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I think it's time I added my 2 cents worth, as Garth's post was addressed to me and I have been a topic of discussion in this thread. There are a lot of points to address and I will do so in a poster-by-poster manner.
First of all Garth, despite the fact that you and I have quarreled over the past, I do regard you as a decent person. I do think you and I both made mistakes along the way- I said some very immature things, and in looking back a few months ago I realize I came on way too strong at times. I do feel that you provoked me on occasion, which caused me to say some things I shouldn't have.
Unfortunately I cannot comment on what Donovan or Walter may have done with your name as I did not find any evidence of it occurring. The fact that I have no evidence of their actions does not rule out the possibility of it happening.
I would like to explain to some of my harsh critics exactly why I allied myself with Walter and Donovan. I sign up an account for umpire.org, am uninformed of some of the customs that take place there, and get lambasted for it. I sign up for this forum, get along a bit better, but am still called a "troll" and other unkind things by people who have nothing better to do with their lives than put down others. I start saying stupid things, partly to get a few people going, and partly as an act of defiance against those who have upset me. Pile-ons ensue, due in part to the fact that I said some immature things.
Then a guy called fitump56 joins the board. He makes over 10 posts a day just like I did when I first started out at umpire.org. He and I share a chuckle over the PM system over how many posts he makes. Eventually he takes a stand for me when I get piled on. Naturally, I return the favour and stick up for him when people call him an "idiot" and a "troll".
Now tell me, would most of you not be tempted to take fitump's side if he stuck up for you when you were being attacked? Is it really that surprising that I would side with fitump and InterestedUmp? NEVER have they called me a troll or made other personal remarks. Or should I just side with the good guys? The guys like Ozzy who call me an idiot, a WOBW, among other nasty things. Who would you guys side with if faced with my situation? Think about it and tell me if you can blame me for taking their side.
While I am not impressed with how Walter and Donovan reacted towards Mr. Drake in the past couple of days, I do still do have quite a bit of sympathy for them. They get called nasty things, and get accused of bringing this forum downhill, just as I do.
I am afraid I simply do not know what they are being accused of doing on the high school forum. It sure seems a bit much to tarnish Garth's name, but I do not think he is totally innocent in this case either.
Now for the people that cite me as a reason for this forum going downhill, in particular socalblue. I think the claim that I am a troll who has ruined this place is complete and utter BS. I have rarely made more than 2 post in the past few days. I NEVER impersonated anyone. I simply stood by the guys who treated me decently. To be considered a "problem account" for doing next to nothing is OUTRAGEOUS. Isn't it ironic that socalblue, the same man who has made snide remarks at me in the past, is now blaming me for the downfall of this forum.
Ump29, I take offence to what you said about me being a "black spot" against umpiring in Canada. I haven't done anything to deserve that kind of a remark. What a disgusting thing to say about a fellow blue brother.
I think that what has transpired here over the past few days is a good lesson to the veterans of this forum that their words do have consequences just like anybody else's. Nonetheless, I do not condone malicious or dishonest behaviour in any form, and do not support online slander from either party. Garth, I am sorry to hear that things went as far as they did, and thank you for thinking of my best interests in your final post.
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