Who's Ridgewalker?

Ridge's thoughtful and well-written reviews are always worth reading, and at times downright poetic. Although we butt heads on most things political, he has astonishingly good taste in film, and I often queue his recommendations without seeking out a second opinion.

Seems like a nice guy, his reviews even manage to come out smart.


I mean that in a good way.

Not by nature a vicious person, but is self-proclaimed as ferocious when he, or someone that he respects is disrespected or treated unfairly. 99% of his reviews are clearly intended to entertain, inform, or be helpful to others. Most likely, he spends more time researching his reviews than anyone else on this site and appreciates the rewards in the form of feedback and friendships he has made here. A born writer who has not yet arrived...and never will...

I don't take his pronouncements as Holy Writ, but he is one of the more thoughtful reviewers here on RIA. 

UPDATE:

He's a bit quick to take offense when no insult is intended, but he's not the only one around here and his reviews are definitely worth reading.

UPDATE 2:

I'm knocking off a star for name-calling.

I communicate with Ridge from time to time and I am typically left in awe when I realize that this man has done more on this earth that I could ever fathom accomplishing. He's rapidly becoming a benchmark for me of where I'd like to be someday, so I'd have to guess that only idiots would ever have anything bad to say about him. Even while he was gone from here we discussed a thing or two, and it always made me feel like Luke Skywalker talking to Obi-Wan Kenobi, getting some strange directions as to what I might do and where I might go. I'm glad to see him back.

Update: http://ridgesplace.blogspot.com/2008/09/barack-obama-color-by-number.html

5/24/08: Testimonials from all over the internet are coming in. Heres one from Ashley in Arkansas:  I stumbled across Ridge's Place and after I read the first colum I was hooked! Next time you're in the southland stop by and I'll whip up something good for you...if you know what I mean. lol. P.S are you married? Jim in: Ohio says: I used to just do nothing but mope around the house bringing everybody down. I started reading Ridge and WOW! I quit my dead end job and hit the open road. THANKS RIDGE! Sibil from California wrote this: Part of me didn't know what to think. All the stories and helpful advice seemed to good to be free. I was going to cancel my internet but somethings telling me not to. PLEASE! Don't stop writing. Sincerely, Sibil More to come...

Apparently, this dude knows everything, so we should listen faithfully to his pronouncements, our mouths agape in awe. I've heard this guy is smart, but that doesn't mean he knows everything and that everyone is obliged to agree with him. I know I don't.

"One of the most supportive, interesting, kind and generally great reviewers around. I hope he remains a RIA staple for years to come!
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Damn... I'm really sorry to see you leave, Ridge. It's a massive shame so many of the site's patriarchs are leaving or are on 'hiatus'... RateItAll just won't be the same without him.
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He's back, folks!! :D

This is how I imagined him 'back in the day'...

6-23-08: Ridge always has some great insight on things. He is very special and was missed when he was away.

Also was noticing there had been an attack on him a month or two ago. Since then, I have been seeing a pattern forming. It seems like this particular person who has come against Ridgewalker and others, singles out two or three people and gives them "funny" votes (I thought they were coming from someone else before, but was mistaken). This person also seems to have an issue with the "Trusted Network", complaining that people take him off when he is guilty of it himself. And one other thing: this person is now trying to mask digs behind compliments. The reason I am bringing this up is because these things are subtly falling into place, and he knows who he is.

Keep standing firm, Ridgewalker.

I have come to really appreciate the way that Ridgewalker colours his reviews with sometimes elaborate, but always entertaining asides, that snake along a meandering path, where you feel you may have veered off course, but ultimately lead back to the topic in question with a richer appreciation, and amuse you along the way. A very entertaining writer and a good reason to keep coming back to RIA.

Ridge is very helpful and a great reviewer. I think that was very unfair for the attack on Ridge, because he would never hurt anybody. There is no excuse for any reviewer to flame another one. Maybe if somebody read reviews a little closer they would really get to know the reviewer. As I have said before, you can really get to know a reviewer just by what they write.

