem to be noticed. One couldn't say I'd been actively in here, though... ... But you can see my comments on rather many a survey if you use a magnifying glass.
Cleo	(reply to Wicksy) posted 18-Jul-2003 12:46pm jumps up & down with joy in her heart YAY!!! Cool!!! Now,all you gotta do now babe, is tell us where in the world you live. NOT the address, just the country/region so we can hook you up to your nearest SC buddy to receive from & to pass to. That way we can determine who you will be receiving from & who you will be passing it on to. Also you might want to keep track of the thread in FORUM so you know where the camera is. Right now, the camera is on the west coast in Kate's hands. Here is the line up so far: Cleo (California) Me(Cleo)to Kate (Oregon) Kate to Mandy & Sue (Washington) Mandy & Sue to Brian (Colorado) Brian to Zang (Vancouver, Canada) Zang to Carol (North Bay Canada) Carol to Miaow (Toronto, Canada) Miaow to Matt Matt to Irene (Qc. Canada) Irene to Lilly333 (Minnesota) Lilly333 to justjulie (Wisconsin) justjulie to ROCKMAN (Missouri) ROCKMAN to Glassa (Missouri) Glassa to Wolfchik9 (Louisiana) Wolchick9 to Southernyankee (Louisiana) Southernyankee to Amanda (Mississippi) Amanda to Jettles (Florida) Jettles to Julie (Ohio) Julie to they (Ohio) they to ASB (Ohio) ASB to BILL & JENN (NH) Bill & Jenn to Romkey & Lion (NH) Romkey & Lion to Enheduanna & Pomeranian (NH) Enheduanna to Topper (NH) Topper to Richard (NH) Richard to grmbrand(NH) grmbrand to Biggles (Great Britain) Biggles to Dino (Great Britain) Dino to Skylark (Finland) Skylark to Smurf (NZ) Smurf to Maarten (Netherlands) SO where would you fit in in this, Babe? This going to be so much fun.
smurf	(reply to skylark) posted 18-Jul-2003 6:41pm Sounds great
smurf	(reply to Cleo) posted 18-Jul-2003 6:47pm It goes from NH to Great Britain to Finland to NZ and back to Netherlands? Wouldn't it be easier to go from, say, NH to NZ then across to Europe - Finland, GB and Netherlands? I dunno, if it seems fine as it is then cool
Cleo	(reply to smurf) posted 18-Jul-2003 9:06pm Either way is fine with me. You might want to pose that question to Maarten & the others in Europe for their response as well & see what their input might be.
Wicksy	(reply to Cleo) posted 19-Jul-2003 5:49am I am up in Sheffield often so I could literally meet up with Biggles and take the camera from her.
Cleo	(reply to Wicksy) posted 19-Jul-2003 4:07pm Oh, okay let me tell Biggles & Dino that your in so they can arrange some kind of a group effort in handling the camera situation.
Cleo	(reply to Biggles) posted 19-Jul-2003 4:11pm Babe! Wicksy is in. Would you please read what he posted to me & maybe respond to him...please?Perhaps WIcksy, Dino & you can put your heads together on this? Thanks Babe. >Wicksy replies to dabprovin: I am up in Sheffield often so I could literally meet up with Biggles and take the camera from her.
Cleo	(reply to Dino) posted 19-Jul-2003 4:16pm Babe.... Wicksy is in! (I just told Biggles above) Would you see if Biggles, Wicksy & your (handsome) self could get together on the passing & receiving of the camera? Please? Thanks Babe! Here is what Wicksy replied to me: >Wicksy replies to dabprovin: I am up in Sheffield often so I could literally meet up with Biggles and take the camera from her.
