In reply... LPC, sorry long...

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Bruce, I apologize in advance for attaching the locked thread, but I feel it necessary, and only fair, to respond to some of the attacks made. Then I’m done with it, whatever the replies.

Sorry I failed to entertain some of you. Looks like the door’s been opened now and everyone wants to Pile On. People who never even contributed to the $0.52 Mod thread now feel compelled to get involved. Of course, that’s their right if they choose, I recognize and respect this.

And, am I required to just stand by and remain mute? Who are these people and what right do they have to accuse me (or anyone else for that matter) of anything? Realize that it was ohioboxster, and especially Grizzly, who hi-jacked that thread as a vehicle to criticize me, don’t take my word for it, read the entire thread and look at the timeline, then tell me it’s untrue.

Of course I don't know everything! It's seems silly to have to remind people of that (do they actually think that I do, or possibly think that I think that I do?). Kindly direct me to where I ever posted such a statement? Oh, you can’t? False accusation maybe? Mistaken assumption your part perhaps? How can I be responsible for that? Oh but you say, people think that I do? Am I now responsible for what other people choose to think?

I've been hanging around Cars and Machinery for 40+ years, and while I certainly don't know everything, that doesn't mean I don't know anything. Many wise and patient people were kind enough to pass on the knowledge they acquired over the years to me and if it can aid someone else, I share it. There is however no requirement on your part to read my advice or follow it.

Must I now alert the Media every time something comes along I have no knowledge of? If so, what about all the other 7000 members, do they have the same requirement? Count up the number of threads where I made no contribution or expressed an opinion at all, do you think maybe, just maybe, that was because I had nothing to say or didn't know?

Yea, I have opinions, so what? Don’t all of you? How do you get through Life without them? There certainly seems to be no shortage of them here. Isn't that a big part of Forums like this? My opinion on the Mod in question is that it’s useless, idiotic and Ricer, I’m entitled to have this opinion as you are to yours. I respect your right, please respect mine.

Whenever I express opinion, I always say IMHO, or I believe, I think, etc. You can take it or leave it as you choose, makes no matter to me. That means, occasionally, you and I are going to disagree.

You don't like my style? Too bad, don’t read my replies! The reciprocal may also be true, I may not like your style either, ever think of that? I am not asking you to conform to me, why do you insist that I conform to you? I have never criticized anyone on style. Unlike some others, I try to keep my criticism on point, without digging up past posts out-of-context, or personal slurs about me, or my cars, just to try and bolster an argument.

I’ve been accused of being wrong more often than so-and-so. So what? I am wrong sometimes, again, so what? Why do people deem it necessary to keep me so informed? Is there some sort of running total, or competition going on here which I’m unaware of? If so, I’m not here for that, so count me out!

Many of you only see what goes on in open Forum. I get regular PMs from Members asking my assistance or advice which I give freely, my mailbox is often full. For some, namely those who’ve chosen to Pile On here, I simply am no longer compelled to help them.

I also get many PMs offering encouragements (even in that thread) from those who feel too intimidated by some of the main contributors here to do so openly.

Disagreement turns to attack rather quickly here. But, I know of no instance, including this one, where I openly attacked someone except as a response. And if some of you supposed Fact Checkers come up with such an instance, which may be possible as I haven’t re-read all of my posts here, what is the weight of the evidence? Mostly what I say is true, it just isn’t my style. If you look objectively at some of the replies here, aren’t the accusers doing exactly what they accuse me of? They think I deserve it? WTF are they that they decide what I do, or do not, deserve?

Some people just love to jump into the fray, fight someone else's fight, criticize me, or Bruce, or the Forum (such as Grizzly’s past assertions that there are favored classes here?), etc., just to stand out, or to be cool, like Hyenas waiting for their share of the kill. They have even referred to other cars I own with derogatory remarks just to hurt me ( I am unfazed because they’re really only showing their own ignorance of one best Sports Cars ever made and the 2nd longest production run of any Sports Car, incl. the MGB). Interesting that each of these were members who had run-ins with me in the past. So be it, I can’t, nor do I want, to control what they do. Frankly I could care less about them. As any human being, I’d prefer to be liked than disliked, but not at any cost and certainly not here. I have many good friends and family members who give me that, and unconditionally, as I do them.

But, realize that these accusers often relate things to past threads without ever even actually reading the topic at hand and its progression, they pre-judge as it were. Der Geist for example throws numerous quotes totally out-of-context, and each of these were carefully selected for maximum effect, just to hurt and/or strike back at me (did Der Geist actually dig up and review every past thread of mine, and at 2:30am, just to slect the best ones and throw them in my face? How psychotic is that?). A whole lot of generalizations are being made about me with no weight at all. Do we see anyone criticizing those members? Read my 1st contribution to that thread and then look at how, and who, escalated it. If you're truly fair, you'll see there's plenty of room for blame here.

I will, review the bashing I’ve taken in that thread and adjust where I feel appropriate. But I will not be intimidated, or driven away by Bullies, Tag Teams, or angry Mobs. I will continue to express my opinions here like everyone else. That will mean that I sometimes disagree with you. Get over it! This whole debate has just been worthless, if you don’t like me or my posts, the answer is simple… DON’T READ THEM! Everybody vented now?