This morning, as I perused the listing of posts on Diehards.org, I noticed a post on "moral hazard."  I paid no attention to it.  However, when I logged on a few minutes ago, I clicked on it and saw that the thread had 38 posts.  I was curious, so I clicked on it.

Apparently, a poster paid $28 to park his car overnight, and  he was wondering if he could have screwed the parking lot owner out of $14.  This lead to 38 posts, and it will probably hit 50.  If the guy dumps his girlfriend and gets a mistress, it could hit 100.  If he dumps his girlfriend and subscribes to Dan Wiener, it could hit 200.

Interestingly, the poster ended his post by noting, "I paid $28. Not saying it was the smart thing or the right thing to do, but at least I got material for this thread."

Material for this thread?  A decision whether to pay someone 14 bucks is material for a thread on a forum devoted to DFA salesm -- I mean Vanguard funds?  Well, I guess now I'm the jackass because it is now material for 2 threads, but who's counting.

Ironically, assuming it takes 5 minutes to write each post, and assuming that the average Boglehead makes minimum wage (which is probably a big stretch given most of them don't have a job) , then the opportunity cost of writing the posts was  more than the $14.

This brings me to my point:  In order to get posts up, we have to start posting about mundane topics.  Anything will do.  Neighbor's dog takes a dump on your lawn?  Post.  Neighbor takes a dump on your lawn?  Definitely post.  Going to the bank to get money?  Ask whether you should get 5 20 dollar bills, a hundred, pennies, or Swiss Francs.  Paper or Plastic?  Why not.  Ginger or Maryanne?  35 posts.  Ginger, Maryanne, or Mrs. Howell? 50 posts.

Also, if you are going to buy any household item, whether it be a lawnmower, a ginsu knife, or a Best of Minnie Pearl CD, log on for opinions.

What are you waiting for?  Start posting.

Petrocelli 

Petro,

See if M* will change the name of this forum to The Dan Wiener Forum.  Posts will probably increase.  Seems like it is already becoming a Wiener board.

Here's a new Boglehead post.... Someone needs help solving a riddle.

[The answer, by the way, is Dan Wiener...]

Petrocelli 

Petro, I think you're getting cranky!

But, you could post questions concerning the proper amount to pay your butler (or is he a valet? I can't keep track. What is the technical difference, anyway?)

These are questions that are of burning importance to those of us on minimum wage !

How can I hope to hire/engage a butler/valet if I din't know what the baseline is?

Inquiring minds want to know!

pjstack

FWIW, I'm someone who started on the M* forum and now rarely visits, spending the majority of my forum time on diehards.org.

Why? Not because of content or participation by certain individuals.

Rather because the M* forum software/format/features suck. I still can not understand why in this day and age the M* programmers insist on creating their own forum software, which then doesn't work. For example, I still can't print a thread properly from IE7, nor can I figure out how to "watch" a thread.

 Just my $0.02.

tdhg566:  Good one!  I think this is the kind of thing Petrocelli has in mind.

Another idea would be to repost "classic" posts by Diehard Legends from late 1990s.

Or a "favorites" contest with a big prize.

Or maybe a "Guest Poster" series, where famous investors like Warren Buffett or Ken Heebner would be invited to spar with with John Bogle.  Or even a visit from the man himself?

I was thinking of "Lawn Service To Kill Those Dandelions Or Not".

Oh, but wait.  It could still fit at the other forum if the title was changed just a little.

"Retiring Poor Because You Used A Lawn Service To Kill Those Dandelions?"
 

[quote user="zhiwiller"] I'm really sorry that other Bogleheads have been mean to you, but you don't have to continually act like an ass to... what? show them? I'm not sure.[/quote]

First of all, I like to refer to myself as a "jackass", rather than an "ass".  I think it is far more descriptive.

Second, my spate of posts making fun of the Bogleheads is simply to give everyone a chuckle.  Now admit it.  Isn't it pretty funny that that as of this moment, there are 54 posts in the past 24 hours about whether to pay a $14 charge at a garage, and there are only 59 posts on the Diehards forum total?  (Also, the "riddle thread" is up to 35.)

Third, you may recall that Andy was in here a few days ago reminding us that we had no posts, and that we were the Molokai of Vanguard forums.  I figure that a good way to get posts going is to make fun of the Bogleheads.  It always seems to work. 

