An Open Apology to R.A.P.

"Casey Wilson" wrote in message
news:s5xzh.614$hp4.248@trnddc02...
I sat in the shadows for a long time attempting to ignore the resident
troll, hoping against all odds that he would go away. When I could no
longer
restrain myself, I started feeding the troll against my better judgement.
It is apparent that I have done nothing constructive in that regard
and,
in my attempts, have probably offended a number of you whom I consider to
be
excellent aviators, if not going as far as alienating some of you as
well.
I earned my PP ASEL in 1975 and have never stopped learning. Along the
way, I have written more than a few aviation related articles published in
both regional and national magazines. I've made my bones and I've earned
my
airman's title and the right to comment on matters of aviation - when I
have
something to contribute or need your learned experience. It simply galls
me
that someone like Mxsmanic can violate our treasured status day in and day
out and continue to survive, even thrive.

I realized today that I have been recently scanning down through the
posts on R.A.P. not to learn something new, but instead to find out what
kind of spew the troll is serving up. I feel I owe the rest of my real
flying colleagues an apology. For that reason and that reason alone, I am
going to retire from the newsgroup. My biggest regret is that Msxmanic
will
undoubtedly, in his maniacal way, gloat over having won.

With apologies and regrets,

This is a sad attitude to take. I was beginning to think this whole anti
mxmanic is more about ego than anything else. The above post convinces me.
No one has to earn a right to comment on anything , especially on an
internet newsgroup. and as for "treasured status" that smacks of snobbery.
Is status really so important to you? is that why you fly? . Most people
that fly do so because they find it an incredibly rewarding experience. The
cost is such that most of us wouldnt be able to justify it if it wasnt. But
most of us ( I hope) realise that flying a light airplane is not that big a
deal if you are prepared to put in a lot of hardwork and money. Most
ordinary people could do it if they wished to ( at the risk of hurting your
ego I think most people dont care to ) . Maybe even mxmanic could, or
perhaps he is one of the minority who couldnt, it doesnt really matter.
What is abundantly clear is that mxmanic has an insatiable interest in
aviation, so why shouldnt he use this newsgroup? No one is obliged to answer
him. Nobody should accept blindly what he ( or you or me or anyone else )
says about flying. I dont know this guy at all but did you ever wonder
why somebody would spend most of their spare time on a computer simulating
flying or writing to this newsgroup?. What if you were to find he had a
debilitating illness, perhaps even a terminal one that prevented him leading
a normal life, or prevents him from actually flying a plane for real. .
Would you feel a bit different. a bit ashamed perhaps?

I like to lurk around the space groups and occaionally ask questions and
even dare to have the temerity to try to answer some of them. Should I
refrain from doing this because I am not an astronaut? or an astrophysicist?

terry
ppl downunder