Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group A Short History of KickAS (Remembered)

Then came Loz...

As Pete has said he got to a place where he needed someone else to look after KA. He hadn't mentioned it until the day I was surprised to be invited to take the helm. I didn't much like the idea of being the sole "buck stops here" person so asked if it could be a shared responsibility between me and Timo. However, Pete said he wanted a firm chief position, so having thought it over I reckoned if the goal of the site was to reach as many people suffering all over the world as it possibly could, I could make a difference.

As I saw it that goal required that several things needed to be assured, the key word being accessibility:
1) From the technical standpoint the site must be viewable on all PCs and all browsers. Luckily Timo was already on the case there.
2) It needed to be near the top of the major search engines results. Again Timo was way ahead of me.
3) It needed to be a place where and all races, sensitivities, religions and political leanings could feel comfortable together. Hmmm....

I decided to imagine a super-sensitive, politically correct and prudish person with AS and tried to figure out how they could be made to feel just as comfortable on KA as any more easy going sufferer. It seemed to me that that meant keeping an eye on the content of posts and toning down where necessary - the idea being that it's easier for a broad minded soul to tone down the content of their posts than for a sensitive prude to remain un-offended. So I gathered a team of inexperienced but willing moderator volunteers. Perhaps it's not surprising that the coinciding influx of new members and the embryonic moderating policy would cause difficulty. On a personal level I found that time incredibly difficult to handle but I persevered. Pete then made Jeanna an administrator and in partnership Jeanna and I developed the "rights and responsibilities" which has been an invaluable document. Having added the remarkable skills of the Funksterman to the team I was able to ask him to include that document as part of the registration process so everyone who joined knew what was expected.

I figured if people joined with an understanding of the expectations they would stay longer because fewer arguments would ensue. Well, at least I was right there - the number of active members has continued to rise at a remarkable rate.

KickAS is now a more robust place, with procedures in place to handle all sorts of eventualities. The chief job is a hard one to say the least, and I'm afraid to say I eventually burned out and had to throw in the towel. So who would be chief next? I was immediately impressed with Holly when I invited her to join the admin team but I didn't know then that I'd one day be so impressed that I'd be giving her the helm. Now I feel for Holly every day I visit, the poor woman has an awful lot on her plate. I added mig to the team to try and create a balance of techinal and interpersonal skills in the team. Mig has my utmost respect.

As a post script I'd like to give credit to moderator Cheerful. The hours he puts in and the effort he makes have both been remarkable.

...LOZ. ...YOU ALL HAVE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB ....I KNOW AT TIMES IT BECAME A STRESSFUL JOB AT TIME... BUT LOOK AT THE JOY YOU ALL BROUGHT TO US....SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE ....MEET NEW FRIEND ....SHARE OUR OUTLOOK ON THIS DREADFUL DISEASE ..AND OUR LIFE..AND KNOWING THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE....GOD BLESS
AND HOLLY THANK YOU BECAUSE WE ALL STAND BY YOU TOO....YOU ALSO IS DOING A GREAT JOB!!WELL DONE! ...I WILL KEEP YOU ALL IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS....YOU'LL HAVE MADE OUR DAYS MORE BEARABLE....THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT AT KICKAS!!!......PAT

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I decided to imagine a super-sensitive, politically correct and prudish person with AS and tried to figure out how they could be made to feel just as comfortable on KA as any more easy going sufferer. It seemed to me that that meant keeping an eye on the content of posts and toning down where necessary - the idea being that it's easier for a broad minded soul to tone down the content of their posts than for a sensitive prude to remain un-offended.

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But this approach does encourage sanctimonious moralising bores to take offence whenever they see the opportunity.

I cant remember whem I joined, remember the old board,it was hard on the eyes. It has kept me sane at times when I am low and in pain.Thanks to all that have kept it going, LOL Elspeth

I suspect sanctimonious moralising bores need no opportunity to take offence and merely do so as a reflexive response to the clock tolling the corect or incorrect hour.

I do point, however, since I like you am not a fan of sanctimony, boorishness or moralising what a wise but semi-sanctimonious soul pointed out to me. Alluding to yourself as arbiter endowed with the wisdom to discern who is a sanctimonious moralising bore unfortunately places you in their midst. Rather sanctimoniuos to be so morally wise as to know who is right and who is wrong. So this semi-sanctimonious soul told me assume I am wrong more often than I am correct and maybe others will then be so gracious as to inform you how often you ar in fact correct.

As for the sanctimonious moralizing bores and the fear that they shall run amok, take solace for they are entrapped in a world of self- loathing and fear of being found out. One wrong step and WHAM... of course throwing that first stone is a dousy.