Dino	(reply to Cleo) posted 20-Jul-2003 10:18am By the time the camera gets to us the biggles will be back in Oxford but we'll sort it out I'm sure. If grmbrand could send it wicksy that would be great cos Biggles has my address already. And Wicksy just has to send it Oxford Uni. Boy this is complicated. But we'll work it out. Cos alternatively both Wicksy and I live in London so if grmbrand has biggles address then I just need to get it wicksy. Okay, no pressure for now. We'll get there.
wolfchik9	(reply to Cleo) posted 20-Jul-2003 5:21pm Cleo, I have Amanda's snail mail addy. If southernyankee wants to simply meet up for the switch it might be easier than mailing it. I haven't heard from either Glassa or southernyankee by email yet. Make sure you have the correct email addy: wolfchik9@aol.com. I might have deleted the emails by mistake... sorry if I did, lots of spam recently. To sum up, I have Amanda's snail mail addy so I'm ready to send it to her when I get it. If southernyankee wants to receive from Glassa, then send to me, then I send to Amanda, all's clear. Just let me know. Thanks again!!!
Cleo	(reply to Dino) posted 21-Jul-2003 4:39pm Okay....I trust your good judgement on getting it together there in England.;-( ((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))
Cleo	(reply to southernyankee) posted 21-Jul-2003 4:53pm Please get together with Amanda, wolfchik9 & Glassa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >wolfchik9 replies to dabprovin Cleo, I have Amanda's snail mail addy. If southernyankee wants to simply meet up for the switch it might be easier than mailing it. I haven't heard from either Glassa or southernyankee by email yet. Make sure you have the correct email addy: wolfchik9@aol.com. I might have deleted the emails by mistake... sorry if I did, lots of spam recently. To sum up, I have Amanda's snail mail addy so I'm ready to send it to her when I get it. If southernyankee wants to receive from Glassa, then send to me, then I send to Amanda, all's clear. Just let me know. Thanks again!!!
southernyankee	(reply to Cleo) posted 21-Jul-2003 5:25pm I just gave Amada my snail mail. Now, I need wolfchick's.
Frostbrand	(reply to Cleo) posted 21-Jul-2003 6:29pm So, what happens once the camera has made the rounds? Is there going to be a website or something?
Cleo	(reply to southernyankee) posted 22-Jul-2003 5:55pm Okay I will email her (Wolfchick9's) email addy to you. Right now.
Cleo	(reply to southernyankee) posted 22-Jul-2003 6:02pm When the camera is done making it's rounds.....Maarten will upload the pictures to a website for all to see. BTW.......Kristal Rose told me she wants in on the camera passing event. We spent this past Sunday together down at a Hawaiian Festival in Los Angles. So......how do you think the camera should be sent back down to California to Kristal?? Do you want to send it to Kristal? Or should I ask Mandy & Sue to send it to Kristal & then Kristal sends it to you & you to Zang?? Is that okay? Seeing as how Kate has already sent the camera to Mandy & Sue already. Let me know what you think.
southernyankee	(reply to Cleo) posted 22-Jul-2003 6:33pm whoever is closer I guess. Where's the camera at this point.
Cleo	(reply to southernyankee) posted 23-Jul-2003 6:19pm Mandy & Sue have the camera or in the process of it..... via mail by Kate.
Amanda	(reply to Cleo) posted 24-Jul-2003 3:19am It looks like things have changed. I thought you told me that I was sending to southernyankee. Now, I'm sending to jettles? Am I right? I'm getting confused, but that really doesn't take much! Anyway, just let me know what I'm doing.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to Cleo) posted 26-Jul-2003 5:58am Sorry it took forever for me to get here. Crazy things have been going on.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to mandy) posted 26-Jul-2003 6:23am my email is kristal_phoenix@msn.com hmm, who do I reply to, who has it; mandiche? who wants it next? hmm, wonder if it's going to be smutly. better have a cat in it at least.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 26-Jul-2003 6:33am What's to f'n trust? When it cames my way, I'll be tempted to send it off to you, make you take a damn snapshot of your dogs or tree or something. Now if you have some thing like people have with watches breaking or are certain the dogs will eat it or the secret police will accuse you of receiving some secret message dissident to the international star chamber encoded in some painting I use for a backdrop, I guess I could understand, but even then seems you should at least try. I liked dabprovins analogy of passing the olympic torch.
