WHERE IS ERIC?

[Jon Szanto]

I think with the recent news on fpgeek we all need to be asking this question again: where is Eric????

I don't give a shit *where* he is. I want him to come in here, to this community he started up (and then apparently walked away from) and explain just precisely why all the turmoil, and what it means for the future of this forum.

ETA: I've 'struck out' my comment above, but left it in place to not whitewash my own thoughts. I really don't wish ill on Eric, as I don't know him personally. I don't consider any of this as a personal issue, but one of responsibility to this community. I hope this makes that more clear.

2nd ETA: Since I have posted this, Eric has posted in another thread, with a bit of explanation.

[Hawk]

I heard he recently fled to Cuba because of all the outragous stories on this thread and as soon as he can get internet service, he will defect to one of the other pen forums under an alias that no one can figure out. I hpoe he likes the cigars.

[TSherbs]

I think with the recent news on fpgeek we all need to be asking this question again: where is Eric????

I don't give a shit *where* he is. I want him to come in here, to this community he started up (and then apparently walked away from) and explain just precisely why all the turmoil, and what it means for the future of this forum.

ETA: I've 'struck out' my comment above, but left it in place to not whitewash my own thoughts. I really don't wish ill on Eric, as I don't know him personally. I don't consider any of this as a personal issue, but one of responsibility to this community. I hope this makes that more clear.

What's the big deal, really? People go away and come back all the time. Where's the shrug button?

It's just an internet chat forum about fountain pens. Which was only interrupted briefly, for less time than many of my power outages.

[TSherbs]

I heard he recently fled to Cuba because of all the outragous stories on this thread and as soon as he can get internet service, he will defect to one of the other pen forums under an alias that no one can figure out. I hpoe he likes the cigars.

....

[snedwos]

I think with the recent news on fpgeek we all need to be asking this question again: where is Eric????

I don't give a shit *where* he is. I want him to come in here, to this community he started up (and then apparently walked away from) and explain just precisely why all the turmoil, and what it means for the future of this forum.

ETA: I've 'struck out' my comment above, but left it in place to not whitewash my own thoughts. I really don't wish ill on Eric, as I don't know him personally. I don't consider any of this as a personal issue, but one of responsibility to this community. I hope this makes that more clear.

What's the big deal, really? People go away and come back all the time. Where's the shrug button?

It's just an internet chat forum about fountain pens. Which was only interrupted briefly, for less time than many of my power outages.

Yes, but you always know that the power is going to come back.

Also, for those of us who have been here since the beginning, the thought of a rift between Dan and Eric is upsetting, quite frankly.

I missed Eric's presence, and to have his return be in this fashion...

[TSherbs]

I think with the recent news on fpgeek we all need to be asking this question again: where is Eric????

I don't give a shit *where* he is. I want him to come in here, to this community he started up (and then apparently walked away from) and explain just precisely why all the turmoil, and what it means for the future of this forum.

ETA: I've 'struck out' my comment above, but left it in place to not whitewash my own thoughts. I really don't wish ill on Eric, as I don't know him personally. I don't consider any of this as a personal issue, but one of responsibility to this community. I hope this makes that more clear.

What's the big deal, really? People go away and come back all the time. Where's the shrug button?

It's just an internet chat forum about fountain pens. Which was only interrupted briefly, for less time than many of my power outages.

Yes, but you always know that the power is going to come back.

Also, for those of us who have been here since the beginning, the thought of a rift between Dan and Eric is upsetting, quite frankly.

I missed Eric's presence, and to have his return be in this fashion...

oh, come on. This has given all the gossip mongers something to chew on semi-publicly. Or wave their internet-angst on a digital flag.

most of this should go to pm's, since it is none of our business, really. Talk amongst yourselves (I don't mean *you* in particular) only privately, and honor Eric's request for ideas on how to structure the site moving forward. Stay out of other people's private business unless you are asked for help.

[Laura N]

I think with the recent news on fpgeek we all need to be asking this question again: where is Eric????

I don't give a shit *where* he is. I want him to come in here, to this community he started up (and then apparently walked away from) and explain just precisely why all the turmoil, and what it means for the future of this forum.

ETA: I've 'struck out' my comment above, but left it in place to not whitewash my own thoughts. I really don't wish ill on Eric, as I don't know him personally. I don't consider any of this as a personal issue, but one of responsibility to this community. I hope this makes that more clear.

What's the big deal, really? People go away and come back all the time. Where's the shrug button?

It's just an internet chat forum about fountain pens. Which was only interrupted briefly, for less time than many of my power outages.

Yes, but you always know that the power is going to come back.

Also, for those of us who have been here since the beginning, the thought of a rift between Dan and Eric is upsetting, quite frankly.

I missed Eric's presence, and to have his return be in this fashion...

oh, come on. This has given all the gossip mongers something to chew on semi-publicly. Or wave their internet-angst on a digital flag.

most of this should go to pm's, since it is none of our business, really. Talk amongst yourselves (I don't mean *you* in particular) only privately, and honor Eric's request for ideas on how to structure the site moving forward. Stay out of other people's private business unless you are asked for help.

If the place is not important to you ("its just an internet chat forum"; "shrug"), and you don't like the people here ("gossip mongers"), and you don't want the future of the forum discussed ("none of our business"), why are you here on this thread? Why do you get to tell committed members what they can discuss? Why criticize and demean people who are expressing their feelings about a place that is important to them?

If this attitude is going to be the tenor of the new FPG forum, I predict people will not be happy here. So there's no need to worry about "how to structure the site," because it will be just a few disinterested folks showing up every once in a while.

