Do you guys ever...

[Sun Tzu]

Do you guys ever try to explain this place to people outside of the internet? Like say to a co-worker, or a friend. I have tried on a few occasions, and everytime I feel like a complete schmuck by the time I'm done. It's even harder if you're trying to explain it to a person who doesn't use the internet that often, so they have no clue as to what a "message board" is.

"So it's a place where you talk about a football game...but you never <i>really</i> talk about the game?"

[Honolulu_Blue]

Yeah. It's not easy.

[MizzouRah]

My co-workers see the graphic, "Front Office Football Central" and they immediately start talking Rams football.

Todd

[Travis]

Working at a graphic design place, it's easily referred to as, "this forum I frequent online" though not usually mentioned when the boss is around. I tend to not mention the fact of the intended point of the board considering the topics we're usually covering when it's brought up.

[Flasch186]

i call it the board and everyone, JFA, 3R, C, GF, BF, MtB all think its nuts and cannot fathom the depths of the conversations i have on here. I think they just simply think its "gay".

[Ben E Lou]

My wife's family is quite a bit more geek-ish than mine, and we were with them for Thanksgiving. We were telling my brother-in-law and one of her cousins about the Balrog statue thread, and they were COMPLETELY into it.

[Franklinnoble]

Bah. I'm an elitist. I don't explain. I just snort derisively and stare down my nose at anyone who doesn't get it.

[Franklinnoble]

i call it the board and everyone, JFA, 3R, C, GF, BF, MtB all think its nuts and cannot fathom the depths of the conversations i have on here. I think they just simply think its "gay".

I'll bet you get that a lot.

[Draft Dodger]

nope. don't even try.

[KWhit]

I think my wife is secretly amazed by it. She tries to act like I'm some kind of geek or something, but she's always amazed that I know all the good news days before she does like the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese sandwich and stuff.

[judicial clerk]

I don't even try. Whenever I quote some information I gleaned from the board or cite to the person who wrote it, I come across like the queen of the geeks.

[Franklinnoble]

I think my wife is secretly amazed by it. She tries to act like I'm some kind of geek or something, but she's always amazed that I know all the good news days before she does like the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese sandwich and stuff.

Same here... although my wife doesn't always know where it comes from.

It's sort of like that "Fairly OddParents" cartoon that my kids are always watching... you know, the kid always comes up with these amazing doodads, provided by his fairy godparents... and whenever his friends ask him where he got his new bauble, his standard response is the same as mine:

"Uhh... Internet?"

[Joe]

no, never.

[Fonzie]

I just describe it as "A football game forum that's not really about football or the football game, but still is, kind of, you know, about football. And sometimes the game. And stuff."

People usually tend not to inquire any further.

[Neuqua]

"This forum I frequent online" is what I usually say and even that gets wierd looks, so I usually end it right there.

[BigJohn&TheLions]

I tried to explain it to my ex girlfriend (while we were still together.) She looked at me like I was insane.

[Desnudo]

"This forum I frequent online" is what I usually say and even that gets wierd looks, so I usually end it right there.

I tried that once...once.

[Franklinnoble]

You're all forgetting the first rule of FOFC...

[SunDevil]

and the second rule...............

[BigJohn&TheLions]

You're all forgetting the first rule of FOFC...

Never jump out of a plane without a parachute?

[panerd]

I went to an OTB earlier in the year to bet on the Kentucky Derby with a buddy of mine and I had some messy notes jotted down. So my friend asked me where I got the information from. Well I know him well enough that if I would have lied he would have called me on it, so I told him a super genius/horse racing fanatic who lives in Maryland who goes by "Quiksand" online had posted his predictions online. Let's just say the bets didn't do very well. (To no fault of his own, at no point did Quiksand ever tell anyone to bet on his predicitons.) Now everytime I am gambling on something with him he asks me if I got any more good stuff from Quiksand.

[sterlingice]

I went to an OTB earlier in the year to bet on the Kentucky Derby with a buddy of mine and I had some messy notes jotted down. So my friend asked me where I got the information from. Well I know him well enough that if I would have lied he would have called me on it, so I told him a super genius/horse racing fanatic who lives in Maryland who goes by "Quiksand" online had posted his predictions online. Let's just say the bets didn't do very well. (To no fault of his own, at no point did Quiksand ever tell anyone to bet on his predicitons.) Now everytime I am gambling on something with him he asks me if I got any more good stuff from Quiksand.
That's what you get for betting on horse number 2/3.

