That ActiveRain has a lot of features is a bit of an understatement. It seems like they are always tweaking and adding new things. Often these things are left for us to "discover" or not----other things are introduced with much fanfare.
However, recently something was "taken away" that I miss----the ability to see who is on the site and how many are on the site. I don't even have a good reason for knowing this information----it was just fun. For example I could check and see if Steve and Nutsy were on the site----and if they were I could go and throw some peanuts at them.
Another thing about the site, that has always been there as far as I know, but that I just never paid much attention to, is the link to "Associations." It is located near the bottom of the list on ones Home Page and has a number in parenthesis after it that indicates how many people have added you to their "Associates List." The thing that is interesting about this list is that sometimes people leave really cool comments about you.
Recently I was checking it out and noticed this comment by Matt Stigliano, among dozens of other great comments,----that sort of floored me. We tend to work day after day here in the Rain posting what we post----having fun----getting information out there, and don't give much thought to how what we are doing affects other people. I think we all like to think we are having an impact-----or that someone is listening. The comments we get on each post that we do is one way to experience the impact we have----but these more "personalized" comments is another.
This is what Matt had to say about me:
"Just read his profile and you'll see why I wish Charles lived in San Antonio. Someone who is an expert and cares. That's what we all want, isn't it? His "Owner's Manual" theory of inspection is genius and all inspectors should take a note of that."
I had not really thought of my approach to report writing as being quite at the "genius" level. My next post will be about how I approach report writing (subtitled: "Why I will never make a fortune as a home inspector").
So what is the coolest thing (or things) anyone has said about you on your "Associates List?" Copy and paste it into your comments here.
Charles Buell
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all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
DeCroe, is my "certiflied" home inspector assistant and occasionally flies into my blog to offer assistance. To find out more about her beginnings just click on Raven.
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PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
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You have inspired me to take a look at my associate comments. It could be interesting. Thanks for the idea.
Wow, the first to comment! We're number one!!
Only a genius bites BEFORE he gets to the center. You da man!
Whoooops!! Still number two...
That was very nice endorsement. I like the ones on mine that say I am a good person, that is the ultimate compliment to me. We are all only here once, leave a good impression! Have a great 2009.
Great post Charles! And YES I do miss that area that showed how many were online. There were those times when I was on Active Rain late at night and enjoyed knowing that I wasn't there alone!
Vickie, come on back and post the best one:)
Jay----you have to be quick around here----just missed by one pixel:)
Thanks David---2009 here we are.
Robin---yes, me too.
It's okay - my comfort zone...
Charles- I recently received this cool comment from Elayna Fernandez;
"Want your real estate transaction to be smooth? Give Marilyn Katz a call! She works in Westport, Connecticut, serving the Fairfield County. Check out her website at WestportCTProperties.com and thank me later :)"
LOL! Charles! The smartest people are amost never rich and "Only the Good Die Young!" ROTFLMAO
Happy New Year!
As to your question "Does anyone think you are cool?" No. But many think I am kewl :) I'm way too cool to say cool.
Jay---I would be willing to bet that you frequently get outside your comfort zone:)
Marilyn, nice comment----that is what I am talking about
Thanks Ardell, given the genetics of my family I will live to be 100-----and poor:) I have grown to love all those other ways to be rich:) You have a great New Year Ardell---be kewl!
Charlie - I liked some of the old features too. I wonder why it necessary to eliminate these.
Maybe if we keep our fingers crossed they will come back:)
Charles, I will have to go back and take a look at the comments on Associations like you did but sometimes it is NOTHING even real estate related, like you made them feel good. It is wonderful reading what they say, and surprising too. Happy New Year Charles.
Gary, you are right---and often it is just NOTHING as in "blank":) But that is OK too. I have to admit that I don't very often fill in any comment. I think I am going to go back into my list and add some comments now that I feel like I know some of the people better. Happy New Year to you as well Gary.
Hey, Happy New Year! And if you want to throw nuts at squirrels, the poor guys here in Washington have absolutely ZERO acorns from our mighty oaks! We're all throwing squirrel chow at them!
