My impressions about Tarek
After a long hesitation, I decided to write, hoping that nothing bad will happen (I need protection!!!).
First of all, Tarek the person was so different from Tarek the blogger! I was not the only person to notice it; it doesn’t mean that we were disappointed, just surprised.
Tarek, the person, was somehow radical in his ideas, arguing and defending; it was funny to see him resisting and fighting with everybody as no one approved him 
Tarek the blogger does everything to avoid making any person upset, and accepts any comment, even negative, but the one I met was easily offendable, even though he doesn’t show it, it was obvious. Well, he did not get offended by everything, there was too much (friendly) provocations, and I was not an angel, giving non-sense satiristic arguments just to make him feel uncomfortable: for some moments, I was socialist, anarchist, leftist, … in order to oppose his capitalist thinking!
We thought that Tarek had always that English smile shown in his blog, but he rarely smiled last saturday. Yes, he did, not as we expected to see however: he was more or less reticent, sometimes bored, or tired, … not talkative anyway.
Tarek, if you are just reading this, don’t take it bad, it’s not a personal attack, just what I think, with some provocation 
. Even though many people (including me) don’t agree with you on many points, you remain an exceptional friend for all of us!
August 2nd, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Tu dois pas avoir des craintes car c’est ton avis qu’il plaît ou pas. Personnellement, je n’ai pas eu l’occasion de connaitre Tarek ni même un autre blogueur donc je ne peux pas donner mon avis.
En tout cas, chacun d’entre nous a ses idées qu’elles soient radicales mais l’important qu’on reste égaux à nous même.
Mais dites: finou tare9 le British?? loool tare999999999999999 hounè firansa 7awwel ! loool
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:24 pm
Je ne pense pas que Tarek a été irrité, ennervé ou offensé à n’importe quel moment de la conversation. C’est juste que l’homme sage (que Tarek est et que je ne suis pas) sais à quel moment il faut arrêter le débat, lorsqu’il tourne en rond et que personne n’écoute les arguments des autres mais a envie de donner les siens à tout prix… Je trouve au contraire cher Swobo que le Tarek que j’ai rencontré au meetup est le reflet identique du Tarek blogosphèrique.
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:22 pm
argh j’ai raté les débats :’(((
Sinon, comme Kassus, j’ai trouvé que le vrai Tarek était exactement comme je l’imaginais à travers son blog
August 2nd, 2006 at 11:55 pm
j’y étais aussi, j’ai eu le plaisir de voir tarek aussi et c’est bizarre mais je ne partage pas vraiment tes impressions, il était différent car en chair et en os par rapport a une photo:) et puis c’est normal qu’il soit différent car qd on écrit un post on peut effacer, ré-écrire, changer la tournure d’une phrase, modérer, donc voila. moi j’ai bcp apprécié sa compagnie et les différentes discussions (malgré nos divergences d’opinion).
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:05 am
Ci bizarre, je suis le seul à partager l’avis d’ubuntu pondeur :p
En fait c’était marrant .. mais comme dhab on connait jammais vraiment bien personne ..
Ski était bien avec tarek c kil était convaincu de skil disait .. Et ski est marrant c ke j’été aussi convaincu ke lui du contraire de ses opinions lol.
Sinoon pr le golden smile j’ai remarké aussi héhé ..
J’espere vous revoir tous bientôt
Sauf si môsieur a des sociétés à privatiser :pppp
Sans rancune, el 3oth.
August 3rd, 2006 at 10:49 am
Hi people,
Well, it differs from a person to another. We (I with some bloggers) expected an image of Tarek but he appeared different; he still keeps cool and friendly though…
Bamboutch: If I had to choose between the British and the French model, guess it won’t be the last one
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:13 pm
I am struggling with a dial-up connection and I don’t have enough time to comment on this (I guess things would have been much easier were service providers fully private huh?)
