User talk:Fcreid

Welcome!

Some cookies to welcome you!

Welcome to Wikipedia, Fcreid! I am Burner0718 and have been editing Wikipedia for quite some time. I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to Wikipedia! If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a message on my talk page or by typing {{helpme}} at the bottom of this page. I love to help new users, so don't be afraid to leave a message! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:

• Introduction
• The five pillars of Wikipedia
• How to edit a page
• Help pages
• How to write a great article
• Manual of Style

I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Oh yeah, I almost forgot, when you post on talk pages you should sign your name on talk pages using four tildes (~~~~); that should automatically produce your username and the date after your post. If you need help, check out Wikipedia:Questions, ask me on my talk page, or place {{helpme}} on your talk page and ask your question there. Again, welcome! Burner0718 ^{Jibba Jabba!} 22:09, 4 September 2008 (UTC)

Help/About Me

Because some have insinuated otherwise, here I am. I have been in the computer and telecommunications industry for 33 years (long before they were the same business). I retired as a Naval officer in the mid-90s after twenty years in service. Today, I design "command and control" systems (some IP, some not) for multiple government agencies. In that role, I orchestrate teams of developers, engineers and technicians in providing worldwide support for systems. I consider myself fluent in C and an expert in most operating systems, networking technologies and other computer stuff.

I have a dedicated wife whom I met and married in Puerto Rico 28 years ago. We have two wonderful children. My daughter is a graduate of Maine College of Art. Along with her art,[1] my daughter pays her bills as a business developer in the greater Washington, DC area for a variety of corporate clients. My son graduates soon from University of Maryland with degrees in mathematics and physics. He and his beautiful young bride will live in Vancouver, BC where she teaches Montessori and he starts his career with a chemical engineering firm.

Political topics usually interest me very little. In the political spectrum, I guess I would be labeled a fiscal conservative and social liberal. I support safe abortions, I loathe handguns, I defend one's right to be homosexual--you know the stuff I mean--but I deeply believe in the free market. I believe government's role must be limited to enforcing our laws and providing only those services that are inherently governmental and necessary to perform. I know that is a moving target that evolves with society. For example, it is probably now time that government intervenes to assume the aggregate of health care management. By the same token, it may now also be time that government gets out of the education business before it cripples another generation.

I am a pretty one-dimensional computer guy, but I do write a lot to pay my bills. I have no association with anyone involved in any level of politics. I have no vested interest in the outcome of the upcoming election, with the possible exception that my success in life makes me a "bad guy" on Obama's checklist, and he must therefore usurp my choice of charitable contributions to support his choice of charities. So be it. The local DC food banks will do without next holiday season, but hopefully someone else does with. In any case, I don't get worked up about that... and you shouldn't, either!

Fcreid (talk) 00:55, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

September 2008

Welcome to Wikipedia, and thank you for your contributions. One of the core policies of Wikipedia is that articles should always be written from a neutral point of view. A contribution you made to Sarah Palin appears to carry a non-neutral point of view, and your edit may have been changed or reverted to correct the problem. Please remember to observe our core policies. Thank you. Please respect the wikipedia Neutral point of view. creaɯy!^Talk 23:12, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. I believe you're mistaken. I checked the article history, and I don't see that I ever edited the main article, but rather built consensus for change on the talk page. Thanks, though. Fcreid (talk) 09:09, 13 September 2008 (UTC)

LOL

You are a very naughty boy. I like. Regards, Ben Aveling 12:14, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes indeedy. Your contribs to the Palin discussion are hilarious! Keep it up. — Writegeist (talk) 00:42, 25 September 2008 (UTC)

You make me laugh!--Buster7 (talk) 15:51, 25 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. I try. Anyone who takes politics so seriously that it corrupts the ability to make friends and not enemies really needs a good laugh now and then! Fcreid (talk) 11:55, 26 September 2008 (UTC)

Your Palin dicussion contribs just get funnier and funnier; particularly the way you pretend to misunderstand the glaringly obvious just to pick an argument! Ha ha ha! No wonder you're proud of yourself. Well done! — Writegeist (talk) 06:05, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