Now Zack, please blow off that forum and join a real forum.  Although we have no published authors in finance, and no DFA salesmen, we can discuss the Masters without having the thread locked.

Petrocelli

"How to Increase The Amount of Posts"

Petro - let me do you two favors at once.  First, I am adding to the post count.  Second, I am helping with your grammar - it would be "how to increase the number of posts".

:-) 

 Andy

Ok, I have nothing to add. But I'll jump in anyway.

My stimulus went to the bank early, because I e-filed. I don't care at all about that. It will not change my life. It makes me think that taxes are about 1% too high if they can give back that much.

I went to Clearawater Beach FL for a week. It was a business trip, I went with my boss, and we had a long walk on the beach. Take that in any direction you want.

I like off-topic topics. This is paragoric for the mind.

Isn't it pretty funny that that as of this moment, there are 54 posts in the past 24 hours about whether to pay a $14 charge at a garage, and there are only 59 posts on the Diehards forum total?  (Also, the "riddle thread" is up to 35.)

[/quote]

What is there to talk about if all you are doing is buying and holding?

Wow.... this forum is dead!

Just like all the guys I gunned down on my TV show.

Lucas 

I went to Clearawater Beach FL for a week. It was a business trip, I went with my boss, and we had a long walk on the beach. Take that in any direction you want.
[/quote]

A long walk on Clearwater Beach can be romantic... very romantic.
Is this boss of yours a male or female, Ed?
See the direction I'm going with this?  Not that there's anything wrong with that  ;-)

Big Steve

[quote user="rpetrocelli"]This brings me to my point:  In order to get posts up, we have to start posting about mundane topics.  Anything will do.  Neighbor's dog takes a dump on your lawn?  Post.  Neighbor takes a dump on your lawn?  Definitely post.  Going to the bank to get money?  Ask whether you should get 5 20 dollar bills, a hundred, pennies, or Swiss Francs.  Paper or Plastic?  Why not.  Ginger or Maryanne?  35 posts.  Ginger, Maryanne, or Mrs. Howell? 50 posts.[/quote]

Maryanne's always done it for me.
But I was sort of freaked out after reading a few weeks ago (unless I dreamed it or something) that Maryanne (Dawn Wells) was busted somewhere for marijuana possession.  Never would've seen that one coming!

 Big Steve

Ginger or Maryanne?  35 posts.  Ginger, Maryanne, or Mrs. Howell? 50 posts.

Ginger AND Maryanne?  300 posts.  You gotta think outside the box sometimes...

Ken

Ginger or Maryanne?  35 posts.  Ginger, Maryanne, or Mrs. Howell? 50 posts.

Ginger AND Maryanne?  300 posts.  You gotta think outside the box sometimes...

Ken

[/quote]

Ginger and Mrs Howell? 1 post. Please let me back into the box..............

Maryanne voters may want to view this link:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/dawnwellsmug1.html

Maryanne voters may want to view this link:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/dawnwellsmug1.html

[/quote]

Holy crap.  Well, so much for that fantasy.  OK... I change my vote to Ginger.
And please... no one post a mug shot or some recent, unattractive pic of her.  Maybe I just can't handle the truth.
Hey Petro, this is fun.

Big Steve

rpetrocelli

"assuming that the average Boglehead makes minimum wage (which is probably a big stretch given most of them don't have a job) "

Boy, talk about How to Win Friends and Influence people!

No wonder you got more Negative #'s than I do....

"How to Increase The Amount of Posts"

Petro - let me do you two favors at once.  First, I am adding to the post count.  Second, I am helping with your grammar - it would be "how to increase the number of posts".

:-) 

 Andy

[/quote]

Yes, if you want to increase the AMOUNT of posts, all you have to do is let hocus back in. 

***jumping in with absolutely nothing important to add........

Lucas McCain is back? Waddaya know about that.

Just back from the gym and coffee with friends as I no longer need to have a *job* 

It's going to be really hot here today!

Hi Andy! 

LynnC 

EmergDoc writes, "Yes, if you want to increase the AMOUNT of posts, all you have to do is let hocus back."

NO WAY, I'd rather be forced to choose between the Skipper, Gilligan, or the Professor.

No, Lynn. I'm not back. You are just having a bad dream. 

