Tact and Discretion

[greg2]

... in response to My last comment on this subject, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 24, 2002

No one knows the truth about anything at a forum like this. It is all about making comments and others throwing out comments and by not knowing enough the comments and responses can be right on by accident or so far off.

However, in all of this flying of words, everyone gets to think - to think about themselves and about others and about their conceptions and the result of thought is coming a better understanding about why we are all here and what it is we all seek. And, all the name calling etc only is a part of the evolution and it is ok regardless of whether someone is correct or someone is wrong - but it is the dialogue that provokes the thought process and that is what we all need.

[Charles]

... in response to Re: Tact and Discretion, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 23, 2002

Mark, I think you misunderstood the intent of my post.  It was not to attack anything you said or did.  Like most of those below, I enjoyed your detailed reports which in many ways mirrored my own experiences.  Indeed, I didn't say anything until LP stirred the stew with his allegations.  My point is that when you provide such detail, you open yourself up to all kinds of potential problems, which in your case was LP's allegations about having met your girl before.  It's good that you got your fiance's consent for the pictures which, BTW, I tried to show my wife yesterday before sending my post but the msn photos had been deleted.  She read the LP thread of posts and opined that it was not a good idea to provide such photos and intimate information.  You disagree, and that's okay, but not all women may feel the same as yours. BTW, I was not the first man my wife met, although I was the first American.  As I noted above, most of the letters come not from Americans, but from Western Europeans with some from South Africa and Canada.  I think it naive to assume that if you visit the FSU today you will be the first foreign man your girl will meet.  It may be the case, but if your lady is as beautiful as yours, I would find it very surprising.  I am glad you are happy and hope it stays that way for you.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re:  Tact and Discretion, posted by Charles on Jun 24, 2002

Actually, I think that LP has twisted that whole thing to suite his own purposes...

I really don't care if Victoria has met someone else before.

First off, she has a 10 year old son.  Since there have been no special stars in the sky, or Wise Men Trekking to Kherson... I know she has been with a man before. I'm not stupid.

Also, she is a very attractive lady, who is 31 years of age. It is reasonable to assume that she had been with other men.

Could some of those men have been Americans?

Sure.

Would I care?

No.

Except for one thing: she told me that I was the first American that she met.

Now, I didn't ask her that. She volunteered it. Admittedly, our communication was not always perfect, but from what I understood... she had never met an American before. That's what she told me.

And, I choose to believe her.

Not because I care if she had met with anyone else... but because if she tells me something I would hope it is the truth.

Have I quizzed her about it now that LP has made some allegations? No.

If it had been Dan who had said it, or Jack, or KenC... yes, I would have probably asked her something about it. Not all pissed off, or anything, just to get it out in the open, and to make sure I had understood what she told me the first time.

But it wasn't someone I respect who made the allegation... it was LP...

I figure one of two things happened:

Either:

A) She never met LP, and he is just making the claim, because he likes being the P-L prophet of doom or

B) She did meet LP, and is so embarrassed that she would rather forget the whole incident. Something I could certainly understand! Haven't you ever gone on a date and wished you could just forget it ever happened?

I know I sure have!

So, either way, I'm not upset about it...

Believe me, I have more pressing things in my life to worry about besides whether Victoria had a cup of coffee with some 51 year old guy who I don't even know...

[JohnL]

... in response to Meeting Other Americans, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 24, 2002

maybe some "hope" as well.

[yoe]

... in response to You'r *Riding* on Lust Lad - NOTHING ELS..., posted by JohnL on Jun 25, 2002

better than times with money and no lust. Maybe lust is just the seed to love. I belive that out entire human existance was built on this premise. Some call it passion. And if passion is a crime-then send me to the gallows.
Joe

[LP]

... in response to Meeting Other Americans, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 24, 2002

jeesh...finally! Thanks!

[yoe]

... in response to Meeting Other Americans, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 24, 2002

n.t

[Ramblin]

... in response to Re: Tact and Discretion, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 23, 2002

Mark, this second novel of yours that you are working on now, is it about your trip or anything to do with fsu?  Just curious.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to question for Mark, posted by Ramblin on Jun 24, 2002

No... but I have been thinking that I ought to work it in some how... I mean.. sheesh... I have 50 some pages of material already...

Actually, the genre I write in mostly (when doing a novel) is fantasy... Um... that is fantasy as in Lord of the Rings kind... not the Penthouse: two blondes, a broken down car and a trucker with the can of redi-whip who stops by to help them kind...

BTW, I don't want to mislead you... I AM working on my second novel... but Del Rey passed on my first one. The editor has been great though, and asked to see my second novel when she passed on the first one... She's even given me some "unofficial" advice after proofing the first draft and outline... Very unusual... She's been really great...

I have been published... but only in magazines thus far...

[rojak]

... in response to Re: Tact and Discretion, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 23, 2002

Mark, you say some folks write to you. How is it possible? I'd like to share some of my experiences and thoughts with you but your profile shows no email add.....

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: Re: Tact and Discretion, posted by rojak on Jun 23, 2002

Yeah, you have to be clever...

Some of the guys wrote to me through the MSN board that I had up... I don't know if that's possible anymore...

And, a few weeks back, I posted my email address. Some guys actually read the archives :-)

I took it out of my profile because I had someone send a  hate "e-card" to someone in my name. Also, I got tired of the troll email.

But you can write me at markjoel60

At hotmail

[Richard]

... in response to Re: Tact and Discretion, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 23, 2002

I enjoyed Marks reports as well. Trip reports like this provide an interest comparison for those of us who have been in relationships that weren't what they should / could have been.  Some of us need to have our eyes opened.

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Re: Tact and Discretion, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 23, 2002

I thought it was well written and right on.  I appreciate the honesty.  I try to write my trip reports as well.  I would not worry about anything if I were you.  Anyone who read it who is a real guy and not a prude has to appreciate it.

[KenC]

... in response to Re: Tact and Discretion, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 23, 2002

Mark,
I found your report to be a VERY good read.  Would I expose such intimate details of my relationship with Lena? No.  I sometimes think I have revealed too much as it is.  I think I understand your creative writer side taking control of the thought process.  Luckily, I have no such dilemmas.  LOL.
KenC