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Dear Barbelith

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18:42 / 31.12.10

Leave me a 1-word comment that best describes me using the THIRD letter of YOUR FIRST Name... It can only be 1 word... Then copy and paste this to your wall so I can leave a word about you... Don't just post a word & not copy, that's no fun.

Oh God, I hate Facebook so much. Barbelith, I miss you.

21:33 / 07.01.11

Hey Barbelith,

So lurking for years and now being completely starving for spaces and people to talk about gender and videogames and korean pop music and cultural criticism and finding nothing here makes me feel stupid and wrong.

Shit I forgot to make a joke.

01:08 / 08.01.11

I thought about starting a thread about the movie, "The Cooler" (which the closing credits are running on now), but I think this may be a more appropriate place. Maybe it's not, but whatever. Who's going to complain?

The movie is very heavy-handed. From the soft caress of saxophone like sheet music on a stripper pole to the hard-bitten New Yoak taakin' hardass Casino manager Alec Baldwin plays— acting well with terrible dialogue— the thugs cutting their eyes when he hits da lady, the slow-mo throwing-a-chip-on-the-table. The story is trite, but entertaining enough. A schmuck, a loser, works in a casino as a kind of anti-lucky charm. He shows up, people lose. It's like...magic.

[+] [-] Spoiler

I swear, sometimes I feel like I was the cooler for this place, but I know that's not true; I'm not important, there is no magic from me, it's just bad timing (but I feel even worse for those few that joined in even later).

Blah blah now "The Happening" is on. Jesus. I have Reddit open in a tab and Mefi. I look at Facebook once a week or so but who gives a fuck. I can't stop checking in here and still I'm even glad to see Alex throwing out an ineffectual post like I'm doing now. It's snowing like fuck outside and I'm stuck in here and I can't find any place on the whole wide world wide web that I like as much as I used to like this site, and I don't know if I'm just not looking hard enough. Tom's just tweeting away, and maybe he's on to something that I just don't get because I'm too closed or fearful, but damn.

It's hard, you know? Because I live in a very rural area without much social interaction and I'm thinking I'll have to move from a place I love just to not go crazy and every social thing matters to me.

Ugh. This is maudlin and poorly written and also self-absorbed and heavy-handed because of whatever, but in any case—

I like(d) Barbelith

Dear Barbelith

07:52 / 15.01.11

I was going to have a go, in response, but I think not. I'm actually quite touched.

Tsuga, do what all sensible people do, and move to a large city, you crazy wild child!

23:26 / 15.01.11

Dear Barbelith

Did you ever find out who dark horse/wild stallion is/was?

I'm looking for closure.

23:45 / 15.01.11

To even ask that question is terribly un-hip, Speedy. That you've brought it up suggests that maybe, just maybe, you should be spending more time slaughtering mythical beasts on 'God Of War.' One, Two, or Three.

00:30 / 16.01.11

Dear Barbelith;

Speedy seems to be a guy of a certain age (Sixty? Seventy? Whatever, there appears to be something that's not quite right.)

I don't like to call for a ban (after all, I'm a survivor) but what value is Speedy adding to the board?

He just seems like a terminal cockhorse, from where I'm sitting.

00:45 / 16.01.11

I know, I know.

I'd just hoped to produce some small efflorescence* on the surface of this old hulk**.

*no, the other one
**no, the other one

02:11 / 16.01.11

or:

Granny, where you're sitting wouldn't be on a terminal cockhorse would it?

Rocking furiously?

12:56 / 16.01.11

Alex, for what it's worth I meant "ineffectual" in the sense of falling on deaf (or nonexistent, really) ears.

05:29 / 23.01.11

Speedy;

They don't pay for that of thing in the home, unfortunately. And late night gentlemen guests are frowned on.

'After all,' goes the company line 'why would you need an oiled hunk from a tawdry, tarty bar when Ron, ex-SAS, is here to administer to your every need?'

I tried to explain, once, but they put me under.

I'm not doing that again.

05:59 / 23.01.11

Tsuga;

Fair enough, but it's 'Grandma' to you.

I know, why don't we discuss this stuff on Facebook? There's a really good pic, or app (is it an app - what is an app anyway?)of me howling like a dog, like a sick animal under a yellow moon. But looking, though I say so myself, pretty goddamn foxy, for a crazy old bat of a certain age.

