Who knows who?

[Sasha13]

Hopefully this isn't too chatty - it appears that some of you guys know each other personally - so who actually knows who??? And, broadly speaking, how do you know them? I only ask because there's such a wide range of opinions on the site that I (strangely) assumed that everyone must be independant from each other - which tonight I then realised was daft as people who know each other can have the same opinion!!! Anyway, hopefully you get the drift!

[Artful]

Ooh, Sasha13, somehow I don't think this question is going to be too popular!

[acw]

Knowing other people or not, doesn't influence opinions does it?  I think people just know each other from the site.  I don't think ABE will like the question though!

[Sasha13]

It was asked in all innocence!!! Could this question really cause offence to anyone??? If so, my apologies!!!

[acw]

No no - I don't think we mean offending users.  Not at all, :-D  I just mean that the ABE may not like it.  And those who are paranoid about "gangs" on AB and thse who have the whole "insider theory" might feel there really is a conspiracy!!  You're alright though Sasha13 - I wasn't having a dig at you and I don't think Artful was either! :-)

[secretspirit]

How is it offensive? To my knowledge I haven't met anyone on this site although with all the aliases you never know!

[flaming]

Sasha13:  You will see the same names coming up on threads. There is a line drawn about chatty questions but no-one is quite sure where the line is.  No arguments and insults, friendly banter....OK;  some people have been on AB a long time.  There was a question about where we all live regionally or generally   a while back - see if you can find it, about a month ago, I think. You are supposed to ask a question that is of general interest.  It stands to reason that some people have recommended their friends to this site.  Watch the threads.

[Kay]

I dont find Sasha's question offensive Artful. I dont know anyone personally on AB but like andy hughs I "Recognise" members by their names:-----)))

[graemer]

Hi Sasha I only got to know people via the site and have a bit of friendly banter when possible. Hi Artful...can you solve the mystery on people and places where netibiza is convinced you're In A Pickle. See sasha sometime's we don't even recognise each other!

[Artful]

FINA I didn't say anything about offensive but if 'offensive' is synonymous with 'not too popular' , well we don't use the same Thesaurus.

Hi graemer, yes I'll go see?

[callisto]

hi folks....... i to my knowledge do not know anyone personally on this site,like everyone else who has used site for sometime you tend to find people looking out for your handle(user-name) and join the thread to help out or say hi  this is why it seems perhaps we know one another ......no offence given sasha its nice to share a laugh with others...X

[netibiza]

Hi Sasha13 certainly not an offensive question.  No I do not know anyone personally(to my knowledge) but feel that most are friends now on this site.

[flaming]

I think Artful  was being tongue-in-cheek because of the fairly recent hoo-hah some of us know about . Anyone not involved in that particular thread wouldn't see the joke. He meant not too popular with either ABEd or some people who take exception to people crossing that line I mentioned. In other words Sacha13  you just hae to feel your way along.  I can't get rid of bold all of a sudden.

[littleoldme]

i DON'T SEE HOW....HANG ON A SEC, FLAMIN' CAPS LOck, ah that's better, sorry about that...

I don't see how it can be regarded as too chatty as long as we answer the question that Sasha13 asked, so...

I don't know anybody here AFAIK, but you do get to know who among the regulars is going to be friendly, who roughly has similar opinions to you and so on by their postings. For example, if I seem on friendly terms with certain other posters, it's because I've always found them to be pleasant and amenable (sp?), not because we've been formally introduced. As for the wide variety of opinions on the site, that's what makes it so interesting, as long as everyone respects each other's right to disagree without insulting or belittling them (something which, sadly, has not always been the case of late).

[dirtyharriet]

Don't know anyone but obviously recognise the regulars who are most respected.

[Artful]

Ah (and heaves a sigh of relief) thankyou flaming. Exactly that: 'tongue-in-cheek' - cheers for understanding where I was coming from.

[jno]

Hi flaming yes you put something in bold and everything wants to be; just highlight it and click on the B again and it goes back to normal. (Same for getting out of italics, underlining etc).

No, I don't know anyone. Some people do because they've told friends, who've then joined. I haven't told anyone because this is my secret vice. They all think I'm doing online sudokus.