Wow!

Many interesting points have been raised here by Dorian, Ozstamps, Merry and Boomer.

We FT'ers are collectively a very diverse and an even more extraordinarily demanding group.

Indeed Randy is one of us - and yet he is NOT really - due to his unique position.

My assesment, like always, comes from putting myself in his/their position.

This was an unfortunate situation for ALL those involved.

Yet, a case of miscommunication, which is apparently what transpired, is not necessarily a lie. I do not think it was purposeful or done to achieve any unwarranted gain.

Randy, IMHO, could/should have initially made a statement either at the chat and or in the post chat buzz in respone to queries regarding his identity. Why he did not, I do not know! Perhaps he was, (and I do not as you know speak for him), extremely preoccupied on his end and did not even read the queries coming in!

A statement immediately following would have been the next best bet and would have enabled others such as myself to be more responsive to those who had asked me about the identity crisis!

Could their have been better and more timely communication within the FT administration ranks and also to we FT'ers? YES!

Is their a commercial aspect to the boards? SURELY!

Yet, Randy has proven himself in the past many times over to be quite knowledgable and generous and so on...

His unfailingly cordial responsive nature and the seeming absence of such on that fateful chat night is what lead me and others to suspect that something was amiss!

Our collective expectations are quite high and thus we are apt to occasionaly be dissapointed in our host!

Let's all please "cut 'em a little slack!"

Albeit belated, there was an apology from Randy and Co and I hope we can all accept it, learn from the situation, put it behind us in the hope that it will NOT happen again.

Let's ALL move ahead in good spirits!