The Pledge to Not Read Rocky's Thread

[adamghost]

So...shouldn't THIS thread now be moved to the sandbox?  As little as Rocklette has to do with the Beach Boys...except for beating them up...this thread has even less to do with the group...except for the potential ignoring of a guy who had little to do with the Beach Boys...except for beating them up... ... ...

If ya know what I mean...

Yeah, I have to agree that's fair.  Though I think it would be good to leave it here for a few days longer because - I think everyone is basically on the same page that the Rocky thread has kind of run its course and should be denied oxygen.  This thread is providing a little continuum for some of us to interact without keeping that thread alive in so doing.  It's like our halfway house if you like.  

But I think you're right and that hopefully in a week or so, it won't need to be here.

[Lee Marshall]

That makes sense.  Still adhering to my pledge.  As I did most of the time anyway.  I don't need to be annoyed by bottom shelf, stupid stuff on a daily basis...at least not here.  There's enough of 'THAT" in the real, ongoing, face-to-face existence that is life. 

[AndrewHickey]

Since this is sort of a meta-post about an annoying thread on the board...

Does anyone else think it would be a good idea to have a general "Mike Love Interviews" thread on the board? The reason I mention this is because every week or two there's another link posted, to another near-identical Mike interview, and every time we get the same huge argument about whether some phrase in the interview means Mike is bashing Brian, or rewriting history, or whatever.
I think rather than have loads of threads on the same subject, it might be useful to have one ongoing Mike interview discussion thread, to which new interview links could be posted (perhaps also with quotes of anything actually new in them) and have all the arguments there too. Thoughts?

[Cam Mott]

I think it ought to be moved to " honored guest", if it is Rocky, as he is an eyewitness involved with the group. As should Debbie have a thread, and Loren should have (not equating these people). Their statements can stand for themselves.

[Lee Marshall]

Since this is sort of a meta-post about an annoying thread on the board...

Does anyone else think it would be a good idea to have a general "Mike Love Interviews" thread on the board? The reason I mention this is because every week or two there's another link posted, to another near-identical Mike interview, and every time we get the same huge argument about whether some phrase in the interview means Mike is bashing Brian, or rewriting history, or whatever.
I think rather than have loads of threads on the same subject, it might be useful to have one ongoing Mike interview discussion thread, to which new interview links could be posted (perhaps also with quotes of anything actually new in them) and have all the arguments there too. Thoughts?

We could have a contest to NAME the THREAD Andrew.  Something on-the-mark-applicable...and entertaining.  eg.?  The Eternal Dumper...or...Mr. Endless Witless....or any number of fitting Subject titles.
-------------------------------

I disagree Cam.  This guy ain't honorable and as such should be disqualified from being placed/dumped in that special section.  If *I* was a REAL Honoured Guest...I'd be pissed to be lumped in with that good-for-nothing low life.  On the bright side...this one time only Love thread would cut YOUR workload measurably.  Imagine the extra time made available so that you could further enjoy life.

[Debbie KL]

I think it ought to be moved to " honored guest", if it is Rocky, as he is an eyewitness involved with the group. As should Debbie have a thread, and Loren should have (not equating these people). Their statements can stand for themselves.

Interesting.  I wasn't being equated to Daro and Rocky, yet I was - since my posts should go into some distant section I'm guessing no one reads?  I can’t help but consider this a personal attack, given the context of this thread.   My goodness Cam, you always seem to be construing comments as personal attacks, yet this wasn't?

There's a reason many, many people (including me) turned down the "Honored Guest" status.  We wanted to communicate freely here without some odd "superior status" to others.  I understand why others accepted it, since they were offering professional comments.  Some of us simply want to offer eye-witness accounts of various events that many "experts" here have studied for years from various articles and books. Whatever we add, we are the "color commentators."  Some like it.  Some hate it.  It seems like it ought to be part of the conversation to me.  I mean, we were there.

[AndrewHickey]

I think it ought to be moved to " honored guest", if it is Rocky, as he is an eyewitness involved with the group. As should Debbie have a thread, and Loren should have (not equating these people). Their statements can stand for themselves.

Interesting.  I wasn't being equated to Daro and Rocky, yet I was - since my posts should go into some distant section I'm guessing no one reads?  I can’t help but consider this a personal attack, given the context of this thread.   My goodness Cam, you always seem to be construing comments as personal attacks, yet this wasn't?

I didn't read that as Cam saying all your posts should go there, but that there should be a thread for people to ask you specific questions there, like there are threads for most of the posters with "honored guest" status. I don't think anyone would want you to stop posting in the threads you're already posting in.

