JL, your departure leaves a gaping void. I suspect that you did not make the decision on the spur of the moment, but only after deliberate thought. I would hope that your leaving might spur some to think a bit harder on the tone of the forum and their contributions to it.

Finally, thank you for your wise and patient counsel when I first arrived. It was invaluable.

Take care.

PK

Folks,

I think that leaving the board is on the minds of many of our long term members for precisely the reason that JL has left....what a loss! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I have respected him as a tough gentleman who was always a voice of calm reason and logic.

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Don't leave. Stand up and be counted. JL....that goes for you too.

Star*fish,

Since I am a relatively new member (I found myself here around the 1st of August), I had no idea that there had been a fundemental change in the way the board was administered. My guess is, you are right about that fact having a lot of bearing on the atmosphere today.

Thanks for the information ...

starfish, shouldn't complaints about how the board is operated be directed to Steve Harley, the active administrator of this board? I don't see why this is posted here where it will do no good and only stir up passions. [trying to control others always has that effect] Wouldn't it make more sense to forward your complaints to Steve? Just an FYI, I do believe that Steve Harley is the board ADMIN and does read here on a daily basis.

And I will stand up and be counted in that I will sorely miss JL. He has been a good friend and supporter of mine over the years. I have left on occasions over the years because of board dissension and nonsense so I know how he feels. However, it makes no sense to blame my choice to leave on anyone but me. We have no control over what will induce a particular person to leave. Nor did I expect or demand that others change to accommodate me, that is unrealistic.

However, I have come to accept that it is part and parcel of belonging to a diverse, active internet forum. I think it's important to remember that we cannot control other people, we can only control ourselves. That important truth seems to be perpetually missed by some here. Trying to force others to behave according our standards is always going to be an exercise in frustration and futility, as many on this thread have personally discovered.

So yes, it is a sad day to see JL leave. It was also sad to see Pep leave, Mortarman leave, etc. The main thing to remember is they all made those choices themselves.

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I don't try to come here for the drama, but it is pretty pervasive.

Actually, there IS oversight on this forum. Unfortunately it is not to the standards of some posters on this thread and that is where their frustration lies. They want the board owners to moderate the board that SUITS THEM. Apparently, it IS to the standards of the board owners, though.