Ridge, keep writing. :)

UPDATE: I'm glad your back! Ridge is a cornerstone member of RIA. Great reviews and intelligent writer.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE: Goodbye Ridge, I'm sad to see you go...

Intellectually, ridge has no comparison on RIA. Most of his reviews are well written and to the point, well researched and informative. Too bas many of his jewels are being buried under tons of irrelevant and empty reviews. He has a great heart and shows genuine concern for other reviewers. One of the most solid and respected pilars of RIA. And it's good to know he is a human being, not an alien from anothr planet.

Update: how utterly mistaken was I when fisrt rating this member. His true colors are showing and they are not nice.

Update 2: if there are any honest members on RIA, please demand Ridgewalker to provide the evidence of the "crime" he claims I have committed. I am not afraid of the truth, but truth must be supported by facts and evidence. I will not let this go away without a definition, even if it cost me my membership. And if I am booted, it will show the bias of RIA in favor of some members and against others.

Happy Birthday my friend!!

Original Comment: Whoever coined the phrase "You can't keep a good man down" must have had Ridge in mind. What a gem, and what a lucky day for us and RIA when he first logged on. This guy has an amazing mind and is an absolute pleasure to read, and he is one of the few reads that I wish were longer. Glad to see you healthy and active on a regular basis again. Keep up the good work my friend!

About damn time he showed back up here.  I've taken leave myself a time or two, but his departure was a real loss, as opposed to a ripple in the pond.

Let me tell you Ridge, if you pull that again "you gonna havva lotta 'splainin' to do."

Is it just me, or does it feel like somebody opened a window.

Ridgewalker is a wonderful reviewer. very smart. gives great reviews on many subjects and knows a lot about many things. glad to see him here.   UPDATE: I was sorry to see Ridgewalker leave. this has been an awful tough week for RATEITALL Ridge was one of the best reviewers on here. I will miss his posts. too bad he felt he had to leave.  UPDATE 5-6-08. hurrah! Ridgewalker is back! welcome back. glad to see you here.

NEW UPDATE: Glad to see that Ridgewalker's back, those of you who are pretty new to the site are in for a treat- to put it in the most basic terms a really intelligent, likeable, and humorous guy who writes really well. It's also humorous, at least to me, to get wind of a possible 'Ridgeposter'- I'm sure its him, but the idea of an imposter is a funny  one as therefore Ridge and Nero have something in common- after the real Nero's death in the year 68, there were various charlatans claiming to be the real emperor...


UPDATE: I'm kinda in the dark as to why Ridgewalker left, but maybe it's best if I don't know. Ridgewalker was, as Loerke just said, probably the most universally respected reviewer I can think of, and ultra friendly, helpful, encouraging, and funny- we had a lot of great laughs together in our reviews and in private messages. Just an outstanding all around guy- like everyone, I'm sure he had a few people who didn't like him, and again, I don't know why he's gone, but he was a class act, and as far as I'm concerned, not liking the guy ultimately says more about that person that it does about Ridgewalker... Ridgewalker is a really good reviewer, with some good weblists, particularly a very comprehensive one for character actors. Nice guy too, with a fine sense of humor, can be very funny at times. Adds to a pretty wide variety of topics on this site, and always leaves a well argued or reasoned opinion. Smart fellow too, he was recently contributing to some sort... some kind of extremely complex NASA type technology stuff that showed he obviously knows a lot about science and technology .. something the very right -brained, Luddite or technology hating Tolkien and hippie music influenced troglodyte in me- doesn't understand- but is always impressed by those who do understand such topics. Good of Wiseguy to suggest him, keep up the good work Ridgewalker.