[mikeddonn]

I think it ought to be moved to " honored guest", if it is Rocky, as he is an eyewitness involved with the group. As should Debbie have a thread, and Loren should have (not equating these people). Their statements can stand for themselves.

Interesting.  I wasn't being equated to Daro and Rocky, yet I was - since my posts should go into some distant section I'm guessing no one reads?  I can’t help but consider this a personal attack, given the context of this thread.   My goodness Cam, you always seem to be construing comments as personal attacks, yet this wasn't?

There's a reason many, many people (including me) turned down the "Honored Guest" status.  We wanted to communicate freely here without some odd "superior status" to others.  I understand why others accepted it, since they were offering professional comments.  Some of us simply want to offer eye-witness accounts of various events that many "experts" here have studied for years from various articles and books. Whatever we add, we are the "color commentators."  Some like it.  Some hate it.  It seems like it ought to be part of the conversation to me.  I mean, we were there.

Hi Debbie, I don't think it's been asked yet so I'll ask.  .

Did you meet Rocky back when he was working with Brian?  He asked on the other thread if you were the Debbie who went to Hawaii with them.  Would that be you?

Thanks.

[mtaber]

I agree that we need a place to put Rocky, but its definitely not with the "honored guests"...

[The Cincinnati Kid]

I think it ought to be moved to " honored guest", if it is Rocky, as he is an eyewitness involved with the group. As should Debbie have a thread, and Loren should have (not equating these people). Their statements can stand for themselves.

Interesting.  I wasn't being equated to Daro and Rocky, yet I was - since my posts should go into some distant section I'm guessing no one reads?  I can’t help but consider this a personal attack, given the context of this thread.   My goodness Cam, you always seem to be construing comments as personal attacks, yet this wasn't?

I didn't read that as Cam saying all your posts should go there, but that there should be a thread for people to ask you specific questions there, like there are threads for most of the posters with "honored guest" status. I don't think anyone would want you to stop posting in the threads you're already posting in.

That's the way I read it as well.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I agree that we need a place to put Rocky, but its definitely not with the "honored guests"...

Can we create a "Dishonourable Employees" section ?

[Debbie KL]

I think it ought to be moved to " honored guest", if it is Rocky, as he is an eyewitness involved with the group. As should Debbie have a thread, and Loren should have (not equating these people). Their statements can stand for themselves.

Interesting.  I wasn't being equated to Daro and Rocky, yet I was - since my posts should go into some distant section I'm guessing no one reads?  I can’t help but consider this a personal attack, given the context of this thread.   My goodness Cam, you always seem to be construing comments as personal attacks, yet this wasn't?

There's a reason many, many people (including me) turned down the "Honored Guest" status.  We wanted to communicate freely here without some odd "superior status" to others.  I understand why others accepted it, since they were offering professional comments.  Some of us simply want to offer eye-witness accounts of various events that many "experts" here have studied for years from various articles and books. Whatever we add, we are the "color commentators."  Some like it.  Some hate it.  It seems like it ought to be part of the conversation to me.  I mean, we were there.

Hi Debbie, I don't think it's been asked yet so I'll ask.  .

Did you meet Rocky back when he was working with Brian?  He asked on the other thread if you were the Debbie who went to Hawaii with them.  Would that be you?

Thanks.

Ah, it looks like I need to go look on that thread and reply then.  I guess those of you who haven't taken the "pledge" can see it, if I do.  I'm not much into these pledges, but I looked here out of curiosity.

[Cam Mott]

I think it ought to be moved to " honored guest", if it is Rocky, as he is an eyewitness involved with the group. As should Debbie have a thread, and Loren should have (not equating these people). Their statements can stand for themselves.

Interesting.  I wasn't being equated to Daro and Rocky, yet I was - since my posts should go into some distant section I'm guessing no one reads?  I can’t help but consider this a personal attack, given the context of this thread.   My goodness Cam, you always seem to be construing comments as personal attacks, yet this wasn't?

There's a reason many, many people (including me) turned down the "Honored Guest" status.  We wanted to communicate freely here without some odd "superior status" to others.  I understand why others accepted it, since they were offering professional comments.  Some of us simply want to offer eye-witness accounts of various events that many "experts" here have studied for years from various articles and books. Whatever we add, we are the "color commentators."  Some like it.  Some hate it.  It seems like it ought to be part of the conversation to me.  I mean, we were there.

