My first bottle of 'good' wine

[Roscoe]

Lordson, I meet medical students all the time as part of my job and was one once myself. Whether you are one or not, you are not portraying yourself like any medical student I have ever met. I thought I should point that out to the forum at large, before they are tempted to draw wider conclusions about the current state of medical education in Australia.

[monghead]

Lordson, I meet medical students all the time as part of my job and was one once myself. Whether you are one or not, you are not portraying yourself like any medical student I have ever met. I thought I should point that out to the forum at large, before they are tempted to draw wider conclusions about the current state of medical education in Australia.

I'll second that roscoe

[monghead]

My opinion is that somewhere out there, lordson is having a great little chuckle about the kerfuffle he/she has caused on this forum in a few short weeks.

Tell you what though, lordson has certainly generated alot more activity/posts in these last few weeks than I have seen for a long time on this forum...

Errr, keep up the good work I guess...

[Craig(NZ)]

yes the fact that lordson is the most exciting thing to happen here for months is a sad indictment on us all.

maybe more people should invent strange and unusual characters just to wind us all up

[Daniel Jess]

Just a quick thing.. I finished a Bachelor's in Biomed before I started in the wine training and I imagine that you're being 22, you'd be in your 4th of 5th year of your 6 yr degree now. That would mean you understand scientific method well... Do you search online to discuss the absolute basic ins- and outs- of medical science? I doubt it, you read books..

Well, that's the same way we all learnt about wine.. perhaps it's time to hit the library for wine books!

[lordson]

alright, i've had enough of this

i'm not going to waste my time defending myself here any more

i never said anything about studying computers, i said i frequent computer forums

and this is an internet forum, you really think i care THAT much about my spelling and grammar here. if anything it just shoes what little time i have seeing as i have other things to do

and Craig, you are compltely generalising to think that ALL medical students know alot about wine. there are 30 people here living with me, and only 2 of us ever drink wine

I just had a few questions about wine, and wanted to talk about wine

alright? enough is enough

[Red Bigot]

and Craig, you are compltely generalising to think that ALL medical students know alot about wine. there are 30 people here living with me, and only 2 of us ever drink wine

Is that the same 30 friends of which you are the only one posting on forums?
Do you still think "i found that depressoin goes away by itself if you ignore it long enough"
(Google is a wonderful tool.)

I thought you lived at home with your mum and dad?
"i can tell you honestly, i'm just a 22 yr old, sititng in my lounge room, whilst my parents are watching TV typing on my laptop"

[pc79]

Check and mate i think Brian:

Lordson - the problem as far as I can see lies in the fact that your posts contain inconsistencies from post to post. As Brian points out above, you’re living at home with your mum and dad, and then a post later you have 30 people living with you. There are a number of others that come to mind, but this is the most recent.
Further are glaring grammatical errors (not just spelling, but sentence structure and sense) and a lack of general awareness when it comes to just about everything. I, like many others find it very difficult to take you seriously. Either English is not your native language, you aren’t ‘australian’, are a little slow – medicine? (I will ensure that my health doesn’t rely upon your judgement) or the most logical conclusion is you’re asking the same questions over and over and not taking in any of the advice given. After all this time – a wind up.
I love how you’ve evoked a stir among the forum goer’s though

In case you had any trouble deciphering what I am talking about I have included the below for your benefit:
Incinsitancy: lacking in harmony between the different parts or elements; self-contradictory
Grammatical: of or pertaining to grammar (the study of the way the sentences of a language are constructed)
Wind up: To invent with the intent of conning. A "Wind-up merchant" is somebody who is disposed to wind others up, a habitual liar, or prankster

[lordson]

as i said before i live in ballarat

i'm here because i'm on my rural rotation for the year

i live with 30 other people, if you noticed the date on that post it was a sunday, when i was at home

any more questions?

[Davo]

i'm doing medicine, so its a 6 year course.

[TORB]

i'm doing medicine, so its a 6 year course.

What you you know about this subject? You are just a jumped up little (well not so little) tuna fisherman that happens to have the initials MD after your name.

[Craig(NZ)]

and Craig, you are compltely generalising to think that ALL medical students know alot about wine. there are 30 people here living with me, and only 2 of us ever drink wine

Apologies. Obviously NZ med students are a lot more sophisticated.

[a_kean]

I don't post here often, but I thought I'd add my 2c worth, being in my 20s and recently out of a big Australian uni. You absolutely do not need top English skills to get into a uni course. If you came through the Australian school system, entrance to most courses (although I'm not sure about medicine) is based on high school marks, so you can be great at maths/science etc and get into any course you want with only passable english. And for international students, as long as you can pass an international english test (which is way below the level of a 20 year old native english speaker, i know from experience), you'll be admitted.

