Floored...
Jamie,
I was absolutely floored to read your message. I was not a part of the convention -- but wish I had been. All the stories coming back have shown it to be an enjoyable grouping of good people with a common interest in these vintage appliances. New friendships made, old friendships renewed, and a lot of information sharing in a pleasant, jovial, no pressure environment.
Your mom is responsible for your upbringing, safety, and well being. It's good to see a parent actively involved in their teens life -- so few are these days, it seems. Far be it me to tell anyone what's right or wrong, safe or not, especially a parent. But I feel I must speak up and say, yes, there are messages with innuendo and rather risque comment -- I'm probably guilty of adding to that. Since my last post on this thread, I've been trying to watch out for that. But even with those type of messages, there are so absolutely many more that indicate what a singularly good group of people is here. Just as sadly as the African-American community must still endure diatribes about welfare queens buying steaks with food stamps and driving off in Cadillacs, gays endure still and will for probably the remainder of my life, the oversexed negative image.
I read your message shortly after you posted, and it's been on my mind since. One of the strengths I've seen of this good community is how easily people work to blend together. Sexuality just doesn't seem to be a major part of it. Nor a number of things. I fell out of the chair reading that one member I thought of as liberal, is actually a Christian conservative! But that simply proves the binding issue here is the preservation, restoration, and appreciation of the vintage appliances, with a focus on those in laundry room.
I'm into vacuums and small kitchen appliances, like some others here -- but not in the majority who's expression is in their interest in the washers and dryers. My past experiences in special interest forums, has been that those in the majority can act like elitist snobs. Not a bit of that here. Not even a hint.
As someone who is both a Systems Programmer for a major company, and a high school dropout with some college, I've a pretty good nose for snobbery. But it really is about the appliances here. And nothing else.
I'm contemplating possibly not posting for awhile, or finding a different venue for my vintage interests. I live in a small apartment, so here it's expressed in old vacuum cleaners. I don't add much, or give much to this community, I'm still learning a lot, and from this community I've learned much already. A row of shiny vacuums spanning nearly 80 years of history is the result.
These people here are currently the only ones who I can share that pride of restoration and appreciation. My Dual Sanitronic is my favorite -- because it was the first I cleaned up, polished, relubricated, and so forth -- all with skills, tips and suggestions from people here. Those people are now part of the story my collection tells.
But I must admit I'm very concerned about this thread topic, and if any of my postings make anyone the least bit uncomfortable, please, by all means, email Unimatic1140. Supply him with the Forum, thread, and post numbers for deletion. I don't want to spoil this forum for you, or anyone else, young, middle aged, older. Nor do I want to do anything to tarnish, or appear to tarnish, the high regard in which this community is held.
Respectfully, and sincerely...
John D.
St. Louis, MO
I may chime in from time to time on the deluxe or super forum. I do however enjoy reading and looking at everyones posts and pics of their finds, collections and other fun stuffs. I guess I never realized there are younger members (teen/pre-teen) on this fourm. So I will promise to keep my posts "clean".