Exactly.  I only mention (not equate) the others because they and you are the only guests I can think of who fit the bill that haven't been given a thread of their own yet.  If you don't wish it that is fine, at least it was offered. The board does have a history of treating guest badly, so I can't blame anyone for passing on it.

You would still be free to post however and whereever you wish just as the other honored guests do I assume.

[adamghost]

I think it ought to be moved to " honored guest", if it is Rocky, as he is an eyewitness involved with the group. As should Debbie have a thread, and Loren should have (not equating these people). Their statements can stand for themselves.

Interesting.  I wasn't being equated to Daro and Rocky, yet I was - since my posts should go into some distant section I'm guessing no one reads?  I can’t help but consider this a personal attack, given the context of this thread.   My goodness Cam, you always seem to be construing comments as personal attacks, yet this wasn't?

There's a reason many, many people (including me) turned down the "Honored Guest" status.  We wanted to communicate freely here without some odd "superior status" to others.  I understand why others accepted it, since they were offering professional comments.  Some of us simply want to offer eye-witness accounts of various events that many "experts" here have studied for years from various articles and books. Whatever we add, we are the "color commentators."  Some like it.  Some hate it.  It seems like it ought to be part of the conversation to me.  I mean, we were there.

Hi Debbie, I don't think it's been asked yet so I'll ask.  .

Did you meet Rocky back when he was working with Brian?  He asked on the other thread if you were the Debbie who went to Hawaii with them.  Would that be you?

Thanks.

Ah, it looks like I need to go look on that thread and reply then.  I guess those of you who haven't taken the "pledge" can see it, if I do.  I'm not much into these pledges, but I looked here out of curiosity.

I agree I can't get around the word "pledge".  But it has kept me from going back to Rocky's thread nonetheless, so whatever works.

[yonderhillside]

I just went and briefly checked out the thread to see what the hell everyone is talking about but am still utterly outta the loop.

[adamghost]

Well, that's cool Yonder, what do you want to talk about?   

[JK]

At last----a place to discuss and comment on Rocky's thread without disrupting the flow of its discourse.

[Paul J B]

You know....theorizing about the Beach Boys music is one thing, but this increasing trend here by people who don't know the people they are theorizing about is really killing this board. Seriously, are so many of you that board with your personal lives that you feel the need to get to the bottom of a strangers behavior. That topic about a BS book that will NEVER EVER be printed and distributed, should not have been permitted to go on for 80 pages. And now people are going to agonize over whether or not they should feel sorry for the guy. His issues don't matter, what he is spewing is not factual, and if some of you can't see that, or didn't see that weeks ago then you should stay away from anyone that talks to you about swamp land. Good god head injuries from football...really?

This nonsense has gotten increasingly worse concerning Mike as well. So many of you wringing their hands over what Mike is bothered by and what he really means by a comment or two to an inane journalist. Mike is a founding member of the greatest vocal band ever. He has a chip on his shoulder, legitimate or not, and can't get over the fact that his band mates messed up with drugs. He will keep singing Beach Boys material until he dies. No need to fret anymore. OK?

And yes,, I should just check out of here for a while or ignore the threads but they keep clogging up the board and it only seems to be getting worse. Ever wonder why Stephen Desper does not delve into this trash? or why Ray Lawler seems to have vanished? I have a pretty good guess.

I think you bring up some good points.  Let me challenge them, though, a little bit.

First of all, let's say there's a total jerk that walks into your workplace and shocks everyone by their behavior.  Does everyone get together after work to discuss their shared experience with this person?  You bet.  Nothing unhealthy about it.  It's key to understand that (a) you're talking about a group of people that roughly speaking hang out in the same place and (b) someone bursts in on that environment acting totally crazy.  There's nothing unhealthy about this kind of reaction.  It's very key to who we are as humans.

Second, I disagree Rocky's thread is killing the board.  I think it saved the board.  It's easy to forget that Rocky came along at the same time that the Board nearly collapsed and a lot of people (including me) were about to leave because the environment and internecine squabbling were so toxic.  Along comes Rocky and everyone kind of came together in a great WTF?  And a lot of the board squabbles went by the wayside.  Yup, went on way too long, but who cares?  Having a thread that goes on and on isn't exactly bad for the health of a message board.

Third, you talk about "so many of you" bashing on Mike as if the two things are inextricably linked.  AGD defends Mike Love regularly.  I have mixed feelings about Mike Love but I got very drunk on a bottle of his champagne once and he's treated a few of my friends well recently so I'm mellow on the Mike Love topic.  And I could go on with more examples.  It seems like you're trying to link two separate things as being symptoms of the same people harping on the same issue, but really, Mike-bashing and Rocky-bashing are two entirely different phenomena involving different subsets of people motivated by different things.