Lordson, as a few people have suggested, read some wine books. There are many available. When I started getting into wine, I could not get enough of wine-related reading material.

And, to encourage you to stick around, I can completely understand where you are coming from. I think some people around here are a bit suspicious due to 'interesting characters' popping up in the past.

[Daniel Jess]

I will take a step and apologise if anybody has made you (Lordson) feel intimidated or unwelcome - because anybody wanting to discuss wines should be allowed to.

However, reading books first really is the best way to learn about the ins and outs of wine. Forums like this are more for discussing the particular niches of wine and their idiosyncrasies.

That being said, if you're ever in Brisbane drop me a line - I would be more than happy to have you come along to my next masterclass or workshop so I can have the chance to convert you to decent wine!

[Craig(NZ)]

'interesting characters' popping up in the past.

yeah some of us are still here too ive been here so long that soon i will be as old as the old people

[Mining Man]

How about the balanced and unbiased view of an outsider?

...

Okay, while we wait for him to turn up, I'll have a go.


I think we need to be careful with some of the assumptions and generalisations being made here.

There are thousands of students at Australian universities that have very, very poor english. And those courses with a heavier maths / science entrance requirement (like, er, medicine) tend to attract these students. Pauline Hanson had views relating to these folks, if you still haven't caught my drift...

Now, I can only imagine the potential sh!t-stirring one could indulge in, on a forum such as this. As a former regular on a Hi-Fi and Home Theatre forum, I saw my fair share of trolls.

We all need to remember that wine is an almost entirely subjective art. There is no science that can back up any of your sentiments. While we all may agree on the finest of wines, there will still be those who differ in opinion. And at the other end of the scale, where we all started out, it's an absolute mine-field of contradictory likes and dislikes.


Part of the fear in getting involved in this community, despite my love of wine, is a lack of experience in conveying the taste and texture in words, for the appreciation of other wine lovers.

But the main fear is that of ridicule, for not knowing what everyone else knows.


Whether he's a sh!tstirrer or not, he'll only wind up those that are taking themselves far, far too seriously. In which case I'd say it's not Lordson who is the greater problem.

By all means - scare him off. But don't bemoan the lack of participation from the silent observers.

[lordson]

well i wanted to know more about wine and then have a place to discuss the wines that i've tasted

i could have done that at my regular forums, but thought it'll be a better idea to discuss it at a wine forum

i've had many suggestions to read more about it, but reading is time consuming, and if i was going to read something, it really should be about medicine

i'll do as much reading as i can, but for now, i'll let my tastebuds do the work

[KMP]

.......................


Part of the fear in getting involved in this community, despite my love of wine, is a lack of experience in conveying the taste and texture in words, for the appreciation of other wine lovers.

But the main fear is that of ridicule, for not knowing what everyone else knows.


Whether he's a sh!tstirrer or not, he'll only wind up those that are taking themselves far, far too seriously. In which case I'd say it's not Lordson who is the greater problem.

By all means - scare him off. But don't bemoan the lack of participation from the silent observers.

I don’t think anyone should fear posting on this forum, lordson obviously does not.

The problem with the threads that lordson has made is that they strain credibility. He/she must have been leading an amazingly closeted life to be so naïve about what wine is. Of course you could make the argument that he/she is simply at the extreme end of the spectrum of wine drinkers. But he/she must be a rare bird because in the four years I’ve been on this forum and the decades I’ve been drinking wine I don’t recall anyone with such a naïve understanding of wine. But just on the off chance that the desire to learn is real there is always this thread.

Oh, and I’m not convinced that too many of us on this forum take ourselves too seriously about wine. In fact some of us would like to be whole lot more serious about it!

Mike

[Mining Man]

I don’t think anyone should fear posting on this forum ...

~

Oh, and I’m not convinced that too many of us on this forum take ourselves too seriously about wine. In fact some of us would like to be whole lot more serious about it!

Mike

I should probably clarify, that I'm not throwing a blanket over this place and saying it's full of snobs.

It clearly isn't. If it were, there would be no fear, because I wouldn't even bother.

In reading through a handful of threads, I've seen some knowledgable, good natured and down to earth folks. It's a great little community, that I'd like to be a part of. But it doesn't happen without first earning the respect of its members.

There's that saying "better to have someone think you're a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt".

I guess that's largely where any fear comes from.

[Bick]

Hey Mining Man - I think you're right about this forum probably being intimidating; wine seems such an inpenetrable art when you start out and no-one likes to make an arse of themselves (a few forum members notwithstanding ). However, I never thought "now I know enough to post" or "now I've earned the respect to post" (I'm sure I haven't) - I just figured after a while, "what the hell, I like wine and I'm going to post". I wish more lurkers out there would do the same. We can't all have 20 years experience from the word go afterall. Also, sometimes the views of those who are "less expert" can be of more relevance to other members who are starting out - the opinions and palates may be more likely to coincide. So - if you're lurking out there, and you don't know too much, I for one would like to hear your thoughts as well as those of the experts.

