Quickly before I get to the topic at hand let me say I owe people emails, PMs, and thank yous, especially Chuck J. Since April work has become hectic with a flight test in less than a month, meaning full days with little time for internet access. Evenings and weekends have been completely consumed with baseball as Thomas is playing on two teams, park ball and travel ball. Travel ball practice is 45 minutes away two to three times a week and tournaments are all weekend affairs almost two hours away. Loving every minute of it but I’m seldom at home or near a computer. Onto the important matter at hand.
I believe I know Steve well enough to realize that his stepping down as Moderator is more than that. He is, at least for now, stepping completely away from the site. I wish it were another way but know Steve well enough that the site at this point neither holds his attention nor provides adequate satisfaction to keep participating. Burnout plain and simple and with the constant cry of “he’s mistreating me” and “I prefer peace, harmony, and pictures without having my statements challenged” I see why he has chose to move on. Anyone that has followed the site knows that intellectual debate is a primary reason for his interest. Shackle that and lose the drive.
When the “Sutton?” thread started and matt loughlin and Bob Ziegler made their comments my initial inclination was to ban them. After all they were warned before for publically displaying a lack of respect for the moderator and did not heed my warning. Before long the comments of opposition rolled in and I felt the forum was doing a nice job of policing itself and maybe they would begin to change their attitude. I should have seen it coming that the controversy would push Steve away but didn’t. Regrettably I miscalculated that one.
I’m only reiterating what has already been said but it is true that not only has Steve been the defining personality of the site but he has given more of himself than anyone. The neophytes that recently questioned his intentions and purpose are so far off base as to their comments that I find myself appalled at the complete lack of respect shown to someone that has put in countless hours helping others. Fools.
Perhaps the characteristic I prize the most from friends it is loyalty. If ever there was a friend of myself and duckboats.net it was Steve. He loyally served this community for a decade giving assistance to anyone that needed it. He literally made hundreds of trips to the post office to voluntarily send a stranger something of assistance or interest. He hosted and coordinated numerous trips for site participants. He offered his home and gear to countless folks and was a superb host on every occasion. He took his job as moderator serious and executed it with integrity. He taught us, challenged us, and made us laugh. I could keep going. It’s a shame that people took offense to his intellectual debate and wit. Steve was about getting to the truth and heart of a matter but it was too much for some to take.
Steve, you have my sincerest appreciation for all that you did and know that you have influenced many waterfowlers over the past decade and will always be an integral part and friend of this community.
I will be in touch.
Eric Patterson
I believe I know Steve well enough to realize that his stepping down as Moderator is more than that. He is, at least for now, stepping completely away from the site. I wish it were another way but know Steve well enough that the site at this point neither holds his attention nor provides adequate satisfaction to keep participating. Burnout plain and simple and with the constant cry of “he’s mistreating me” and “I prefer peace, harmony, and pictures without having my statements challenged” I see why he has chose to move on. Anyone that has followed the site knows that intellectual debate is a primary reason for his interest. Shackle that and lose the drive.
When the “Sutton?” thread started and matt loughlin and Bob Ziegler made their comments my initial inclination was to ban them. After all they were warned before for publically displaying a lack of respect for the moderator and did not heed my warning. Before long the comments of opposition rolled in and I felt the forum was doing a nice job of policing itself and maybe they would begin to change their attitude. I should have seen it coming that the controversy would push Steve away but didn’t. Regrettably I miscalculated that one.
I’m only reiterating what has already been said but it is true that not only has Steve been the defining personality of the site but he has given more of himself than anyone. The neophytes that recently questioned his intentions and purpose are so far off base as to their comments that I find myself appalled at the complete lack of respect shown to someone that has put in countless hours helping others. Fools.
Perhaps the characteristic I prize the most from friends it is loyalty. If ever there was a friend of myself and duckboats.net it was Steve. He loyally served this community for a decade giving assistance to anyone that needed it. He literally made hundreds of trips to the post office to voluntarily send a stranger something of assistance or interest. He hosted and coordinated numerous trips for site participants. He offered his home and gear to countless folks and was a superb host on every occasion. He took his job as moderator serious and executed it with integrity. He taught us, challenged us, and made us laugh. I could keep going. It’s a shame that people took offense to his intellectual debate and wit. Steve was about getting to the truth and heart of a matter but it was too much for some to take.
Steve, you have my sincerest appreciation for all that you did and know that you have influenced many waterfowlers over the past decade and will always be an integral part and friend of this community.
I will be in touch.
Eric Patterson