Fourth, your guess about why certain people are leaving the board may or may not be right.  I do know for a fact that a few Beach Boys semi-insiders who do not usually post here have been following the Rocky thread and their reaction is incredulity and amusement.  It was relayed to me that it got a great deal of (mirthful) discussion at a gathering of same last night.  So don't make assumptions that folks don't have a sense of humor about it.  Maybe some people do see stuff like this and stay away; but others stay away because, y'know, they can't be seen posting on a message board because they have business relationships in the Beach Boys world that are jeopardized in so doing.  But they enjoy lurking.

Anyways, what I get out of it is that you didn't like the thread and some other threads on here.  I think that's perfectly valid and I for one hear you.  Trying to extend your own personal feeling about it to being those of everyone else -- might be reaching a bit.  Again, maybe so, maybe not.  But you're not into it, that's cool, and I hear you.

I guess I incline to the feeling that it's interesting for some of us to talk about with each other, and Rocky more or less demands the attention, so why the heck not.  If it's not fun for others - well - there's lots of threads on here I don't look at because I am not interested.  I don't feel like they have to go away on the basis that I'm not into them.

You bring up some good points too. I'll counter challenge your third a little more. We now have another thread at the top here started by Rab (yes, the Rab that left for good last year) tied directly to the Rocky thread causing more angst about Mike. See, it ALWAYS comes full circle. I get your live and let live stance but I maintain this stuff is killing the board. We had 4 threads hovering around the top of this page last week mostly bitching about Mike. The occasional gripe is to be expected, its the utterly insane speculation and hand wringing that goes on for pages and pages by the same people that ruin this place.

Here is a challenge to anyone. If there are people here that know things and have connections (agree there are).... Someone call Marilyn and simply ask her if she was watching Star Wars back in the 70's with Brian and Rocky, and if Brian became depressed and went home to write Love and Mercy. Pretty simple I would think. If the answer is YES, then we can skip the salt when reading the next 80 pages and three threads. If the answer is NO then a lot of people here might calm down.

Don't mean to sound sarcastic to you Adam. Your response was fair. I also liked Andrew H suggesting to put all Mike interviews in one thread.

[mtaber]

Anyone who wants to avoid any particular thread is free to do so.  If you choose to go to the "Rocky" thread, be sure to get your immunizations first...

[Emily]

Now Rocky's being escorted to the rest of the board.

[mtaber]

Emily - you have strayed...

[Emily]

I have a world-champion lack of willpower.

[adamghost]

You know....theorizing about the Beach Boys music is one thing, but this increasing trend here by people who don't know the people they are theorizing about is really killing this board. Seriously, are so many of you that board with your personal lives that you feel the need to get to the bottom of a strangers behavior. That topic about a BS book that will NEVER EVER be printed and distributed, should not have been permitted to go on for 80 pages. And now people are going to agonize over whether or not they should feel sorry for the guy. His issues don't matter, what he is spewing is not factual, and if some of you can't see that, or didn't see that weeks ago then you should stay away from anyone that talks to you about swamp land. Good god head injuries from football...really?

This nonsense has gotten increasingly worse concerning Mike as well. So many of you wringing their hands over what Mike is bothered by and what he really means by a comment or two to an inane journalist. Mike is a founding member of the greatest vocal band ever. He has a chip on his shoulder, legitimate or not, and can't get over the fact that his band mates messed up with drugs. He will keep singing Beach Boys material until he dies. No need to fret anymore. OK?

And yes,, I should just check out of here for a while or ignore the threads but they keep clogging up the board and it only seems to be getting worse. Ever wonder why Stephen Desper does not delve into this trash? or why Ray Lawler seems to have vanished? I have a pretty good guess.

I think you bring up some good points.  Let me challenge them, though, a little bit.

First of all, let's say there's a total jerk that walks into your workplace and shocks everyone by their behavior.  Does everyone get together after work to discuss their shared experience with this person?  You bet.  Nothing unhealthy about it.  It's key to understand that (a) you're talking about a group of people that roughly speaking hang out in the same place and (b) someone bursts in on that environment acting totally crazy.  There's nothing unhealthy about this kind of reaction.  It's very key to who we are as humans.

