posted
I have not seen nearly enough of the United States. I have seen some of my own state, Massachutes, and a little of some of the neighbors. But not nearly enough.
This summer I am determined to experience the USA. I want to learn about people, see the gradiations of culture. As such, I shall be traveling across the US for a few weeks or so.
However...there is a problem that confronted me at this point in my logic. The problem being lodging. Where the heck am I going to stay? How am I going to keep myself alive? Shower?
Yes, traveling across the US = mindfraggly and lovely. But how to do so?
Then another thought came to me. Hatrack. The people at Hatrack are dispersed across the US. They could help me! I could get to a new state, find a hatracker, and stay with the hatracker for a few days before moving on!
Furthermore, by the webs of interconnection, I would be confident of my safety with these people.
I therfore put a question to you, the readers of this post. If you live in the US, in a state besides MA, would you be so kind as to host me for a few days in the month of July, show me around?
I fear that this post will sink into oblivion with 0-2 replies, but hopefully that shall not happen.
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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Talk to plaid - he just did this. Frisco has also done this several times; I'll bet he'd be helpful.
Also, there will be many places where there are not Hatrackers. I think there are cheap hostels across the US.
Are you traveling by yourself? How long are you going? If you come to Dallas, I would be happy to show you around. I live by myself, though, and I am a little nervous about a man I don't know sleeping in my apartment - I'm sorry. I think there are other Dallasites around.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
If it's in early July, you're welcome to stay here a couple days -- late July I'll be gone. I can attempt showing you around, except I don't know where stuff is (none of it is around where I live). But you'd get to meet my kids, which is worth the whole trip.
posted
If you come to Atlanta you can have my couch for 2-3 days.
Like Kat said, Frisco would probably have advice.
Aim for clumps of hatrackers--Florida, So. Cal., various Midwest clumps. And aim for gatherings already planned.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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quote:Furthermore, by the webs of interconnection, I would be confident of my safety with these people.
Why do you think people should be confident of their safety if you were staying with them? I don't recall you going to any get-togethers, and you've posted stuff like this in the past.
Posts: 1658 | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I can not spell my own state; horrible, is it not? I have met a single hatracker, Raia, though that was but once, and for a solitary day. I know I have posted odd posts, but that is because I am an odd, artsy person.
If Raia would be so kind as to vouche for my being as a person, that would be lovely. I have talked randomly with people on IM who frequent these forums.
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Yep, that is I. I even have a rant several pages in which explains why I feel so desperate to go away.
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
You can do this and get paid as well! How you ask? The Train. I worked as a Service Attendant (read waiter) on AMTRAK for two summers and a Christmas break. I got to see so much of the USA and it was a blast. I workedout of LA and traveled to just about every major city west of Chicago and New Orleans! What a great time.
Posts: 514 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
When I did my trip around the US, I got an Amtrak rail pass for a month, which allowed me to go anywhere in the US and get on and off the train as much as I wanted. I had a great time -- I loved the train, it was a great way to get around. It cost ~$500 when I did it, but during the summer it goes up to $750.
Posts: 2911 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Raia -- since you're on now -- help us out with this?
quote: If Raia would be so kind as to vouche for my being as a person, that would be lovely. I have talked randomly with people on IM who frequent these forums.
posted
I would be happy to help out a Hatracker who's willing to crash on the living room floor-- but I don't know whether we'll be in Dallas or the LA area when you make it to where we are. Whichever one, though, you're welcome to the floor or the couch (we have an air mattress for the floor.)
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Phanto is indeed a person. We had lunch together, and had a lovely time. I'm still alive, and intact, and I assure you all that he is no mad serial killer or anything of the kind. Posts: 7877 | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
Thank you all! Yes, FG, today was a horrible day. Staying alive is good enough, sometimes. Eich. Not fun. But I am glad you read my blog. Nothing could reveal myself as a human better than that.
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
I'm totally with Theca here, actually. There's no way I would invited someone to stay with me without knowing a whole heck of a lot more about them than I know about Phanto, including the age thing. Everyone I've already met in person on neutral territory who is over 18 I would happily host, women I have met before who are under 18 I would consider hosting but it's in no way a sure thing, men I haven't met who are over 18 I would meet in person on neutral territory but would not host, and men I haven't met before who are under 18 I would -only- meet in public in a group. That's not paranoid, it's cautious.
That goes for people I only interact with on the forum. If I'd had other interaction off the forum with people that could change things somewhat. But that is not the case here.
So, Phanto, I'm sorry, but if you are passing through Minnesota I will not be offering you a place to stay. If you are of age and will be here and would like to meet somewhere, I would happily do so, but that's all I would be comfortable with.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I'm not really sure he was asking which Hatrackers wouldn't help him out. It's not like he was gonna show up at Hatrackers' doors expecting shelter, I don't think.
Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
That would be quite humorous, however. It's raining outside, your doorbell rings at midnight, and some guy going by the name of Phanto says, "You mind if I sleep in your house?" C'mon, how could you say no to something like that, it's raining after all.
I stayed with Anne Kate for a weekend, and I brought my roommate along. She only partly knew me, and she knew nothing about him. I assure that nobody was upset with the deal.
posted
I would personally recommend buying a tent and then staying at national and state parks. A bunch of these have showers and you really get to meet all sorts of people. Plus they're really cheap.
Posts: 872 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Yes, AR and his buddy were very nice. I know I can count on my grandminions all to be quite well-behaved since evil mistresses brook no disobedience.
I trust you Phanto! You're welcome to stay here. Notice is appreciated, however, at least 24 hours ahead, (or as far in advance as possible, as soon as you know). Also, word of wisdom standards apply in my house (no alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs), though I'm sure I don't need to say that to you.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
I think having someone try and convince you that he or she is trustworthy is, well, strange logic. I'm more apt to believe that he's honest just from the fact that it never occured to him that people might find him dishonest.
A year and a half and 1000+ posts isn't very newbieish, though I admit I don't know much about him. That doesn't mean he hasn't told it, just that I haven't read the applicable threads.
But perhaps telling him that he freaks you out (twice) isn't the best way to "goad" information out of him.
Then again, I wouldn't know polite if it crawled up my nose and laid eggs in my brain.
Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
Fine. I'll just assume he's 18 and stop worrying about everybody. Is that better? I can't believe nobody else worries about the risks involved here
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Theca, I think the people who've deemed it too much of a risk are the ones who aren't offering their places. (i.e. about 8000+ hatrackers) Have some faith in people.
I, personally, don't think it's a huge risk. But then again, I've been around Hatrack enough to get good vibes from this "newbie". Perhaps you should hang around a little more before passing judgement.
Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
That really hurts. I haven't judged anyone. Apparently you have. And I've even met you. I wasn't expecting this.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
And I should have expected that one. Fine, I apologize to everyone for questioning Phanto's age out loud and worrying that people were putting themselves at risk without getting enough facts. I certainly didn't expect to chewed up like this and I will make sure not to let this happen in the future.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I'd love to meet up with Phanto if he chooses to come through Chicago, but I haven't got the room to offer lodging (nope, I don't even have a couch, we just got rid of it and bought a couple Poang chairs)
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
Theca, I didn't post any kind of warning specifically because Kat, you, and ElJay did. It's not enough for everyone who's uncomfortable with the idea not to offer. Someone needs to at least point out the possible danger, if only to remind people who might not have considered the possibility, and I'm glad you did it.
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I don't disagree that someone should've pointed out the possibile danger, Theca, I just thought it could've been done more nicely. The only thing your post would've goaded out of me was "Man, what a *****."
Maybe I've just met too many Hatrackers to be scared of any of you, though. Except the ones who tried to kill me. Or marry me. Posts: 5264 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
Scared and cautious are two different things. Every Hatracker I've met has been wonderful, and I fully expect that Phanto is wonderful, too. But as a single woman living alone I would not invite him to my house without ever having met him before. That's cautious.
Theca is in a profession where her ethics need to be beyond reproach. She needs to be even more cautious. I don't see anything wrong with what she said or the way she said it.
I've met almost 100 hatrackers now. Frisco, I know you've met more than I have, since you've hit the East Coast clumps and the Pacific Northwest clumps and I haven't, and the only clump I've met that you haven't is the Canadians.
I could meet twice as many, though, and they could all be wonderful, and that wouldn't change how I approach meeting y'all. It only takes one person who is misrepresenting themselves. I mean no insult to anyone by that. I love meeting Hatrackers and I will continue meeting Hatrackers at every opportunity. (Next weekend! Yay!) And I would expect everyone to take the same percautions when meeting me, and I certainly will not be offended if they do. It just makes sense. Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
If for some hellforsaken reason you want to visit Lexington, Kentucky, I would be happy to meet up with you. Just give me a couple weeks notice at least so I can clear blocks of time. There should be a cultural event or two, depending on the date and day of week, or if you are a legal adult and interested we could probably party like rock stars. You can crash on my couch too if you would like.
I do have a few stipulations. No illegal drugs that I know about or the prosecutor would have a chance of lying that I did, especially off your person or if you are a minor. Drugs are bad, mmmkay, and if I ever get in trouble again it damn well better be my fault. No alcohol inside if you are under eighteen. No smoking tobacco inside for any age, because nicotine kills and cigarettes make the living room smell.
Basically you are more than welcome to stay here as long as I do not risk any for doing so.
Posts: 1364 | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
Well I have an apartment on mothballs in Mattoon Illinois, but you would have to stay out of my porn collection. Oh and you would have to break in!
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