I wish I were being disingenous, but I actually am that thick on many things. I don't follow politics closely, and I am at a great disadvantage to those here who do. I do credit myself as being a pretty good judge of character, though. Fcreid (talk) 11:44, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

Gotta love the pose of naivety and the claim to good judgement! Yes, funnier and still funnier. Oh my ribs. Are you David Brent? Or some other fictional character? (This being a fictional encyclopedia and all.) — Writegeist (talk) 15:03, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

I have no idea who David Brent is, and I probably don't care! :) Just because one doesn't follow politics closely does not necessarily mean one cannot be a critical thinker. I know there are those whose entire worlds revolve around politics, but I've found more from life than living vicariously in other's bureaucracies. It's all the same shit sandwich in the end, my friend. Fcreid (talk) 15:33, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

"...no idea who David Brent is...one doesn't follow politics...one cannot be a critical thinker...living vicariously in...[a] shit sandwich..." -- oy, such a gift for comedy, and it's just what one's rather serious discussion of one's Sarah Palin article needs! - Writegeist (talk) 16:55, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

You've come to bore me, Writegeist. Move along. Fcreid (talk) 17:02, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

Palin Pic

Hi, After taking into consideration the feedback from other editors regarding the Carson City image at Sarah Palin, I have created a new version with the intent of pleasing those who have contributed to the discussions. The quality of the image has been significantly improved. I would appreciate your opinion here: [[2]]. Thanks, IP75 75.25.28.167 (talk) 20:44, 25 September 2008 (UTC)

Stambaugh

I appreciate your message on my talk page and I've responded there. JamesMLane t c 01:19, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

SPA

Re. your latest on the SP talk page.

I'm sorry to see your usual good humor failing you. One (!) can only hope it's a temporary glitch. Meanwhile your wit will be sorely missed I'm sure. However, now that you're in a serious mood this might be a good time to check out WP:SPA, WP:SOCKS, WP:NPOV and WP:POVPUSH.

It would be civil (please see WP:Civility) to withdraw your false accusation that Fourtyearswhat is an SPA. The "Fourtyearswhat" account may be many things, but an SPA is not one of them. Far from it in fact: a total of 17 contributions (admittedly not all, ahem, constructive) ranging over 14 different subjects. For comparison, Fcreid's total of 135+ contributions are all to do with Sarah Palin, and (almost?) all on the SP article(s) talk pages (i.e. not contributions to the articles), where they make manifest the single purpose of the "Fcreid" account.

The references to "polish" and "tarnish" are lost on me, I'm sorry to say. Something to do with pots and kettles?

Thank you for the thoughtful exhortation to hike. It so happens that I rather like a good hike, not least for the way it broadens one's (!) horizons. Getting out more might help broaden yours too? WP has lots of other discussion pages that would benefit from your oh-so dry wit if you could bear, just now and then, to delegate other loyal worthies to stand watch over la Palin's virtue while you briefly absent yourself from its defence. Dare we hope for a pithy line or two about hot oil wrestling in the talk page of that Women's Extreme Wrestling article, perchance? It would be a laudable start. All the best as always. — Writegeist (talk) 04:21, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for your sincere attempt to introduce me to new horizons. My wife also tries that now and again, with mixed success. Anyway, I'm quite happy where I am. For the time-being at least, it's where chivalry and honor are most sorely needed. Fcreid (talk) 04:34, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

By the way, continuing on our serious note, your insinuations of my account being WP:SPA and WP:SOCKS are way off-base. I've been around the Internet a really long time, but this is my first and only account on WP. You'll find I'm "fcreid" everywhere. In fact, that is my name--Frank C. Reid. You'll see me mentioned here [3] for programming I did around 20 years ago with BBS software, and you're welcome to drop by any of the systems I host if they are of any value to you. I've watched and respected WP as it matured, and I've always regarded it as a useful tool for finding a quick unit of measure or to figure out what bee is nesting in my sauna. However, it's laughable for anything topical or political, as the model favors dominance by whatever Kollege Kult is in vogue or whatever legion of late-night basement dwellers have the most stamina. When I first visited the Palin article, that was no exception, but I figured I'd actually try to make the model work this time. Fcreid (talk) 05:29, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