Oh and for what its worth, I did a bit of internet searching as well and can confirm Lordson is indeed an aussie med student, a real person and a genuine (if unconventional) poster.

[lordson]

good sentiments there Bick, if you got something to say, or ask then just do it

theres no such things and stupid questions

(please dont respond with: there are such things as stupid people, its a cliche)

anyway, i generally find that people have a basic question, somebody answers it, and they dissapear from the forums forever

i dont intend to do that, but any lurkers around might feel intimidated by the flak i'm been getting

but its just an internet forum

and how the heck did you figure out i was a med student from the net? i just tried it them, and couldn't really find it. unless you knew which forums exactly that i frequent

i have a estalker, hehehe cool (just kidding)

[Bick]

and how the heck did you figure out i was a med student from the net? i just tried it them, and couldn't really find it. unless you knew which forums exactly that i frequent

I just know things... I could even tell you the average air-speed velocity of an unlaiden swallow...

Seriously - You post on a lot of forums... some have member details entered. I don't make a habit of snooping around though, don't worry.

[Craig(NZ)]

i dont intend to do that, but any lurkers around might feel intimidated by the flak i'm been getting

Lordson

Just remember to give as much grief (to a point) as you get and you will be fine. Ive been getting flak for years form the convicts. Just keep a thick skin and give a bit yourself and you will be fine.

Make sure you also contribute plenty of wine content...i try to keep at least 5 decent tasting notes/ wine topics to every insult hurled

They only win if you leave.

Whether he's a sh!tstirrer or not, he'll only wind up those that are taking themselves far, far too seriously. In which case I'd say it's not Lordson who is the greater problem.

Yes good point. people 'care' too much on this forum. A bit of letting it go, keeping perspective and laughing at oneself is key. nothing like a "know it all" pratt to wind people up.

[Red Bigot]

and how the heck did you figure out i was a med student from the net? i just tried it them, and couldn't really find it. unless you knew which forums exactly that i frequent

I just know things... I could even tell you the average air-speed velocity of an unlaiden swallow...

Seriously - You post on a lot of forums... some have member details entered. I don't make a habit of snooping around though, don't worry.

Yeah, the one where he is a "Senior Don Juan" has some interesting stuff.

[GRB]

Yeah, the one where he is a "Senior Don Juan" has some interesting stuff.

Oh dear, maybe he should steer clear of the booze altogether if it has that kind of affect

[Mining Man]

... I could even tell you the average air-speed velocity of an unlaiden swallow...

An African or European swallow?

[GRB]

... I could even tell you the average air-speed velocity of an unlaiden swallow...

An African or European swallow?

Although a definitive answer would of course require further measurements, published species-wide averages of wing length and body mass, initial Strouhal estimates based on those averages and cross-species comparisons, the Lund wind tunnel study of birds flying at a range of speeds, and revised Strouhal numbers based on that study all lead me to estimate that the average cruising airspeed velocity of an unladen European Swallow is roughly 11 meters per second, or 24 miles an hour.

GRB

[Mining Man]

... I could even tell you the average air-speed velocity of an unlaiden swallow...

An African or European swallow?

Although a definitive answer would of course require further measurements, published species-wide averages of wing length and body mass, initial Strouhal estimates based on those averages and cross-species comparisons, the Lund wind tunnel study of birds flying at a range of speeds, and revised Strouhal numbers based on that study all lead me to estimate that the average cruising airspeed velocity of an unladen European Swallow is roughly 11 meters per second, or 24 miles an hour.

GRB

Of course, it all depends on the size of the coconut being carried.

Now, if I could just remember my favourite colour. Was it blue? No, yel..AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!

[Mahmoud Ali]

The part I can't figure out is why is it so important if Lordson is "real" or not. He asks questions. Maybe a few of them are silly but they are not so different from some of the questions I've had from people I've met. There are plenty of people around who know very little about wine. You meet them all the time, either at parties or while browsing at wine stores. I've even met sales staff at wine stores that are not that knowledgeable.

Anyway, either Lordson is a person starting on his quest to learn or discover wine, or he is playing at it to see how people respond. If the former then he isn't being treated too well and, if the latter, then its proving to be very entertaining for him.

This has got me thinking about the silliest question you've every been asked about wine. I start a new post on the subject.

Cheers..............Mahmoud.

[Davo]

Seriously - You post on a lot of forums... some have member details entered. I don't make a habit of snooping around though, don't worry.

Just because you enter something on an internet chat site registration does that make it real?

Just asking, not an opinion either way.