With all due respect, Ken ...

[DonMike]

And I know of a lot of webmasters who are on here just to try to improve their biz and keep their mouth shut because they don't want to get drawn into taking "sides" in so much drama. And that I think, is the bottom line for why people lose interest: not enuf business "talk" too much "drama talk" in which it seems you are almost forced to take sides on.

I'm sorry Mansized, I have to disagree with you there. I don't think you ever have to take sides. I like Lee and I have been very active on this board since the early days (hell, I even remember this board before it became blue). Having said that, I have disagreed at one time or another with almost everyone here. And I have stepped in and made myself referee when fights have gotten out of hand. You'll have drama on every board. And, truth be told, a little drama adds spice to a boring day. I mean, who here hasn't sat there with your afternoon coffee after lunch and read through some flame war or argument just because you didn't want to go back to submitting galleries or writing that blog entry? And sometimes you jump in just for fun, or because you get fired up by something. The trick here is to see it for what it is and not let it affect you. Enjoy it as a bit of drama fluff fun and then get back to work. But there's no reason to discount the usefulness of a board because there's drama on it. That's like saying you're never going to a gay bar again because someone got too drunk and became obnoxious. Or you're never watching a TV show you love because they had a bad episode (although I'm seriously considering leaving Battlestar Galactica because *************, but that's a whole other story).

And this isn't just for Mansized, it goes for everyone. If you don't want drama, don't read the threads that have it and certainly don't partake in it. There are some threads I won't touch with a ten foot pole. And there are some subjects where I will keep my opinions to a few close friends and that's it. Following those two simple rules I have an enjoyable time on this and several other boards.