>>>>>>>>>>You're online, and it isn't May.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Hey Mike,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I am going to stay in the technical sections and skip chatter. Since I am still learning .NET, and can always learn new things about SQL Server, I want to read those. I can behave myself there and don't expect to be antagonized there. Chatter has not been deactivated yet, which I will do before logging off.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I am curious about one thing. Has anyone heard from John Ryan since the earthquake hit Christchurch? I don't know exactly where he lives in NZ, or even if he is in the country. He was in the U.S. not long ago.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Take care,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Other Mike
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Which step in the process is rationalization?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Trick question. It's not in the process if you want to improve.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I do not excuse my behavior and never have. I just think stepping away from the drama section, at least for a while, is for the best. I am not mad at anyone except maybe myself.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>BTW, I did unselect the Chatter forum. I saw your message only because it is in my Replies list.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>No, you said you were gone and wouldn't be back. The next day you're back with an excuse as to why you're here. You're addicted to UT just as much as alcohol. At one point in time I was addicted to UT also, and it was really hard to stay away for a few months. The first week is the hardest.
>>>>>
>>>>>I thought better of that. The specifics, not the spirit. It has been Chatter where I have gotten in trouble and that is out (other than replying to direct messages like yours). What I said before was accurate. I want to read the tech forums, especially .NET, probably mostly as a lurker. That seems sensible to me.
>>>>
>>>>I wonder if Michel has a read only profile.
>>>
>>>Hi, Nick. I won't cause any ruckus there. Chatter is the problem and I have checked out of it.
>>
>>I agree with Kevin actually Mike.
>>
>>I think often technical conversations end up as chatter.
>>
>>You need some pattern changing event in your life and staying on here is stopping that happening.
>
>Nick, I respect your opinion. Where we may disagree is the definition of "on here." 90% of my UT involvement in recent years has been in Chatter. (Which does not make me unique). I am leaving that forum for a significant period of time. Isn't that a pattern change?
>
>I do not want to leave the tech sections. Today I have spent almost all the time since I woke up studying .NET. I am serious about it. Why does it make sense for me to turn my back on free advice from Viv, Bonnie, Paul, Mike C. et al?

As much as I respect the knowledge and contributions of those you mention and others here, if you are serious about breaking patterns and given the volume of .net / sql traffic here, go hang out on Stackoverflow for a while instead.