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 26-Jul-2003 6:55am There you are! What are you talking about?
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 26-Jul-2003 7:03am Oh, I get you now. Well, believe it or not, there are wackos out there who could use anything I've said here against me somehow. I also don't particularly like giving out my home address on the internet. Call me paranoid but I think it's a wise decision. I'm pretty sure I've said I work nights here so giving out my home address would be asking for a burglary. There are many reasons to not trust people. I don't understand why people get so pissed off when some of us think it's wise to keep aspects of ourselves private.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 26-Jul-2003 8:45am You forget, I have your address already, all you would have to risk is giving out your email so someone else here could email you their address. Even then, I or Dabprovin will glady act as go betweens. The wackos you really need to fear probably have 2000 gigabytes of data gathered on you already anyhow. The incredibly unlikely worst case scenario is that someone will take your web-published photo and paste your head onto animals having bizarre sex, and unless it's someone you thought deeply cared for you, so what? As far as the pissed, it could be (as it is here) more a matter of simply thinking you're being lame and wish you would stop fabricating reasons to not join in on a communal sharing fun thing. I'm thinking your reticence motive is more akin to not wanting to partake in a group hug, and while I can dig that you're simply not comfortable in such situations, I also don't think sticking with that outlook is doing you any good. Never play, never lose. Here, the odds of losing are vastly remote (unless you're subconsciously praying for things to go wrong so to prove your ego's point). I'm almost concerned that it's like the weird kid at a birthday party who not only frowns when cake and icecream are served, but secretly smiles when someone else frowns about it too. Your chances of getting screwed more than having junk-mail solicitors finding you are as likely as getting bit by a snake in your garden, and I doubt that keeps you awake at night. In all likelyhood, you could probably send personally addressed hate letters to all the organizations and individuals you most dread and get nothing worse than a couple resentful emails back. In other words, I think you have an unrealistic fear covering something deeper which as Dabprovin says - you should get over with already. We say this because we care about you, and not because we want you to endure more torment. so it's with a befuddled sad smile I request you 'get real' and ask that you join us. Don't make mountains out of mole-hills. End of subject. If you still have your reasons, fine. Perhaps I'm the one reading too much into things.
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 26-Jul-2003 9:11am What the PO box? It doesn't exist Kristal. Sorry but I made it up for the customs dec. I really don't see why people get so pissed off with my attitude. It only confirms that I've made the right decision for myself because I'm fine with it. It's other people who have the problem. Seems that people here accept other's on any grounds - race, religion, sexual orientation - but when it comes to a person who wants to keep their privacy and safety intact people get the craps. I'm getting sick of trying to explain and justify my position to people who will aparantly never understand my reasons. I wish people would just accept me for me.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 26-Jul-2003 10:11am I can't figure out if it's a physical thing (like being cautious of snakes) on an emotional thing, like being afraid to smile. If it's the latter, then no, I can't really relate to and get it, except those periods in my lif when i had what you could call social anxiety disorder, and even then, I had seen better days and was waiting for my discomfort with being socially open to pass. Except when I was deprived of any personal creative or contemplative time at all, I never longed for it. For me, isolation is like a form of atrophy death, though i still need my time alone too. When I'm just having a good time with folks, I want it to go on forever. When my interactions with people involve strategic work-like stresses, ie with bosses or teachers where I have pressure demands upon me to sort out, that's when I have to escape (a cigarette break at least) to feel I'm in control of my life. Other peoples experience generally suggests something other than the direction you head. You're sure not alone though. My nextdoor neighbor is a friend, but she has really low social threshhold and often can't handle gabbing for a moment. Apparently it comes through as a pressure or chore rather than a sustaining activity. She plays Simms games. I thrive on constant new change of concept. Others thrive on physical change. Others still are monst comfortable in some sort of repetitive pattern like a solitaire game. I doubt it 'energizes' them, but rather 'energized' is not their preferred state. As far as understanding those who do not understand you: you know what it is to laugh and smile. wouldn't you have a hard time grokking someone who did not care for either, and further, if you liked them, wouldn't you want them to know the pleasure of laughing and smiling. Perhaps you are coming from an entirely different place, I'm just suggesting something it can look like from the outside and others