Well, I've changed my mind again. After making the most recent post last evening I shut things down and went in to watch 60 Minutes. That's kind of a rule around here. Not 60 Minutes, but that I stumble into the living room by 7 p.m. Jackie is tolerant and serves as my proof reader, critic and gatekeeper so the hordes of adoring fans cannot disturb me at work - or play. But 12 hours is enough so knock it off and get in here, that's the rule.
Now, however, I'm in a quandary. Last night after hearing Andy Rooney discuss the problems facing newspapers I began thinking about the posts I made yesterday. My intention was to clarify a point or two, but it dawned on me that I was a disturbing factor here. Not because I'm a rabid defender of PA because I am far from that. It's just that I can't work up a real feeling of hate for any publisher although a couple have been less kindly than I would have liked. I understand those that do feel serious dislike for PA, however.
I've been on a couple of boards where a disturbing factor created havoc. On one, because I liked so many people there, I even defended PA against truly scurrilous attacks that were aimed not at the company but at the people who had used PA. He could have said anything he wanted to about the company and I would have paid no attention. When he went after individuals, that changed the picture. The hassle pretty much destroyed that board although it still exists in a ghostly fashion.
Recently another person tried the same tactics on a different board. I went after him like an out of control savage. He left.
I did not want to play that role here. A messageboard becomes a brotherhood and sisterhood. Most of the people never meet face to face, yet strong bonds develop. It's somewhat similar to the bond that exists among member of my own 4th Infantry Division Association. Age doesn't matter, the time when a man served doesn't matter. All that does is that at some point everyone wore the Ivy Division patch. Iraq, Viet Nam, World War II, it's all the same.
So the point is that I decided I'd write a goodbye note this morning and thank everyone for their consideration. Then when I turned on the computer this morning I found so many warm and welcoming messages that I now am not certain about that. Letting it ride for a little may be the best thing to do.
I'm not really surprised to find so many nice people here. In general that's what you find everywhere. Few things ever seem perfect so it's natural that one or two people disturb me because it seems their intent is not to point out the deficiencies in PA but to go after the people who have used it. I've seen too much hurt and too much suffering to think that is OK. Some folks are happy there so why try to burst their bubbles or tear them down? It doesn't hurt the company in any way, so what's the point? Fortunately the vast majority of members here are not that way. Inflicting pain would be foreign to them, or perhaps I should say to you.
So thanks for the many kind words. I appreciate them.