Wow, talk about a nail getting hit on the head. For a gentle barrister, you swing a mighty gavel...you lookin' to be a Judge?

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Alluding to yourself as arbiter endowed with the wisdom to discern who is a sanctimonious moralising bore unfortunately places you in their midst.

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I might say welcome to the club Steve, but the truth however is always concrete and not wordplay - I'm one of those that just occasionally has had my posts deleted because presumably someone has objected or admin' disapproves. Always having to play with Pete's ball which can be taken away anytime because of some prig can be irritating.

Welcome to the club is exactly right my aggravation makes it inevitable that I open my mouth in certain situations and as for me I reviewd some of my earliest posts and am sure if the standard were different then I would have been deleted multiple times.

as one of the cheese-faced 'ought to be a mighty offender' types...
remember eight to ten letter words always do better than the four letter ones...besides, it's better
to confuse than convince...and throw in some latin...res ipsa.
best
aB

oh...p.s. and three hearty cheers for snotbox, who knows why...i shout a round in your local someday:rainbow

As many of you know, I have been a member of this fine family since 1999. That was when I was diagnosed with this wonderful disease and began my journey to find out what it was. Within a few searchs I found KA. Back then we weren't at the top of the search engine lists when one typed in AS.

Brian's original site was still available, but did reference visitors to KickAS.org. As previous posts have stated back then we were very small in comparison to todays board. When someone new entered the board they would receive the traditional DakotaDan welcome IM. Even though I have never had the pleasure of meeting Pete in person, I felt an immediate connection, probably due as much to the fact the we both have firefighting backgrounds as well as AS in common. As the word spread we began an unbeleivable growth. Some days I really miss the old board, and the many people that have come and gone through it, and its newer versions. The long conversations with the wudcrvr (Gary) from Texas. Back then he introduced me to internet phone service. Really, then it was little more than voice chat is today except it did actually call their phone. Definately not Vonage..lol

An old critter, that made a breif return a while, back became an instant friend and helped add a little comedic relief to the pressures of AS, yes that elusive cuzz of mine BBJ. Back then it was James in Texas. Last I knew it was James in 'bama. Haven't seen much of him since he sent us pics of his new trike..I suppose we were the charter members of the "REDNECK" KickAS.org. Always trading barbs about "hot suace" and "Salsa", and posting things that left alot of our city family scratching there heads. Thus was the beginnings of BBJ's RoadKill Salsa. Great for 'possum on the half shell, or fresh noodled cooter. Made great chili when mixed with a quart of squirrel tongues, and beans.

It was during this time that our newest doctor entered the board and became an instant hit. Yes strutsy that's you. I believe you were still in high school then or just starting college. And look at her now, and even got hooked up with that Loz fella from over in England. I'm not sure how ol' BBJ would take to his little girl bein' hitched to Loz...just kidding.

There were the now infamous Cristina's Questions...lol She is another of our original KA girls. And I for one would like to see more of her around the board. Gotta love that little California Girl..

My old hunting buddy Lon has made a return to the "house" and there is always a chuckle, if not a good belly laugh, when you read about the exploits of everyones favorite preacher, and KA's spiritual leader.. I mean who could forget the bicycle and the beer truck. Or the many stories of Lon and his quest to help those forgotten and rejected by "normal" folks, while battling his own AS, and balancing it all to keep his spiritual life in order. But, Lon, I'm afraid if that Big Guy gets a look at your old profile pic (Lon in a swim suit) you might have some trouble getting those Pearly Gates to open...Nah, I have to believe that you, my friend, are a shoe in.

If I don't stop this post could go on for days. But there are so many good memories here. And so many people that have become a family, and have seriously helped each other through the very difficult times, and been with us through our highs. I know I have missed many of my friends in this post, and for that I appologize. There are the words of wisdom from the DragonSlayer, the Birthday wishes from Michelle, no offense to "cheerful", but she sent better birthday kisses, keep working on it though, maybe if you sent them after you shave it would help..And yes she is as great in person as she is here, even though that Milt fella follows her around..lol And never to be repeated, the World's Record "Diaper Drop". Steve and the Lady Diane's beautiful moment turned on its ear by the friends of KA..Diapers were delivered to their house from around the world..What a way to welcome home the little angels..lol That one is an original.

We've had parties and get togethers all over the world. And I would really like to get ahold of "The Moles" frequent flyer card. That critter seems to show up everywhere.

But most of all, through good, bad, birth, death, hurting and highs, we have remained if not endured and have become a force in the fight against AS. But most of all we have become a "Family"

Keep Kickin'AS
Chris