When Did You Know AZB Forums was Family?

akaTrigger

akaTrigger

Hi!
Silver Member
I remember the exact day when I realized AZB was family. I had been reading the forums but not posting a lot. One day ran across this thread about OldHasBeen and was weeping about a man I had never met. I was crying true tears because the love for this man was so obvious from everyone here. It made me realize AZB forums was a family.

I felt like I became a family member on a sad day a year ago on this date. I had been posting much more frequently and meeting AZBers away from the internet and when my Dad passed, someone started a thread for me. It meant the world to me and that's when I felt like a family member.

Please share your stories about when you first recognized AZB forums as family and/or when you felt like a family member.


P.S. The last year and a half had its ups and downs, and coming here has really helped me when I would get depressed. Thank you!
 
This is a cool thread.

I definitely feel that this is a real community. People REALLY do look out for each other on here. I have seen this many many times.


One of my experiences on here is when a member wanted to get a cue from a cuemaker in my area, and wanted someone to help him out with a purchase. Well, we knew nothing about each other other than a screen name, and he sent me a money order for ( i think) $700 or so to pick him up a cue, and send it back to him. It was around a 45 min trip ( one way), but I wanted to check out the shop anyways. I had to hold on to the money for about a week to wait untill saturday to make the trip.

I just remember thinking " wow, it is really cool that there is this much trust on here". I almost felt guilty at first, because I know he must've been thinking " I hope this guy comes through, and doesn't pull anything funny" Anyways, he got his cue and his change, and all worked out fine. I just thought it was a good thing. I am not going to go into details in case he would rather keep it private, but if he wants to share, it is okay by me.

I just remeber thinking to myself, I doubt this kinda thing happens too much on your average website.

Anyway, I know you were intending a bit more personal stories than just cue purchases. However, I wanted to get the ball rolling, and this is what I thought of when I read your post.

JW
 
OldHasBeen was what AZB is all about, he shared his arsenal of knowledge freely.



AnimatedCowboy.gif
 
After 50 years of playing pool just about everyday It came to an abrupt stop in minutes. A heart attack and a stroke KO'd me from anymore pool. Being at home and bored I found AZ in 2003. At first I just lurked, then signed up and started posting. Without AZ and being able to be some small part of pool kept me sane I'm sure. I have got to know new people from all around the world and found friends that I lost track of over the years. Thanks AZ and thank you AZer's. Johnnyt
 
poolpro said:
This is a cool thread.

I definitely feel that this is a real community. People REALLY do look out for each other on here. I have seen this many many times.


One of my experiences on here is when a member wanted to get a cue from a cuemaker in my area, and wanted someone to help him out with a purchase. Well, we knew nothing about each other other than a screen name, and he sent me a money order for ( i think) $700 or so to pick him up a cue, and send it back to him. It was around a 45 min trip ( one way), but I wanted to check out the shop anyways. I had to hold on to the money for about a week to wait untill saturday to make the trip.

I just remember thinking " wow, it is really cool that there is this much trust on here". I almost felt guilty at first, because I know he must've been thinking " I hope this guy comes through, and doesn't pull anything funny" Anyways, he got his cue and his change, and all worked out fine. I just thought it was a good thing. I am not going to go into details in case he would rather keep it private, but if he wants to share, it is okay by me.

I just remeber thinking to myself, I doubt this kinda thing happens too much on your average website.

Anyway, I know you were intending a bit more personal stories than just cue purchases. However, I wanted to get the ball rolling, and this is what I thought of when I read your post.

JW
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Cues are very important - this is a great story! Thank you for sharing. :thumbup:

It reminds me of two cue stories about AZB and family.

When I was looking into a new design for a Jim Buss, everyone was very helpful! I got losts of replies, pms and emails of photos for ideas. It was awesome!

And I remember when the airlines lost 1proscoe's cue. Eric. on the forums drove out of his way to pick them up for him and then ship them to him. Ah... the AZB family members. :)
 
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akaTrigger said:
I remember the exact day when I realized AZB was family. I had been reading the forums but not posting a lot. One day ran across this thread about OldHasBeen and was weeping about a man I had never met. I was crying true tears because the love for this man was so obvious from everyone here. It made me realize AZB forums was a family.

I felt like I became a family member on a sad day a year ago on this date. I had been posting much more frequently and meeting AZBers away from the internet and when my Dad passed, someone started a thread for me. It meant the world to me and that's when I felt like a family member.

Please share your stories about when you first recognized AZB forums as family and/or when you felt like a family member.


P.S. The last year and a half had its ups and downs, and coming here has really helped me when I would get depressed. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Great Thread Melinda!!
I am fairly new to AZB (joined april of this year)So not sure if I am considered part of the AZ family,but I have met some very good people, who all love this great sport.
I was not here when OHB was an Az er. I just read the thread about him.
I will say in all honesty, there were tears rolling down my face, especially when I read the post from his wife. Wow, what a giving soul.
All I have to say is, "I sure wish I would of joined AZB sooner."
I would of loved to read the stories about his gambling days.
I lost my mom in 2005 and I came verrrrry close to quitting pool all together. Her tragic death left a big hole in me. But I knew she would never want me to quit what I loved doing most in this world, and that is playing pool.
The passion on this site is amazing. It inspires me to be the best I can be.
All of you inspire me. Just wanted to say thank you. This site has contributed to me getting my passion back.:)
 
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family

akaTrigger said:
Please share your stories about when you first recognized AZB forums as family and/or when you felt like a family member.


