Proving Character and Integrity

SK Custom Cues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Aside from transactions, itrader, posts, and time, how does one go about guaranteeing his character and integrity to someone on here who is oblivious to it? I have seen many people on here who have gotten screwed, but I have also seen people who make mistakes during transactions. The basis of all the poor outcomes and wars over transactions gone wrong are the result of either miscommunication, or the belief that someone's character is in question and that is due to lack of patience and trust!

If we establish trust, we would then have a reason to be patient, but as soon as that trust deteriorates, the patience goes out the window.

I think there has got to be another avenue besides just itrader or having someone vouch for you to display that he/she is a person of integrity. What about someone who has very little or no itrader? I think asking that person for some credentials or asking around about a person is not out of line.

I also think one of the best ways to become trustworthy is to stop this chicken $hit anonymity game and step up to reveal something credible about yourself to our community. I think being a respectable member here is important to those who love pool. The term 'Respected Member' should carry more weight to what they post if they are not afraid to show who they really are, not just what they want other people to perceive them to be. We have too many people on here who hide behind their computer and talk big and that is very convenient. That is chicken $hit and doesn't sit right with me. If you are going to say something, you should be able to back it up with intelligence, not false pride.

Also, I think there should be an understanding that threads have a topic created by an OP and when that gets too far off subject, or out of line, the OP should have the right to re-direct or reel-in those who are out of line. All too often, we see two people who are pi$$ing all over a persons thread with their immature babble, and it is all because of pride. What you think is right is only good for you, but may not be the same for someone else.

One of the reasons I started the 'Show yourself thread' is to give AZ a chance to 'get to know' each other more on a more human and personal level as opposed to just a fake 'internet personality'. I am tired of seeing bold words with nothing to back it up. I want to see more people benefit on AZ and less nonsense.
 
Aside from transactions, itrader, posts, and time, how does one go about guaranteeing his character and integrity to someone on here who is oblivious to it? I have seen many people on here who have gotten screwed, but I have also seen people who make mistakes during transactions. The basis of all the poor outcomes and wars over transactions gone wrong are the result of either miscommunication, or the belief that someone's character is in question and that is due to lack of patience and trust!

If we establish trust, we would then have a reason to be patient, but as soon as that trust deteriorates, the patience goes out the window.

I think there has got to be another avenue besides just itrader or having someone vouch for you to display that he/she is a person of integrity. What about someone who has very little or no itrader? I think asking that person for some credentials or asking around about a person is not out of line.

I also think one of the best ways to become trustworthy is to stop this chicken $hit anonymity game and step up to reveal something credible about yourself to our community. I think being a respectable member here is important to those who love pool. The term 'Respected Member' should carry more weight to what they post if they are not afraid to show who they really are, not just what they want other people to perceive them to be. We have too many people on here who hide behind their computer and talk big and that is very convenient. That is chicken $hit and doesn't sit right with me. If you are going to say something, you should be able to back it up with intelligence, not false pride.

Also, I think there should be an understanding that threads have a topic created by an OP and when that gets too far off subject, or out of line, the OP should have the right to re-direct or reel-in those who are out of line. All too often, we see two people who are pi$$ing all over a persons thread with their immature babble, and it is all because of pride. What you think is right is only good for you, but may not be the same for someone else.

One of the reasons I started the 'Show yourself thread' is to give AZ a chance to 'get to know' each other more on a more human and personal level as opposed to just a fake 'internet personality'. I am tired of seeing bold words with nothing to back it up. I want to see more people benefit on AZ and less nonsense.


I dont hide behind anything Grasshopper.....I just took this this morning...and no, I dont stuff my Thong....its all real baby!

And dont be a hater cause I am a FINE ASSED BASTARD!
 

Attachments

  • muscleman.jpg
    muscleman.jpg
    96.8 KB · Views: 368
Aside from transactions, itrader, posts, and time, how does one go about guaranteeing his character and integrity to someone on here who is oblivious to it?

I have met a lot of AZ'ers in person and have vouched for some of them in deals where the other party was leary. Usually this has happened with members in foreign countries. I have become friends with several of the members in Asia and have brought stuff over for them to save them on shipping and make the transaction easier for the seller.

I'll vouch for you & okie any time. You guys were great hosts at Magoo's a couple weeks ago. Thanks again & hope to see you in April.
 
This is me - Tommy Richert, I live in Detroit. You can check me out by clicking on my user name - then open about me.

I was going to post a picture like that other guy, except on my shorts it only has a short inscription on them, it say's,
" The longest yard". Ha ha................only kiddin :smile:

That is my girlfriend in my Aviator,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,yeah.....only kiddin again :)
 

Attachments

  • .....k.jpg
    .....k.jpg
    3.4 KB · Views: 305
I have met a lot of AZ'ers in person and have vouched for some of them in deals where the other party was leary. Usually this has happened with members in foreign countries. I have become friends with several of the members in Asia and have brought stuff over for them to save them on shipping and make the transaction easier for the seller.

