clique boy.

I would say how I feel about you all but you're bigheaded enough already

...I'm in total agreement: hats off to Dev Hell, indeed, for this splendid resource. we should never take it for granted nor underestimate how much work it involves on the maintenance end of things.

Hopefully the kickback to Word is that it offers valuable feedback on their paid-off products, as well as a bit of crowd-sourced content for the magazine (often as insightful and pithy as the best of the pro pieces).

I think, dare I say it, that among the brouhaha about charging for the podcast - my own view being neutral on it, but understanding of both sides - it may be that the incredible added-value (to regulars especially) of this blog was underappreciated.

And I too have made some great friends via the Word community! (Where else, for goodness sake, would I find anyone else willing to engage in gargantuan discussions on the Mahavishnu Orchestra?)

Long may it continue...

EDIT: I meant to write 'paid-for products', not paid-off. Must have been a Freudian slip - I've just today accepted a voluntary redundancy offer from an employer I've detested being with for most of 10 years. Here's to a happier new year!

God bless us, one and all, etc etc... :-)

I completely feel the same way about the website and Dev Hell.

This blog has:
- introduced me to a whole raft of amazing new friends
- completely reinvigorated my gig-going life
- led me to join a band, which is completely amazing fun
- systematically emptied my bank account through many recommendations of new music
- helped me towards a new career (it was Katyg's wonderful idea to get the Minglers to give me a ukulele, and it was the uke that inspired me to become a music teacher)
- supported me through one of the toughest years of my life
- helped me lose four stone - cheers to all my fellow chubbycheckers.

I had no idea where any of this would lead when I picked up my first Word magazine all those years ago...

Yep, I love it here too.

And Bob, I'm proud to call you my mate.

Hannah xxx

(apologies to anyone reading this who's just been sick into their keyboard)

The office thanks you for your kind words. Now mind your language.

*sobs*

Who could ever forget the night that you, I and a few others actually formed a band. The fact that I felt compelled to leave the group within 37 seconds of formation because of musical differences should not detract from that special moment of magic.

There is conflict in all web communities. But whereas in most places, people try to sustain it, on here people are more likely to seek out common ground. That's why it feels so like a real-life group of friends.

Bravo to the Word blog.

....I'll mention Hitler now.

there, it's said; the spell is broken; fear of Godwin and his Law is diminished; let us sail communally onwards with a fair wind and a blue shirt as our sail...

...all the above, what I find particularly heartening about this blog is the sheer good-naturedness and camaderie. I was touched that when I posted on my recovery from TB and my hopes for the future - like reaching 64 - I got 31 'ups.' Thanks, guys! (in its widest gendered sense) xx

so many arguments.

*goes off and checks the Guinness Book. Yep, the most argumentative man on the internet.....*

I've done 4 years and 4 days. You get less for desecrating The Cenotaph.

I was moved to write something akin to this the other night when I'd had a particularly rough day with my inner demons and needed to vent. I've written something similar to this several times for the blog and always got cold feet and deleted it for various reasons.

As some\most of you know I suffer from panic attacks although the full blown screaming ones happen maybe only once a year. However the more frequent fear is a fairly regular visitor. Usually occurs around important events, gigs and other stuff. Think of that job interview fear, up it a bit and imagine having that when you're supposed to be having fun.

I cope in various ways, I avoid eating before I have to go somewhere like a gig and make sure I have plenty of water, I prefer aisle seats so if I need to leave I can do with the minimum of fuss although I find I rarely do. Luckily I have friends who seem to tolerate me. Panic attacks aren't physically dangerous in the slightest but despite knowing this, blimey they are terrifying.

I won't bore you with the rest and sometimes it doesn't occur and I'm fine. Its just the way my brain is wired. We all have our quirks and hang ups. I try not to let mine defeat me and get on with stuff. My gig going schedule is testament to that.

The blog, mingles and all the work of the Word peeps have genuinely made a huge difference to me. I tried to attend my first mingle and made it as far as a few feet away at the bar of the pub but could go no further. The 2nd time I bit the bullet and had a great time, surrounded by nice people who talked maybe a little too much about Joni Mitchell but I could live with that.

Various slips and hitches led to me organising a Thames Valley Mingle which is close to its 4th (?) cosy collection of home counties herberts. Sometimes I've had severe panic about these, particularly the first one sitting there alone with only a copy of the Word and Tedward for company until my saviour in the shape of Vince Packet showed up and I realised that at least someone else had shown up!

I've met some great people at the Mingles and even some who I hope can count me as a friend. Its led to meeting for gigs, quizzes and drinks all over the place. Mark Ellen now calls me by my nom de blog when we bump into each other at gigs and introduces me to baffled bystanders. The fact that he made a point at the last Mingle to come across and thank me for a bootleg I sent him even though he'd already done so by email is proof if it were needed as to why the Word is smarter than your average mag.