P.S. The last year and a half had its ups and downs, and coming here has really helped me when I would get depressed. Thank you!
Click to expand...


I felt it from early on after joining:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=25378&highlight=fraudulent+seller

This thread had 80 posts and 4134 views about people
helping two members who were potentially being fraud
victims by a bad seller.

I was one of the two. Runscott was the other



Fraudulent cue seller on ebay ( 1 2 3)
runscott 03-06-2006 03:04 PM
by TATE 80 4,134 Wanted/For Sale


I have since this experience met many AZer's in real life
including runscott who moved from Georgia when I met
him on AZB to Seattle, where I've played pool with him
and bought a few cues.

I would have to say that my overall experience on this
site has been excellent, and I have learned much in
the short couple of years that I've been here.

Danny
 
akaTrigger said:
And I remember when the airlines lost 1proscoe's cue. Someone drove out of their way to pick them up for him and then ship them to him. Ah... the AZB family members. :)
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That would be Eric, who I have met numerous times. He is as stand up in person as he was when he did Ross this favor.

Thanks for bringing Tom back to light with this thread. His stories were never ending and he was always good for a laugh. I will never forget a thread about tips and Tom made a comment about the best tip being made out of Rhino foreskin. I still laugh everytime I think about it.
 
Is all you have to do to realize this place is family is look at all the flame threads and offers for help when one of us gets screwed. Its like a big gang of bullys going after the person who was at wrong. There are alot of times I wish it would stop but then I stop and think of what it would be like if it didnt happen. this place would be full of scamers and nobody would be willing to discuss ANYTHING in a public forum let alone meet in person.(I met my first AZer this weekend, thanks for the good time RayDM)
 
Johnnyt said:
After 50 years of playing pool just about everyday It came to an abrupt stop in minutes. A heart attack and a stroke KO'd me from anymore pool. Being at home and bored I found AZ in 2003. At first I just lurked, then signed up and started posting. Without AZ and being able to be some small part of pool kept me sane I'm sure. I have got to know new people from all around the world and found friends that I lost track of over the years. Thanks AZ and thank you AZer's. Johnnyt
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You're truly one of the family. I enjoy reading most of your posts. You are a true war horse. I chuckled after reading one of the other threads here about you hiding behind a computer screen. It was the response that Jay Helfert gave. I get the feeling that you were one tuff son of a gun.

My health still allows me to play, but someday I'm sure I'll be at my computer and AZB a little more than I am now. Keep posting. thanks
 
I realized that this was a family when I read threads about the things people go through in everyday life. What caught my attention however, was the way the folks here actually cared about each other and tried to help and comfort others. That made me want to be here and "get to know everyone". I have met some fine people and some people going through different stages of personal growth. I would never offer my phone number or the town I live in anywhere, but here. The kindness and giving attitude of my new "family" is worth more than I can say. Thank you all for being here for each other. It is what it is all about. Keep doing what you do.

Dwight
 
JustBelowPro said:
I realized AtoZ was a family when people who suck up to Mr. Wilson get looked after like little children whom he fondly protects and looks after.
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Like most functional families, behave like a child, post like a child, abuse the trust given to you......and you'll be treated like a child.

AZB is a great community. You are made welcome until you prove yourself undeserving of that welcome and even then you are usually given a chance to put it right by some very forgiving people.

There is a wealth of knowledge, a smattering of eccentrics, an inherent sense of fairness, a willingness to help whenever possible and a whole bunch of very amusing writers of posts. This more than makes up for the occasional negative petty sniper with 6 obnoxious posts.

Thank you all for making this particular international resident feel at home in the family since day one.

Nice thread idea Melinda.
 
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memikey said:
Like most functional families, behave like a child, post like a child, abuse the trust given to you......and you'll be treated like a child.

AZB is a great community. You are made welcome until you prove yourself undeserving of that welcome and even then you are usually given a chance to put it right by some very forgiving people.

There is a wealth of knowledge, a smattering of eccentrics, an inherent sense of fairness, a willingness to help whenever possible and a whole bunch of very amusing writers of posts. This more than makes up for the occasional negative petty sniper with 6 obnoxious posts.

Thank you all for making this particular international resident feel at home in the family since day one.

Nice thread idea Melinda.
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When I need your approval ill ask for it, hold your breath till then. My number of posts means nothing....believe me.
 
JustBelowPro said:
When I need your approval ill ask for it, hold your breath till then. My number of posts means nothing....believe me.
Click to expand...

<holding breath>
















.

Damn, I can't hold it no mo'.

:)
 
Great thread.
The red rep button is for people just like just below not a pro.
The one thread that still kills me cause I am not sure,
was the one about washing your feet in the toilet that OHB
told, OMG, I will never know if he was pulling our leg, LOL.
hugs
mrs.g
 
Family, 9-Ball style...began in 2002

I dunno how many times I have hung with my sister Wendy, Tom from Cincy/Sactown/Mars, Rich and Mrs R, Eric...a few times even that one time at band camp, RJ/KATO and a cast of hundreds :p . The CCB/AZ US OPEN's <2002 was the begining of all that> , DCC and Valley Forge...Some have came and went...others choose to stay distant and a very select few are very consistant. Kinna like a massively disfunctional family that has its reunions at major pool tournaments.

Before the vast wasteland known as the intranet, I ran with the same 4-5 guys and it became very stale. Nice to have the connections I have made and I thank those who let me in their lives.
 
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