motives. Actually, I just lived with a guest for a month who enjoyed a sort of sadistic humor, but generally dreaded happy cheerful things. He had an immense collection of music which I couldn't handle; every last bit of it somber dark negative. My cheerfulness was driving him crazy, and my effort to accomodate him by restraining myself felt like being chained in a dungeon. I couldn't just dance whenever the mood took me. On a philosphical level he got my 'why be miserable when you can be cheerful?' but he had no capacity to practice it except when quite drunk and I sort of snuck the mood on him. After a month, I still never really got where he was coming from. All I could figure was that he had absolutely no preexisting template of comparison and had settled into miserable as a comfortable state of security. That's probably it, security in a known and reliable condition, regardless of how positive or negative the condition itself is.
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 26-Jul-2003 12:03pm Exactly! Finally you said what I feel. I see social interaction as false, and I have to really work hard to do it. I do feel like it's hard word. It's a lot easier to just exist beside people without having to do the whole social thing. I feel emotionally drained and weak after being around people. I feel like they are emotional vampires who draw my energy. I gain nothing from the experience which is what people simply don't seem to understand. The only time I can handle people is when I am pissed drunk. I am social, chat, happy to be around others, but sober I just hate being around people. I can't go through life only interacting with others when I am blind drunk so I choose to avoid them as much as possible. I've also recently been diagnosed low grade obsessive compulsive which makes it hard to accept when other people don't do things that are just right. When I'm by myself I'm not negative at all. I think I give off negativity because it has the same effect on others as them just being themselves has on me. It's emotionally draining. I'm sort of reflecting what I feel back at them and they can't handle it at all. It also has the added bonus of repelling most highly positive people which I consider to be in denial about their true state and mentally ill. Most really positive people eventually come crashing down to Earth where they suffer terribly. People who expect the worst are never disapointed. I think I enjoy pointing out to manically positive people how things can truly be because I see it as educating them. I think overly positive people have very closed minds and get quite angry when you point out to them that the world isn't fluffy pink bunnies and popsicles for dinner. Of all people they are less willing to communicate with others on a real level, not a "Hi, howyadoin?" level. They don't like facts interupting their rose-coloured world. I sort of pity them and find them incredibly annoying at once. As for people who say that the best way to get through life is to be positive, they have never asked themselves that if this life was so great, why do they have to pretend like it is and deny life in its entirety rather than accepting all of life. The fact that they have to cope by denying most of what happens in life shows that their lives are just as crap as everyone elses, only it is the negative people who are living in reality.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 27-Jul-2003 8:38am The positive people consider the negative ones mentally ill too. Two people can share similar mixed life experiences, and one can be positive about things, and the other negative. I'd rather experience a positive attitude. 'Life sucks' and 'Life's great' are mostly attitudes, but as I see it, on a spiritual level, like will attract like, and even if that weren't true, someone who feels life is great is more likely to dance and 'make' a good time rather than sit and complain. I seem to be living off of popsicles for dinner lately, I better go shopping soon. There's a term 'Don't dwell on the negative'. It's not denial, more like, 'ok, I saw that, let's move on to something better now'. Depression and joy have no depth limits. If one is depressed, they can then get depressed about being depressed until they are in a slump that no external experience will shake them out of. The exact thing is true of joy. Neither 'have' to do anything with worldy reality, and you've reached a good state of self-discipline if you can fully experience moods (or the lack of mood if you're a mahayana buddhist) independent of external circumstances. Your mood is a personal choice or a subconscious personality trait which may be linked to your philosophy on life, but as with all personalities and philosphies, there is no absolute truth. That guest's mood did improve when he only had to endure my cheerfulness via long distance phone call. When he was here, I did get to point out to him how some new miserable event like getting a splinter in his foot happened whenever he grumbled. I shared the same experience he grumbled about, but let it go as best I could rather than letting it steer continuing karma. I have one question for you.. When you are alone are you grounded (having a sense of being physically connected to events as opposed to existing in some mental dream cloud)? Talking face to face with people is one of the few things that grounds me (outdoor solo sporting activities do it though too). and I get too out of touch with all of my physical needs if I don't ground once in a while. How do you compare in that respect?
