Ok so for you guys and gals that have been floating around CHR for a few years now, I have a question for you.

I don't know if it's the fact that I recently realized I've been a part of this lil 'ol club now for about 4 years and am still kind of in the dark regarding this particular incident, or if it has to do with the realization that the logo is going to change, which in a way marks the passing of the "old" to the "new" that sparks my curiousity with regard to this topic yet again; but, something is triggering it, and I feel the urge to find out.

I guess the best way to describe what I'm talking about here, is it's a lot like walking into a room where everybody in there knows something you don't and they seem to avoid the topic all together because they all know avoiding it is the "right thing" to do. Since you don't know the width, depth or breadth of the issue, you just try to trust your instincts that it's probably not the greatest idea to bring it up and so you don't.....for a while. Eventually though, you find yourself needing to know.

Anyway, before I ask my question, I want you to know that I am in no way trying to "stir the pot" or open an old wound. In fact, out of concern of doing exactly both or either of those, I have avoided asking about this for the past couple years, thinking that either my curiousity would simply wane or the answers would come out without me asking for them and, in turn, avoid possibly upsetting someone. Neither of those have occurred though and now, there's also a technical reason I feel like I need to ask.

I guess all I can say is, if I do upset somebody by bringing this up, then I apologize and it's my ignorance with regards to the situation that forces me to ask this rather than maliciousness or spite towards anyone.

It is my hope that enough time has passed since then that there can be a bit of reflection (without negative emotion) and a candid discussion can take place regarding what happened so that others (myself included) can learn from it.

To back up for a moment so that I don't confuse everybody, as to what I'm talking about, I'll start here:

As I have said before, I go through periods of "being away".....Now, that's not "code" for some binge addiction, a multiple personality disorder, or some glamourous secret agent government job that funds my projects, just a fact that my other hobbies and responsibilities sometimes get priority over this one. As such, sometimes I will go 3-4 months without visiting the site and then bounce back through for a few weeks and then be gone for a while again.

Anyway, during one of my "absences" or "vacations" a couple years ago, something happened. I don't know what exactly; but, I do know that whatever it was, it must have been something fairly controversial. I say that because I have seen postings over the past couple of years (such as the Rat Rod controversies for example) that "hint" at something negative occurring prior to that, but, doesn't really answer it for me. I also know that there were obviously at least a couple people who were (and still are) banned or appear to have been banned then allowed back. I'm grateful for those that have made it back, as I have learned a lot reading their posts over the years. Unfortunately, all of their previous postings prior to the "incident(s)", for lack of a better term, were deleted. Among those deleted posts, was some very good technical info, that I wish I had a copy of. Unfortunately, I can no longer track it down, because it's all gone.

Also, during this period, another particular individual who, as I recall, had at the time posted close to 6,000 posts, and who is banned to this day, and his current post count shows 0, also posted some very relavent and good information among those now non-existant posts. More stuff that I'd like to be able to track down and read again; but, unfortunately, I can't.

It is my desire to have access to this missing information and the way some of the more technical things were explained in some of those threads back then. I realize that is impossible; but, that is what is driving all of this. That is what causes me to ask, exactly what the hell was it that really happened anyway?

Dutch

P.S. Don't be afraid to let me know if P.M.'ing is the better way to handle this. I would have gone that route; but, I'm just not sure who was impacted by what happened and I guess I feel it better to approach the group with this and leave it at that....