Do you people realise how much time and energy you are expending by perpetuating this situation, dwelling on it? Informative posts which could have been made on sensible threads by you but were not, because you were siderailed by an urge to read and contribute to the current invective that is being posted in abundance within all the dominant threads.

I've just spent five hours catching up and following the links to what I concur is the fodder for a soap opera. All of what I've read is a collection of very volitile emotions - act and react - shoot or be shot and a bitter contest of one-up-manship. Nothing, in all of these threads, nothing, has been shared about flying and the initial passion that originally lured us to this board or enticed us to participate.

If it will help you regain you equalibrium, jackhammer the yellow brick road - create a detour away from Oz - mentally blast it or him to **** but leave it off the board - explore new worlds and go where no man (or at least a few individuals you don't care to be exposed to) have gone before.

Don't give up. Alter your stategy instead. Throwing in the towel demeans you; it admits defeat. You would rather deprive yourself of a pastime you have enjoyed for years, sacrifice the present and future bonds you have and could make, because of an incendiary device in our midst. Don't compromised the characteristics of your nature that have upheld for so long, endeared you to many; here and in your personal lives. Hold fast to your honesty and integrity; expound on your knowledge and experience and let the wannabes continue to envy you as they vividly do in their responses.

All of you that have expressed the intention of leaving this board and withdrawing your support from the many that value you, as opposed to the few that revile you, please reconsider. If you can't, I truly wish you well and hope that someday, we can meet again under more favourable circumstances.