Just thought I'd share my goodbye posting on Greg's site.
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Okay guys, I am writing to say goodbye. I am sorry it has come to this.
Now, before rejoicing and chanting "good riddance" in unison, please hear me out. I do not want to leave. I love this forum. I think Greg's site is easily the best. I always gave props to him because I think he is a great contributor to the hobby. But now, he has gone to a place I sadly cannot follow.
The thought that any of my comments could be interpreted as strikes is too much. The idea that I may be punished by A) not being able to post B) having comments censored or C) banishment is just plain out of control.
I cannot in good faith keep logging on where I have to be held to some idea of "coolness" when many times, having a differing opinion with Greg constitutes "uncool". If having a differing opinion gets me strikes, that's in essence killing any candor I may have about the hobby or collecting Wackys. That is NOT good by any stretch. I do not like how Greg is above ANY type of criticism, or holds that much power over any member. He had an uncensored public forum and that was its greatest asset. Now, it's more like a club rather than a public forum. I don't want to be part of a club. I want to be part of the hobby and that includes the negative and positive aspects of it. You can't just have a peaches and cream world because this hobby is not all peaches and cream. And those who think it is or can be will one day have a rude awakening. The reason this hobby IS so dynamic is because of the personalities and now, those personalities must now adhere to some type of bizarre, one-sided rule book complete with strikes, outs and ejections from the clubhouse.
Greg, I am sorry for whatever damage you have experienced in your life for you to have to sell out your ideals of free speech. To even threaten to squash what you deem offensive, inappropriate, or uncool is nothing more than a cyber czar. I wish there was a humility drug you could take because many times, it seems you are short in the humble department. For every one person you turn on, you turn off 5. I hope you reconsider opening up your forum again to be completely open as it was. I would be more than happy to come back and put you on ignore again if that were to transpire. Again, I did not want it to come to this. Just like I didn't want Yahoo or Delphi to end. Your beef with Topps and Dave Gross should never have infiltrated into the forum. That was business, not pleasure.
So, we bid adieu for now. I will miss the regulars here. Maybe we'll see each other on Brad's board, maybe not. But not having wackypackages.org anymore on my browser's list of favorites is a bitter pill to swallow. But understand, you gave me no other choice because self censorship is NEVER a choice. Thank you for some great years on the forum. Thank you for your site. You will be the boldest footnote in the hobby.
Sincerely,
Paul Argyropoulos
P.S. Remember, all's swill that ends swill.