<b>Serge</b>, Penmaking is fun! Pen wrecking is frustrating. I do both from time to time! Sometimes I continue after I make a good pen and then I wreck it! See? Fun and sometimes frustrating!
And <b>Mark</b>, you are just 200 per cent plus correct! The "EGO" is the only serious problem that has reared it's too ugly head here! And too often![V] I feel very fortunate that I've never suffered from that little problem, however
] Well, there is "some" BS that you mentioned about moanin', whinin', bickerin', and cryin' that goes on around here that does probably turn away some newbies before they get a chance to learn from some of you older hands. I guess I fell in at a good time after the last personality clashes.. But I've seen some of your work too and it's not anything to be ashamed of either.
My "stuff" is simply so-so just good enough to give away to folks who appreciate it. I do like to look at all you guys' pen pictures and I have been inspired by some of them. (<b>William</b> can attest to that, though he probably will not admit to knowing me now!)
I simply don't feel I have any picture worthy pens or photo techniques to contribute that might help any one else. We seem to measure someone's expertise by how many stars one has beneath their name or how many pen pictures they post! I feel this might intimidate new members who are as yet unsure of themselves or their abilities or perhaps they're just shy!<b> But!</b> What happens when a new member jumps in with all kinds of enthusiam and maybe some new ideas and sees somebody with hundreds or even thousands of posts to his/her credit? Do you think they'll venture forth with a "new" view or question a methodology in the face of such MAGNIFICENT knowledge and authority? Why do people "lurk" so long before they realize most of us really are truly members of a "Hot Air Club?" Some of us just don't have quite so many stars to our credit! Do we really have a membership numbering more than a thousand? I doubt it!
What has brought that many people here long enough to register and then to have never even posted once? Why did we have so much trouble raising that little money for a new server? Active members truly supported the effort and well! Most of those people people stayed only long enough to see just a few individuals do most of the pen work and talk about it! That's OK! So what?! I think more of those people would have stayed active members if others didn't demand pictures or make them feel unworthy because they didn't "post" anything - words or pictures! Showing pictures of your pens and offering ideas should be appreciated, <u>not demanded</u>..... I agree, these demands are not openly stated as requirements for membership, as far as I know; but the comments in the "Welcome" forum leave little doubt as to their requisite nature. I know, also, that most members would never think to make a bald faced demand for these; but the intimidation factor for newbies has got to turn away a lot of new members who've got to contribute so much in the future!
<b>(OK, now Mark wishes he'd never written anything to this thread, too!) </b>
Sorry! I really don't have much of an "ego" problem even if I sound like it. OK, Type "A++ Personality!"
End Rant, Round #2![
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