I'm late. I knew we needed this, but I sat on my hands. I sat on my hands because of a disagreement I have had with someone on here, that has festered, and caused some stress and division. But this forum is bigger than me and my problems. It is bigger than any one of us and our problems.
As a mod, I get looped into feedback from members re: issues that are important to them, their perceptions of what is going on, the battles that are happening, the personality differences, etc... As a mod I pay attention to these, or try to, because you could imagine that they are lights on a dashboard, or sounds from the wheels or muffler, and the forum is a car. The tiniest sound can be the biggest problem, you may never even see a dashboard light before the problem is catastrophic, or a loud ass noise could be nothing, or just a small problem.
Whoever you are, however long you have been a member here: You are welcome here. Everyone that logs on here deserves to be treated with respect, old and new alike. We are the caretakers of some very important paintball history, knowledge, and an important community. I don't know a lot about 'paintball pants' because I studied them at University, nor did I make any achievement in learning about them alone. MCB ALLOWED me to learn and grow a company, through help, comments, purchases, a place to exist, and a lifestyle brand idea. EVEN THE NAME DBD came from a member. Not that DBD is anything important, I am using it as an example. The Sheridan experts here? They didn't learn in a vacuum. We are all part of this wealth of knowledge like a massive organism. Every one of us is a part of the success of the others, in some way. THIS Community has given me more than I could ever give it. AND I have GIVEN A LOT. The material Items I have just given away? That shit PALES in comparison to what I have gained here, in friends, experiences, relationships, a chance to share, and to be accepted.
MCB has been behind the creation of an insane number of products, science, measurements, charts, manuals, videos, cartoons, and small groups pf people throughout several countries. We stepped up when Moose battled Cancer, what seems like a hundred years ago, and raised a ton of money and goods for him. That was just the beginning. I have seen members give the literal shirts off their backs to people they only know through the series of tubes, known as the internet, because we are a family. Members have recently come together and done everything they can to help lift Jebus financially, as he and his wife are in the battle of their lives, as she battles a vicious disease. Pause for a moment and take some perspective there. Members from wherever, from whatever clique, group, political stripe, whatever, got together and did this because of love. Today when you look at the problems that are causing you to stress on this forum, or maybe elsewhere, take perspective from the battle they are facing, and hopefully you are not. We lost a longtime member SPlattt. No one plays as long as he did, without some paintball community strife. That shit got thrown out the window when he needed the community. He will never admit it, but there was a GO FUND ME for Splattt's final expenses of $15,000.00, and I believe firmly with all of my heart, that one of the mod staff donated that entire amount anonymously. What beef? Life is short. I personally have spent many nights on the phone with several members who (like me) battle severe depression, and were suicidal. I am honoured to have been able to help them when they needed help. I am so glad this community connected us so that someone could be there for them.
I understand things are less than perfect. I've been around the sun a few times, and this is the worst of times I have seen. My mental health right now is glued together by stimulants, benzodiazepines, depressants, and physical exercise. Recently I was of the belief I was about to be hospitalized. My old father, who was raised to not express emotions, overcome with worry for me came to my house, and when I pulled in but stayed in the van, he came running out and opened the trunk, believing I was gassing myself. I wasn't. But I was staring at the garden hose coiled in front of me, crying, and thinking about it. It is a terrible year. Just brutal.
What I want to ask from all of you, and what I pledge for all of you, is that I will do my level best to spread positivity, mediate any problems as they arise, and to love this place and help rebuild it. I ask that if ANYONE has any grievances, PLEASE DON'T SIT ON THEM. Let me know. Let me bring them forward as your agent, and see what can be done to mitigate any damage. I ASK THAT you all be KIND to strangers. Showing up on this forum, there are literally Paintball legends here, and plank owners of paintball from various spots across the world. It can be overwhelming. It can be intimidating. BE KIND. BE GRACIOUS HOSTS. This forum is no more 'mine' that it is yours, or the the guy who just created an account: it is by and for the members, without whom I would have no one to moderate, or to help me and the forum grow and share.
Please count to ten. Its that kind of year. If you need to, count to ten, then post. Reach out to us. We are all here to help. We want the same thing. Help us move forward with youthful exuberance and positivity. We've lost enough green members lately, I will not lose one more on my watch.
