It has been triggered by the fact that I've now had enough of these counting topics. I have tolerated it for as long as I could, but it appears that even when I offer an olive branch, and create a new thread where things can start again, some people seem insistent on not listening. I gave you a chance to start again, and you just ignored me.
I don't even know why I am typing this - a topic where people count in sequence? This must be the only forum where such a stupid thing can exist.
This is part of a slightly larger problem - the problem of me having my authority questioned. I have had one person message me in an apoplectic rage, because I added the word "the" to the swear filter so it appeared as "ze" (for a joke). His signature was altered as a result, and he thought I had changed it to annoy him specifically. The word "the". I mean, come on ...
Another person (it may even be the same person) messaged Moley to complain to him about it too. I don't really care who it was, but you could have messaged me first to discuss it. I would have welcomed that. One thing I do not appreciate is people trying to play Moley and me off against each other. Next time, be a man (or a woman) and come to me if you have a problem with something I have done.
I have had said fellow admin tell ME to behave, in public, or he will take the forum offline (for those of you who don't know, Moley holds the database on his own servers).
I have had my requests for threads to follow certain guidelines ignored time and again. I have had people tell me to "lighten up" and "stop being a grumpy old man". Well guess what - no.
This is my way of reminding you all, nicely, that I am in charge around here. I am not a dictator - I am very diplomatic when it comes to this place, and I rarely get ranty in public. But just recently things have been building to a head, and I have had enough. You will notice that I am not taking an aggressive tone in this post.
If anyone wishes to flounce off in a huff over any of the above, then please do, but remember one thing.
This is MY forum. I thought of the idea for this website and the forum, I purchased the web space for it, I pay for the domain and the hosting of it every year, and I have never ONCE asked anyone else to contribute. Yes, Moley holds the database on his own servers but that is only because when I first started, I didn't have the ability (or the knowledge/facility) to do so. I am grateful that he has hosted the database for the last eight years.
I can pull the plug any time I like, but I have no intention of doing so because I LIKE this forum. I'm sure you all like it too. But please bear in mind that I am not just some "grumpy", power-crazed, middle-aged fool who likes to tell you all what to do. I'm just trying to stop the place degenerating into the mess that the majority of web forums have descended into. That's all I ask.
I am a nice person in real life. Just ask my long-suffering wife ...
Now bloody well start behaving, or I'll go and cry into my Horlicks.
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)