martin

May 24, 07 - 9:14 AM

support

I don't want to come across as brown nosing here but I feel that Steve, founder of this site is the only guy who offers any kind of emotional support on this site! If anyone posts anything 'difficult' or shows any kind of emotion the post is read as indicated by the counter.

I always remember a priest saying to me 'I know you have gone through a difficult period, but I just can't help you', he would then go on to fraternise with the 'sorted people'. This seems bizarre given that he should be supporting the broken and wounded!! I feel a similarity on here, sometimes.

I know that there has been previous concerns re usage of site, but this is clearly not the case given the number of hits the site receives.

No doubt this may provoke some debate/outrage, but I feel it is worth raising.

Steve

May 30th, 2007 - 11:11 PM

Re: support

Hi Martin

Seems like no one wants to answer this mate, so here I am, doing what you say I do, answering your post

Look forward to seeing you on Saturday mate and hope life is treating you good

Steve

martin

May 31st, 2007 - 1:19 PM

Re: support

Yeah Steve, LOL! I have had it with men if you know what I mean

.

I guess it is easier for men to talk about the latest footy scores, or how many lagers they downed on the saturday night, than to deal with their emotions?

dpnorman

Jun 1st, 2007 - 1:50 AM

Re: support

Hey, Martin,

Try me, I'm the new guy...on the emotional stuff. My brothers refer to me now as the emotional wild card whenever we are together

Plus...there's the extra added advantage that I don't drink or watch football...

Just kidding, but throw somethin out there...

Dave

martin

Jun 2nd, 2007 - 11:44 PM

Re: support

Cheers dave. Are you going to the retreat in august? Martin

§tèvë

Jun 2nd, 2007 - 11:50 PM

Re: support

Hi Martin

Real good to see you today mate!

As for Dave...I'll answer...I doubt it fella, as Dave isnt from the UK, and as you know, we're sold out already, so guess not?

§tèvë

Martin

Jun 3rd, 2007 - 2:35 AM

Re: support

Hey, Martin...

I'll be at the one in August in Penn in the states...

How's that!?

Dave

Dave

Jun 3rd, 2007 - 2:37 AM

Re: support

Okay...messed that up...

I'll get it figured out...

Dave

martin

Jun 3rd, 2007 - 9:42 AM

Re: support

You too Steve. It infuriates me when I hear talk of the Beckhams being considered for knighthoods. There are a lot of un sung heros.......you being one of them, Steve. If there is a heaven, you will be getting the best seats in the house, hopefully not for a long time though yet!!!!

martin

Jun 3rd, 2007 - 12:32 PM

Re: support

Cheers Dave, well we can send positive thoughts to each other at our respective retreats!

Good always wins over evil, united we stand!

Sorry I am on one this morning

§tèvë

Jun 3rd, 2007 - 7:17 PM

Re: support

Hope to fuck that its many years before i croak it Martin

See you real soon mate, and in the meantime, keep talking!

Steve

martin

Jun 3rd, 2007 - 8:59 PM

Re: support

well Stev man, 91 was the age u quoted me yesterday, so that is a blooody long time, we've got loads of time to be mates!!!!

Dave

Jun 4th, 2007 - 1:23 AM

Re: support

Hey, Martin...

Your retreat sounds very similar to the retreat I attend in Pennsylvania in August. You'll be going to yours first in early August. Mine is later in the month. We won't have a three hundred and thirty year old manor with cricket...uhm...whatevers...

but it is still pretty cool.

What do you like best about the retreats?

Dave

Martin

Jun 4th, 2007 - 6:00 PM

Re: support

Hi Dave

Christ know s why I had a miserable smiley yesterday? Oh I just got it, I ticked the wrong one, LOL! Typical me!

Anyway the retreat was my first one last year. I could choose the food, as my favourate, but given that I have been moaning about people not discussing feelings. I could be open to criticism!!

