My initial reason for deciding to end participation in the IAA Forum, badly worded, was that I felt that my inability to let certain things pass was causing me to become part of the problem. While I care nothing about perceived insults to myself, as I unfortunately have many traits worthy of disrespect, I found it very difficult not to answer comments I felt were insulting to the fine men who, thru their volunteer efforts, give us this wonderful venue for discussion of our hobby. In answering acrimonious entries with further acrimony of my own, I realized two things - again, that I was becoming part of the problem, and that because of my own traits, I was not able to simply ignore them.
Well, the volunteers who set up and manage this forum - John S. Teak C., Ron M. and Chris B. do not need a defense for their fine efforts in trying to maintain the level of professionalism set by the majority of the people who use this forum for its intended purpose - the discussion of ammunition.
In retrospect, I know that my own poor decision to leave the forum was a greater insult to their efforts than any made before, unintentionally intimating that their fine work, and the the fine spot-on participation of most of the users of this Forum, were somehow unworthy of my own participation. That was not my intention, but good intentions sometime go astray, especially when a somewhat ill-tempered old man like myself engages his mouth before engaging his brain. I owe them and most of the participants in this Forum, and sincerely offer, my apologies for this slight. I will mention that with one exception, I have received no email regarding this incident reflecting anything but concern for my exit from the Forum, and a request that I reconsider. The friendship, camaraderie, and concern evidenced in these dozen or so emails, two from people that I did not even know, touched me deeply, and made me rethink what I had done.
I am resolved that to avoid further embarrassment to myself and a furthering of acrimony on this Forum, I will simply neither read nor answer any entry that I feel may degenerate into a verbal slugfest, again with the understanding that by doing so, I make myself part of the problem.
I also will try to resist the temptation to wander off into reminiscence of good times past, and stay on the subject of ammunition. I suppose that is one of the problems of advancing age.
I do intend to diminsh my participation in the Forum for a couple of weeks, simply oto try to catch up on my own work, which I have let slide badly.
Again, my sincerest apologies for what I realize, in retrspect, was childish behavior disrespectful on my part to the men who so ably run this Forum, and to the majority of the participants, and thank you for all the good advice and encouragment I received. While I doubt that I can, I will try to make myself worthy of it on this Forum.