I'll vouch for you & okie any time. You guys were great hosts at Magoo's a couple weeks ago. Thanks again & hope to see you in April.

Brad, you will vouch for me wearing my Patriotic Thong....you are a true friend! Maybe I will wear it the next time we play for some BIG MONEY!
 
When in doubt, ask about.

It doesn't take too long at AZB to know there's a number of people here that are universally trusted, long-standing contributors. When in doubt @ someone, privately contact someone you trust and ask their opinion.

Thanks for the OP. Any genuine push towards more integrity is a welcome one.
 
Wonderful......

Brad, you will vouch for me wearing my Patriotic Thong....you are a true friend! Maybe I will wear it the next time we play for some BIG MONEY!

Do I have to stuff the bills in your thong if I lose?

Looks like the last guys did.
 
Seriously, I really look like that.....HOnest Abe.....and SK Custom Cues made that really TRICK thong for me :grin:
 
Do I have to stuff the bills in your thong if I lose?

Looks like the last guys did.

No, I will be a friend and you can just wad the 50 and 100 bills up and throw them at me from 5 foot :grin:
 
AZB is a virtual poolroom.

You're never going to "prove character and integrity." Not even in real life. That's just a long term, and even situationally- conditional, value set.

iTrader, asking for someone's credentials or finding people who will speak on their behalf are all fine for a one time deal... If it goes bad, you can harm their iTrader, online credibility, and you can ask those "friends" for further info.

But that isn't enough. See, a posted picture and a name aren't going to tell you what kind of person I am, but they will help you find me if you want to hurt me (AND if I gave you the right name and photo).

Is that really what you're looking for- something bigger on the line in case a deal goes bad and revenge/ retribution is called for? I'm not making any deals, so why should I pre- post personal collateral? Because I want people to trust my opinion? That's laughably offensive.

Preserving one's privacy is not "chicken $hit." It's self- preservation in a world full of freaks and looneys within a medium (internet) that remembers absolutely everything for anyone's future searches.

But I didn't tell you my name, so you have no reason to hear me out, right?
 
You're never going to "prove character and integrity." Not even in real life. That's just a long term, and even situationally- conditional, value set.

iTrader, asking for someone's credentials or finding people who will speak on their behalf are all fine for a one time deal... If it goes bad, you can harm their iTrader, online credibility, and you can ask those "friends" for further info.

But that isn't enough. See, a posted picture and a name aren't going to tell you what kind of person I am, but they will help you find me if you want to hurt me (AND if I gave you the right name and photo).

Is that really what you're looking for- something bigger on the line in case a deal goes bad and revenge/ retribution is called for? I'm not making any deals, so why should I pre- post personal collateral? Because I want people to trust my opinion? That's laughably offensive.

Preserving one's privacy is not "chicken $hit." It's self- preservation in a world full of freaks and looneys within a medium (internet) that remembers absolutely everything for anyone's future searches.

But I didn't tell you my name, so you have no reason to hear me out, right?
I was going to reply to this thread but you beat me to it. I agree 100%!
 
You're never going to "prove character and integrity." Not even in real life. That's just a long term, and even situationally- conditional, value set.

iTrader, asking for someone's credentials or finding people who will speak on their behalf are all fine for a one time deal... If it goes bad, you can harm their iTrader, online credibility, and you can ask those "friends" for further info.

But that isn't enough. See, a posted picture and a name aren't going to tell you what kind of person I am, but they will help you find me if you want to hurt me (AND if I gave you the right name and photo).

Is that really what you're looking for- something bigger on the line in case a deal goes bad and revenge/ retribution is called for? I'm not making any deals, so why should I pre- post personal collateral? Because I want people to trust my opinion? That's laughably offensive.

Preserving one's privacy is not "chicken $hit." It's self- preservation in a world full of freaks and looneys within a medium (internet) that remembers absolutely everything for anyone's future searches.

But I didn't tell you my name, so you have no reason to hear me out, right?


I would think that posting my HAWT picture above would show everyone I mean BUISINESS! WTF?
 
I also think one of the best ways to become trustworthy is to stop this chicken $hit anonymity game and step up to reveal something credible about yourself to our community. ..... We have too many people on here who hide behind their computer and talk big and that is very convenient. That is chicken $hit and doesn't sit right with me.

Good luck :rolleyes: This pressure to eliminate anonymity has been tried before, here and elsewhere, and to the best of my knowledge has always failed.

Dave <-- known to quite a few AZers, but anonymous to most
 
Preserving one's privacy is not "chicken $hit." It's self- preservation in a world full of freaks and looneys within a medium (internet) that remembers absolutely everything for anyone's future searches.

But I didn't tell you my name, so you have no reason to hear me out, right?

Anyone remember Fast Larry???
 
Man, we KNOW you mean business- now we're just worried about just what kind of business that IS!

: )


I always knew he (ftgokie) was gay. GAY! dude, Gay! That is foul.