Give me a week or so. I need a private ISP and a cup of English tea to give you a thorough answer :p
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Take your time, the post won’t move elsewhere
August 3rd, 2006 at 4:58 pm
I did not notice that either. Tarek appeared as same as in his blog!
August 18th, 2006 at 1:25 am
So..
“Tarek, the person, was somehow radical in his ideas, arguing and defending; it was funny to see him resisting and fighting with everybody as no one approved him”
It is always good to take a clear stance on things, better than giving fluid answers. It is not true that no one approved me, but anyway, even if no one did, I would still be happy. As long as I believe in what I say, I’m happy. That’s the way my mind works
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“Tarek the blogger does everything to avoid making any person upset, and accepts any comment, even negative, but the one I met was easily offendable”
Oh please? when did I get offended?? I was in a very ordinary mood, I had absolutely no problem with anything. To tell you the truth, I am not easily offendable. I am, actually, not offendable at all.
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I was not an angel,
certainly not
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“for some moments, I was socialist, anarchist, leftist, … in order to oppose his capitalist thinking!”
socialist, leftist? it was sheer communism, mate!!!! Even so, I have nothing against it. I just think it’s an obsolte ideology that drove entire countries to hell
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“Tarek had always that English smile shown in his blog, but he rarely smiled last saturday”.
What????? I spent 13 hours with bloggers, thirteen!! is any human being able to spend 13 hours chatting while being bored?? I was very relaxed and I smiled at all times. Look at the pix!
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“Tarek, if you are just reading this, don’t take it bad”
No I’m not, I’m just surprised
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“Even though many people (including me) don’t agree with you on many points, you remain an exceptional friend for all of us! ”
And so are you guys. I love you all
I’ll leave it there, on a positive note. Because if I write a response entitled: “My impressions about Swobodin” you might get into hot water
August 18th, 2006 at 1:38 am
So..
“Tarek, the person, was somehow radical in his ideas, arguing and defending”
I just believe in what I say, and as long as I believe in what I say, I am happy. I don’t worry about how many people agree with me. As Thatcher once said: “364 economists wrote to the times expressing their outrage at out policies. 364 economists were wrong, and the half dozen who supported us are right”. Bless you Ma’am!
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“was easily offendable, even though he doesn’t show it, it was obvious”
No I wasn’t. When did I get offended? My face expression doesn’t give a clue on my real feelings. I am not easily offendable Swobodin. Actually, I am not offendable at all, I promise! Just look at the number of people who come throw nasty comments on my blog. I couldn’t care less!
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“I was not an angel”
Certainly not!
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“for some moments, I was socialist, anarchist, leftist, … in order to oppose his capitalist thinking!”
Oh please, it was sheer communism, “comrade Swobodin”! Even so, I have nothing against it. I just think it’s an obsolete ideology that drove many countries to hell.
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”We thought that Tarek had always that English smile shown in his blog, but he rarely smiled last Saturday.: he was more or less reticent, sometimes bored, or tired, … not talkative anyway.”
What??? I spent 13 hours with you guys! Would any human being attend a 13-hour meeting without being interested?
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Tarek, if you are just reading this, don’t take it bad,
No I am not. I am just surprised
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“Even though many people (including me) don’t agree with you on many points, you remain an exceptional friend for all of us!”
And so are you guys. I love you all!
Now, I’m going to leave it there to end on a cheerful note. Because if I wrote a post entitled “my impressions about Swobosin” you would get into hot water, believe me!
August 18th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
First, sorry for the stupid comment filtering system, which obliged you to write your message twice, I see that the second is more “developed” than the first.
Well Tarek, you know yourself, and I described you according to my point of view, may be (or “of course”) I’m wrong, but thus I see things; as for communism (now I’m defending myself), I’m not fan of it, but I would be even maoist in order to stop wild capitalism
I only regret something in my post, the last paragraph: I want your counter attack more harsh, I’m bellicist like Thatcher when I get involved into a fight
BTW, next debate: Free Software against Proprietary Software, prepare your arguments, you will be in my field.
Cheers!