SI

[cthomer5000]

I think my wife is secretly amazed by it. She tries to act like I'm some kind of geek or something, but she's always amazed that I know all the good news days before she does like the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese sandwich and stuff.
This really is a pretty central depot ford oddball pop culture stories. Sometimes I'll get group emails about stuff we talked about months earlier on this board.

[panerd]

This really is a pretty central depot ford oddball pop culture stories. Sometimes I'll get group emails about stuff we talked about months earlier on this board.

Have to agree with this 100%. There has never been a story that people start talking about at work or a happy hour that I have already been exposed to here. The great thing is stealing some one-liner or alternate perspective I read here and looking like I am the quickest guy in the world on his feet when the story is broken for the first time by someone I know.

"Did you see that chick that got arrested for sleeping with her student hown in Florida? Wow."

My mind: Digging through 400 pages of posts for a response.

[panerd]

That's what you get for betting on horse number 2/3.

SI

LOL. I can't be that mad at Quiksand as the "I'm with stupid" has become a staple with my 6th grade classes on those days where you need a 10 minute filler. I don't know that he invented it, but this place is the first time I ever saw it.

[Desnudo]

Have to agree with this 100%. There has never been a story that people start talking about at work or a happy hour that I have already been exposed to here. The great thing is stealing some one-liner or alternate perspective I read here and looking like I am the quickest guy in the world on his feet when the story is broken for the first time by someone I know.

"Did you see that chick that got arrested for sleeping with her student hown in Florida? Wow."

My mind: Digging through 400 pages of posts for a response.

Kind of like the movie Roxanne, but for geeks?

[Sharpieman]

Only time I ever tried to explain it was to my girlfriend, she looked at me like I was a complete geek. Very akward moment. Then I rebounded when I showed her the infamous "robe and wizard hat" discussions. She still thinks I'm a nerd though, but thats because I'm addicted to C-SPAN.

[Mac Howard]

My father-in-law is American and if I'm arguing with him and in my "bloody Americans" mood I will often support my argument with reference to some post or character on here ;)

[MikeVic]

All I say is "that football forum I go to" if I have to reference this place. I don't know how else to explain it.

[Antmeister]

I don't ever explain this place to anyone. Instead I use this place for legal info, game reviews, best product to purchase, news stories, computer advice, etc. It is a great place for getting information quickly and readily for people you know. But I never give up my secret. Never.

Friend: "I am little embarrased to ask you this, but what can I do about hemorrhoids?"

Me: "Well there's too many people around. Let me get back to you tomorrow at the football game. I think I might have a book on it somewhere."

Little does he know is that I rush home in laughter and type it up on the board for both laughs and great advice. Thanks FOFC.

[CamEdwards]

i just call it "the football message board", but only in discussions with my wife. otherwise, this is my secret hangout.

[Blade6119]

My family knows, and i tried to explain it to a gf and a best friend once....i got to internet forum about a video game and realized i was never going to get laid by her again....the bf just acted like he didnt hear me. I still print off a lot of the funny stuff here, my friends all love it and think i find hilarious stuff, but i copy it into word so no one knows what the true source is...and no one can tell all the ladies i know about my "other persona"

[revrew]

I actually reference it in my preaching all the time. So many churchy-types have so secluded themselves from non-specifically-Christian culture, that when I talk about a place where I have discussions with people of such diverse perspectives, it actually gives me some street-cred.

I usually reference it as "an online place where I talk with a bunch of guys--Christian and non-Christian--who like football."

They inevitably ask, "Oh? How many guys?"

When I answer, "'Bout a thousand," it blows their minds. I love this board.

[Ben E Lou]

I actually reference it in my preaching all the time. So many churchy-types have so secluded themselves from non-specifically-Christian culture, that when I talk about a place where I have discussions with people of such diverse perspectives, it actually gives me some street-cred.

I usually reference it as "an online place where I talk with a bunch of guys--Christian and non-Christian--who like football."

They inevitably ask, "Oh? How many guys?"

When I answer, "'Bout a thousand," it blows their minds. I love this board.Same story here, but with other youth workers. I've sent them links to discussions on this board at times, too.

[Pyser]

wow, skydog hit 10k.

this place is like the matrix. you cant be told what it is, you have to experience it.

i tried telling my ex-girlfriend about it once, but she looked at me like i had 8 eyes. so i showed her a thread, and she seemed to get it. she never made fun of me, but then, she's also my ex now, so, who knows??

