Originally posted by icywarm We can all relax... Gary was active last night posting as per norm... might even have posted more than normal... like he didn't have some distraction weighing him down...
That is because I pumped two pints of beer in him....
I had a chance to meet up with Gary after work yesterday for a couple beers... Just wanted to check in to see how he was doing. It was a very good venting session, maybe more for me than for him. Gary is pretty good about talking me down off the ledge and once again he had too...
Just before leaving work to go meet him, I had read Adam's post to me saying that he could not believe what I was saying in the thread... And I read Peter's post to Gruoso seemingly challenging him to some kind of virtual street brawl and pitting reputations against each other. Peter after what I have seen you write in this thread, I believe you would be hard pressed to win the reputation battle right now at least in my eyes. We had three very good moderators quit within 24 hrs of each other..... And you are posting that Gary decided on his own to leave... We are not dumb.
I was so over it and so pissed, that I was going to chat with Gary, see how he was doing. Then go home and do some final post where I went off and and got myself permanently banned. Crash and Burn, Punk Rock style!
But Gary said something that stopped me in my tracks and almost brought a tear to my angry eye. He said, "Every time I get frustrated, I just try to remember that the forum has given me a lot more than I have given it"! -- This is coming from one of the most giving members on the forum. He said, "I have made some good friends, I have met some local shooting comrades, and I have gained a lot of knowledge from experienced forum members."
And it is so true... as frustrated as I am with the direction this forum seems to be heading, and how very different it feels today. I need to remember just how much I enjoyed it in the beginning, how much fun it was. And how much I have learned from all of the members here, how much their support and encouragement has meant to me. How many good people I have met. And of course how many $25 lenses they have sold me!
I truly have met some great people and I look forward to seeing some of you at future bay area meet ups...
I honestly want to thank Adam for creating the environment where all these things could happen.
It is a very different forum today and there's no home for me here. But thank you Damn Brit for reminding me why this place was so special and why it was worth fighting for.
So, instead of going out Punk Rock style.... I go out with a smile, a whimper and a wave 8^)
I will post a proper goodbye thread later... You know, the ones where someone says their leaving and a few say "we will miss you" and a lot more say "don't let the door hit you in the ass... F--- Off
I love those threads and I ain't gonna cheat myself out of one. Plus who knows... it could still get all punk rock!
Gary, you gotta love how I can take a thread all about you... and once again make it all about ME! haha -- Javi you are buyin' the beer next week.... again!
Last edited by Igilligan; 03-27-2010 at 04:16 PM.