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Introduction
Hello! I’m new here and you can blame @Spin for that. (Can I tag people with the @ symbol? I don’t know…as I said, I’m new here.) Anyways, I’ve spent the last decade and change wearing my county’s cloth as a Naval Flight Officer. Aviators aren’t generally known for their bookishness, so my long surname was replaced by the callsign “D12”. Facebook is my only social media outlet (Twitter is a sewer, and don’t get me started on the instaporn apps). I’m hoping to find rigorous and respectful discussions with passionately reasonable people. To paraphrase Dennis Prager, I don’t care much for consensus, but clarity is priceless. See you in the comment section!
Published in General
Welcome! And your prize for joining Ricochet will be revealed on the next Flagship Podcast. ;)
Welcome to Ricochet. You joined in very interesting times.
How would you know about those?
I’ve never heard of them, but then I’m a Luddite.
Welcome! The people here are nice. Lots of different perspectives. You can talk about political matters and expect to be treated with respect.
Yes, @d12 , you can use @ to tag people.
Welcome! We hold the military (and veterans) in high regard around here. Thanks for your service!
Welcome D12!
Welcome, D12.
Instaporn? I didn’t know there was such a thing. Where do I sign up? Criminently, all this time I’ve been paying monthly fees to watch Procrastiporn.
Welcome D12. Ricochet is a very nice corner of the internet.
Welcome. We will not blame Spin for you, but may blame you for Spin.
Hah! You listened to us (Spin and me, I mean). Welcome to Ricochet. Someone here is in charge of the secret handshake, but it’s not me…
Welcome D12 – I retired a decade ago after being a Bomber pilot.
The Ricoverse is a nice place.
Spin told you that’s what you’d find here? Oh, dear . . .
Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome! And thanks for your service.
That whole “call sign” thing used to crack me up, btw. For a short time just after college (many years ago), I lived in Fort Walton Beach and my roommate was in the Air Force. She worked with a squadron at Eglin and every time we’d be going out or having a party and I’d ask what friends of hers might show up, I’d get the oddest guest list:
“Uh… I think ‘ET’ is coming, definitely ‘Lurch’ and ‘Roto’ . . . and ‘Trash’ and ‘Mrs. Trash’ might stop by later . . . ”
I remember that group of guys really fondly and yet, I’m not sure I ever knew the real names of most of them.
I’m sure that one day your military and aviation experience will be deeply informative. Around here I am the go to guy for weird Japanese stuff, evolutionary biology and Thomas Sowell. Feel free to consult me if you need info on any of those things.
Welcome, FNG, er, D12!
This is a much more respectful place than Facebook, and if you pop off, you get the lightning bolt from an editor and a scolding. I got it once and now I try to watch my P’s and Q’s…
I’m glad you joined!
All, D12 was a young man studying Arabic in the Middle East when I met him on a mission trip. I celebrated my 40th birthday on that trip and he gave me a bible written in Arabic. Still once of my prized possessions. I still think of him as a kid but 10 years in the Navy will man you up right now!
Welcome!
Now, about that post regarding price gouging…
Good to have you with us, @d12! We’ve got some great folks here. Except for that @spin guy . . . 😊
I don’t care for your tone.
What prize do I get?
Link please – I gotta see that one.
Welcome!
It sounds like you are very interested in joining in thought-provoking, in-depth discussions on deep and sometimes obscure topics. That’s what this site is for.
On the other hand, I imagine quite a few members would also be game for some very un-intellectual, titillating tales from the world of naval aviation right about now. So don’t hold back.
Which aircraft?
Oh, and we almost forgot the most important admission criteria:
Cats or dogs?
(P.S. There is only one correct answer. And that answer is dogs.)
There are prizes?! Hot dang!
Bombers, eh? Ol’ BUFF or something else? Mad respect for the fellas who get it done in the B-52. I got a tour of one down in Barksdale from a friend of mine who is a Navigator. That’s some tough duty!
The call signs are a fun form of cultural initiation, but the rule generally is that you only get the answer to “Why do they call you that?” over a drink. I don’t drink so I figured I’d get it out of the way in a hurry. Mudd, Blunt, DP, Tick, DR, BRINA, Frumbe, Gumbo… it’s a good time. And yes, if you do it right, you have to really think to conjure up your closest friends’ first names.