Second, I disagree Rocky's thread is killing the board.  I think it saved the board.  It's easy to forget that Rocky came along at the same time that the Board nearly collapsed and a lot of people (including me) were about to leave because the environment and internecine squabbling were so toxic.  Along comes Rocky and everyone kind of came together in a great WTF?  And a lot of the board squabbles went by the wayside.  Yup, went on way too long, but who cares?  Having a thread that goes on and on isn't exactly bad for the health of a message board.

Third, you talk about "so many of you" bashing on Mike as if the two things are inextricably linked.  AGD defends Mike Love regularly.  I have mixed feelings about Mike Love but I got very drunk on a bottle of his champagne once and he's treated a few of my friends well recently so I'm mellow on the Mike Love topic.  And I could go on with more examples.  It seems like you're trying to link two separate things as being symptoms of the same people harping on the same issue, but really, Mike-bashing and Rocky-bashing are two entirely different phenomena involving different subsets of people motivated by different things.

Fourth, your guess about why certain people are leaving the board may or may not be right.  I do know for a fact that a few Beach Boys semi-insiders who do not usually post here have been following the Rocky thread and their reaction is incredulity and amusement.  It was relayed to me that it got a great deal of (mirthful) discussion at a gathering of same last night.  So don't make assumptions that folks don't have a sense of humor about it.  Maybe some people do see stuff like this and stay away; but others stay away because, y'know, they can't be seen posting on a message board because they have business relationships in the Beach Boys world that are jeopardized in so doing.  But they enjoy lurking.

Anyways, what I get out of it is that you didn't like the thread and some other threads on here.  I think that's perfectly valid and I for one hear you.  Trying to extend your own personal feeling about it to being those of everyone else -- might be reaching a bit.  Again, maybe so, maybe not.  But you're not into it, that's cool, and I hear you.

I guess I incline to the feeling that it's interesting for some of us to talk about with each other, and Rocky more or less demands the attention, so why the heck not.  If it's not fun for others - well - there's lots of threads on here I don't look at because I am not interested.  I don't feel like they have to go away on the basis that I'm not into them.

You bring up some good points too. I'll counter challenge your third a little more. We now have another thread at the top here started by Rab (yes, the Rab that left for good last year) tied directly to the Rocky thread causing more angst about Mike. See, it ALWAYS comes full circle. I get your live and let live stance but I maintain this stuff is killing the board. We had 4 threads hovering around the top of this page last week mostly bitching about Mike. The occasional gripe is to be expected, its the utterly insane speculation and hand wringing that goes on for pages and pages by the same people that ruin this place.

Here is a challenge to anyone. If there are people here that know things and have connections (agree there are).... Someone call Marilyn and simply ask her if she was watching Star Wars back in the 70's with Brian and Rocky, and if Brian became depressed and went home to write Love and Mercy. Pretty simple I would think. If the answer is YES, then we can skip the salt when reading the next 80 pages and three threads. If the answer is NO then a lot of people here might calm down.

Don't mean to sound sarcastic to you Adam. Your response was fair. I also liked Andrew H suggesting to put all Mike interviews in one thread.

No, no offense taken.  But why in the world would anyone who knows her call Marilyn and ask her about Rocky Pamplin to satisfy a bunch of people on a message board?   I mean, this is just a ding-dang message board.  I do know some of the people in this world, and they don't live their lives catering to the desires of curious fans.  They, y'know, live lives, most of them as far away from that kind of thing as possible.  I mean, perhaps you were just kidding, so if so, never mind.  But if you were serious, that's kind of a silly position to take.  Why in the world would Marilyn or anyone else want to answer that kind of question and for what reason?  In the realm of the real world, Rocky Pamplin and the Smiley Smile Message Board are just not that important.  This is just a way for people with a certain set of interests to kill time and chat with others with similar interests.  For the principals involved, it's their lives, their actual lives are more complicated and personal to them than just being characters for our amusement, and they are very clear on the difference, and so should anybody be that knows them personally.  If those folks want to answer that question for some reason, great.  But to initiate that conversation?  Why?  We don't have any pressing right to know.

And as I said, I ain't bitchin' about Mike, I'm not seeing it much except with the usual diehards.  I don't think that's where this thread is at.  You might want to direct that complaint elsewhere.

Again, not in any way meaning offense to you.  Right back atcha on that.

[adamghost]

At last----a place to discuss and comment on Rocky's thread without disrupting the flow of its discourse.

*snort*

[Malc]

Now Rocky's being escorted to the rest of the board.

T'would appear that be so as his name just appeared hovering o'er the Stephen Love thread...