As a member who has been here since the site was at about 500 members and who has served as a Moderator here, I've seen it go from a very close knit and small group of active members, (about 20), to the current 1,397 active members and total membership of 24,841.
I was always taught by my Father and later by the Army to never back down when you believe you're right. To never meet opposition equally, but to escalate the counter-attack into its highest casualty rate in order to push your opponent(s) to their maximum defence, which will limit thier offencive capabilities.
I've learned that within a group such as this, that method simply does not work. It alienates the very people who you wish *not* to alienate and allows your opponent the possibility of a perceived win due to "Cancellation due to Moderation".
I've returned several times after leaving to "cool off", and each time, tried to modify my methods of discussion and debate. Each, again failed until this, my most current return to the site.
This return has seemed to work thus far as a result of several factors:
1. The main instigator of attacks on me is now gone. He had a blatant hate for me that would never stop. His few fellow attackers don't do it without his leadership, so the attacks and harassment stopped with his leaving.
2. I've modified my method of presenting my opinions. I try as hard as I can now to not phrase things as anything that could be seen as "condescending" or "superior" or in any way to be attacking anyone else. I realize that even when you know what you say is correct, it can be taken offence to if presented in a manner which makes the receiver of that information feel slighted. I word my posts very, very carefully now and I will not argue with anyone for any reason.
3. Sure, there are "cliques" here. Many of them. Some are just people who have become personal friends, some are "clubs", some are real-life friends who are also members here. Cliques are common, expected and natural to any large group of people after time.
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There will always be those who like to be in the forefront of drama. I've been accused of being one. I'm not and never have been. I've simply defended myself when attacked and not given up regardless of the number of attackers. There is a difference.
This site will succeed because it has good Moderation. That and only that is what keeps this site from imploding and turning into a carbon copy of the mess all the other sites are. The Moderators here work every day to remove the trash, alter the foulness and remove those who cannot change to what is accepted here.
The members who stay all accept the policies, traditions and rules that this site operates by. That's why it is and always will be the best site for this type of discussion on the net.
With the cooperative help of both the members and the Moderators, this site will thrive even more and more.
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Hey, as far as the "Thanks" button goes, I run two vBulletin sites that both use the Thanks button and are the latest version of vBulletin. Both sites having current coding problems that are directly related to the scripts in that hack. I'm working on them for my sites, but so far, I still receive admin emails daily for coding errors caused by that hack. I think MarP is waiting for a stable version of it before adding it again.
Anyway, since this seems to be an appropriate thread to put this, I'm sorry it took this old fart so long to modify his approach to that which is more inclined to cause no problems. I wish I'd done it sooner. I really do love this site and consider many people here personal friends.
Cali, I hope you can do as me and just overlook the very few who will choose to dislike you and see only those who are helpful and friendly to you. Stick around man. Adapt and compromise. You'll be glad you did.
Some can. Some can't. You've always struck me as the type of person who is intelligent and able to adapt if needed.
