Is Bibs Real?

[Iconic Ride]

I've been a member of this forum for over 5 years now, a relative "newbie" by some standards, but sufficiently long enough to have had occasional suspicions about the actual existence of the site's proclaimed owner. I mean the man never sleeps. Am I the only one who has noticed this? Isn't it at least possible that the operative known as "Bibs" is, in fact, in actuality no more than a very well put together piece of A.I. software? Only some form of machine intelligence could possibly keep up with the vast number of threads ongoing at any moment at TLF. No biological entity could possibly read, follow, and reply with such vigor and timeliness to each and every one of these myriad topics. I'll bet "he'll" be one of the first to respond to this very thread! And I'm purposely posting it at a time when most of the citizenry of the U.K. ought by all rights to be sound asleep.

As further evidence for my postulate I offer the fact that no matter how arcane the subject posted, the "individual" known as Bibs seems to possess inordinate amounts of knowledge about whatever is being discussed. I am hard pressed to not think that the creature known as Bibs is none other than another "Watson" thinly disguised as a British gearhead.

I know, I know, some of you will say, "But I've met the man! I know he exists!" We are constantly regaled by tales of epic pub crawls with this posited life form. To which I say, the very members claiming such personal acquaintance with the so called "Bibs" are themselves clever creations of the same software program! They are only "here" to make the entire fabrication more believable.

Grant me, for the moment, a modicum of belief in my thesis. Accept the conjecture as truth. Then who, or what, is "behind" this charade? It is my view that the "being" known as Bibs is actually a Lotus Motor Cars website server, programmed specifically to engage the motoring public in online discussions dealing with the company's products...a way to monitor the pulse of its potential customers. It is not coincidence that the computer generated "essence" known as Bibs has such strong connections with the mother load data base. We are constantly thrown crumbs, bones, and other tidbits of information that could only have come from an "inside source." I maintain that source is the Company itself, and that the algorithmic concoction known as "Bibs" is not a real person, and that we are being duped on a daily basis.

Thoughts?

[Moxie]

I mean the man never sleeps.

 

I can verify that he snores if that helps.

 

He can also eat as much McDonalds as I can on a road trip.

Edited December 2, 2013 by Moxie

[Advantage]

He's more than one person. Consider the entity Bibs to be a collective of many experiences, ideas and beings all too numerous and elusive to be named individually. However, in the real world this collective is necessary to be represented by a single person. The actor portrayed in the various photographs and the many personal appearances is merely employed to fulfil a role. 

 

It's an arrangement that seems to work well and as long as it's not made public knowledge, it should continue to do so for many years yet.

[Moxie]

Unfortunately, I can't continue posting to this thread tonight because I need to reboot. I mean go to sleep.

Speaking of which, for those who don't know this joke, three guys who all work for an automobile manufacturer car pool together--an electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and software engineer. On their way to work one morning the car stalls. The mechanical engineer says, "I think it's a clogged fuel filter." The electrical engineer says, "Pshaw! It's obviously the alternator!" The software engineer says, "Why don't we all just get out and get back in again?"

[iainskea]

I think a pic is required, snoring or not

[obione]

The Borg...

[Bibs]

I think there are six of us IRL, I'm pretty sure I was the third and I've been working here since 2007. It's good fun and a decent team but I've not meet any of the others.

 

For the nightime posts, it's either one of the guys in the States or they use BIBS (Binary Interforum Bullshit System) developed by NASA in the late nineties, it's hard to tell it from the real thing but you can catch it out sometimes! 

[The Pits]

BIBS (Binary Interforum Bullshit System) 

 

 

[Bibs]

I think you may have accidently bumped into one of the others up in Hethel Jonny?

[The Pits]

Yes I can confirm the existence of at least two distinct entities that did not object to being called Bibs!

[molemot]

Quote...."the algorithmic concoction known as "Bibs"....

 

Not a cocktail I've drunk, so far. Did once meet the bearer of the title...at Hethel, oddly enough....and he seemed to be suspiciously fuzzy around the edges.

[Moxie]

I think there are six of us

http://youtu.be/twuScTcDP_Q

Edited December 2, 2013 by Moxie

[yeller77]

The prime directive, outed:

 

Beer Imbibition and Brewing System

 

[Laura]

Funnily enough I was just thinking of the film 'Moon' or for anyone that has read 'The Long Earth' or it's sequel 'The Long War' the character of Lobsang.

[Advantage]

I see a picture of the more recent edition of the actor playing Bibs has been posted. It's nice to see that guy getting some work. There have been many different variants over the years and all looked vaguely similar to each other apart from the ones used in the early years. Those variants had long hair, smoked like a chimney and were a lot more skinny. They had to go - not lifelike at all.

[arbell9]

[Mark Blanchard]

What are you referring too?

 

This?

 

 

Or this?

 

[Bibs]

Isn't that pic at Steve Vaughan's house where I was watching the F1 after a nice ruby? Where did you get that pic from!?

[Tony K]

I see a picture of the more recent edition of the actor playing Bibs has been posted. It's nice to see that guy getting some work. There have been many different variants over the years and all looked vaguely similar to each other apart from the ones used in the early years. Those variants had long hair, smoked like a chimney and were a lot more skinny. They had to go - not lifelike at all.

 

Bibs is like The Stig -- there are different versions of him all over the world (e.g.: "Bibs' American Cousin" -- eats McDonalds and Twinkies.).   Bibs has been played by numerous actors, including but not limited to Kurt Cobain (early LEF Bibs, aka "Bibs S1").

[Mark Blanchard]

Isn't that pic at Steve Vaughan's house where I was watching the F1 after a nice ruby? Where did you get that pic from!?

It's in google images under Bibs Lotus.

[arbell9]

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/topic/9673-separated-at-birth

[johnpwalsh]

Strangely enough, Wendy and I managed to visit the Ace Caf'e the other week and we met up with some of the guys, we heard later that BIB's had appeared but we never saw him. I just wondered if he was a figment of our imagination or if he had just stayed out of sight to save buying a beer for a visitor from Scotland and thus promoting the fact that he is either tight fisted or just as I said, A figment of the imagination.

for the guys who did take the time to speak with us and make us welcome, thanks it was great meeting you and yes we did eventually get to bed after another two hour drive to Caterham.

[Bibs]

Tight fisted Bibs bought everyone there a beer via Trevor, merry Xmas.

[johnpwalsh]

Now I wonder does his bell ring true as in, Silent Night. Maybe it can play the theme tune to wish you were here, or is it a case of just shaking hands with old friends.

[Al]

I love this Forum for some totally random posts like this.   Well John W, I've felt Bibs bell end  and can attest Bibs is no tight fisted Sassenach who doesn't like buying drinks for Jockenese as I and Andrew can attest to.      So on those two counts he appears in at least one form.    You just attended the wrong party........