So next time you see me at a mingle then excuse my distractedness as I may just be having "a bit of a turn" and anyone who has ever thanked me for a bootleg I have burnt em - seriously its nae bother. The "Massive" has given me much more in return.

To those who think its naff, a clique, embarrassing, smug and pathetic -

BTW if this post suddenly disappears then I've got cold feet again!

Within 2 sentences max... This, btw, is a very GOOD thing. Long may you rant, rib, rile and ruminate!
And yeah, I love it here too....

Have only been on the site a few months but feel quite addicted to it now. I like the fact that people can have differences of opinion without resorting to the sort of personal abuse which is prevalent on so many other sites. I enjoy your posts Bob, even if I may not agree with your pop agenda:) So happy anniversary and all that, and here's to many more interesting posts!!

About the iniquitous way we are governed and the shocking performance so far in the Premiership of QPR's back 4. I'd also like to protest in the strongest possible terms about being lumbered with QPR as a family football tradition.
Come on Bob I'm waiting.... :-)

I too find my self often ruminating about this and a bit of that whilst waiting for the medication to take effect here in this twilight home for the febrile minded and as much as I enjoy all the many hours I have idled away here it would not be half as stimulating without the company of you Bob and indeed the many, many other lost souls who haunt this wonderful place.

You're a top bloke - I love all fellow heart / sleeve wearers. Even with your terrible taste in music, and secret love of the Tull. I can forgive a lot for a man who tweets pictures of his pedal board. Mwah!

PS I'm an inner 4 year 7 week circle man. The only clique to be in!

Do we all have to do one?

erm... three years four weeks... don't post as much as I used to. Like Vorgongod I can spot a Bob post from the first sentence. Always opinionated, always forthright, always eloquent and as far as I can tell, always right. If there was a blogger of the year award it'd be a Mugabe-esque landslide. In fact I'd give you my Word Awards rosette if I could, but I can't, because it's mine.

Bugger me! I've been a member of the Massive for 3 years and 37 weeks. That can't be right, I only started posting recently, And I'm convinced, Bob, that you already had the seat in the corner when I got here. Or someone very like you. Anyway, I echo all the comments up there, and this is a thoroughly splendid place to be. To all those fighting personal demons to one degree or another, I'm pleased to be a little part of whatever comfort you've taken from here. Long may we all continue.

you are an argumentative old bugger, but you are our argumentative old bugger. I have pondered several times starting "The Bob Factor" thread stating that threads where you get little steamed up are far and away the most memorable, most of the time I have no idea what's going on but I like the capital letters and swearing mainly. Also if you're "on one" those threads tend to end up in the "Hot Topics"

Me? I've just checked and 2 years and 16 weeks of idle chatter and thread closers later I still love it here, it is a drug but it's harmless. I have noticed how many threads I have started however loads of which i don't remember and don't actually involve anyone from a Scottish pop combo. Some of them seem to strike a chord others are ignored but I wouldn't have missed a day of it. Still a million, million miles away from attending a mingle though, but that's just me.

A splendid post from a splendid fellow.

I share probably all of those sentiments listed. As some of the long established here are aware I spend too long on here. I lead a busy but paradoxically boring life commuting in and out of the home counties, earning my corn in the doublespeak of IT management.

This place is a real solace. I refuse to take most things seriously outside the hours of 8:30 to 5:30 and enjoy posting whimsy, sarcasm and, if you will, balls. I am not villified for this. I am not told to get bent. I am not derided. Quite the contrary. Most, if in a similar mood, join in and often make my day.

I have met The Bob several times in person at Mingles aplenty and it has to be said, like all of you, he is a kindred spirit to be treasured.

I feel as though I've eaten too many marshmallows now.

And I think you're all nuts the lot of yer.

Which is why I feel quite at home

*Raises a glass*

I've met you many times now and we have conversed on many matters. After all this time, I can now finally say that I'm starting to find you in some way tolerable.

Happy Blogday for tomorrow!

No way to pshaw and tish the nice comments away without looking either disingenuous or ungrateful, but I'm going to anyway. Again. Pshaw and tish. Thank you for being nice, you lot.