See you around Wal~Mart!!  :-))) 

I'd be willing to launch a new "active vs. passive fund" thread.  The last one got into the hundreds of posts.  The one before that was even higher until M* pulled the plug as posters became dazed with fury.  I hear that one poster eventually had to admitted to a psychiatric ward for observation.  Now he's on Valium.

It would start with charts proving that certain active funds have beaten their index counterparts over 3, 5, and 10 year periods. Then Chin would point out that I could only pick those funds with hindsight; how do you pick them going forward?  Plus, we'd debate if 10 years is really enough history; wouldn't you really need at least 20? Or 50?

I see an infinity of paths this discussion could take.  Various other indexers would chime in with incredible dogmatic remarks designed to infuriate the active funds proponents, who would reply sarcastically until a peacemaker decides to post a soothing elegy to the importance of tolerating different points of view.

Just a thought.

I love the Wellington fund more than I loved my ex-wife!!

I tried to convince her to see the light... move her money to the low-cost leader, Vanguard. But no, she wanted to stick with her LOAD funds, and the advice of her (salesman!) advisor. 

I will never sell the "W & W" brothers!  I will hold on to Wellington and Wellesley until the day I die.... or the cows come home..... whichever occurs first.

LynnC, this ol' sodbuster still has a hankerin for ya!  We could make beautiful music together! ;-)   

Ginger and Mrs Howell? 1 post. Please let me back into the box..............

Not my fantast either, but there's someone out there who'd be into that too, probably.

Maryanne still looks stoned on her mug shot.  So, she smokes a little of the herb.  It could be worse...

Ken

Big Steve,

That is what at least one person in the office suggested, in front of the boss when we got back. Brokeback Beach if you will.

All's fair in this thread. 

Big Steve,

That is what at least one person in the office suggested, in front of the boss when we got back. Brokeback Beach if you will.

All's fair in this thread. 

[/quote]

Ed, you're killing me here.  Brokeback Beach!  Outstanding.

Big Steve

Maryanne voters may want to view this link:

[/quote]

 In defense of Mary Ann!  http://tinyurl.com/6nhclp

Greg

My post will make as much sense as most of the rest on this thread.  My son is in an engineering program and has this older, don't give a damn prof, who enjoys tormenting everyone, doesn't believe in giving A's, gives everyone a hard time, etc.  Well, one day one of the students got up the nerve to ask him why he doesn't retire.  His answer was: "After my wife dies, I can't stand her."

ButWait  

"How to increase the amount of posts?"

In my opinion, the amount of posts is not important. What is important is the quality of our posts. 

Morningstar's Vanguard Diehard Forum was once a leading financial forum where all of us could come to learn and help others.  Let's hope it returns.

Best wishes.
Taylor

In my opinion, the amount of posts is not important. What is important is the quality of our posts. 

Morningstar's Vanguard Diehard Forum was once a leading financial forum where all of us could come to learn and help others.  Let's hope it returns.

Best wishes.
Taylor

[/quote]

Amen Taylor.  It is indeed sad to see this once fine financial forum lose sense and substance.  It must be especially painful for you, Mel. et al.  I am lucky to have found this forum years ago and it (and you) are the reason I was able to set a prudent course for the future.  New investors finding this site today would likely leave and never return.  Could you blame them?

In my opinion, the amount of posts is not important. What is important is the quality of our posts. 

Hi Taylor,

I totally agree with you.  That being said, I think Petro was just having some tongue in cheek humor along with the rest of us.

LynnC 

I have enjoyed reading your thoughts over the past several years Petrocelli, and would love to share war stories over a few beers one day or play a round of golf with you.  But, this ongoing obsession of yours about "how bad the other forum is" seems very mean spirited and petty. You really should be above this kind of "trolling" garbage. 

This forum should focus on "Quality over quantity"......

Good luck!

 

In my opinion, the amount of posts is not important. What is important is the quality of our posts. 

Morningstar's Vanguard Diehard Forum was once a leading financial forum where all of us could come to learn and help others.  Let's hope it returns.

Best wishes.
Taylor[/quote]

Hi Taylor:

Well said; I couldn't agree more!

[quote user="Newsgrouper"]

Amen Taylor.  It is indeed sad to see this once fine financial forum lose sense and substance.  It must be especially painful for you, Mel. et al.  I am lucky to have found this forum years ago and it (and you) are the reason I was able to set a prudent course for the future.  New investors finding this site today would likely leave and never return.  Could you blame them?

