@SoulMaster wrote:Personally, I think the OP is looking at the wrong forum... this one is about "Credit Cards"... there is completely different forum called "Rebuilding your Credit".
"Credit Cards" have many different aspects, Acceptance, Denial, Gardening, App Dungeons, Recons, etc... Some of that might relate to rebuilding, but CC's aren't necessarily about rebuilding. Rebuilding is about rebuilding.
Moreover, getting through a financial mess is all about levity. If you're not looking on the bright side, it's going to be a slow and painful walk. You'll see alot of threads "The Decision" for example, that have a TON of humor in them. Yes, LS was looking to get a new card, and thought he was there (alot of us are in that situation), and there were a bunch of us in there supporting him and sharing his pain when he wasn't, but most of the support had laughs included.
Regardless, it doesn't matter.
-SM
I agree with SM. There is a plethora of information given on this site. This particular section is the credit card section. Some folks do things I wouldn't necessarily do, but I have also gotten valuable info that I wouldn't have otherwise. I sent my "condolences" to the tread the OP was probably referring to because it was simply a funny thread. If you don't like the tone of the thread, or the advice, just click off. You don't have to read it. Who are you to decide what someone should do while rebuilding. He wasn't asking your opinion, he was updating those who were interested on his progress...or lack thereof. There are a number of ways to skin a cat. Just because you don't agree, doesn't mean it isn't so. Likewise, some folks have worked very hard to make significant changes in their scores or to attain certain cards in a long period of time. How refreshing is it to be able to laugh and see the humor in things. To me, this was a reflection of a bunch of folks supporting a person who experienced a disappointment. If your loved one is an alcoholic, wouldn't you still support him in rehab even though you know he shouldn't have taken the drink? Well, there you go. IMHO, this site provides info, opinion, anecdotes, fyi all of which you can take or leave. You are an adult, so you are responsible for leaving what you don't want on the table. You are welcome to your opinion just like every one else, so don't be disappointed, get a sifter and join the Rebuilding your Credit section if that's the info you want to know about.
Starting Score: TU:676;EQ:648 8/2011
I agree that I see here more recently a trend to sway away from the mantra: "only apply for credit you need" but since I've been reading these forums (lurker for years before participating) there has always been that kind of sway and flow from one extreme to the next with regards to crazy apping and very conservative views on getting the credit cards you want after maximizing the requirements for the best offers. I don't think anyone gets a pass here... so to speak. We get to see on a daily basis individuals that get declined and CLD and AA because of poor decisions or apping too soon before really cultivating their reports for maximum opportunity with the credit they seek.
And then there are also those, thankfully, that make the comments with regards to their mistakes and hopefully we all benefit and learn from it.
When I started reading the forums, I thought there was no hope for me and I'd never even seen a 600 score on my reports. Boy how much I've learned from the information, advice, tribulations and mistakes from people here.
We are but a compliation of our mistakes and me personally, I have learned so much by the pooling of this information in one place so that I might not make the same mistakes as others and can give advice about my own mis-steps and successes.
YMMV (because of this wonderful acronym we get more insight into the do's and don'ts of credit cards)
Edited for grammar 
@improvingmycredit wrote:I agree that I see here more recently a trend to sway away from the mantra: "only apply for credit you need" but since I've been reading these forums (lurker for years before participating) there has always been that kind of sway and flow from one extreme to the next with regards to crazy apping and very conservative views on getting the credit cards you want after maximizing the requirements for the best offers. I don't think anyone gets a pass here... so to speak. We get to see on a daily basis individuals that get declined and CLD and AA because of poor decisions or apping too soon before really cultivating their reports for maximum opportunity with the credit they seek.
And then there are also those, thankfully, that make the comments with regards to their mistakes and hopefully we all benefit and learn from it.
When I started reading the forums, I thought there was no hope for me and I'd never even seen a 600 score on my reports. Boy how much I've learned from the information, advice, tribulations and mistakes from people here.
We are but a compliation of our mistakes and me personally, I have learned so much by the pooling of this information in one place so that I might not make the same mistakes as others and can give advice about my own mis-steps and successes.
YMMV (because of this wonderful acronym we get more insight into the do's and don'ts of credit cards)
Edited for grammar
I would kind of disagree with the whole "only apply for credit if you NEED it" philosophy. I think it has some merit in that you shouldn't over-apply as that dings you and makes you less attractive for when you DO need it, however, if you only applied for what you NEED, you'd hardly ever apply. Let's face it, how many of us NEED credit cards? I bet less than half. I didn't have any until recently and I survived fine without them. If I took that advice literally I still wouldn't have any.
So, I think it's a good guideline but if you take everything you are told as absolute dogma rather than really thinking and doing what's right for you, that's a bad thing.
Is it happy hour yet ??
I'm ready to pass some jack and coke around on this cold Friday the 13th of Jan
Lets chill people. This thread has passed its time...We have all had our agree to disagree moments on it. I welcome the difference of opinions now lets all make peace
It's kind of a "catch22". (Applying for credit only when you need credit) You have to have credit to get credit but I think as a philosophy, it's a good guideline. Take my circumstance... I have methodically applied for credit cards with the strategy of improving my credit. Getting cards with higher limits to minimize utility if I decide to take advantage of a great APR offer or make a large purchase while at the same time, balancing my available DTI ratio to keep me attractive to lenders. I plan on getting a mortgage in 2013. The last think I need now is to apply for more credit because I need the best scores possible to get the lowest rate. Having a bunch of apps on my report is counter productive to my long term goals. I applied for the credit because I needed to improve my situation and now... to arbitrarily apply because there is a card that has good rewards would actually not benefit me at all in the long run. My need to apply has passed... I'm gardening for my next need. If I have the attitude, app because I want to, then end the end... I lose. I am applying for credit only when I need it.
@tcbofade wrote:
@p- wrote:
If you know it all now, and have nothing more to learn, then go in peace. We wish you the best of luck.
People who think that they know it all really annoy those of us who do...
...or something like that...
LOL! I had thought about this saying in a long time; until now!!
I believe the full saying is:
Those of you who think you know everything, are very annoying to those of us who do! 
Thanks for the laugh, p-!!
