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[TwoShadows]

I have been on quite a few forums in the past 10 years. I absolutely loved the Coin World forum and the people I met there (so to speak) but they decided to shut her down with very little notice. I am a member of a few others but have found collectors who banned together through the years and followed one another from site to site. If and when I encountered something I did not like I moved on or just quit reading those particular threads. I have been through some pretty darn interesting stuff in the last few years and at NO time did I make an attempt to bring anyone or any forum down. If I got so disgusted I couldn't handle it I simply moved on. This forum, for all practical purposes, began years and years ago. It, and we, really took shape on another forum and now, because many of us chose NOT TO QUIT we find ourselves here, still together and still plugging along. It is NOT perfect just as we are NOT perfect but I can honestly say I have never met a more understanding or more dedicated bunch of people than we have right here right now. That dedication is well documented by the quests we have undertaken and succeeded in. No other online forum, not to mention many well established coin clubs, have done what we have done and hopefully will continue to do.
I have found in my life that I/You/We can build many things as a group. But in all accomplishments it only takes a minor mistake or a couple of people to tear it all back down. I don't intend to go there without a fight. Until this past couple of weeks we have had but ONE instance where a member felt insulted by a post. He took the time to explain his feelings and our membership responded in kind. Everything was laid out and very specific. We all knew without a doubt what transpired and why. No questions asked.
What we have now is much different and NO specifics have been laid out for all to see. There is a generalization but still the majority of our membership doesn't have a clue where these differences came from and why now as nothing much has changed since we all logged on in Sept. 07. It is not that the moderators did not want to step in to handle a situation its the mere fact they did not know what the situation was? It is apparent if the issue is debated much longer personal attacks will grow out of frustration. It is so easy to misunderstand the written word or the writers meaning at the time of the posting so I have elected to delete the thread before more permanent damage can be done between FRIENDS. Everyone take a breather and get back to coins. If you do venture into the general discussion catagory please understand, for the most part, you will find NO COINS there. Its a place designed to blow off steam, have your say, tell a joke, or bring a laugh. Our world is in a tadbit of a crisis at this time so we must try and understand that crisis may affect each of us differently and post accordingly. We will continue to moderate and will not tolerate personal attacks or attacks against one nation, culture, religion or governments. We could argue each and every one, every day, for the rest of our lives and the end result would still be just like it is today.
When I/We see dog doo-doo on the ground we have two options! Step in it or go around it. I am choosing to go around it! Cleaning up can be a long nasty task when it could have been avoided in the first place.

[EgCollector]

Applause  

[AdamL]

I agree. I made a post last night that I regretted later. Its just that I'm under alot of stress in my personal like and this is my only escape right now. So I kind of lost my cool about the controversy going on, and the fact that I had no idea why it was going on. Lets get back to the fellowship, the coins and everything else that we had going good for us just a couple days ago.
I'm sorry if I may have said anything that upset anyone. I'm really here for friendship and coins.

[CoinCrusader42]

Well said by everybody!!!!

 

[TwoShadows]

Thank you AdamL. For this reason I deleted the topic. I can live with any topic as long as it remains civil, productive, positive and with a little hope of bearing good fruit. When it became absolutely clear we may have opened a bee hive, and nothing positive could be gained, it became a threat to everyone involved. I have many friends here, on both sides of the issue, and being forced to take a side if you did speak out creates two camps. I like living in one camp.

I saw two sides and neither was going to budge. The trenches were dug and a solution was not on the horizon. It was time for a breather and a time to reflect. Not a time to lose friends or make enemies. Many of us may have been a little confused or misunderstood and some may have damaged pride but I have found those can heal very quickly given the opportunity to go forward.

One of my own personal quotes, "In each of us lies a greatness. It is by our own convictions whether or not it is awakened."  --- T. D. Adams

[Nighthawk]

Well said, Terry! 

[Muckeye]

Adam, I did not read your post as I have had an ISP glitch over the past few days.
However ,in retrospect, may I say I have gone back and deleted posts of my own a day or two after posting.
Wheather it be yourself or the moderator who makes a correction is not important.
What is important is that a correction is made.
As Old Dan said, support for Two Shadows 101 %.
And support for the Forum 110%.
regards,

[TwoShadows]

I thank each of you for your support. As I stated, I have been involved in many forums, and while this one is not perfect it is by far superior to most in many ways. In the past few years, as a group, we have never deleted a post or thread unless it was just outdated and did not serve a purpose any longer. While I chose to never have a problem we all know that is next to impossible regardless of what one may be involved in. We as a group have done many things and the key word here is AS A GROUP. While it sometimes takes forever to get to an ending or an answer it has always been civil and we all seem to give and take when necessary. If and when we come up with a problem that seems endless or pointless with NO end in sight somebody will have to be the bad guy. I have memories with almost everyone here and they are all positive. I, along with a great number of other members, wish nothing more than to keep them that way. We have laughed with one another, we have feelings for one another and have felt sorrow for our friends in far away places. While I may not be able to put a face to each of you I know many of your wives, husbands, and children by name. I know what you like and dislike. I have trusted you, traded with you and perhaps we have sold each other an item or two through the years. It has built a faith in collectors and good people all over the world. We offer respect, advice and friendship across the miles and miles. What we have built would take years to rebuild. Now what would I do to protect that? What would you do?
I am sure there are a few members feeling they have lost. Their pride may be hurt, along with their feelings, but I can assure you there is no loss. If anything, there is a new awareness of what we say, how we say it and a new understanding concerning posting on many different topics. Points were made by many, and as friends, hopefully we all have listened. At no time will this forum ever be about ME or I in my mind. It must always be about US and WE. It's OURS and its worth protecting both through the good times and, if we must have them occassionally, the bad. I just can't see risking all of our accomplishments on one thread full of anger, confusion, or misunderstandings that were headed for more anger, laced with hate or hostility. All of us, regardless of who you are or where you live, deserve much better than that.

[AdamL]

Well said.