There are not enough words in the English language to describe Ridgewalker. But what anyone ought to know is that he is one of the best reviewers ever on www.rateitall.com. An extremely passionate man of great wisdom and sincerity, perhaps Ridge's greatest attribute is his great kindness and warmth to his fellow reviewers. Ridgewalker is definitely an asset to RIA and to his fellow reviewers. And I am proud to call him a friend!

UPDATE (9/23/07): I'm truly saddened Ridgewalker has left RIA! I don't know the complete story other than the fact his interest was supposedly waning. But Ridge was (and is) one of the giants of RIA, and the kindest and most thoughtful person I've met on this site. And I hope I speak for many on this site in saying that I have learned so much from Ridge. Ridge is a good man, and a brilliant reviewer...and RIA will not be the same without him. I hope he sees this, and I truly hope he might reconsider coming back again on this site someday. In any case I want to say thanks to Ridge: thank you for being such a good, decent person (and even a mentor to some of us). We miss you already! God bless and take care!

UPDATE (5/1/08): Ridge, are you really back at RIA?!! Gosh I hope it's true! I think I'm speaking on behalf of everyone here on RIA when I say we've all missed you so much. Ridge, we need you here, and you definitely belong here! And needless to say, you'll always be a standard for which many of us (especially me) are trying to measure up to. In any case, if it's true: WELCOME BACK, RIDGE! =)

Another update: Looks like Ridge might be venturing back to the website, whether on a limited basis or more time will tell I guess. His presence here has certainly been missed by me, and I'm sure others, and it's good to see him back, even if his return is limited and temporary. Welcome back, Ridge.

Update:  Very sorry to see Ridge leave the site. Even though he and I never met personally, I consider him a friend, and wish him the very best. It does seem to be a disturbing trend recently that some of the site's best, most interesting reviewers have chosen to leave. I certainly don't want to minimize any of their concerns; Ridge, Ignatius, Flick, MissPackRat, Stark. I've had some issues of my own (and I guess the site has had its issues with me, considering the emblem of a scissors appears every time I post a response to a post now) but, as Magellen says, the site is what it is, and, so far anyway, I can live with that. I do hope all of them will consider returning at some point (although Flick and MissPackRat haven't left yet, and hopefully won't), as they were all, and Ridge in particular, a valuable part of what's good here and makes it a place worth returning to again and again.

Ridge is a passionate, insightful, and very well-informed reviewer with an ever-present sense of humor. To me, he's a sane conservative, and I wish there were more like him. Very intelligent, erudite, articulate, civil, open-minded, in no way doctrinaire or a blind follower of ideological dogma...he and I don't always agree on issues, but I respect him and consider him a great asset to this website. 

Ridge is an awesome writer. He has a boatload of knowledge and life experience on all kinds of topics and he's a funny dude. In fact I have messaged him on several occasions and he has taken the time to give me page-long answers which were very though provoking and I have saved them in my Ridge folder. I don't pretend to know all the reasons for his departure but with his character I'm sure they were warranted, although I was upset to see he had deleted his account. I hope he saved all of his postings so that at some point he reconsiders coming back to RIA and putting them back up for his fans.

ORIGINAL POST (4/19/07): Incredibly nice guy, generous to a fault. He wrote me some very encouraging messages, and from the comments below it's clear that he's done the same for many others. He's the kind of reviewer that keeps me coming back again and again to this site. Thank you, Ridgewalker. A FURTHER NOTE: He was a great presence here: liked universally, or as close to universally as anyone can get. He sent me great private messages with tips about things like maintaining your health, which I know had been an issue for him personally. It showed he genuinely cared about me and everyone else. And he was the author of some of the most interesting RIA weblists (most recently, I called the "Famous Autodidacts" list the best one here -- he had annotated each entry carefully, and had a lot to say about all of them). He will be missed.