I enjoyed several aspects, but my favorate part was realising the common thoughts and feelings that we all share. This was very powerful.

Granted our venue is really relaxing and in beautiful surroundings, but I quite fancy the thought of a retreat in the states, you are guaranteed the weather, i guess?
What did you get out of your retreat?

Martin

§tèvë

Jun 4th, 2007 - 6:09 PM

Re: support

Hi Martin, Dave

Unless mistaken, the Penn retreat is the one that Mike does there, and has done for many years there, just as he has here for me

§tèvë

Dave

Jun 5th, 2007 - 4:28 AM

Re: support

Hey...

Yup, I was reasonably sure that Mike did the one there, too...

The weather? Well...this will be my third retreat there. The first year it was very hot...very hot. August in the states tend to be hot. Last year was much more mild...so it was a little less uncomfortable.

My parents had seven kids in five years (they wanted to have twelve total but stopped at seven) so I grew up with five brothers pretty close together. I was right in the middle...the youngest of the older group and the eldest of the younger group so I was in a unique position in the family.

I love to watch it unfold as the weekend progresses. Everyone comes in, maybe anxious, maybe nervous...certainly the reason for being there justifies that...but after a while as everyone shares you can see it evolve, change...where it becomes a community. It is one of the few places or times I've been in the company of that many guys where diversity is celebrated rather than criticized. I like that.

I just could not do this by myself. I tried. I really tried. For a whole lot of years. But I did not trust anyone enough to share it with. That has helped me a lot. To share...to try to be more open.

Dave

DoubleNine

Jun 10th, 2007 - 10:00 PM

Re: support

I can see what's going to happen here, are Martin and martin two different people? If so, will it be an arm wrestling match for who keeps the screen name? or will lowercase martin have to remember to stay lowercase? It's so confusing

When you posted I can't even remember what I was doing I just know I had the day off work, but I hope my response to your fogiveness thread goes a little way to constitute emotional support. My recollections of the Boys of St Vincent film, I'll post those in the week and try and make it tomorrow night.

Re your priest...I'm all churched out now as you've already read!

