i have no idea? might you be assuming just a little too much here? you don't even know me or my past. you think you are the only proud vet on this forum who has sacrificed untold years of service for what you believe in? again, i only say this with a smile on my face. i'm not trying to be malicious in anyway. however, i think i just need to turn off my computer for another few weeks, then return with a related photography question. i truly wish you well, and thank you for your service. i'm getting too old for this internet stuff too. just glad i can laugh it off and move on. good luck.

Very interesting, you join us on April 2 and on April 4 you post that you enjoy the “ego boost” from the members here at UHH then again on April 4 you post that UHH is a friendly group and you are enjoying it and that you like the positive feedback. Today UHH is nothing more than a bunch of cyber bullies. I looked through your posts and I couldn’t find one instance where anyone had a negative comment toward you let alone anything that even came close to resembling bullying. So I read your blog and you tell us we should “man up” when faced with cyber bullies but you choose to cut and run. I must confess I’m a bit confused but of course will respect your decision. I wish you well and do hope you find whatever it is you’re searching for.

if you are set on leaving, then please don't pull the bully card. give us the respect you say we deserve. you are leaving because you are old and tired of cyberspace. i totally understand this. if you look at how frequently i post, you'll see that i visit this site only occasionally myself. i was encouraged when i saw a new member giving clear useful information, and now you are pulling the plug because someone allegedly bullied you. if i thought saying i wanted you to stay had any impact on your decision, i would do it. so i tried a different approach and immediately got labeled as a backhanded bully---funny really. unfortunately, i won't be leaving so these folks will just need to learn how to avoid my posts. you lost everything, huh? well, join the club. i think it's a crime on vets, but that's another thread.

But you see, this is what you find in all walks of life, all professions, everywhere. One can not escape it. It seems that many people must become bigger and better at others' expense. Whether it is racism, bullying, and so on.

If the environment poisons you, then you need to remove yourself from it. But most of our 'environments' are poisonous to some extent or another. I remove myself from caustic relationships and have divorced my self from bad girlfriend relationships, as well as a caustic marriage. I found this forum to be disheartening at times. Not in terms of people attacking me, but how they attacked others. I have trouble with that and often came to their defense. But I ignore it most of the time now, unless they are being particularly mean to someone.

I just want the good, search out the good and brush aside the negative. I do this because I keep learning so much.

I do understand how you feel, and as I said before, I felt that way too, in the beginning, but had a change of attitude and am glad I stayed around! I wish you the very best!!!

Dennstedt....I read your blog. We need somebody like you to stick around and let somebody know when they're being rude or a bully. Keep 'em in check. The main photo forum is not for any heavy critique. It's for people to post their photos. If they want critique they ask for it. In the section about Introducing Yourself a brand new poster downloaded a nice photo. Wouldn't you know somebody would have to do a critique!! So, don't leave. This place is full of all kinds of people....including a lot of good ones.