For the record

[Hepcat]

What it really boils down to is that the "other" site exists to produce an income stream for the owner. It has a number of functions, and the forums is but one. AND the true function of that is essentially advertising for the other sections of the site that earn him click-through dollars each month from the advertising. It's important to him that his forum users stay on the straight and narrow, and that he attracts as many new folks as he can get who will click-through often on the other parts of his site. His youtube channel exists for the same reason, and he needs to ride herd on those properties pretty tightly because they're his "brand," and his income depends on them. I remember a tirade about how other groups had better not be using "RTR" as the name of their gatherings, because that was HIS gathering. He holds the rest of his intellectual property just as tightly, again because its his income stream, and he's found a formula for income that works for him. Unique visitors who do click-throughs... often and frequently... are his bread-and-butter. He can't afford to have folks who have strong opinions and stick to their guns frightening off the more timid folks who are paying his way.

And that's ok... but it leads to a different kind of atmosphere than what the folks who've signed up here so far are looking for as a "Cheers" bar kind of place to stop in every so often... get some new insights... shoot the breeze... and enjoy the company in a place where "everybody knows their name." THAT is the kind of place that I think Gary had in mind, and that we're trying to accommodate. It'll be good if Gary can make enough income eventually to pay the expenses for the webhosting and other costs... but I don't think he's doing this for income, per se. And THAT alone makes a big difference on the "feel" of the place. I don't see this as ever having the size of membership or the revolving door as the "other" site. I hope it'll remain a place where folks can come and hang out and talk about 'stuff' in a friendly, laid-back, and relaxed atmosphere. I hope it'll at least pay for its own expenses for Gary too.

All that said, there is room here for EVERY opinion... and if we want to be able to express ours, we have to be tolerant enough to let everyone else express THEIRS without fear of retribution, hazing, stalking, or nastiness. Just because you and I may hold diametrically opposed opinions on an issue, that doesn't mean we can't be friends too. In other words, "Don't be a jerk." If everyone who decides to become a member here subscribes to that, this is going to be one of the coolest places on the web!