Gerry1 to his friends:

Hello everyone! I was saddened to see the goings-on during my brief absence: two popular threads closed and replaced with "Enjoy yourself ... Or Else" which was also closed in record time and which seemed to disappear in a heartbeat. Far worse, however, we seem to have lost yet more good members.

I joined AD in August of 2003; not once in all that time have I been banned. I do apologize for the anger and the language which got me banned but I cannot apologize for the sentiment from which such words issued; I will never apologize for standing up for a friend and for wrongs which may have been done against him/her.

Since joining in 8/03, there have been two dramatic changes at AD as the site applies to me. I use to spend a great deal of time in the "receivers and amplifiers" forum. Gear79, myself, JVC, and two or three others couldn't keep up with the questions. It's now slowed to a trickle. The number of Home Theater enthusiasts has grown exponentially over the last three years or so and so too has the number of sites catering to this interest which is where would-be members are going. AD doesn't have a home theater forum but rather several forums dealing with the separate components which make up the whole so people are going to more comprehensive sites.

Secondly, and unfortunately, Afterdawn is not the site it once was; the growing discontent over the last one or two years has led to a migration of "old timers" and even a thread once addressing that migration. For a couple of years after joining, most of us helped out in the forums then went to socialize in the safety valve which was quite the fun little community at one time. A large number of people posted there and things were often so funny you'd damn near pee yourself laughing. Sure, there was the occasional flaming and arguments in the SV, but one sees a hell of a lot more of it and now with far fewer members posting. Ireland had a thread asking "where have all the old timers gone" ...unfortunately, the list is lengthy. I believe it was Auslander who said that people change and just move on but I couldn't disagree more... especially as it deals with afterdawn; people are here because they want to be, not because they must. It is simple human nature to cling tenaciously to one's "comfort zone". People didn't change and move on; short of some personal epiphany, it is always the circumstances which change, not the person ... its AD which has changed, not the "old timers" who've moved on. I really hope that AD returns to being the awesome site it once was but that won't be possible until the powers that be pull their heads from the sand and acknowledge that there's a problem in the first place. AD certainly has a lot a lot of potential but it will never be the place it once was if the problems leading to its current state aren't acknowledged in the first place. I really hope this can happen.

I want to thank the many people who emailed and PM'd me with their kind words and their support! I promise I'll write back soon. I'm in the middle of moving to another place so things are pretty hectic. God bless you all! ...Gerry

 

it's good to see you, gerry. i had feared you wouldn't return.

 

Thank You, Brandon. I'm stopping by; that all that can be said for the moment. Things are going to be crazy for me for the next week which will give me time to mull over things. Most of those with whom I've had such a good time are gone ... the "old timers", certainly, but of the newer "old times" (something of a contradiction there), most of them have gone just in the last week. There just plain isn't much to keep me here anymore and I have no doubt that creaky and Dela are keeping their fingers crossed that I do just that .. go away. I know where some of those "old timers" are although I can't mention it here. I wish they were all in the same place. Still, I know where some of them are where they've managed to establish themselves and enjoy themselves. I'll make the rounds and see what they're up to. If I do leave, I'll PM what few friends remain here. Well, most go... still more moving to do and won't be online for at least a few days. I hope you're well Wolfboy...Gerry

 

i know that dan and jan weren't exactly in your crowd, but there are places that many of those who have left still unite. we could maybe host some kind of reunion....

 

Might be fun but we'll see. Jan did send me the nicest pm some time ago. See you in a few days..Gerry

 

Gerry1, I am glad to see you have returned. I was saddened when I saw you got in trouble, but was glad it was not permanent.

I agree with you on the growing discontent but I would think, just like anything else, it too will come to pass and aD will have some (and hopefully all) of its former glory back.

Again I am just dropping by to say welcome back gerry1. I hope you stick around.

Peace

 

Howdy there, Pop_Smith! How are you? I was sorry to read what happened at your last job. I hope you're going to stick to your real estate pursuits; its hard to get off the ground in that profession and, as someone mentioned before, your age will get in the way for a while but, at the same time, getting started so young will put you head and shoulders above the rest learning as you go at such a young age. Thanks for the nice words; I was just really pissed off at what they did to Ireland and they were really pissed off that I kept supporting him. I hope you're well! ... Gerry

 

okay, seriously, why the hell was he banned?

 

on second thought, screw it. i'm throwing in the towel til' i'm not "acting so irrationally," as i bet someone puts it.