I'd like to think that you think of me as being a little bit like La Bardot.

14:52 / 23.01.11

I miss Barbelith.

Still.

I think I first began reading it when I was 16 and I'm 28 now. Could that be right?

03:27 / 14.02.11

So you're saying you miss it like Metal?

Just wait until you get divorced, mate.

You might find there's nowhere else to go.

06:42 / 02.03.11

dear barbelith,

i often feel stupid, inept and worthless. i know, somewhere, that i'm not these things, but it doesn't halt the feelings washing over me in long lonely moments at varying times of the day or night. can you tell me what to do? or at least, what not to do?

but i guess you'll ignore me.

a.

22:03 / 02.03.11

Welcome back. Hope the stomach's better. In the meantime, fancy taking a look at the "Homo shit" thread? We could use a steer...

22:03 / 02.03.11

Welcome back. Hope the stomach's better. In the meantime, fancy taking a look at the "Homo shit" thread? We could use a steer...

03:34 / 09.03.11

Hey, it's been a while. I just wanted to say thanks, and send my best wishes to all your peoples. It's a little embarrassing that I'd long forgotten how much I valued you, but I think you understand. Much love.

19:32 / 09.03.11

If somebody mentions Facebook in this thread one more time I will violently vomit shurikens all over their face.

I'm just saying.

Rather than bitch and moan about Barbelith being in comatose go and post and start threads and contribute useful ideas to old threads.

That's how you revive a dying beast.

00:14 / 28.03.11

Barbelith, I know I only dropped in and out, but I wish we'd been closer.

I remember venturing into a few other threads and never quite getting a handle on who was who, and why people were fighting.

I remember some young chap who was terrified he'd gotten someone pregnant.

I met one or two of you in person, but I wish i'd tried to meet some of you in London.

Yours,
Stabby

00:47 / 01.04.11

... he said 'Stabby!!!'

You go, guy.

You rock!

23:32 / 03.04.11

I was never really that into metal, Alex.

I miss it like having free time or regular sleeping hours.

You know like something that's good for you but is in short supply.

06:50 / 09.04.11

'That's how you revive a dying beast.'

Well, it's one of the ways, I guess.

16:22 / 05.05.11

Dear Barbelith,

Don't track shit into other people's homes. Thank you.

Love, bio k9

16:59 / 06.05.11

I met one or two of you in person, but I wish i'd tried to meet some of you in London.

That's a syllepsis. Using the same structure with two different meanings.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

10:56 / 07.05.11

That's a syllepsis. Using the same structure with two different meanings.

I love how Barbelith's still teaching me stuff.

18:46 / 17.05.11

Dear Barbelith,

Every so often during my slog through the quagmire that is the socially driven Web these days I remember how once I was part of an intellectually challenging, often funny and always interesting community. I'm a different person now and so is Barbelith. But like an old man who sees his old wife as the tanned, twenty year old beauty he fell in love with, I still see the beauty of this place. I miss you Barbelith, and wherever you're heading I wish you a road dotted with obstacles you'll overcome, enemies you will vanquish and unlearnable things you will master.

Yours Sincerely,

Grey Area

Less searchable M0rd4nt

14:24 / 18.05.11

Dear Barbelith,

I am sorry that you, as a board, are now largely defunct. I am comforted however by the existance of your various successors, in particular Liminal Nation.

Liminal Nation began life as a natural development of the Temple forum and has been chugging along quite nicely for a couple of years now. It has its slow spells but overall it's a thriving community.

Recently, LN was relaunched with brand-new software and an expanded remit, with areas for music, politics, science, books, television and film, etc. The social aspect is served by a dedicated Lateshift section. Those who were never fans of the Temple needn't be put off -- there's something for everyone. There's an apps process but it's quick and painless, really only there to weed out trolls and Grand Ipsususissmiusses of the Umpteenth Degree.

I miss your golden age, Barbelith. But all good things come to an end; and for those who want to keep the party going, there's a light on down the road.

Come and play.

23:31 / 18.05.11

Dear Mordant Carnival

Always nice to hear/read from you. Sorry if I went a bit offttopic here.

Carry on!

D.M.

06:14 / 25.05.11

YO BARBELITH!

just saying hi.

it's been a while.

What's up?

22:00 / 27.05.11

I'm going to join Mordant.

I'm really pleased about this although I know absolutely nothing about whatever it was everyone talked about in The Temple.

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