quote:

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16 requests in 45 days from a community of 7000 regeistered shops and a several hundred thousand sign shops in the world that regularly lurk here is a huge slap in the face to those that have worked so hard.

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FWIW

I didn't know until this post what "Songpainter" was because I rarely read the OT posts.

Just when I was starting to use Rapid Tac

Please don't leave Roger.

[ February 04, 2002: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]

I have enjoyed your posts, your products, your opinions and help,and that smiling face.

I have not ordered the CD yet, but plan to. I wonder if there are others who are in the same boat as me. The first of the year is expensive for me. Weddings, birthdays (7 of them) taxes and such. Most of us also need to recoop from Christmas. I think more folks will order the CD in the months to come.

I read the offeding post, in the earlier stages.. I'm not sure about the posts that were deleted. To me, it seems as if that post was taken like the ones that were posted around the time of September 11th... A lot of opinions were voiced, allot disagreed. And tempers get heated, people become offended, and everything gets blown out of proportion, nothing is looked at logically. I try to stay away from these posts, when things get blown out of proportion. I perfer to stick to the safe side, unless I have a reaaaaallly strong opinion about that particular subject. But, some don't do this, and this sort of situation arrises. Someone has just had enough, and leaves.. I hope you don't let these posts get to you, roger.. there are a lot of differing opinions here, as in any place.. Hey, it's what makes life interesting

Now.. ppppppppllllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee don't ggggoooooooooooo!!!! *grin*

A number of you have sort of hit on the reason for my decision.

The part that disturbs me the most is not "the personal attacks", no; it’s the biased censorship!!

Down here in the states, when censorship is used, it’s usually applied to the entire situation (both parties in this case).
That big word FAIR has double standards lately, and however lame it may sound; I have always been a man of principal.

The ones on this board (the good ol boys) have been allowed to run free with they're attitudes and disrespectful comments, not just toward me or my products, but others as well.

If the Mayor either can't see this or doesn’t care enough to exercise his authority in a "non biased" way then, I would start lookin "bad" with my defensive reactions, this I don't wish to do, it hurts my name as well as my Company’s' name!!

I think maybe the Mayor needs to take a deeper look.

Thanks you guys again, for your opinions!!

We can blow off the afternoon, I'll meet you at the corner bar, we'll have a beer and return tomorrow. Perhaps we can find us a set of those rose-colored glasses so many here seem to be wearing.

I sent you an email, hope you got it.

(About the edit, I musta had too many beers already cause I spelled it bear. I didn't change my post)

[ February 04, 2002: Message edited by: Kissymatina ]

[ February 04, 2002: Message edited by: Kissymatina ]

First, you have always been a stellar example to me of an ideal merchant on this board. Helpful, personable and active in a broad range of topics, other merchants would be wise to follow your example. I've never had a problem with your mentions of your products, it was always appropriate. I too wish you would stay.

Second, I'm not sure why I am quoted in your initial post unless you think I was having some kind of a whack at you. I certainly wasn't and it bothers me if it came across that way, I appologize. If it needs clarifying, I was hoping to smooth things out a little by explaining Draper's obvious distress. Having gotten to know Dave Draper, I can attest to his affable, calm nature. The wording of his post was so far out of character that I supposed I could fly down and rescue him. Defense for my buddy, not justification. The post had obvious problems that blew up in a predictable way. Very unfortunate for everyone involved.

Third, I'm going to try to rescue again and this time I'm not going to appologize for it - Steve Shortreed is another person I have come to know as highly responsible and unquestionably well meaning. Unquestionably. I would not want his job as moderator of this site for all the money in the world, nor would I presume to know a fraction of issues he must weigh in his decisions. I'm just glad he's there so we can all be here.

I was recently made a moderator on another board. Its been a privilege to be one. I've also know now from personal experience how difficult is is to be "FAIR" to everyone. Being a moderator is a lot more difficult than I imagined. I think I have a better understanding of what Steve must have felt when some others and I butted heads. Its something I deeply regret putting him and the bystanders through.

It wasn't too long ago that Steve deleted one of my posts. It was done in humor (some Taliban stuff), but Steve thought it to be inappropriate for this site and deleted it. He also called me to talk to me directly and explain his reasons.

Whether I agreed with his reasons or not was immaterial. This is his and Barb's site. They are the benevolent dictators - and they should be. They are also only human and should be given a reasonable doubt. Trying to make everyone happy just isn't going to happen, try as they might.

We should all be mature enough to see this and accept it whether we agree with it or not.

As for the few who seem to get away with stuff, have faith. What goes around comes around. And as have also learned, you only get out it what you put into it. These people will have their turn. Steve has had to ban one person before. I have a couple here that I've had to block from my e-mail because of the viciousness
and putrid garbage they spew out when they can't act like adults.