[/quote]

Hi Newsgrouper:

It is, indeed, both sad and painful for Taylor and I to witness the deterioration in the quality of the posts on this forum. While Petrocelli likes to bash the Bogleheads Forum, I think he needs to look in the mirror, with posts like "How To Increase the Amount of Posts", "Nuclear Energy", "Hot Hands works if you don't use Dan's Hot Hands choice but make your own substitution instead", "Dan Weiner & FFSA", "Weiner Liquidates Everything and Goes to Cash", "Let's make this a Weiner Forum", "Sudan-related investments", etc.

Perhaps Taylor and I were naive to believe that the two forums could co-exist and that both could uphold the Diehards reputation for excellence.

Regards,

Mel

As Mahatma Gandhi said,

It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.

Or, Bertrand Russell,

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.

You must learn to appreciate and love Petrocelli.  Humor is just a funny way of being serious. Peter Ustinov once said,

Beliefs are what divide people. Doubt unites them.

I love the Wellington fund more than I loved my ex-wife!!

I tried to convince her to see the light... move her money to the low-cost leader, Vanguard. But no, she wanted to stick with her LOAD funds, and the advice of her (salesman!) advisor. 

I will never sell the "W & W" brothers!  I will hold on to Wellington and Wellesley until the day I die.... or the cows come home..... whichever occurs first.

LynnC, this ol' sodbuster still has a hankerin for ya!  We could make beautiful music together! ;-)   

[/quote]

Oh, so this is where the juicy stuff takes place nowadays?  Lucas, your loyalty to Lynn, a wonderful woman indeed, remains admirable and touching.

I don't vote for Ginger or MaryAnn or Mrs. Howell (may she rest in peace). I'll take the Professor since I like men with brains.

Where do I say something about Vanguard Funds, BTW?   

Hetty 

I totally agree with you.  That being said, I think Petro was just having some tongue in cheek humor along with the rest of us.

[/quote]

Thank you Lynn.  Does anyone else have a sense of humor anymore?

Petrocleli 

In my opinion, the amount of posts is not important. What is important is the quality of our posts.

[/quote]

That's my point.  Are 58 posts on a lost parking ticket quality or quantity?
 

Petrocelli 

But, this ongoing obsession of yours about "how bad the other forum is" seems very mean spirited and petty. You really should be above this kind of "trolling" garbage.

[/quote]

I think I have made two posts about the Boglehead forum recently.  This one, and the one about "The Masters" being banned from discussion.  I post at Bogleheads frequently, and I think they should learn to laugh at some of the funny things they do. I mean, 58 posts on a lost parking ticket?  Isn't that a little bit funny?

I think Taylor and Mel should get off the high horse and maybe have a chuckle once in a while.  In the end, we are all a bunch of jokers killing time by typing messages on the internet.  (I am watching the Celtics on TIVO while I type this.)   I think they should take themselves just a wee bit less seriously.

Also, what bugs me is that no one gives a hoot in hell about this forum, until it starts getting busy.  Unlike some people, when I see that the forum has dropped to 5 posts in 24 hours, I feel some sort of weird moral obligation to get it going again.  I'll do it in my way.  if someone else wants to do it their way, by all means jump in.  There's plenty of bandwidth.  Until then, quit your bellyaching.  

Petrocelli

It is, indeed, both sad and painful for Taylor and I to witness the deterioration in the quality of the posts on this forum. While Petrocelli likes to bash the Bogleheads Forum, I think he needs to look in the mirror, with posts like "How To Increase the Amount of Posts", "Nuclear Energy", "Hot Hands works if you don't use Dan's Hot Hands choice but make your own substitution instead", "Dan Weiner & FFSA", "Weiner Liquidates Everything and Goes to Cash", "Let's make this a Weiner Forum", "Sudan-related investments", etc.

Perhaps Taylor and I were naive to believe that the two forums could co-exist and that both could uphold the Diehards reputation for excellence.

