Here's my loose change, FWIW.
When this pool discussion forum first began to gain in popularity as a networking place for pool peeps, I was invited to post here by Smorgie. Keith McCready, my other half, received a very kind invitation to have his own sub-forum in the Ask the Pro section. Both of us were traveling the tournament trail, attending two, three, and four tournaments every single month. Keith was also asked to be a contributing writer for InsidePOOL magazine. Pool was very much a part of our everyday life.
I dove into AzBilliards full force, posting numerous photos I took at tournaments. I also provided daily updates and trip reports, which were quite popular at one time. We were the good guys in pool. Everywhere we went, people were friendly, nice, and warm. We had a blast here on AzBilliards and a blast at the pool events. It was fun.
Then came an army of attackers. Some condemned Keith's InsidePOOL articles, stating Keith didn't write them, that they were a sham. Keith was proud of his articles. I was Keith's editor, of course. We were a team. The words written on this forum were so hurtful that we quit writing for InsidePOOL. I realize today that I should have considered the source, but that's water under the bridge now. What was once joyful for Keith and myself was ridiculed and criticized to the point where we didn't want to do it anymore.
As well, though Keith was honored to have his own place in the Ask the Pro sub-forum on AzBilliards, there were some hurtful words written about him here, and though it truly didn't bother Keith, as he knows who he is, it bothered me immensely.
In the early days of AzBilliards, when this forum was being built up, I felt like I helped paint the walls and contribute to the construction of it with my contributions. I had fun doing it, too. Even today, when I am asked for a name on a photo a tournament happening I wrote about, I come here to search. It's like my own personal pool archives. :wink:
Most who know me are well aware that I get paid to put people's words into print; in fact, I'm certified to do just that. Keith would speak what he wanted to post on AzBilliards, and I would type verbatim his spoken words. Then we were both accused of either me pretending to be Keith or Keith was too dumb and stupid to know how to post on the Internet. This, too, was hurtful. In fact, there were times I even took photo of Keith holding the date to show that it was him actually posting, with me typing his words. I never once posted under Keith's forum name without Keith standing right next to me. Never!
Those who dislike me and my forum persona soon started going after Keith, writing mean-spirited and hurtful words about him, all in an effort to hurt or anger me. In fact, there was one incident in which I felt the person attacking us was mentally or emotionally unbalanced, and I most definitely feared for our safety and our lives.
Now we come to those who say have a thicker skin or quit your whining about this forum. Well, until you're on the receiving end, fearing for your physical well-being, you'll never know what it's like to be on my receiving end.
As well, to witness someone I love very much not post here anymore, who actually enjoys interacting with fellow pool peeps, it is a bummer for him, much more so than for me. Anybody who has ever met Keith in person knows he is a people kind of guy. He enjoys talking to everybody about pool -- a youngster, a league player, a social shooter, a pro player, and railbirds. Keith still reads AzBilliards every day, yet he can't post anymore because of all of the above. It ain't worth it.
AzBilliards will always have a special place in my heart. Some of my finest writings are on this forum, and they can't take that away from me.
