Well BIM & Seawolf, no beating or flames but perhaps a polite disagreement?

First, we're staying. I was lurking before Oz showed up and my wife & I've managed mostly to ignore him as lurkers and now posters. (Fortunately, we only check United occasionally.) We belong to the ignore-'em-&-hope-they'll-go-away crowd.

That said, I understand the value of publicizing a retirement. A batch of them at once, like this, is reinforcing, and sends the message to Randy that something is wrong. These folks that have put so much effort into making FT an informative and welcoming place are doing us one last favor in their departure.

I don't want them to leave over this, but appreciate they are trying to do good in the manner of their leaving. And I think stirring up these discussions may do some good.

I will be charitable and suggest that Oz is mostly tone-deaf. I can't deny that he exaggerates, shouts too much, is much too self-important, and doesn't face his own failings well. As FlyingRev must often remind his flock, let you who are without sin....

But Oz just keeps at it, and drives people off. Some have left quietly. I do feel sorry for most of the people who have been on the receiving end of his flame-thrower, and don't blame the ones who leave. I'm not even sure he knows when he's turned on the flames! The problem is that this hurts the whole community.

& that's the crux of my opinion here: FT is more than just another bulletin board. Beyond its utility, it is an oasis of sanity and civility and, yes, a community for many people.

I don't know that we need more rules. We need mutual respect and the ability to respond in disagreement without anger.

And somebody, somehow, needs to make that clear, perhaps again & again, to our fellow traveller (little joke, eh?) the antipodean philatelist.

Is that enough ambivalences for one post?