Eric has asked for ideas -- on the website -- and he seems to be reading people's posts. He isn't telling people to shut up. My advice, if he reads this, would be the opposite of yours. I'd advise him to listen to the people with the most attachment to the site, who have contributed the most, who have a real stake in this place. The people who care about the forum, who were upset by losing it, who've been here a while and post a lot -- that's the community. They are the people to listen to. They make the forum.

JMHO.

[Jon Szanto]

Well said, Laura. I would have added "blow it out your ass", but I'm in a cranky mood with all this forum drama stuff surging in my veins. I'm so volatile.

[Crazyorange]

Thank you Laura....beautifully put. Though I also like Jon's blow it out your ass addition.

[Neo]

Thank you Laura....beautifully put. Though I also like Jon's blow it out your ass addition.

Ditto

[Jon Szanto]

Thank you Laura....beautifully put. Though I also like Jon's blow it out your ass addition.

Haha... it takes a village. I swear, I'd make the world's worst diplomat, but it sure would be fun while it lasted!

[Neo]

Thank you Laura....beautifully put. Though I also like Jon's blow it out your ass addition.

Haha... it takes a village. I swear, I'd make the world's worst diplomat, but it sure would be fun while it lasted!

Please don't start WWIII

[Crazyorange]

Thank you Laura....beautifully put. Though I also like Jon's blow it out your ass addition.

Haha... it takes a village. I swear, I'd make the world's worst diplomat, but it sure would be fun while it lasted!

Where's the spam mobile when we need it?

[lsmith42]

...

[Jon Szanto]

[Crazyorange]

As a group we haven't lost our humor.

[Farmboy]

I vote for wild conjecture... I kindv liked the running off to Cuba story... but we can do better!

Will you explain to me what part of the forum is missing when we gather for the Posse?

[Chrissy]

I think with the recent news on fpgeek we all need to be asking this question again: where is Eric????

I don't give a shit *where* he is. I want him to come in here, to this community he started up (and then apparently walked away from) and explain just precisely why all the turmoil, and what it means for the future of this forum.

ETA: I've 'struck out' my comment above, but left it in place to not whitewash my own thoughts. I really don't wish ill on Eric, as I don't know him personally. I don't consider any of this as a personal issue, but one of responsibility to this community. I hope this makes that more clear.

What's the big deal, really? People go away and come back all the time. Where's the shrug button?

It's just an internet chat forum about fountain pens. Which was only interrupted briefly, for less time than many of my power outages.

Yes, but you always know that the power is going to come back.

Also, for those of us who have been here since the beginning, the thought of a rift between Dan and Eric is upsetting, quite frankly.

I missed Eric's presence, and to have his return be in this fashion...

oh, come on. This has given all the gossip mongers something to chew on semi-publicly. Or wave their internet-angst on a digital flag.

most of this should go to pm's, since it is none of our business, really. Talk amongst yourselves (I don't mean *you* in particular) only privately, and honor Eric's request for ideas on how to structure the site moving forward. Stay out of other people's private business unless you are asked for help.

If the place is not important to you ("its just an internet chat forum"; "shrug"), and you don't like the people here ("gossip mongers"), and you don't want the future of the forum discussed ("none of our business"), why are you here on this thread? Why do you get to tell committed members what they can discuss? Why criticize and demean people who are expressing their feelings about a place that is important to them?

If this attitude is going to be the tenor of the new FPG forum, I predict people will not be happy here. So there's no need to worry about "how to structure the site," because it will be just a few disinterested folks showing up every once in a while.

Eric has asked for ideas -- on the website -- and he seems to be reading people's posts. He isn't telling people to shut up. My advice, if he reads this, would be the opposite of yours. I'd advise him to listen to the people with the most attachment to the site, who have contributed the most, who have a real stake in this place. The people who care about the forum, who were upset by losing it, who've been here a while and post a lot -- that's the community. They are the people to listen to. They make the forum.

JMHO.

That's no humble opinion. It's a very good opinion

[TSherbs]

If the place is not important to you ("its just an internet chat forum"; "shrug"), and you don't like the people here ("gossip mongers"), and you don't want the future of the forum discussed ("none of our business"), why are you here on this thread? Why do you get to tell committed members what they can discuss? Why criticize and demean people who are expressing their feelings about a place that is important to them?

If this attitude is going to be the tenor of the new FPG forum, I predict people will not be happy here. So there's no need to worry about "how to structure the site," because it will be just a few disinterested folks showing up every once in a while.

Eric has asked for ideas -- on the website -- and he seems to be reading people's posts. He isn't telling people to shut up. My advice, if he reads this, would be the opposite of yours. I'd advise him to listen to the people with the most attachment to the site, who have contributed the most, who have a real stake in this place. The people who care about the forum, who were upset by losing it, who've been here a while and post a lot -- that's the community. They are the people to listen to. They make the forum.

JMHO.

I guess I have as much right as the folks who have been swearing and calling Eric names. One poster even went so far as to try to publicly "shame" people (an effort doomed to failure, because it only shows the misplaced anger of the poster).

You are all entitled to your feelings and opinions. I am simply disagreeing with them (I assume there is no requirement of conformity here). This thread had a good bit of anger and scuttlebutt before I posted.

I am NOT trying to tell anyone what they "can" or "cannot" write. That would be a foolish endeavor.

[Scrawler]

As a group we haven't lost our humor.

If that were to happen, in my case anyway, it would mean I have passed on into the inky void.