ORIGINAL COMMENT: (02/15/2006) Among the most constructive sites out there. Most any posting from Ridgewalker is approachable, thoughtful and mature, as well as for his own listings (until that crazy One-Finger exercise, anyway). One of a select few that makes it pleasurable to look for at RIA early on in the day. UPDATE (09/23/2007): Am not about to resign myself to Ridgewalker's departure as a consummated fact. Expect lawrence's promised "clearing of the air" later today to make facts available regarding IJR's and Stark's circumstances as well, in order for us to reach our own conclusions. It would not be unreasonable for lawrence to give us a chance afterwards to comment on his clarification - hopefully not in itself a closing of the chapter.

  Ridge is gone?!?! Aw, crap. You gotta be joking me. You know, people, Ridge was the real reason why many reviewers hung onto this site (myself included). A couple of years ago this place was like going to a family picnic. Everybody had their own personalities that we could all connect; Ridge, of course, being that goofy, yet reliable and loving uncle. Nowadays, it seems to be more like a debilitated opinion mill, merely consisting of a loosly glued hodgepodge of transient conjection-spewers.

Maybe that is the way it is suppose to be. Maybe, intelligence is not required, nor wanted here. Personally, I don't know why Ridge felt the need to leave the site. However, I can certainly tell you this - neither the site nor the remainder of us are better off because of it.

It appears that Ridgewalker has left RIA, if so, the site has lost another quality reviewer. Ridge was at his best in the reviews where he often walked a fine line between science and science fiction. It was clear that he was a very knowledgable reviewer, but he also seemed to enjoy it when more gullible reviewers fell for some of his sci-fi stuff hook line and sinker.

  Wow, another one I can't believe I have not rated until now. Ridge is one of the reviews I respect the most here at RIA. A man with great insight and uncanny common sense on most issues. Just an all around well rounded and likeable person.

Hope your health is treating you well my friend.

Great guy and he covers a lot of subjects. I like reading his reviews.

Always seems to be well informed...I enjoy his reviews very much.

No complaints from me!!

There are some issues where Ridge and I do not see eye to eye, but I find that he is always respectful and polite. He also posts thoughtful and learned writings, and that is always refreshing in this increasing era of chatspeak and just plain ignorance of the English Language.

It's funny, my jury is sill out on this guy. Many, many great reviews, enjoyable, well articulated and sometimes provocative. Last week, I commented on a list about internships and he contradicted me in a comment below my post. Fine, I thought, that's not my point, but go ahead and disagree. On another point on the same list the same day, I proferred that it was good for a young person to be fired. Once. He picked up and disagreed on the point in a wierd way, and obfuscated it by making a list to, it seemed to me, mock it. It's a funny list, about how to get fired. I just didn't see the point of mocking my point, even naming me in the description paragraph, falsely characterizing my point, through the list. Maybe I'm wrong, but my jury is still out. The dots just didn't connect for me. Other than that, he probably deserves to be at the top of this list, particularly with the new guard of RIA reviewers.

I've found a very good and kind friend in Ridge even though we've never met face to face. He is very informative, I've learned a lot from him(his recepes are great). He is one of those people who supports your spirit and genuinly interested in what you have to say. He shares with his knowledge and in the same time is very open to new ideas and new opinions. In my own way, I like this guy very much! Thank you my friend for everything!

Polite, in both comments and private messages. He is one of my favorite reviewers. He mixes humor into some of his comments, but stays informative and true to himself. He's an all-around great addition to the site.

UPDATE: I changed my rating. The last entry I made...I guess I didn't feel like making a huge, elongated comment. Ridgewalker is a funny, funny guy who knows what he does and it's true, we are geniuses in our own way. He congratulated me on my 50th person-recommendation-thingy. He's a nice guy and I wish I could say more stuff about him. His comments are conscise and logical, whether or not you agree with him.

Ridge is one of my favorite reads - he's funny, informative, and makes great Weblists as well.

Actually took the time to message me an explanation of a question I asked in one of my comments; how many reviewers are that helpful?

Writes interesting and well thought out reviews,and is a fine guy into the bargain.