an open letter to Catman
(part of a personal email I wrote to Catman today)

...

I know that you are personally heart at some attacks recently on FlyerTalk (unfriendly replies to you personally, and, what honours you even more, also attacks on your FlyerTalk-friends).

I really care about you (and your well being) - and I don't want you to change the way you post on FlyerTalk as Catman or as Cat police. I only hope, that you understand that it is impossible to please ALL - it is impossible to be accepted by ALL - the more you are GENERALLY accepted (and that's what you are for sure on FlyerTalk - since FlyerTalk started you are the heart and soul and made FlyerTalk PERSONAL) the more of some single jealous people will be out there too - attacks of those are (even if they are hard to take some times - for me too) a COMPLIMENT.

YOUR FRIEND Rudi

post scriptum: I am sure, a majority of FlierTalkers know and appreciate, that part of the sharing/caring/gentle-man/-woman way we communicate here, with some rare exceptions, have to do with how '0ldies', like you Catman, started here and tried to 'maintain' that spirit by giving (at least trying to) good examples. Please don't give up (again).

A big, fat, cat-hairy...DITTO!

double DITTO

you are lucky catman .. many people like you and you deserve it.

dont disappear .. please.

Another meowey, four-pawls SoCal DITTO!

Count me in.....I feel personally insulted and assaulted whan I see it happing to you and the beloved "commander".

I hope you still have the UK police whistle that you reveived at the PIP in front of nearly 100 cheering Flyertalkers Mr. Cat-cop.

It's a shame that some small people who haven't been here for long, weren't at the PIP, and should feel like welcome guests here (as us all) just don't get it, choose to be mean, and criticize things that predate them and they don't know about.

I am glad that I share the sentiment with the majority of people that support Catman.

It sure must be lonely to be in the minority of those people who do not.

As a relative newbie, I'm a real fan of the witty and ascerbic Catman.. again, if you don't like him, take a nap!

Thanks Rudi...very well stated. I'm in total agreement.

It is a well known and accepted fact that CATMAN is the MAN !!!

Thanks for this posting Rudi.

Catman- when someone flames you or tells you off in the board, you HAVE TO consider the source. Put more weight on the posts you get from FlyerTalkers who know you well. You've been a valuable contributor to this community and don't you forget it. Just continue being Catman and know that it is impossible to please everyone (which is just A-okay). You can count me in as part of the "Catman-loving" clique.

Rudi just showed me this thread. To copy Rudi: I am sooooooo jealous - but I love you too Catman.

I am sure Catman is a wonderful human being.

But this Catcop inanity has just got to go.

Amen, Mark, and thanks, Rudi. It certainly has been much more civil and pleasant on these boards recently, after your decision to leave and then to return. Amen again.

Agreed. There's nothing wrong with the Cat police, and if someone fails to see the purpose in it, perhaps if they take the time to look back at the over two years of history here, they will get a better understanding of what and who the CATCOP is.

I most certainly like and very much appreciate CATMAN, who espouses a warm and friendly FT, where everyone is respected as an individual and a contributor!