This is probably going to start a war - not intended, I just want to say how I see it.
I was involved in the thread leading to Carl's statement. I am sorry he feels the need to leave. I think Carl is a great sculptor but I had commented on what I still see as an error in a proposed new release that he sculpted - I had previously made a similar comment on another of his models - please note that is two models, in what is a very prolific output.
Those threads started off as civilised discussions. In both cases the same small clique of members seem to have taken my comments as an attack on Carl's talent and the livelyhood of the producer of the kits involved. Despite trying to explain that this was not my intent, (I had not even referred to who had sculpted or produced the figures), and despite offering sincere apologises to both those parties if I had adversly affected their sales (a personal apology to the kit producer at the next model show I attended), those members and not the aledgedly injured parties I note, (who reacted in nothing but an admirable manner), persisted in hi-jacking the threads. They did not offer evidence to disprove any of errors I had pointed out and did not seem to accept any evidence I did post to support my criticisms. They seemed more focused on making uncalled for, snide comments which were hurtful to me, to the extent that I also considered leaving the site for good.
Now I don't know about you, but I don't like being accused falsely of pursuing a vendetta about someone I don't know. I own a few of the models Carl has sculpted myself, I wish him no harm, but I do not have to slavishly accept every piece he produces as perfection incarnate just because he has a few supporters who cannot handle me not doing so. Those members seem unable to accept this.
I like this site. Both of these incidents resulted in me receiving personal messages of support which led to a few intelligent and informative private conversations with members from other countries that I would not have otherwise had. I have posted my appreciation of more models than I have criticised and have never aimed my criticism at an individual modellers work, only at commercially produced items that I feel are open to scutiny in the interests of all. I see no point in limiting comment to the models I like and fawning over my mates work - this isn't facebook, is it?
To leave the site would just be giving way to what I consider a few misguided members who seem to be hell bent on sabotaging threads whenever they feel personally slighted . I hope that in my time on the site I have been able to inform and offer help to more members than I have offended. I am sorry if efforts to defend my position have escallated into arguement and spoilt it for others but I would not feel the need to do that if people would refrain from mis- representing what I have said in the first place.
I would be willing to abstain from posting in future if anyone other than the "trolls" feel it would help to do so. I am getting as disillusioned and fed up of the sniping as anyone else.
Keep your sunny side up folks!