Rob
As a mod, I get looped into feedback from members re: issues that are important to them, their perceptions of what is going on, the battles that are happening, the personality differences, etc... As a mod I pay attention to these, or try to, because you could imagine that they are lights on a dashboard, or sounds from the wheels or muffler, and the forum is a car. The tiniest sound can be the biggest problem, you may never even see a dashboard light before the problem is catastrophic, or a loud ass noise could be nothing, or just a small problem.
Whoever you are, however long you have been a member here: You are welcome here. Everyone that logs on here deserves to be treated with respect, old and new alike. We are the caretakers of some very important paintball history, knowledge, and an important community. I don't know a lot about 'paintball pants' because I studied them at University, nor did I make any achievement in learning about them alone. MCB ALLOWED me to learn and grow a company, through help, comments, purchases, a place to exist, and a lifestyle brand idea. EVEN THE NAME DBD came from a member. Not that DBD is anything important, I am using it as an example. The Sheridan experts here? They didn't learn in a vacuum. We are all part of this wealth of knowledge like a massive organism. Every one of us is a part of the success of the others, in some way. THIS Community has given me more than I could ever give it. AND I have GIVEN A LOT. The material Items I have just given away? That shit PALES in comparison to what I have gained here, in friends, experiences, relationships, a chance to share, and to be accepted.
MCB has been behind the creation of an insane number of products, science, measurements, charts, manuals, videos, cartoons, and small groups pf people throughout several countries. We stepped up when Moose battled Cancer, what seems like a hundred years ago, and raised a ton of money and goods for him. That was just the beginning. I have seen members give the literal shirts off their backs to people they only know through the series of tubes, known as the internet, because we are a family. Members have recently come together and done everything they can to help lift Jebus financially, as he and his wife are in the battle of their lives, as she battles a vicious disease. Pause for a moment and take some perspective there. Members from wherever, from whatever clique, group, political stripe, whatever, got together and did this because of love. Today when you look at the problems that are causing you to stress on this forum, or maybe elsewhere, take perspective from the battle they are facing, and hopefully you are not. We lost a longtime member SPlattt. No one plays as long as he did, without some paintball community strife. That shit got thrown out the window when he needed the community. He will never admit it, but there was a GO FUND ME for Splattt's final expenses of $15,000.00, and I believe firmly with all of my heart, that one of the mod staff donated that entire amount anonymously. What beef? Life is short. I personally have spent many nights on the phone with several members who (like me) battle severe depression, and were suicidal. I am honoured to have been able to help them when they needed help. I am so glad this community connected us so that someone could be there for them.
I understand things are less than perfect. I've been around the sun a few times, and this is the worst of times I have seen. My mental health right now is glued together by stimulants, benzodiazepines, depressants, and physical exercise. Recently I was of the belief I was about to be hospitalized. My old father, who was raised to not express emotions, overcome with worry for me came to my house, and when I pulled in but stayed in the van, he came running out and opened the trunk, believing I was gassing myself. I wasn't. But I was staring at the garden hose coiled in front of me, crying, and thinking about it. It is a terrible year. Just brutal.
What I want to ask from all of you, and what I pledge for all of you, is that I will do my level best to spread positivity, mediate any problems as they arise, and to love this place and help rebuild it. I ask that if ANYONE has any grievances, PLEASE DON'T SIT ON THEM. Let me know. Let me bring them forward as your agent, and see what can be done to mitigate any damage. I ASK THAT you all be KIND to strangers. Showing up on this forum, there are literally Paintball legends here, and plank owners of paintball from various spots across the world. It can be overwhelming. It can be intimidating. BE KIND. BE GRACIOUS HOSTS. This forum is no more 'mine' that it is yours, or the the guy who just created an account: it is by and for the members, without whom I would have no one to moderate, or to help me and the forum grow and share.
Please count to ten. Its that kind of year. If you need to, count to ten, then post. Reach out to us. We are all here to help. We want the same thing. Help us move forward with youthful exuberance and positivity. We've lost enough green members lately, I will not lose one more on my watch.
Rob
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