Relatives or Friends on GB

Brynn · Post by **Brynn** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 7:05 am

[QUOTE=Vucsin]While you're at it, attempt dragging Astafas in here as well.
[/quote]
Good idea

[Quote=Vicuns]
No person I know in real life posts in SYM. And for some reason I'm also exceedingly scared of meeting anyone from SYM in real life - I'm sure you crazy internet people will gag and kidnap me at first opportunity.[/QUOTE]
Jokes aside - are you really afraid of that?

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 7:12 am

[QUOTE=C Elegans]@Vicsun: Astafas is very busy with raising a vampire family right now, but who knows in the future...you could of course come to visit, Sweden is very close to you, you know

I enjoy gagging young men

[/QUOTE]
Is that an invitation? Beware, as I might show up at you doorstep one sunny morning

[quote="Brynn]Jokes aside - are you really afraid of that? [/quote"]
Not really.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 8:09 am

Why so? Remember, we all have our fears and insecurities. None of us are models, or corporate types in Fortune's One Hundred, or people with the ear of politicians. Personally, I can't think of a person in SYM I'd refrain from meeting.

I have met CE, Silur and Dottie: very nice folks, extremely interesting and thoughtful. Had a couple of very lengthy discussions with them, and I certainly wouldn't mind doing it all, again.

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 8:19 am

I do believe you read my post the wrong way.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 3:08 pm

[QUOTE=Vicsun]Is that an invitation? Beware, as I might show up at you doorstep one sunny morning

[/quote]

Yes it is an invitation, just give me a ring first so I'm at home

If you avoid visiting in a sunny morning, I may even be able to summon Astafas for the occation.

CM · Post by CM » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:19 pm

LOL. I remember when i met CE and Dottie. My conservative Nepali friend had a heartattack seeing Dottie. He kept telling me to go. In dotties defense all he was doing was wearing a shirt and foam spikes on his shoulders

But it was a blast.

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:26 pm

I wish I could meet people from here. I doubt dottie would want to meet me though.

Anybody coming to Florida??

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:42 pm

[QUOTE=CM]LOL. I remember when i met CE and Dottie. My conservative Nepali friend had a heartattack seeing Dottie. He kept telling me to go. In dotties defense all he was doing was wearing a shirt and foam spikes on his shoulders

[/QUOTE]

Bah-ha-ha. When Silur and Dottie visited my wife and I during our Budapest vacation last year, we arranged to have Sunday brunch in one of the swankest brunches in town, that of the Buda Hilton. The four of us showed up in jeans, with Dottie's hair in a topknot. Unfailingly courteous, the major-domo showed up, smiling, to take over from the normal greeter, and wanted to know whether we had a reservation. (They're always booked up.) I smiled back, replied, "Of course," and gave our name. They continued smiling, and seated us. It was a joy.

Dottie's probably more intelligent than 90% of those penguin-clothed buffoons, as I suspect any effort at intelligent conversation would have revealed.

We had a great time.

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:45 pm

ROTFL! I'm surprised you weren't refused frankly!

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:12 pm

[QUOTE=jopperm2]ROTFL! I'm surprised you weren't refused frankly!

[/QUOTE]

They can't. We were presentable, clean, and polite. The Buda Hilton is a showcase hotel, where they preen themselves upon their old-style efficiency and courtesy.

An example follows.

When we arrived from Pecs, the woman attending the registration desk brought over the assistant manager and another registration clerk. She was distraught. "I'm sorry," she told us, and she really, truly looked sorry. I expected we were going to be told our reservation was lost. Then she continued, "It seems we no longer have a room facing the Danube to give you. You have our sincerest apologies." It seems that we were entitled to a room facing the Danube, thanks to my wife Hilton points (saved from work). I briefly considered asking with a straight face whether they could reroute the Danube past the window on another side of the hotel, but considered in time that it probably wouldn't be good for diplomatic relations.

We accepted another room that was just as pleasant.

