[Louie]

Wow, I was gone for a week on vacation and I see this!?!
I buy what I like but sadly I too have been turned away by harsh criticism of a model. By harsh i mean really really going in to detail about stuff i would never really know or care about and comparing the model to what amounts to a hunk of junk. There are some really helpful and interesting members who have also helped broaden my knowledge and respect for aircraft and model collecting. I am thankful for them.
I hope we all can celebrate the fact that we have a certain culture on this forum that sets us apart from others. I like the atmosphere and consider myself one of the original core members. This won't get me a cup of coffee but it does give me good insight to the directional changes that the forum may make from time to time.

We all have something important to say.
We are all important and valued contributors even if by lurking and helping to continue the love of aviation.
We all have our moments when we may or may not say the things that others hope to hear.
We should never ever take other members feelings for granted and think off color remarks guised as "humor" are acceptable.
We should not send harsh pm's to a member who just feels strongly about a model they see or own. Opinions are what this forum is based on.
It is nice to be considered an expert but being so does not always produce "expert opinions".
Be nice,play fair, express your opinion I don't think you should have to own a model to have an opinion but don't slam a member or model just because you had a "bad day" or may not feel brotherly love for that person or thier opinion.
Guys are leaving here that I really like. Some good ones have left. Some (like Gort for example) returned and I am happy to see them. Still, others have left or become strictly "lurkers" because some yahoo felt like venting or just wanted to be a jerk. It's must stop. If you feel like you are getting treated poorly for no reason I suggest contacting a moderator and get it nipped in the bud right away. You have every right to express yourself and enjoy the forum. Use common sense though and don't just run for help when someone says your favborite model has a flat cowling or fixed flaps you should be old enough to know blatant antagonistic behavior. Let's clean the slate guys. Let's stop losing good members and creating more lurkers. Tidy up your attitudes and keep this forum and hobby fun and fresh. And for the sake of good form i also suggest being an adult and keep your dialogue open to all. perhaps someone did not get a point across the way they meant to and you may percieve it the wrong way. call them on it maturely and get clarification before it goes further. This is my opinion and i do not expect all to agree. If you do not like a model or find it not up to your standards or to the specs of the real thing please consider before you criticize in what I would consider a harsh manor that someone else may have it on order or on thier shelf and your thoughts may do more harm than the good you probably intended. There are folks on this forum that make a living selling these models. It causes a trickle down that hurts the hobby in my honest opinion. Thanks for listening.