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 27-Jul-2003 3:45pm When I'm by myself I feel like everything is clear and makes sense. When I'm with other people the outcomes are never sure. I can say the same thing to two different people with the same intentions when I say it and one person will laugh and the other will take offence. I also hate filling empty air time with idle chit chat. I am most comfortable when I am with another person who doesn't feel the need to speak the whole time. Trying to converse with someone who I have nothing to say to is draining. When I'm alone everything runs smoothly and I get things done quickly. With other people I lose track, things go missing, there is drama holding up progress. It's just so much easier doing things by myself.
SueBee	(reply to kaleb777) posted 27-Jul-2003 4:13pm I'm with you as far as not liking to make conversation just for the sake of "filling empty air time". I love spending time with good friends, but I have no interest in just chit chatting with people I don't know. Sitting next to a stranger on an airplane, for example, I'd much rather read a book or nap than talk to them. Once in a while a conversation with a stranger ends up being interesting, but usually it's excruciatingly boring to me. And such a waste of time when there are so many good books in the world!
SueBee	(reply to Cleo) posted 27-Jul-2003 4:15pm Cleo, we have the camera now and are trying to figure out who we're supposed to send it to. First it was going to be Zang, but then I heard something about sending it to BrianW. I e-mailed you, too. Please let us know!
kaleb777	(reply to SueBee) posted 27-Jul-2003 4:16pm Exactly. Conversation shouldn't be an effort. It should just happen.
LindaH	(reply to kaleb777) posted 27-Jul-2003 4:17pm There is absolutely nothing wrong at all with the way you are. You seem like a practical, efficient person who is an excellent thinker. We need more people like that in the world!
kaleb777	(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Jul-2003 4:24pm Thanks. I just wish people would accept that when I'm not talking to them it doesn't mean I hate them or never want to talk sometime. It just means I've got nothing to say right then. I think you're on the ball too. You seem to have a good answer for everything.
LindaH	(reply to kaleb777) posted 27-Jul-2003 4:27pm Thanks. I also noticed that people who are usually quiet are more interesting when they talk than people who talk a lot.
Lahdee	(reply to kaleb777) posted 27-Jul-2003 6:17pm I'm the same way. Generic conversations with strangers tires me. Figuring out what to talk about with people I have nothing in common with makes me tired. It feels like extra effort and work for me, when it comes naturally to other people. Then they think I'm uncaring, disinterested in others and rude. Some obviously thought I was stupid.
Lahdee	(reply to LindaH) posted 27-Jul-2003 6:20pm Yeah, they are more intelligent because they think, ponder and observe more as opposed to always flapping their fat trap.