Patricia, are you talking about the busy tailed kind of the politician kind?
I guess the whole premise is the simple fact that Active Rain rocks !!! Everything combined makes it super cool, especially with all the features, people, resources..etc.
Christopher and Stephanie---look at it this way if this whole thing had started in Boulder, Colorado instead of Seattle, Washington it might have been known as ActiveRocks:)
I recieved this comment from an agent I work with here in CT John Proto. He does not blog much if at all on AR.
I recommend Jim as one of the most thorough and complete home inspectors and use him with confidence.
Really cool when the agents that actually use you make a comment.
Charlie,
Nutsy thinks you are a stingy old string bean.
Charlie,
In case I forgot to tell you, I agree with the squirrel. See above.
We can only wish they would come back, but I actually thought the edsel would have been one heck of an automobile to bring back.
Steve, tell Nutsy he is a stringy old meat loaf:) Just because he has you hornswaggled---don't expect me to fall in line.
Charles, I am afraid the Edel is way too much of a "sled" to fit into today's world:)
I didn't have any comments as outstanding as that one on my page but I thought the one I left for you was pretty good: If I could only convince Mr. Buell to travel to NJ to do inspections....
I notice you didn't leave any comment on mine, nothing, nada, zippo....lol
I may have to join the Nutsy camp!!
Ruh-Roh----looks like I am in deep doo now-----I will be right over to make things right----can't have you "going over to the dark side":)
I was only kidding, but thanks for the terrific, shameless plug! Nutsy...who's Nutsy?
You've reminded me of things. I need to see if I wrote anything about you. Perhaps not because when you first subscribe to a person you don't know them at all, perhaps by just one blog. We need to go back and fill in probably. But where's the time????
Jim, Nutsy if of no consequence---never mind.
Barbara, you are right----I am going to go back and fill in some of the folks I have gotten to know a little since I first "Associated" with them:) I got in the habbit of making anyone that subscribed to my blog an associate as a way of appreciation----and not knowing anything about them really it was hard to just write anything in the comment box. Some of these "characters" have grown to "deserve" comments by now however:)
Jim,
Mr Buell is a no-fair-nik. You get him pegged.
Nutsy
Hey Nutsy----see you still got the mange on your neck:)
Hey Steve, That squirrel of yours isn't fat enough to even make a decent White Castle burger. Besides with that mange who would want to eat that scrawny, scabby squirrel. YUCK!
Charles- again you inspire me. One day soon I will be around to writing the post that yours has inspired, but for now...
Tammy knows what it means to prepare herself for the task at hand. She started as a secretary and ended up the owner of the company. Don't you want someone with that type of drive and determination working for you? Call Tammy Today!
Leander McClain posted this about me on my associations. It means that first he actually read my profile (Yeah!) which sometimes I can tell people have not done before just click on the add as associate button. And it was personal and meaningful.
And through what I had choosen to say about myself I really saw that if someone (be it a buyer, a seller, a friend here in the rain who might choose me for a referral) read my profile they would see that I choose NOT TO FAIL. If I start it, I'm gonna finish it... I will not fail.
I hope you have a great 2009. God Bless you.
James----right on brother!
Tammy, thanks, and I will be watching for that post:)
Howdy Charles & Raven ...... remember me??? Hehehe
That was an outstanding comment that was left on your associations.
Sean Allen
Here you are from the keypad of Fort Worth Real Estate - - - Karen Anne Stone (RE/MAX Trinity) herself - note the operative word ...
'cool'....
Please call Deborah Pearce for all your Kelowna and Central Okanagan, British Columbia staging needs. She is very good at what she does, and a very cool person, too !
Sean, I thought so----and where the heck have you been?
Deborah----too funny cool----to have all those "cools":)
Jon Wnoroski, a great realtor I know, wrote "Kevin is an experienced home inspector with the highest level of integrity. He has been inspecting home for over 22 years specializing in Fist Time Buyers, Warranty & Investor Inspections."
But then Charles Buell wrote "Keep up the great work, Kevin".
I am crossing my fingers that Nutsy won't try to add me as an associate.