Some people claim that there was life before Internet. Interesting. May be these are the same people who claim that there is life on Mars?

Some people even claim they can remember life before AR. Wow, do people live that long? So, how was life before AR?

The legend has it that real estate professionals for the most part had decent life, believe it or not. They were going to offices, conventions, meetings, took classes, believed in NAR and did not trust the banks... The most devoted would even go to the libraries to find answers to today's questions in yesterday's textbooks...

And then came the disease similar to influenza. This viral strain was first observed in 2005 or 2006. CDC failed to notice this stealth epidemic. It was striking only those, who were in Real Estate and related industries and by now has affected 162,562 people, or over 12% of all Realtors in the nation. The disease hit all 48 lower states, hit Alaska and Hawaii, has spread to Canada, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. 

Why some are affected and others are not is not yet clear, but doctors think there is no reason to be concerned. The disease affects only the brain, so there is no immediate danger for the industry.

It is not easy to identify those affected. At first glance they look and behave normal... until in the evening after dinner...when they get to the computer and they write, and write, and write...

Some occasonally read, but it does not occur very often. There are signs of illegal drug abuse (Before Active Rain and Now: My Business is on Steroids), religious beliefs of their own (A Lonely, Stupid REALTOR is Transformed - BEFORE ActiveRain and NOW), and acts dangerous in their desperation (Life Before Active Rain - And Now - I Left My Lovers For Active Rain).

Their trust in NAR has not really dissipated but has shortened ... and now it is not NAR, it is AR.

They self-police, self-control, and, probably, self-destruct. Left untreated the disease becomes chronic. Treating is a challenge. It is contagious, patients become very agitated, and claim that there is no cure.

The signs of the disease are:

1. patients do not go to bed with their spouses, and come hours later.

2. It is possible that some do not go to bed, period.

3. They call it "work" even if they have not sold a condo or a home in two years,

4. They pray that if they keep "working", it will come

5. They believe that more SEO means less bad cholesterol.

6. Their food of choice is organic poultry (RealBird)

7. Their drink of choice is Google juice (preferably, organic)

8. They acknowledge that they are only 10-12% of all Realtors, (they may be realistic at times);

9. They have chutzpah to believe that they can do 90% of the business (delusional)

10, They are trying to spread the disease (Virtual STD) 

A careful observer some time may notice the signs of remission. When they turn to religion or politics, they become normal people. They yell and scream at each other and call each other names. But these periods are short.

They claim that their business is more efficient, their sexual social life is more fulfilling. They are the bunch of people who see the light at the end of the tunnel, which has not yet been built.

Yeah, they are a bunch of incurable optimists.

They are AR. No, better this way: "They AR us"

Now