• It's not an "insinuation" about "Fcreid" being an SPA. It's a statement of fact, corroborated by the statistics already cited re. the account's single-purpose contributions.
• I don't know whether or not "Fcreid" is a sockpuppet. It's plausible. For all I know you, whoever you are, could have seen the name elsewhere on the Gorenet (particularly in light of your claim that it has been "everywhere" for "a really long time") and used it to name a sockpuppet account. There's always a possibility of sockpuppetry where SPAs are concerned. Please see WP:SPA again: While a new user [new user "Fcreid" for example] who immediately participates in a discussion without an edit history [again, new user "Fcreid" for example] may be an illegitimate sock puppet, it remains possible that a new user’s contributions are alternatively the product of a disinterested third party wishing to improve the Wikipedia project [e.g. as "Fcreid" claims]. For this reason, statements regarding motives are not recommended without an examination of the user's edit history [such as the examination of "Fcreid"'s edit history cited above]. The term should be used descriptively and should not be read pejoratively unless a specific non-neutral agenda is clearly established. IMHO an edit history totalling 135+ contributions, all confined to Sarah Palin article discussion pages and all promoting her candidature, clearly establishes a specific non-neutral agenda. Accordingly I invite you to interpret my use of the term "SPA" as a pejorative description of the "Fcreid" account; and also to revisit WP:NPOV and WP:POVPUSH.
• "[WP] is laughable for anything topical or political...": couldn't agree more.
• "Chivalry and honor": great to see you got your sense of humor back so fast! All is well! Quick, add the hot oil wrestling info and/or photo(s)!

Rest assured, I sincerely enjoy your contributions re. la Palin and find them genuinely amusing. Whether that's because or in spite of the fact that "Fcreid" is an SPA I don't know and don't care. (Please note there are no remonstrations, much less the officiousness SPA's can encounter here, in my responses. Just good-natured joshing.) All the best, Writegeist (talk) 08:04, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes, I'm afraid I hail from a background where chivalry and honor matter, whether that person is next in line at checkout or a VP candidate for the U.S. Clearly, for many that is not the case. As far as WP's suitability for political topics... WP has (or had, at least) been at the top of the search for this person. That is an obvious byproduct of its many areas where it actually has credibility. I came to the SP article for exactly that reason, having not heard of her prior to the majority of the world. What I found was simply an assault to my senses. Whether Palin is the only article to which I ever contribute is really none of your business, and given the hostility, self-righteousness and abundance of those who overestimate their own worth, it may well be. That not withstanding, if you know of any articles that might benefit from my participation, you're welcome to make suggestions. Unfortunately, not many things interest me beyond computers, and those things I do best (and for pay) are beyond the scope of what I could share publicly (and what would be of interest to most people). Fcreid (talk) 13:59, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Oh, and I'll share another of my secrets with you, Writegeist. There's a 95% probability you're not nearly as snarky in real life as you present yourself here. If you'd have pulled the threads I've provided, you'd have realized I was among the pioneers of our "online world" today, beginning more than 25 years ago. I have extensive experience assessing behavior in such environments to ascertain personality from that, particularly as those manifest in worlds of perceived anonymity. Judging from your behavior and interests, I'd venture to say my credentials in this area not only exceed your exposure to online existence but also may exceed your exposure to life itself. Fcreid (talk) 16:16, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

Unfortunately the place you claim for yourself "among the pioneers of our 'online world today'" counts for nothing on WP and is irrelevant to our discussion. On WP an editor's worth is measured by the value of his or her contributions to this common wealth of encyclopedic information. (Yup, you and I both have a long, long way to go!)

As for your "credentials" exceeding another editor's "exposure to online existence...[and] to life itself", I respectfully suggest a moment's reflection on your own declared distaste for "self-righteousness and...those who overestimate their own worth."