Author	Comment
martin May 24, 07 - 9:14 AM	support I don't want to come across as brown nosing here but I feel that Steve, founder of this site is the only guy who offers any kind of emotional support on this site! If anyone posts anything 'difficult' or shows any kind of emotion the post is read as indicated by the counter. I always remember a priest saying to me 'I know you have gone through a difficult period, but I just can't help you', he would then go on to fraternise with the 'sorted people'. This seems bizarre given that he should be supporting the broken and wounded!! I feel a similarity on here, sometimes. I know that there has been previous concerns re usage of site, but this is clearly not the case given the number of hits the site receives. No doubt this may provoke some debate/outrage, but I feel it is worth raising.
Steve May 30th, 2007 - 11:11 PM	Re: support Hi Martin Seems like no one wants to answer this mate, so here I am, doing what you say I do, answering your post Look forward to seeing you on Saturday mate and hope life is treating you good Steve
martin May 31st, 2007 - 1:19 PM	Re: support Yeah Steve, LOL! I have had it with men if you know what I mean . I guess it is easier for men to talk about the latest footy scores, or how many lagers they downed on the saturday night, than to deal with their emotions?
dpnorman Jun 1st, 2007 - 1:50 AM	Re: support Hey, Martin, Try me, I'm the new guy...on the emotional stuff. My brothers refer to me now as the emotional wild card whenever we are together Plus...there's the extra added advantage that I don't drink or watch football... Just kidding, but throw somethin out there... Dave
martin Jun 2nd, 2007 - 11:44 PM	Re: support Cheers dave. Are you going to the retreat in august? Martin
§tèvë Jun 2nd, 2007 - 11:50 PM	Re: support Hi Martin Real good to see you today mate! As for Dave...I'll answer...I doubt it fella, as Dave isnt from the UK, and as you know, we're sold out already, so guess not? §tèvë
Martin Jun 3rd, 2007 - 2:35 AM	Re: support Hey, Martin... I'll be at the one in August in Penn in the states... How's that!? Dave
Dave Jun 3rd, 2007 - 2:37 AM	Re: support Okay...messed that up... I'll get it figured out... Dave
martin Jun 3rd, 2007 - 9:42 AM	Re: support You too Steve. It infuriates me when I hear talk of the Beckhams being considered for knighthoods. There are a lot of un sung heros.......you being one of them, Steve. If there is a heaven, you will be getting the best seats in the house, hopefully not for a long time though yet!!!!
martin Jun 3rd, 2007 - 12:32 PM	Re: support Cheers Dave, well we can send positive thoughts to each other at our respective retreats! Good always wins over evil, united we stand! Sorry I am on one this morning
§tèvë Jun 3rd, 2007 - 7:17 PM	Re: support Hope to fuck that its many years before i croak it Martin See you real soon mate, and in the meantime, keep talking! Steve
martin Jun 3rd, 2007 - 8:59 PM	Re: support well Stev man, 91 was the age u quoted me yesterday, so that is a blooody long time, we've got loads of time to be mates!!!!
Dave Jun 4th, 2007 - 1:23 AM	Re: support Hey, Martin... Your retreat sounds very similar to the retreat I attend in Pennsylvania in August. You'll be going to yours first in early August. Mine is later in the month. We won't have a three hundred and thirty year old manor with cricket...uhm...whatevers... but it is still pretty cool. What do you like best about the retreats? Dave
Martin Jun 4th, 2007 - 6:00 PM	Re: support Hi Dave Christ know s why I had a miserable smiley yesterday? Oh I just got it, I ticked the wrong one, LOL! Typical me! Anyway the retreat was my first one last year. I could choose the food, as my favourate, but given that I have been moaning about people not discussing feelings. I could be open to criticism!! I enjoyed several aspects, but my favorate part was realising the common thoughts and feelings that we all share. This was very powerful. Granted our venue is really relaxing and in beautiful surroundings, but I quite fancy the thought of a retreat in the states, you are guaranteed the weather, i guess? What did you get out of your retreat? Martin
§tèvë Jun 4th, 2007 - 6:09 PM	Re: support Hi Martin, Dave Unless mistaken, the Penn retreat is the one that Mike does there, and has done for many years there, just as he has here for me §tèvë
Dave Jun 5th, 2007 - 4:28 AM	Re: support Hey... Yup, I was reasonably sure that Mike did the one there, too... The weather? Well...this will be my third retreat there. The first year it was very hot...very hot. August in the states tend to be hot. Last year was much more mild...so it was a little less uncomfortable. My parents had seven kids in five years (they wanted to have twelve total but stopped at seven) so I grew up with five brothers pretty close together. I was right in the middle...the youngest of the older group and the eldest of the younger group so I was in a unique position in the family. I love to watch it unfold as the weekend progresses. Everyone comes in, maybe anxious, maybe nervous...certainly the reason for being there justifies that...but after a while as everyone shares you can see it evolve, change...where it becomes a community. It is one of the few places or times I've been in the company of that many guys where diversity is celebrated rather than criticized. I like that. I just could not do this by myself. I tried. I really tried. For a whole lot of years. But I did not trust anyone enough to share it with. That has helped me a lot. To share...to try to be more open. Dave
DoubleNine Jun 10th, 2007 - 10:00 PM	Re: support I can see what's going to happen here, are Martin and martin two different people? If so, will it be an arm wrestling match for who keeps the screen name? or will lowercase martin have to remember to stay lowercase? It's so confusing When you posted I can't even remember what I was doing I just know I had the day off work, but I hope my response to your fogiveness thread goes a little way to constitute emotional support. My recollections of the Boys of St Vincent film, I'll post those in the week and try and make it tomorrow night. Re your priest...I'm all churched out now as you've already read!