LindaH	(reply to Lahdee) posted 27-Jul-2003 6:53pm Of course.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 28-Jul-2003 3:18am Do you consider our dialogue idle chat? I talk all the time, and mostly like this. I don't really run into people 'trying' to make conversation. I lose things when other people are involved too. I think it's a karmic result of being motivated by an anxiety to accomplish or prove something. Your social interactions sound like I feel on campus between classes, where I usually have to find some quiet tree to have a smoke and coffee under, or else risk losing myself to the ambient voices when I'd rather be able to focus on getting my own act together. When I am social, like at a party, it's because I surrendered any notion of personal agenda and can just give myself to the flow instead. I can't do both at once and used to occasionally punch walls with the stress of not being able to concentrate when I lived with my young kids.
kaleb777	(reply to Lahdee) posted 28-Jul-2003 3:41pm Yes, I don't see the point of greeting people every day when I go to work. I saw them yesterday and will see them tomorrow. It's not like I haven't seen them for months. My phone calls are all less than 3 minutes and for good reason. I no longer get calls from people who just want to talk because I can't just talk back unless I have something important to say. I hate all the coversation cliches too - "hot enough for ya?" etc.
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 28-Jul-2003 3:51pm No not idle chat because it feels like we're trying to work something out. We're discussing things, not just filling air time. I also don't mind being silly as part of interacting but I need a person with a good sense of humour, and general knowledge to bounce things off. Most of the time when I try to make jokes with less educated people or people who take things literally they take offence. I haven't been to a prty for about 7 years, but I never had a problem with conversation when I did have parties, but that was mainly because I was pissed drunk, stoned silly or pinging on speed. When I stoped doing drugs I found I could no longer relate with the people that still were, and realised their conversations were just stupid. I think at the moment what is emotionally draining is that I am unable to determine whether someone is being nasty or nice. No matter what someone says to me I can see it as a threat by reading things into it. Then I really don't know if there are some real threats in there somewhere, so I treat all conversation as if at any time I will have to defend myself. Needless to say I can't relax and enjoy it. I'm pushing even those people who understand what I am going through away. I'm on the max of Aurorix with little impact. Next move is a different med. Not happy.
tjajda	posted 28-Jul-2003 7:30pm I think it would be neat but who's to say the last person on the list moves and then Wham there's a camera sitting at an old address and all the effort of the others, Gone-Just like that! Personally I do not think it would ever work but it had me interested for a few min.'s! Nice work
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 29-Jul-2003 7:00am I've been in several fixes where life in general seems to have two meanings. The most challenging were romances where everything was so subtly implicit, never out on the table, that I never was never sure if I'd be getting married or never see the person again. Whole dimensions are determined by angle of interpretation, and I find,riding that line, that I simply have to make a choice of interpretation and decide what world I want to live in. There are several choices, you can have people relate to you like ghosts, enemies, sages, psychics, impartial friends, divine lovers. You're struggling to grok the the motives and absolute truth behind these people. Much easier to negotiate that relationship between you and god, and let that fill in the details behind people. Until you do that, you'll drive yourself crazy trying to figure out why people change attitude on you in an instant. Who they are in the field of your personal universe is different than who they are outside of it. If you have control of your personal realm (including 'them'), you can let in just as much external reality as you need to keep your life stirred up. I gave up on meds and I'm no better or worse, maybe better actually.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 29-Jul-2003 7:06am aside frowm conversation, do you get anything from feeling connected to people. some people dig up empty cliches like giving a hug, not for the content itself, just for the feeling of being there with you itself.
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 29-Jul-2003 3:46pm I can sense any slight shift in attitude which is very disconcerting since it gives me no stability and I feel I have to constantly adjust the way I act. It's exhausting. I asked a friend at work today why she was angry. She said repeatedly that she wasn't until she finally admitted that yes she was angry but only since lunch. I told her that she is more angry since lunch but was angry from the stsrt of work. She was amazed that I could sense that since she was sure she was over it. You have to imagine then feeling mood shifts from everyone but not knowing if it's me they are feeling that way towards. I end up just wanting to be by myself. I feel awkward around people and don't ever touch. Everything has multiple meanings and interpretations and I can't handle ensuring I don't make a faux pas while trying to interpret what others are telling me through their feelings and body language.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 29-Jul-2003 4:32pm You have to adjust the way you act. hmm, wow, I get that. I don't have any wisdom at the moment on interpersonal sensitivity. I know what it's like to pick up peoples entire syptomology and world views through brief contact. I think a typical new age lecturer would say something about how you also have to grounded and full of your own being in such circumstances. As far as the faux pas's, I think you need to just come from a self-loving confidence that you are doing your best to come from a reasonable place of compassion, and be prepared to forgive yourself for any faux pas's, seeing them as necessary learning mistakes which you may never even get, but even that's ok. I found it takes years of refining attitude and sensitivity to communicate well, and even then, more challenging personalities will be thrown in your path. (of course with that latter understanding, it means you can stop off development anywhere and the relative experience will be the same anyhow). I think it's something worthwhile to pursue though. The more you can navigate interpersonal communication, the more you can navigate spiritual realms, be of service, and learn about your own psychology. I'm glad to know you a bit better. You've given me a whole new concept to contemplate.
