That ActiveRain has a lot of features is a bit of an understatement. It seems like they are always tweaking and adding new things. Often these things are left for us to "discover" or not----other things are introduced with much fanfare.
However, recently something was "taken away" that I miss----the ability to see who is on the site and how many are on the site. I don't even have a good reason for knowing this information----it was just fun. For example I could check and see if Steve and Nutsy were on the site----and if they were I could go and throw some peanuts at them.
Another thing about the site, that has always been there as far as I know, but that I just never paid much attention to, is the link to "Associations." It is located near the bottom of the list on ones Home Page and has a number in parenthesis after it that indicates how many people have added you to their "Associates List." The thing that is interesting about this list is that sometimes people leave really cool comments about you.
Recently I was checking it out and noticed this comment by Matt Stigliano, among dozens of other great comments,----that sort of floored me. We tend to work day after day here in the Rain posting what we post----having fun----getting information out there, and don't give much thought to how what we are doing affects other people. I think we all like to think we are having an impact-----or that someone is listening. The comments we get on each post that we do is one way to experience the impact we have----but these more "personalized" comments is another.
This is what Matt had to say about me:
"Just read his profile and you'll see why I wish Charles lived in San Antonio. Someone who is an expert and cares. That's what we all want, isn't it? His "Owner's Manual" theory of inspection is genius and all inspectors should take a note of that."
I had not really thought of my approach to report writing as being quite at the "genius" level. My next post will be about how I approach report writing (subtitled: "Why I will never make a fortune as a home inspector").
So what is the coolest thing (or things) anyone has said about you on your "Associates List?" Copy and paste it into your comments here.
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.

DeCroe, is my "certiflied" home inspector assistant and occasionally flies into my blog to offer assistance. To find out more about her beginnings just click on Raven.

You have inspired me to take a look at my associate comments. It could be interesting. Thanks for the idea.