They weren't. But boy is this thread entertaining.

This is a fair question from Strat and a fair response from Trag. I'm not sure if this was a legitimate observation/question, but I'll give a longer reply since that's kind of my thing.

RM hasn't been good for me for a while. I've been coming here a long time, I know a lot of the people here individually and would consider many of them friends, but the general vibe and tone of the forum as it currently exists, and has existed for a few years, is not a good fit for my sense of humor, my preferences for discourse, etc. And yet, opening this site has become such a part of my daily internet browsing routine -- which in itself is something that consumes far too much of my time -- that I can't quit it. I end up wasting copious amounts of time even when I have nothing of value to contribute, which comes at the expense of time with my family and hobbies, which I then feel guilty about, and which I then channel into posts that I intend as deliberately over-the-top rants against minor annoyances (see above) but end up coming across as overly serious and snotty -- a situation that's exacerbated by the fact that I'm one of the few posters that doesn't really participate in RM's comedy culture, so people are less likely to assume I meant something as a joke than they would be with other posters. I know this about myself, and I know this about the forum. Yet here I am.

Earlier this year I asked Stip to lock my account, which as a courtesy he did, and which he kindly signed off on with an open invitation to come back anytime I changed my mind. I managed to stay away for a 6-7 months, but I still checked the site, and eventually saw something I wanted to reply to (the new Kanye albums, I think), thinking I'd been away long enough to come back and observe some self-control.

Nope. Now I'm back to checking in off and on all day again, and the cycle is in full swing all over again. And, dumb as this is going to sound, I think the nu-metal and pop-punk tournaments are actually making it worse. It's been a long time since I've actively hated any music -- at a certain point, I became capable of approaching even the stuff I strongly disliked with an element of distance and measure -- but I hated this stuff when it was out, like it roused fiery hatred in me that I'm embarrassed to admit ever came about as the result of mere pop music, but there it was nonetheless. So I come on thinking I'm going to participate in a fun, fluffy internet activity, but it just ends up rousing all these dormant feelings of anger I had towards it in my early twenties. I should learn. But see above.

I don't mean to sound dramatic; I legitimately do struggle with what kind of role RM and the internet in general should play in my life, and I resent how much of a struggle it is for me on a daily basis. So take that for what it's worth. But I apologize if I've been curmudgeonly and unpleasant. No offense intended toward anyone.

Nah, strat was just being a dick

Also, while I enjoyed the nu metal tourney, this new one going on I can't even go into anymore. So much of that music annoys me, I barely go into that tourney now

classic Parallax scenario

i would literally shit my pants if KD laid the GD smack down on me

This godforsaken corner of the internet is always enriched by your presence KD, no matter the degree of grumpiness.

I enjoyed the nu-metal tournament way more than I ancitipated (music included!) but I also just can’t stomach the stuff in the pop-punk one.

I can really relate to most of this

This description of RM made me chuckle. Then made me cry.

You're crying, now I'm crying.

bunch of crybabies in here

Speaking of tournaments, remember when we had a cover song competition probably a decade ago? As in we recorded ourselves playing? That was fun.

where could i hear/see these?

The covers? That is a good question, I remember Stip had them stored somewhere years ago.

I did one where you could play any band/song, but I think they did one later too with just all PJ songs. I forget who it was, but someone on here was a ringer and had some good stuff.

stip!

Stip died.

now i'm worried, where's stip ?

another victim of the crack game

you can blame Bush I

putting crack on the streets

KRS One knew

I hope that you stick around, KD. We enjoy your posts. I agree that we all fall into that cycle of checking the internet way too often, and applaud you for approaching Stip to lock your account.

Agree totally. Rock and Roll may be a lot of fun, but it’s still their fucking job. Be professional. I’ve seen 4 shows since seein Pearl Jam back in 2016 and every one of them started on time. They’re becoming Axl Rose prima donnas. Back in ‘91, we waited and hour and a half after Skid Row finished their set for G’n’R to take the stage. Their set suffered for it too. SR blew them away. PJ is becoming everything in rock they were actively against when they started.

Seconded.