[Icy]

When i talk about any info from here i say "i read this at the football forum i visit everyday" but then of course my friends think it's about a soccer website as in Spain soccer is the only football they know. My wife knows about this "other football" as she suffers my 6 hours straight watching football on Sundays and 3 hours on Mondays on Satellite TV (in Spain we can watch at paid satellite channel two games per Sunday plus Monday night and another not live game mid week).

[judicial clerk]

it actually gives me some street-cred.

outstanding.

[KWhit]

LOL. I can't be that mad at Quiksand as the "I'm with stupid" has become a staple with my 6th grade classes on those days where you need a 10 minute filler. I don't know that he invented it, but this place is the first time I ever saw it.
That's a cool idea to play it in class. Do you call it "I'm with stupid"?*

*Since I know that "stupid" is kind of a taboo word in school these days. Do you call it "I'm with the differently-abled?" :)

[lurker]

I feel weird. Everyone I mention it to thinks it's pretty normal, and an actuarial forum I go to (yes, that makes me already way too big of a nerd) usually has the exact same stories at the same time, like the Virgin cheese sandwich or whatever. Sometimes I wonder why I bother coming to this one too. Oh yeah, it's for diagrams of Flasch's house.

[MikeVic]

Wow, nice to hear that SkyDog and revrew use this for what they do. :) I never knew.

[gi]

"So it's a place where you talk about a football game...but you never really talk about the game?"
Happens all the time. Usually I tell them the above and watch the eyes glass over. :)

[lurker]

But isn't this what happens with most message boards? It just devolves into a bunch of off-topic discussions?

[Easy Mac]

I tried, but now I don't even bother... my girlfriend just asks why am i still posting here and wasting my time... then she goes back to watching the Clay Aiken Christmas special and I remember I don't care.

[gi]

But isn't this what happens with most message boards? It just devolves into a bunch of off-topic discussions?
There are other message boards?????? BLASTFAMY!!!!

[Galaril]

I am thinking about introducing my best friend to this board. He is a geekish sort the only problem is he has no interest in sports especially sports games but with all the off-topic stuff on heer I think it might not matter. This board is my Fangorn Forest, to steal from Tolkien for a moment. it's a cozy little place to hang my hat at the end of the day online.BTW SkyDog how many members are there on the board?

[SplitPersonality1]

My wife gets it and actually loves this place. As someone once said several years ago, "at least you're not looking at porn". The only other family member that seems to understand this place is my Mom which is somewhat of a surprise. Not many nearly 67-year old women are even aware of the internet much less accepting of a off-topic message board.

I think they like the fact that we help each other out with problems ranging from things to do on vactions to job placement to relationship help.

As I've stated in the past, my wife actually "knows" several of you by name or reputation.

[Franklinnoble]

As I've stated in the past, my wife actually "knows" several of you by name or reputation.


Uhh... you, umm... maybe wanna edit that?

;)

[Galaril]

Uhh... you, umm... maybe wanna edit that?

;)

:eek:

LOL

[SplitPersonality1]

Uhh... you, umm... maybe wanna edit that?

;)

Touche.


As I've stated in the past, my wife actually "knows" of several of you by name or reputation.

:D

[GrantDawg]

I actually reference it in my preaching all the time. So many churchy-types have so secluded themselves from non-specifically-Christian culture, that when I talk about a place where I have discussions with people of such diverse perspectives, it actually gives me some street-cred.

I usually reference it as "an online place where I talk with a bunch of guys--Christian and non-Christian--who like football."

They inevitably ask, "Oh? How many guys?"

When I answer, "'Bout a thousand," it blows their minds. I love this board.
Dittly-o-o. I use this site as a source of illustrations so much I should be paying royalties.

[Radii]

*points to oliegirl* Yeah, I talked about this place on occasion :D

I will mention it to people who will understand... most of my poker buddies are at least internet geeks, and one plays FM and one plays OOTP so they understand.

At work if I reference anything here I pretty much ignore the internet part and say something like "so I was involved in this discussion..." and go from there.

[JeeberD]

"This forum I frequent online" is what I usually say and even that gets wierd looks, so I usually end it right there.

That's how I usually say it. It get too akward otherwise...

Pretty my entire immediate family knows about this place, too. Of course, my girlfriend still doesn't "get it" and thinks that I'm wasting my time talking to a bunch of geeks on-line.

You know, she's not really that far off... :D