I think some people might misunderstand me. What is wrong with being a 'known member of a community'? What is wrong with sharing clean pictures of yourself? What is wrong with telling a group of friends what you do, how many members you have in your family, and most importantly, what your pool game is like? Why keep that private? because you are afraid of someone coming to find you? Are you in trouble or do you feel guilty about something? I don't have all the answers, and I don't mean to sound so harsh, but I don't see why we can't be closer as a community. I think if you are involved as a person in life, you are established and that is something to be proud of, not hide behind. We are all stuck on this earth together, and until we die, we might as well, try and get along.

"I want more people to benefit from being closer with each other among our pool based community."

If you want to post and remain private, I am not dogging anyone for that. I am talking about mainly those who do deals and those who smart off out of convenience of the internet. It kind of like those who post smart comments on youtube knowing that no one will ever find out who they are. I think that is an act of a pu$$y. If you want to say something, do your best to do it face to face. I think it helps others to 'get to know' someone and if their status is well known, and they have a reputation for being a 'respectable person' that gives people a more comfortable feeling.

I can't believe you thought I want your info to come to your house and hurt you if a deal goes wrong. That is twisting things unnecessarily and taking me the wrong way. That happens a lot here too. Failure to understand.

As far as the chicken $hit stuff, just being anonymous doesn't mean you are. If there are those who want to protect their private identity for fear of predators, that is your way of life and power to you. I said that there are people who post some big words and do so from behind an internet personality without revealing details of who they are.

My honest opinion is that if you want to be a more respected member here on AZ, you won't be afraid to represent yourself for who you are and that includes what you do for a living, a little about your pool background, your education, and other characteristics that help people to know 'members in a club'. I know that this is the internet, but this is also AZ billiards and I have found some friends that are part of our well-connected world of pool.

Brad Simpson (Cuaba) - Shawn Smith (ftgokie) - Larry (63kcode) are examples of people I met on here who I never would've met otherwise. Just last weekend on the way to Dallas, I stopped by Larry's house and he showed me his new lathe and gave me a tour of his shop. We had a blast and hit it off like old friends. I feel that connection here and that is something special. " I'm just trying to expand on that."

Brad has a video of himself on here that is wonderful. It demonstrates the love he has for pool and also tells a little about himself. I think that is a superb. There are many people who opened themselves up unselfishly in the 'Show Yourself' thread with pictures and general details of their life to help us get to know them better. Me especially. I am not afraid of putting myself up there for people to see. I am not perfect, and I even have many flaws, but I am not afraid to let people know who I am and I would like to see more of that kind of spirit in a place where I consider to be very special network of people.

There are some who just lurk and others who just want to reveal a minimal amount about themselves, and I am not bashing you for that, so don't get your panties in a bunch over that. Some people don't have time, or some people just want to exist here with an avatar and a screen name. Some people like DaveK or Mr. Hoppe post some very intelligent and helpful posts, and I can tell by their comments that they are intelligent, and that makes me want to respect them. I wish I could see what they look like, and would like to know them more on a personal level, and maybe one day, I will call them to find out. Not everyone is the same though. There are others, though, like cocobolo cowboy who posted a nice story and photo about his aid to the 'Boys and Girls Club' and all the sponsors like 'Tweeten' and 'Ozone'. That is someone who is involved in the community and is well respected. He represents someone who isn't afraid to share his life with others and when he says something, we take it more seriously because we know him better.

I think there are some who will twist what I say to make me sound overbearing. For those who just want to observe from a distance, post once in a while, and not get involved too heavily, I think there is nothing wrong with that. There are some people who smart off or act like they are so smart when in fact, they have much to learn. This is what I am sick of. I know there are many special people here because I can sense it. I want to get to know some more people and I am sure there are others who feel the same way. Me and Tommyd1 have just become friends through a recent transaction. I feel that if I were to go to his hometown, that he would welcome me and we would hit it off like old pals. Because we have one thing in common which is pool, we should find more reasons to be positive and expand on that.

I wish all my brothers and sisters here a HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
 
Ron Jacobs

I have known a poster on another forum for over ten years. He is very credible and all of those that demand to know who people are would love him. He has a real first and last name and has a picture of an outstanding looking citizen.

The minor catch is that his name isn't Ron Jacobs and the picture isn't his. Twelve or fifteen years ago he was stalked in real life by some moron off of the internet when he used his real name. Add to that identity theft now. Almost anyone whose identify I wanted to steal who uses their real name and has posted for at least a few years on here, I could steal it.

I have withstood a concerted effort by a few dozen people to hack into my computer and steal my identity years ago. There was even a substantial bounty offered for anyone that could do it. There were death threats made against me by multiple people at the same time this was going on. I was prepared to defend myself on the net and in person if needed but I don't care to live my life that way.

I am "Hu" everywhere on the net that I post that accepts a two letter handle. One site tweaked new software so I could continue to use "Hu" after ten years or more. Where I can't use "Hu" I use ShootingArts and still sign as Hu. I have made the handle what it is, the handle didn't make me and real names and photographs don't mean crap when a con is behind them as everyone who does business on AZB should know by now.

Hu
 
Back
Top