We lost Pilsner Panther. It doesn't matter who was right and who was wrong. He added a lot of character to the site. I'm going to miss Pils. He was a very big part of why I started hanging here in the first place. Along with Rob and Jim, (S#1) I felt very welcome when I started posting here. I hope he re-considers his decision.
I feel a bit out of place for saying this, since I am SO new to the site, but I think everyone's decision was a bit premature.
There's NO way around it. No matter how mature, secure, well-grounded an individual you are...no matter how often a topic is revisited, at some point when you talk about religion or politics...or any sensitive subject... you're likely going to lose it. There may be sixty different posts where you've calmly discussed your beliefs and had excellent point/counter-point discussions with no blood whatsoever. Often times, it just takes ONE post that rubs someone the
completely wrong way and the whole powder-keg of a topic blows out of control. ONE post, out of a THOUSAND different posts, and we spit off a string of obscenities and insults that would be otherwise UNHEARD OF at any other time. I know because I've done it, and I've been
so sorry of the consequences it brings.
It retrospect, as an objective observer, what I think should have been done was for the topic to be locked and all decisions regarding replacements, etc. put on hold. Give everyone the chance to cool off without making any decisions whatsoever. In a week, this whole discussion would have seemed utterly hilarious and everything could have easily slipped back to normal. As it stands, Pilsner leaves in a puff of smoke and his awesome Pilsner Picks forum
freakin' disappears overnight. Was all of this really necessary? Over this?? Did he have to be replaced
instantly before ALL HELL broke loose on the forum?
I guess what's done is done, and Pilsner has already been substituted less than 24 hours after a mere scuffle...but for future reference I would give people permission to lose their cool once in awhile without
drastic consequences. Because Pilsner was, and is, an excellent member who deserves to be cut some slack.
Sorry for being forward. Just my two cents.