I really would feel a very great gap in my life without this place, as I say, and the purpose of the thread was very much to celebrate the blog, and say thank you (as nauseating as that might be to some people).

is how long I've been here and been an addict ever since. I want to echo Bob's op and all the positives about this "place". I've been between friends for a while (most of my friends are female and as we have all had kids we end up in a situation where they have more in common with Mrs C than me - to be fair she is much lovelier than me). This has never bothered me before but suddenly does and I'm resolving to get out more and widen my horizons. So at the moment the massive are the nearest to friends I've got to chat about the crap I'm interested in. So thanks for all the up arrows, replies I've had to comments and posts of mine you have commented on - even the ones where you don't agree. And I will do my best to over come my shyness and overall crapness at being sociable to come to the next Midlands mingle. Thanks to all of you for making this a great place to visit. Sorry if this sounds a bit odd but by typing it Im trying to force myself to be proactive. Anyway I'm off to compose a thread about sheds. Happy Anniversary Bob.

I recall how you explained to me why you didn't like Americana (or Alt-Country etc).

Big beards & banjos eh? ;)

I have been here 3 years and 30 weeks according to my profile.

I too love the "energy" you inject into debates on here. I still think that Librarian should have had the decency to make that appointment on time!

I am addicted to this place like many here and I still like Styx.

Too many to list, but Fraser M at about 6 posts down is inspired

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/hat-nomenclature-question

I would have been here for 4 years and 4 weeks, but the old 'me' was a total dick most of the time so he had to go. I'm not really that bad in real life, but I misjudged my words a lot of the time and ended up not liking myself very much. I like to think George is a more balanced chap and somewhat closer to my own personality.
That said, happy anniversary Bob. I can only echo the comments made above and wish you many more such days.

I'd also be in the 4/7 club, but instead I'm just a callow young 'un. And like others, I have to say this site has made my life better and proved much cheaper than a therapist. Big thansk to all. Although the advice of you buggers has played havoc with my book, CD and DVD budget.

And if I'm ever in the same pub as the Dev Hell staff, they won't be buying their own drinks.

We miss you when you're not here. Usually in a self-imposed exile, that thankfully never lasts.

I'm a mere stripling in comparison, at 1 year and 37 weeks of service.

For me, this place is a bit of a haven. I especially like to visit when I'm having a tough day, and I know I'll feel better when I leave. Even when we have a "heated debate", someone will puncture the tension and make me giggle.

Keep calm, everyone, and carry on.

But more importantly 1 year, 11 days since I met Reno Dakota for the very first time...

Runs in, drops his trousers to show the two Ps tattooed on his bum cheeks, spelling POP. Runs out again.

(or more accurately P * P)

Building peace and harmony with every blog

If you've enjoyed it, then it's all been worthwhile.
So, until we meet again, good night, and I love you all!

Oh no, I missed my 4th birthday!

I'm amazed it's been that long, so it goes without saying, I like it here.

...I'm in a clique and never knew! 4 years and 7 weeks for me in the most civilised, most entertaining, most informative, most interesting, most argumentative (in a good way) and - above all - most fun place I know. It's the characters who make it what it is and, Bob, you stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of them. Thank you for allowing us all to reflect on what a wondrous thing we are part of - courtesy of the good folks at Development Hell, of course.

He's 2 now.

Can we stop being nice yet?

This sort of thing:
"Sorry about that. *chastened face*

FUCKBOLLOCKSARSETWAT.

Nothing."

... is just one reason to cherish your presence. I'm constantly in awe at your gold-plated verbiage. And you make a mean rillette as well. Next time I get up to a Mingle, what are you drinking?

to wish everyone a Happy Bobday??!!

Hope to get to the Jan mingle and try to remember the people I met a year ago, plus a few others too.

in my current guise. I have not been posting so much recently - it's been a very difficult year. I remain optimistic about the year coming - but it's a fragile kind of optimism and is frequently tested by listening to am on Radio 4.

All best wishes to everyone of this community - you're a smashing bunch

But I have spells when I don't come here for one reason or another. And these get longer because I feel if I show up after a gap I won't know what's going on so I put it off for a bit longer. Then I come here and, no, I don't know what's going on but it doesn't matter. It's a strange attitude I know.

But, anyway, it's a lovely place and you can check out any time you like but you can never leave.

(hums "Angie" and exits...)

A relative newbie then. But feels like a lot longer. In a good way.

This is such a warm, funny and supportive place. Thank you for helping me through an incredibly rough year, indulging my more sleeveheart posts, and keeping me distracted and entertained. Thank you for the CDs and books, the fabulous cakes.

I've made some good friends via this Blog, and joined a band, full of wonderfully talented people. I hope The Karma Errors get to play for you one day soon. x

This is my first day! Twenty-three hours and counting. Now I'm here, I don't know what to say. Erm, shall I just sing for a bit?

*humming, barely perceptible*

I never thought it would happen with me and the girl from Clapham...

you are going to fit in just fine. Just remember not to swear and don't disrespect Richard Thompson

According to Fraser, I've been here 4 years and 8 weeks (although recently more off than on). Blimey, that must have been a lonely week ....

Oh, and Happy Word-day Bob!