Moral: the Buda Hilton is also one of the most expensive hotels in Budapest, where you're paying for service. They can turn you away from a restaurant if you look slovenly, because they servce food on open tables, but they won't do anything to imply a person that dresses down or dresses differently is unsuitable to their establishment. That wouldn't be sophisticated or courteous.

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:26 pm

In other words, they have real class. Not the American purchased class that fancy restaurants here have.

I used to work for Universal and they will turn you down in a heartbeat in one of the fancier places if you don't look the way they want. I have seen them lend jackets to people who were almost there. ties too!

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:44 pm

Exactly: it's the difference between faux class, and the real thing. The real thing gives way when the situation requires acting impolite to achieve success, and instead tries to make the experience as enjoyable as possible to all parties concerned.

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:02 pm

I did have one good experience though with them recently. I was having trouble finding a place that was selling prty passes to get into Pat O'Brien's, and the guy had sent me all over looking for it. He eventually let us in free and got an incredibly hard to get table. Then, when we were done, we had drank too much and the manager gave us tips for cab and hotel.

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:03 am

@Fas: lol, I think that is probably the only time ever someone have had a heartattack by seeing me. I almost feel kind of flattered.

To bad you had to go early though, hope we can meet again one day.

@Fable: Your making me blush. Being smarter than a penguin-clothed buffoon is what I have alwalys dreamt of.

I suspect attempts at intelligent conversation would also reveal something about my lacking social skills though.

@Jopperm2: Oh, I could meet you. If you were not in florida that is.

You don't seem to be the kind of person that will take personal offence at the sight of different opinions, so I see no problem.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 8:04 am

[QUOTE=jopperm2]In other words, they have real class. [/QUOTE]

Precisely - When Dottie and I was in London to see Yshania, Frogus and CM, we were staying at one of the Hilton's in London (because of my flying points, I would never stay at such an expensive hotel otherwise). Dottie was fancing some kind of trashy synth/goth style at that time, but nobody at the Hilton even raised an eyebrow.

Nowadays his clothing style is not trashy, only a little non European. He likes the Tibetan and African clothes I and Silur have bought for him

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 8:49 am

Thanks Dottie! I only meant that we have had big differences of opinion in the past, but I would not shy away from meeting you either. I'm pretty open minded about such things as fashion, so I don't think there would be a problem there.

LOL I don't think FLorida would be a good place for you either! You'de probably evaporate the second you stepped outside.

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 10:42 pm

All my SYMian friends here are my friends AFTER I joined GB.

The only people I personally met were CE, Silur, Anderska and Georgi.

dark_raven · Post by **dark_raven** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 7:49 pm

well, i actually told Zombie King that he should join GB. so... i know him. though, that may not be a good thing...

did i say that out loud?

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 8:14 pm

[QUOTE=C Elegans]Precisely - When Dottie and I was in London to see Yshania, Frogus and CM, we were staying at one of the Hilton's in London (because of my flying points, I would never stay at such an expensive hotel otherwise).[/quote]

Same here. The average foreign traveler staying at a Hilton is usually someone who wants to shop in nearby streets, stay 2 days, then return with a few souveniers and claim "I've seen Hungary!"

We didn't exactly fit in during our last Budapest stay. I'll never forget one incident. We were trying to find the right tram to take to Bartok Bela Ut (gotta love a nation that names roads after great composers, rather than just trees and colors), and asked the hotel concierge. He looked at us with an air of shock and asked, "You want to take public transportation?" as though we had expressed a wish to be vivisected. I'm sure their guests go everywhere by taxi.

Dottie was fancing some kind of trashy synth/goth style at that time, but nobody at the Hilton even raised an eyebrow. Nowadays his clothing style is not trashy, only a little non European. He likes the Tibetan and African clothes I and Silur have bought for him

The Tibetan shirt was really nice, and I remarked upon it at the time. Too bad I missed the African.

@Fable: Your making me blush. Being smarter than a penguin-clothed buffoon is what I have alwalys dreamt of.

LOL! I'm sure it is, Dottie.

As for social skills, those are often in the eyes of the beholder. A shame we all couldn't have met Brynn while in town.