[/quote]

OK Mel, let's look at the active topics right now:

•  There's a thread on substitutions for Vanguard's precious metals and healthcare funds.  That subject is of interest to Vanguard investors.
• There is thread which I posted linking to an interview with Jack Bogle.
• There's a thread on "passions run high on indexing" which discusses fundamental indexing, and has several quotes by Jack Bogle.
• There's a thread on hot hands investing, which is a subject Vanguard inverstors are interested in.
• There's a thread which has a link to a page which allows you to determine if your Vanguard funds invest in Sudanese companies.
• There's a thread started by someone who wanted an opinion on Dan Wiener that lead to a great discussion between Bilperk and Chin.
• A thread titled "Help me become a Boglehead"
• A thread on I-bonds
• A thread requesting portfolio help
• A thread on nuclear energy

Petrocelli 

One more thing...

Some posts imply that I am making sport of the Bogleheads because they post to another forum.  That's not true.

I always made fun of them.  I made fun of them when they posted here.  If they would come back here, I'd still make fun of them.  

Unlike some, I continue to treat the two forums as one forum.  I post in both, but I start new threads on the right side of the page simply because they can stay in view for more than 10 minutes, and I don't have to worry about having my thread pulled.

Petrocelli 

I can't see what the problem is.

[/quote]

I can - the problem is that they can't control this forum and that is upsetting to them.

I don't have to worry about having my thread pulled.

[/quote]

See the problem now?

[/quote]

  (I am watching the Celtics on TIVO while I type this.)   I think they should take themselves just a wee bit less seriously.

[/quote]

.  (I am watching the Celtics on TIVO while I type this.)   I think they should take themselves just a wee bit less seriously.

 Petrocelli

[/quote]

 Who takes themselves too seriously?  The Celtics??

Big Steve

I think Taylor and Mel should get off the high horse and maybe have a chuckle once in a while.  In the end, we are all a bunch of jokers killing time by typing messages on the internet.  (I am watching the Celtics on TIVO while I type this.)   I think they should take themselves just a wee bit less seriously.

Hi Petro,

In all fairness, I don't think it is themselves they are taking too seriously. I think what concerns is that the Diehard philosophy, not so much being questioned, but is attacked as dogmatic. We have always questioned each others ideas here, but too many have come over here more recently attacking the Diehards as opposed to the ideas the Diehards have been offering over the years here.

Maybe most of it happened while you weren't posting, and you are unaware?

I recognize what you are writing as humor, but it follows some long drawn out conversations where attacking the Diehards as dogmatic was the more prevalent.

I think we are learning to discuss our differences in a more productive manner, and I think if that continues, maybe Mel and Taylor will feel a bit more comfortable with the forum.

Chin

Chin:

I am going to try to temper my remarks.  I have written this post about 5 times, and have toned it down each time.

I don't think that anyone has more of a say than anyone else regarding what people post, as long as the posts are polite.

I don't think this forum belongs to any one or two people.

The people who ultimately have the greatest say in what gets posted here are those who post most frequently.

Petrocelli

Chin:

I am going to try to temper my remarks.  I have written this post about 5 times, and have toned it down each time.

I don't think that anyone has more of a say than anyone else regarding what people post, as long as the posts are polite.

I don't think this forum belongs to any one or two people.

The people who ultimately have the greatest say in what gets posted here are those who post most frequently.

[/quote]

Hi Petro,

It is not about who can post. I know you want to say that, and I know you have received negative replies from your offerings here, but as I offered Bill, he and I have as well. But, you see, you, Bill and I are still around. The negative reply you received here was in response to a negative reply you made. Sometimes there is truth intended in humor, and it is quite possible this is how Mel received it.

As I offered, your humorous reply followed some anything but humorous conversations where the diehards were constantly bashed as being dogmatic, and folks were claiming they wouldn't allow anyone to discuss any ideas that did not fit in with the Diehard church. Had it nt been for this, the humor might have been better received. Or, if you had not said something about the Weinerheads taking over since the Diehards had started another board, it may have been received better.

I see nothing controlling in what Mel or Taylor wrote, only expressions of their feelings.

They are responding in kind as they and the Diehards in general have been spoken of recently, but maybe their remarks have been a little kinder.

What you think?

Chin

Here's what I think:

This thread was an attempt at humor.  It was commenting on the fact that the Bogleheads can get 58 posts on a lost parking ticket at a time when we had less than 10 posts in a 24 hour period.

The thread went in all sorts of crazy directions.  No one was taking it all that seriously.  There were a couple snippy comments here and there, but most of the posters were having a pretty good time.

I didn't think the posts of Mel and Taylor served any purpose, and were not in the spirit of the thread.

Now could we please go back to discussing Ginger and Maryanne?

Petrocelli