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 29-Jul-2003 4:43pm Yes I though about that today. I only get troubled if I'm concerned how my actions are interpreted. If I act in good faith and without malice then if someone interprets what I do as an attack then that's their problem. It's easier said than done though, and sometimes it doesn't seem worth it when to avoid people all together also eliminates the problem.
LindaH	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 29-Jul-2003 5:46pm kaleb is like me in some ways.
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 30-Jul-2003 3:29am I've found another generality of karma is that any of my vulnerabilities get provoked. and you can't get over them by toughening up, but rather by letting go of them bothering you. I have a neighbor trying to get me to pay for fumigating her apartment (she blames my cats for her fleas (I don't suffer from fleas in my apartment though my cats have had a few)). She also tries to push me to her particular salvation while we discuss religious beliefs (in a sense, so do I, simply by offering food for contemplative thought). I've had these conversations in my head about what a hard time I have and how I can't possibly pay, but then I realised the pattern, that if I actually talked like that with her, I was opening myself up to more of her christ will save you righteousness, playing the helpless role. It's been a dozen years since I played that and it doesn't help a thing. It's messed up in many ways and I'm glad I recognized the seed motive, empowering her at my expense (making her Queen Flea). I haven't figured out a win-win scenario (since I'm stuck with her as my neighbor bugging the landlord). I'm still trying to work this scenario out on a karmic level, but I'm not getting much spiritual guidance on what this is all about.
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 30-Jul-2003 3:57pm I get what you mean about letting go of what I am unable to get tougher with. I always worry that if I admit I am not strong in some way it will be like a dog that lays down rather than fights - often that dog gets mauled to death. It's too hard. I just want to be a non-entity, a generic person that people know is there but who is ignored. I seem to attract all the fudgewits who want a piece of me. Ever thought of doing a "Pacific Heights" on your neighbour? You know, funneling roaches and vermin into her apt until she leaves >
Kristal_Rose	(reply to kaleb777) posted 30-Jul-2003 4:14pm I'm seeing there's some truth to the hard-shell / sensitive-interior cliché. An illustration of my observation of life karma, applied to your situation, would be people finally letting alone once you let go off of defending yourself and let go to the point of going with the flow and learning to actually embrace people picking at you with idle chat. You know you reached one of those crossings when you get to the point where you understand internally where they are coming from, learn their way. I do that all the time. I may pick up a friend with an entirely different outlook, like 'work hard - play hard' and I hang out with them until I can operate from the same motive. It may leave me two weeks later, but I've added to my tool set and understanding of humanity. Until i do that, I can't really go planning social answers for the planet because what works for me is not what works for them.
kaleb777	(reply to Kristal_Rose) posted 30-Jul-2003 4:39pm If only people backed off once the defence was reduced.
Cleo	(reply to tjajda) posted 5-Aug-2003 2:33am I'm hoping that the last person to whom the camera is going to, will at least have the good sense to have a forwarding address or at least let us/someone here know that they are in the process of moving & will make the necessary arrangements for the camera to be forward to them there or to the next SC buddy on the list.