Heh, I get more work done when VPF is down. You just wouldn't believe how much time of mine it sucks up just reading and responding to the various pinball message boards (mostly VPF). I hate to say it, but 95% of it is total and utter FLUFF. Back-patting, table requests, feature requests, the same-old same-old questions asked over and over because people can't be bothered to use the search feature and loads and loads of off-topic banter with so-called "generic" thread topics that try to suck you into threads about nothing. Some days I think it's that fluff that is going to eventually drive me away from the scene, much more so than the time it takes me to make tables. I got up a little early this past morning and planned to do a few quick fixes/updates and I ended up spending that time on VPF because it took SO long (in this case 30+ minutes or so) to just catch up with the messages posted just between then and the night before. And yet most of it wasn't really worth reading. But what I've noticed is that since Randy "returned" and the new VPM was released, we now get tons and tons of "add this" and "I can't get this rom set to work" type rants there again and sorting through it all requires at least a half dozen garbage men....
Frankly, I'm more concerned about this Randy business. It's too freaking weird that we "know" he's back and yet he STILL doesn't reply to ANY personal questions, where he's been, where VP is going type questions or even as you say questions about where he might be able to post when VPF goes down. Call me crazy, but I still think there's something funny going on. Other than that one post from Black, he's gone silent again just as Randy reappeared. Can you say Schizoprhrenia?
Hey wait a second, AJ is always disappearing in-between those times.... AJ owns the official VP forums for Randy's product..... Ok, maybe I just miss seeing new episodes of the X-Files. :D
Really, though there is too much fluff lately, IMO. I'm going to have to hire someone to wade through that crap for me and just send me the relevant messages that apply to me. I'm too nice a guy and spend too much time answering newbie questions, etc. I know that gives some of these new guys a thrill (like meeting Michael Jordan or something), but really I do have other things to do. :D :D :D
Actually, I'm just half joking. Seriously, SOME (I stress some) of these guys talk about me in these threads like they never expect to see me answer the common folk so a lot of them ask other people about my tables instead of just asking me and then act all shocked when I reply about a question about my table. It's freaking WEIRD. I'm not some kind of celebrity or something, but when I see threads like that it kind of freaks me out. Yeah, I know Randy doesn't answer questions, but when have I EVER acted like that? Maybe they're just Catholics and are used to thinking they have to talk to the lower hiearchy instead of going straight to the source? Ok, I'm amusing myself way too much now.... :D
Yeah, I start writing books when VPF is down.... I just have too much time on my hands when it's down. Wasn't there something I was suppposed to be doing with this time? Hmmm.... Ah well, it's now bed time. I've got to work again this Saturday. Bummer. No Sabbath for the PacDude this week....