Finally, back to your record of blocking any info that might be deemed less than wholly beneficial to SP's candidacy: IMHO it's pretty strong evidence of pushing that SPA agenda. Which is fine and dandy by me, so long as the agenda is acknowledged. As indeed it is, now.

"In the midst of the word he was trying to say,

In the midst of the laughter and glee,

He had softly and suddenly vanished away—

For the Snark was a Boojum, you see."

Best wishes as always - Writegeist (talk) 00:17, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

I'm a WP n00b, Writegeist. Do you know if there's anything like an <ignore> option available to screen out harrassing or annoying users? Fcreid (talk) 12:09, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

I think I have you beat slightly -- I was a wizop on CompuServe from 1982 until they pulled plugs. My initial computer experience dates from the 60s at MIT. And I also believe in chivalry and honor. Some apparently don't. You may have fun examining "pet phrases" which I have used over many years to identify sockpuppets on CompuServe. Also make sure you look at talk pages for some interesting insights into how people suddenly appear to back their friends sometimes. WP is a very political world! Thanks! Dave Collect (talk) 19:27, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

Yikes, you sure do! I did some FORTRAN programming during my college days in the 70s, but only as it related to my math courses. I didn't bring my first BBS online until 1984 in Jacksonville, FL with a screaming 300-baud modem and whopping 10MB hard disk. I was an active CompuServe member, though. I can't even tally how much of my meager income then went to "You Guessed It!", their online multiplayer trivia game. My wife and I where hooked on that (at $5/hour on top of the connect charges). It's funny. Recently, she found a little visor with the YGI logo on it while going through some old boxes in the garage! Fcreid (talk) 20:04, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

Oh, for what it's worth, I actually still run that original software (WWIV BBS) via telnet on my network. [4] There are even a few old Fidonet dinosaurs in the DC area still connecting to me via modem to participate in the network. All the primary mail movement now is via IP. It still has its interesting points though, and it's certainly not as overwhelming (and occasionally unfriendly) as the Internet at-large! :) Fcreid (talk) 20:10, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

If I may interrupt this cute love-fest for a moment. Fcreid, you asked "Do you know if there's anything like an <ignore> option available to screen out harrassing or annoying users?" Yes I do.

Now back to Brokegeek Mountain. Big smooch — Writegeist (talk) —Preceding undated comment was added at 20:43, 29 September 2008 (UTC).

First languages were MAD and FAP (PL/1 came out later). BTW, have you noticed new faces suddenly appearing in Palin to take over everything? If you remember sockpuppetry from the BBS days, I don't think they are sockpuppets, but they definitely are communicating outside the Talk page. You probably should look up the "search" page on WP -- it is amazing what you can find! Thanks. Dave Collect (talk) 18:58, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

I'm glad I have no dog in the hunt, and my neophyte status keeps me on the bench. Fcreid (talk) 20:46, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes indeedy Dave Collect. Young Trig boasted of being a priest in the church of McCain. If he's to be believed, this makes sense of his polishing the golden calf in timely preparation for the idolatry. The "Ferrylodge" account had already started dusting off the calf a couple of months earlier, on 01 July. Flip through the account's contribs history. Thousands of edits pro McCain, Palin et al. A full-time GOP stooge. And now a whole new, er, surge of stooges (a spin of stooges? A slant? A shift? A shambles?) is showing up to do their puppetmasters' (and -mistresses') bidding. No doubt Dummycrat stooges and stoogettes have also infiltrated. Let's hope the contributors who most consistently demonstrate intellectual rigor will prevail in their efforts to keep the article(s) up to snuff. - Writegeist (talk) 07:30, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

WG, I think you may be stalking me -- vide Talk: Prescott Bush. Kindly cease. Collect (talk) 12:01, 2 October 2008 (UTC)

Peacekeeper

Thanks for your effort to maintain peace and equilibrium at the Palin article. Your words helped to calm the savage beast and to focus on moving forward. Bedankdt..--Buster7 (talk) 10:53, 2 October 2008 (UTC)