Cal,
What you write makes perfect sense to me. Let me give you a bit of background info since you're so generous and brave with yours. My close friend decided to sell some mint Olympus film equipment and a couple of mint lenses. He also had a mint, hardly used F3HP!! I told him I would sell it for him here on RFF. So I start taking pics of his gear, I start composing ads, etc. I love doing this, it's fun to do. I know his equipment truly is mint and functional and anyone lucky enough to buy it will be very happy.
But then I realize, that since I haven't really posted here, let alone place an ad, I'm so rusty that I had no idea how to go about placing an ad. So I reach out to the lovely Helen Hill. We are not close friends, we have chatted back and forth here on RFF. I remember feeling terrible when I learned her partner passed away. So I message her and I explain my situation, Without hesitation, she jumps in to help!!
I then place the ads and sit back to see what happens. Peter Yeh is the first (and only) member to show any interest. He's interested in the Olympus gear. Long story short, he buys it, and has me ship the gear to his daughter in San Diego. As I interact with Peter I start to realize what a kind, gentle soul he is, Peter tells me that if and when he comes to the states, he'd love to finally meet me and I agree.
Then Peter tells me that A NYC Meetup would be a great way to not only meet him, but Calzone and some of the other members of RRF as well. I tell him that I would feel totally out of my depth, this guy Calzone shoots Leicas, I have never shot with or have owned a Leica and besides Peter, i'm not so sure about that guy. I see his lengthy posts all the time, i'm not sure who he's trying to impress!! Peter assures me that he's not like that at all and you would really enjoy his company. At this point in our growing friendship, I trust Peter's instincts enough to agree to attend a Meetup. When Peter recently informed my that the NYC Meetup was finally going to happen, I was upset that due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to attend!
So with tail between my legs, I emailed Peter back and said I was unable to attend. But then I start reading your posts and I do so with a brand new perspective. I start to realize that Peter was absolutely right. Not only aren't you a jerk, you play a really important roll here on RFF. You're an open book, you're not afraid to to bare your soul and there's no telling how many RFF members you help by being that person you are.
Thank you Cal, please keep doing what you do, I'll be sure to keep reading your posts!
Paul