1,000th Post Contretemps

I have just completed a thorough search of the last ten days on this forum. I notice that as late as 23 June, things were civil and seemingly normal.

I am sure that we all have our opinions based on a review of the posts made. I shall not reveal mine. Suffice to say that some out-of-order posts were made, then responded to, and the rest snowballed. There were less than hospitable posts made, both individually and collectively,on both sides, with plenty of innuendo to go around.

But what REALLY gets me is how quickly this all happened. The last time I accessed the forum was 23 June and all seemed well. When I returned on 30 June, KAPOW! Though none of us really "know" each other face-to-face, we have all kept up our cyber-relationships for quite some time. (Heck, even a year in cyberland is quite long, real-time wise!) Those of us who hearken back to the Adam Roth dark days of AS, and those of us who stood by AS during its difficulties last summer and again at the start of this year (though the latter was more eBay growing pains) have withstood too many travails on these boards. We have endured the one- and two-post wonders, the angtry icons by those who haven't a clue how eBay works--let alone AS, the cyber-pitches from mysterious Romanian locales, but also the truly seeking members, and those who were trying to understand the pyschology of sniping and eBay bidding in general.

The two principals have been at this a long time, and I have enjoyed discourse with them both, complementing the exchange where appropriate. They have been articulate, courteous and helpful beyond words. It would be a tragedy to see these two not continuing to serve, especially in tandem. They complemented each other wonderfully. I am sure Sara and others will agree.

I am asking that any deep-seated wounds, however justified, be put aside. Both parties are entitled to feel hurt, and for this reason a truce is surely possible. Now, knowing human nature as I do, there likely are lingering hurts and annoyances, so all I ask is that both members continue to respond to the queries of others, as they always have. There does not need to be any immediate interaction with one another. But this forum can benefit from the experience of both members.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze?

Chatter, you're a pretty intelligent person. If you see nothing wrong with someone who gets up in the small hours before dawn and sits in front of his computer, locked into the Forum to the exclusion of all other sites, for up to 20 hours a day pouncing on any inquiry or comment as soon as it comes in, then I guess I'm a goner. If telling inquirers to "don't go away," that you're "researching" an issue that needs no research isn't odd, then I guess I'm seeing things. And if me reacting angrily to snide insinuations or outright insults is your idea of "plenty of blame to go around" then I feel sorry for you. In fact, I feel sorry for you anyway, because you're the real losers in this, you and the others, because...

You're stuck with Rick. 'Bye.

Steve... May I apologize to you for not speaking up before today.....You have stood there alone and defended yourself from those cold,cunning,stupid,envious,sly,devious posts/remarks/replies from the lowly one "Dorian Gray"...(I think that handle fits)!!!! Furthermore, I would really prefer to go back to the time when Adam Roth was here Chatter !!! He was a classy guy...lastly, Sara you could have kept this from happening, but as you said..."I've got better things to do with my time"...so now the forum is DEAD Do we owe all this FUSS, unimportant as it is to you, and chalk it up to "just a message board" that now stinks to high heaven....DELETE this !!!! that's if you have the time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also noticed a lot of needless antagonism directed at Steve. (Steve, if you read this, please reconsider! Although I'll fully understand if you don't.) I wasn't planning on posting again until this blew over and Steve came back, but it looks like he's one POed person. I really thought a certain someone was half kidding...surely nobody would get THAT upset over the number of posts. Or that jealous because Steve was close to 1000. Not with all the other things on this planet that really ARE worth getting upset about! Sheesh!
Sara, I hate to say this, but considering the circumstances, maybe it would be better to just do away with the number of posts and titles by people's names. Or maybe myself and some other volunteers would be willing to donate our posts to a certain someone who finds that number to be all important. The number of posts/title that may or may not be by my name don't mean anything next to animosity and hurt feelings.
I wasn't going to say anything, but saw Granitz's and Chatter's posts and decided it was time. If this board goes back to the way it used to be, I may be back. Right now it's just not worth it.

quote:

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Sara, I hate to say this, but considering the circumstances, maybe it would be better to just do away with the number of posts and titles by people's names.

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I have to say I do rather agree with fordfalcons. Some of the "debate" on these fora has seemed to have become somewhat, er ... childish?

Andrew

fordfalcons.... Thnx for a very thoughtful post.....The number of posts and title given are not important !!!! The character & quality of the posts are what I miss.....I've noticed some posts on the A.S. Support forum that are going unanswered....Steve was always there for the needs of new A.S. snipers as well as all the rest of us.......no "wait a minute"....no "are you still there"...no "let me research"...just clear,honest,knowledgeble,helpful answers...and we've lost that !!!!!

It isn't necessary to have the number of posts or the titles. If something HAS to stay, maybe for purposes of proven experience with AS, then just leave the dates that we registered. Sara? Are you there?

Please add my voice to the list. The number of posts is not important to me, either, and I would gladly sacrifice it in the name of harmony.

However, having seen other boards powered by Infopop, I notice that the format is always the same: the member name, date of registration and number of posts appearing with each post made. So I fear that this is not something that AS can change.

Our missing man has indeed been unjustly treated and I would really like to have him back in our midst.

I've been away from the forum for a little bit and come back to all this crap! What used be a pleasant place to come and spend some time is now a one man show for someone who is so full of himself, and so intent on putting down the most consistantly helpful person on the forum that it is NOT a nice place to be anymore.

Chatter, having not been here for little while, and having reviewed the posts that have been made in the meantime, I have to respectfully disagree with you. To me, this situation is very clearly all one sided. Steve has not said or done anything to warrant the personal attack he's been subjected to in this forum. The only thing I can't figure out is the reason behind the vindictiveness.

Losing Steve's presence here is a great loss for all of us who have been around a long time and most especially for all the newcomers will now not be able to benefit from his kind, well thought out, courteous, professional, unselfish advise.

The "follow the yellow brick road" post is nothing but childish prattle and a personal attack on Steve. It has no place here and should have been deleted by the forum moderator long before now.

I'm happy Steve reached the milestone of 1000 posts. He MORE than deserves the recognition of that milestone. However, with the recent prattle of "are you there", "researching", "wait a minute", "be right back" postings, it's clear a post count has NOTHING to due with the quality of the post. Fordfalcons and Granitz are right -- we really don't need anything more than the Registered Date.

Steve, I'm sorry to see you go, but I do understand -- this is not a pleasant place to be anymore. Hopefully, things will eventually get back to the way they used to be. In the meantime, you and Fordfalcons and I will get on with our lives.