I certainly echo the positive comments above. The board is a better place with contributors of Catman's and Doc's (amongst others)caliber.

well ... I talked to Catman and he said he will be back, eventually. He's fine.

Rudi (a proud member of a/THE 'clique').

Cat, MRLIMO phrased it so well...

You are a Gato Extraordinaire!!!
I will wait for your return patiently. Think good thoughts, and don't worry.

Linda

Catman needn't go away.

But Commander Catcop definitely needs to hit the highway.

Just a little suggestion Flyertalkers...

Commander Catcop and I are one in the same.

if you are telling HIM to go you are telling ME to go.

Think about it before you make posts like the one above.

(And as suggested before, if you have a problem with what I do WRITE ME A PERSONAL E-MAIL AND TAKE IT OFF THE BOARDS!

CATMAN, CONTINUING HIS INDEFINITE VACATION


[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 07-13-2000).]

Eagerly awaiting your return, as you see fit CATMAN! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I am grateful for Commander Catcop's presence. I always thought CC's posts were done with a sense of humor--not in a mean way.

Although new to FT, the CATMAN is one of the posters that I think make FT special. Hope the cat finds his way back home soon.

Speaking as someone who has run afoul of the Catcop on a couple of ocassions (especially on the CO thread about how they served their mixed nut snack), I think some folks take his policing of the board a little too seriously.

I've always considered his "arrests" to be that nudge we get from our spouses/ significant others when we cross the line in polite company (and trust me, I have about a half-inch indentation between the 3rd and 4th ribs courtesy of my wife).

I'd also like to see Catman come back - he is a cornerstone to this forum. But I also don't blame him for getting offended when he became a lightning rod for criticism (speaking as someone who is known around town as "Ground Zero").


------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

One of things about being a cop is that there is always going to be some who are critical of them. Surely this does not surprise you nor the majority of those who do not want cops around. Could it possibly be because they are doing something wrong or are trying to beat out someone and do want to be policed.
Although not a cop I am a ref and generally receive some verbal abuse for it. Invariably it is from someone whom during the course of the game I've had to intervene and penalize that person for committing a wrong. But sometimes it is someone on the sideline who perhaps has some other investment in the game, emotional or financial.
For me and any one else who gets to this level we have to use several tools to continue on:
develop skills through doing that my decisions of judgement are as accurate as humanly possible
talk with others who do the same away from the action for reassurance that what we are doing is correct
maintain nuetrality, do not get angry, just make a ruling and get on
grow a thicker skin

Now if someone is harrassing me do I have any problems about calling a real cop. Not one bit. They are better able to deal with the contradiction than myself who is directly involved. Will the other party be upset by the intervention? You can judge for yourself.
The point I'm trying to make here is that no matter what sometimes someone is going to complain even if both parties have asked and agreed for me to be there.

Enough about cops. I wish to echo other postings that what you provide for this board in the relating of your life at least imho maximises ff miles and "flight experiences" for those who chose to follow. Tomorrow when I go to the airport I will be wearing levi's and a hawaiian shirt and I'm going to the midwest!
Finally I would like to repeat back to you what your very first message to me was in the chat. "thank you for being here"

jim

Agreed. No malice, just a nice nudge of the paw. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I’ve been a poster here since March 99 and a lurker for some time before that, I’ve seen the daft posters come and go, but due to them I’ve seen us lose many of the bright witty posters from the early days, perhaps they still lurk, perhaps not, I don’t want us to lose any more.

Catman, you have been a strong moral force on this board, without the CatCop this board would have degenerated long before this current storm we are experiencing. Any society needs rules; the Internet allows many of the normal rules of polite society to be broken, especially by those who are often twisted and bitter themselves.

Our Flyertalk society needs people with your integrity and values, someone who is prepared to speak out against vulgarity and meanness.

Quite simply Catman, we are poorer place without you.

Stewart.

Catman & Commander Catcop please come back! This place will not be the same without you! You are one of the reasons why I visit this place everyday!

Bringing this subject forward to a new day so others will see it and beseech Catman to return.

My 4 cents...

trolls: I think it's a shame to let the trolls even think that they might win.

catcop: Somebody has to moderate discussion and guide participants back on thread. Otherwise, they turn into crap. That's just as true in a FTF meeting as it is here. I thought Catman did it in a humorous way.

cliques: What else is a group of friends but a clique? Does it matter if its virtual or FTF? There have been several trip report posts about FTers getting together than have been awe-inspiring to me. Many of them included Catman in some way. The board is a lesser place without those experiences.

email: I'm really hesitant to put my real email address out in a public place. But, I will put a more disposable email address in my profile it it makes trolls go away.

Catman, I hope your self-imposed hiatus ends soon. I've never been to a Ruth Chris, so if you're ever in Chicago - my treat.