That said, I would also hope that Steve, in all the wisdom God has given him, will take a harder line on those who make the kind of snide comments like the one you were subjected to. There is no place for that kind of stuff here and it needs to stop - even if it means putting the offender on probation or even an outright ban.

It's hard to believe but there are days where folks disagree with what I have to say or more importantly what I believe in. How could they? Steve may even delete what I have to say some day. He may have already done it in the past and I didn't notice. No matter, it's his right.

I even think about leaving from time to time.

I would suggest anyone thinking this way to step back as others here suggest. Give it a rest. Lurk for a little while. Then, when you are ready come on back to this wonderful place.

Everyone is welcome here and wanted as evidenced above.

The good outweighs the other stuff here by a large margin.

I appreciate your posistion there and know that for you (and others) what Dave ended up sayin was of a delicate nature. I felt that I should EXPLAIN to Dave how he came across to me and some others, I wasn't disrespecting him, infact I offered a thought toward a "marketing idea" that would possibly move this more toward sucess then failure.
My major complaint is with the reaction from someone else and how Steve dealt with it.

This job of Steves is indeed difficult, but this was only one of MANY times he has turned his head to the person who lights fires and personal attacks, thats what disapoints me Joe.

How do you think it should have been handled if you were in Steve's shoes?

There are definately little clicks on this board. You're either an insider or an outsider. There are those that get tons of replies that don't really deserve replies and others that wait days or never get responses to legitimate questions or concerns.

Over the 9 months or so that I have been a resident of the board I have tended to slack off on posts. I used to read everything every day but it seems now that there are a lot more than usual that come here to just blow off steam.

Don't get me wrong, I am totally greatful that I have found this board and I have received tons of great advice and critiques. I don't think anyone has ever directed cruel intentions toward me. I had one war of words with someone and we got that straightened out.

Basically the best thing that I can do is answer what posts I wish and ignore the ones that tend to get under my skin. There are certain names that tend to be more likely to stir the pot than others. I just don't read their post any more.

The sad thing is that there are a lot of us, both old timers and new comers, who have and can continue to benefit a great deal from this place and some old timers tend to be a bit harsh on the newbies which makes them not come back. So in return we all lose something that could have been valuable.

A lot of people on this board need to start acting like adults and biting their tongues (or fingers I guess!) a little more often.

I will continue to linger about and attend meets whenever possible. I am adult enough to respect others feelings or at least keep my coments to myself.

Hope you hang out but if you have to leave feel free to stop by when visiting the Orlando/Daytona Beach area.

CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG???

[ February 04, 2002: Message edited by: Amy Brown ]

....so where ya gonna go?

Too wierd.

At least Mark has a sense of humor. Even if it's a bazaar sense of humor. We know where he is coming from. When I click on his posts I know it's gonna be entertaining at the very least.

Roger, on the other hand is one long commercial for Rapid Tack or some other product. It must be a great product for many support him. As for me, I know Rogers posts about his product constantly so I don't go there. But he seems like a nice guy and he's up front about what he does.

I think there's room for both these guys and the rest of us folks too.

Shake hands guys. At least pretend to smile.

farewell my old friends...

(i did'nt have any lunch today and i have to eat supper!)

as i get on my trusty steed and ride off into another sunset, i have a smile on my face and a song in my heart...

http://www.markfair.com/music/mboundintro.htm

[ February 04, 2002: Message edited by: Mark Fair Signs ]

Banning would be for those who simply want to do nothing but cause trouble. The rest would be put into the ......

The would be given some time to T.H.I.N.K about what they did.

*******

Hey Scott!

How do I run a LEGITIMATE business and still find time to post here? Quite well. Thanks for asking.

Here are some photos of my LEGITIMATE business if you'd like to see. Feel free to download the the Production Chart and Workorder files.

http://home.nc.rr.com/walldog/shop_photos.htm

[ February 04, 2002: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]

i did'nt know your shop was next to a lake.

It really p***es me off when jerks try to attack merchants who take the time to post helpful advice here!!!!

Ever stop to think that if you drive off all the merchants, and those of us who are residents, Steve & Barb couldn't afford to provide this BB?

I can't believe everyone is apologizing for those who are trashing the BB and other people on it. One day maybe someone will have enough sense (or guts) to realize that making people stand up to thier actions might just bring about some changes here.

Yeah, go golfing Roger, that'll solve it. Take a break, don't let the idiots get ya down. Rah Rah Rah, hooooray for letterville.

Imagine you approach a perspective advertiser and tell them about letterville (Like I did). And now imagine them checking in on some of the recent posts (like they did).

Thier conclusion?

So your telling me I can expect to have myself, my product, my experience and helpfulness to be interupted by frequent posts of insulting, degrading and downright nasty words about my company? How much will all this cost me?

Hey, why are so many of the letterville residents and sponsors leaving anyway?