I used to hang out on a sports board where a lot of us knew each other IRL so the discussion was much more than sports. But the way we all thought of it was like a 24-hour tailgate party where you could come and go whenever you wanted with none of the social obligations that spring from real get-togethers.

Sort of like the Cheers bar or the neighborhood watering hole. There's always somebody here, the lights never go out, redemption for past transgressions is but one post away and when you log out, you are logged off.

i had a lightbulb go on for me yesterday i think. for me the cellar is oftentimes like my favorite watering hole back in illinois. i worked there, but even when i wasn't working, i was there. it wasn't about drinking, because at times i didn't. i rarely got drunk. it was about the friendships, the belonging, the inside jokes - but, being what i call "bar friends" it didnn't come with many of the obligations of normal friendship. most of us didn't associate outside of the bar. it truly was a "stop in, plug in, fill up, go home" type of life. since leaving illinois, i've not found anything like that IRL. the cellar does fit in nicely in that role. i can pop in pretty much 24/7 and find something interesting.

This is the only online forum that I go to, I guess because i accidentally found it in a time of need when my husband was stuck out on a fishing boat in the middle of a big storm, and then again when I thought he was emotionally unfaithful, and I guess I just got to know everyone, so I keep coming back. I don't really know why, I must like abuse. Whenever I have an issue or something that two heads are better than one at, I'll post, but many times I end up regretting it. How could I expect anyone else to "get it" when I don't even get it? But still, I keep coming back...

Addiction is like that, Stacey. It's cunning, baffling and powerful...

if you're here long enough, you'll have people that like you, people that hate you, and people that don't give a shit whether you're here or not. Just like real life, only with the option to shut it off when you get annoyed. better than real life in that respect....

... you mean there's people outside?

*confused*

^^^ clearest post ever. Congrats.

I heard one just this morning. made an awful racket, picking up the garbage. i sent the dog out to chase him off.

Peeeeeople! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

/wipes soda from monitor/

Damn Els...that was PERFECT! Why didn't *I* think of that?

Brian

I think most people I have told either think it is some sort of chat room where we all have cybersex or that I am just a big nerd. Even my boyfriend hasn't really stayed interested in it. Perth introduced me to it way back in the day, and I didn't get it at the time. Somehow it just grew on me. I think that started around the time Dave was fighting with that luvbugz person. I remember being scared to death to post anything for fear of getting flamed.

Usually those moments are the best time to post. People get preoccupied with the main event, and everyone else skates in unnoticed and relatively unscathed.

Unless your first post is "[WHIPPING BOY] is absolutely correct and you're just being mean."

I like it that everybody sort of just hangs back to see what will happen when a REALLY crazy person stumbles across the cellar. Not just offbeat, but batshit (or tripping). There have been a couple in recent months. No matter how still I sit, they always spook and run off. :(
I think we should encourage them to stay.

j03L10T. I encouraged him to stay somehow. Then I became afraid. I'm sure he was delusional.

http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=2427

I'm pretty sure he was too, but he was entertaining in his way and didn't seem to represent a clear and present danger to himself or others.

I sometimes wonder if his long term absence has anything to do with a long term inpatient stay somewhere ...