Erik,
I shall speak frankly. I can only speak for myself
Whatever your intent may have been, I read your first missive and came away with a very negative impression
After reading your second, I wish to speak from my own experiences on this site
I can't think of anyone who holds as many controversial and contradictory opinions as I do. My interests, likes and dislikes span decades and continents. At one time or another, I have managed to either offend, amuse (or both) pretty much every one here
Without question, when I have had a genuine problem or question or needed help - and in my family's situation I do need help, frequently - folks here have helped me
Do I share Robert's every passion? Nope. Do I agree with his every decision? Nope. Do I feel I have any entitlement to comment or be offended by such? Nope.
This is not, at least from my viewpoint, a democracy. It is Robert's living room and he has graciously invited me to spend some time in his personal space. He is my host - and a very tolerant, pleasant, forgiving and thoroughly delightful one at that. As his guest, it is not my place to rudely disagree with this, that or the other aspect of how he has arranged things. If I did not feel comfortable here, I would not be here. And, as his guest, it is my duty...one I do not always succeed in fulfilling, to be pleasant to his other guests
Now, if Robert asks - as he frequently does - for our opinion on things and if, as he so often has - he accomodates our desires, great
A few years back, one of my oldest friends was confined to a santorium here in Munich. His wife, whom I only knew socially, could not afford a flat here as well as their home and business in the country, four hours away. I invited her to use an empty room in my apartment. This woman, who is a vegan, politically, aesthetically, religiously and in every single way different to me chipped in on the cleaning, shopping, upkeep, entertaining...all the grunt work of living in a house. She never once asked me to change anything in my home...and I must confess it took me a while to think to ask her if I might make any changes to accomodate her. My point: She worked hard to keep our place up, she didn't just piss and moan and bitch at me for having (gasp) honey in the cupboard, leather on the sofas..
Maybe, if you really feel that things need doing around here, you could copy a leaf from her book: Instead of telling Robert what all is wrong here, you could try asking him if there is anything you could help him with
(Disclaimer: Personally, I think the site is great and Robert brilliant. As far as the super forum goes, if I see something there I don't want to lose, I archive it meself. Not a big problem in this terabyte server world we all live in now-a-days.
It is not hard to think of similiar clubs which are torn by constant strife and bickering. Let's please not go that way here
Panthera