Thanks you guys and gals! Its funny...before I even saw this topic, I was just thinking about making a post Shelly did. But she beat me to it.
We all have concerns about recent upheavals in the forums. We are not happy about it. But like Shelly said, we have such a diverse group in everything from age to culture to moral values..everything under the sun. And as hard as we might try, we can't please everyone all of the time. We want to! Personally I think its the diversity here that makes this place so wonderful.
You need to look at discussions forums like cafeterias. You might go to one, look around and not see anything there that appeals to you. So you get in your car and drive to another one. That one you might like better. But even still, as you look at what they're offering, you aren't going to want to partake of it ALL. *So you pick and choose what you like and leave the rest behind.* That is the only way to be happy with what you have. I don't think any one CP forum is the "end all, be all" to CPs. They each have a lot to offer.
Personally I feel the membership here is the best bunch of folks you could ever meet. The kindness, generosity, humor and caring is just exceptional. Even though I will probably not meet most of you, I would sure want to...and still consider many here really great friends...REAL friends.
Like Shelly said, the mods are always here to help out in any way we can. You have but to ask! Don't let something that's bothering you sit in your gut until it explodes. Talk to us. We will do our darnest to fix a problem or help anyone out. We might not always be able to do it, but we'll sure try. There are many of you here that have sought our help, even sometimes with "off forum" issues. So many of you know how much we'll go to bat for you. But there will always be a handful who can never pleased. Such is life. We will not sacrifice the forum at large for a few.
I love Phil for putting up with what he has to at times when he is so busy. Without his generosity and caring about CPs and the community, we wouldn't have this MOST EXCELLENT forum. And then you add in the great mix of people we have and...well...I think its a wonderful place.
No forum is ever going to be "perfect", so we just have to remember this and accept it for what is. A great community of wonderful people who all share a love for growing carnivorous plants.
Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive of the mods. Its no picnic sometimes. You all don't always know what goes on "behind the scenes" or hear *both sides* of the story. Please bear that in mind.