Canoerebel 
		  
		   
		   
		  Posts:  21100 
		  Joined:  12/14/2002  From:  Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
		   
		 | 
	  
	    
		 Earlier today (I'm not making this up), I was contemplating a post about this forum.  I wish I had now.      I have been part of many forums over the years; forums that you would think would be made up of the nicest people in the world:  hikers, canoers, kayakers, botanists, bird watchers, historians, etc.  In nearly every instance, I have been surprised by how snarky the people can be - argumentative, mean spirited, cranky, opinionated, etc.      Contrast that to this forum, which I've been a part of since 2002 (counting UV days).  The forum is overwhelmingly gracious, friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly.  And friendly.  I am frequently amazed at how the forum self-regulates, avoiding politics or other controversial topics; bending over backwards to avoid giving offense; being gracious in victory or humble in defeat; teaching and re-teaching even when topics have been handled a zillion times.      On very rare occasions, somebody gets ill about something, but usually those people self-report and apologize.      This is the best game I've ever played; it's the best forum I've ever been associated with.  If I have a question about anything historical, political, travel-related, economics, educational, etc. etc. etc., I could post a question here (or via PM) and get the most interesting and informative information from people I've known and trusted for years.  I know they are credible.  I know I can trust them.  And if I took a trip to nearly any point on the globe and encountered a problem, I could probably find a thread-friend that would do anything to help.      To see a snarky opinion from a newbie that just walks into a room firing a shotgun is pretty surprising.  I suspect that he looked into a mirror, saw a reflection, and thought it was somebody else staring back at him. 
			
								
			
			
				  	
		  
		 |