Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOT
I don't have a ton to say besides who cares what people on the interwebz say about anything? And why do people feel the need to announce they are leaving/taking a break?
|
Wall of text incoming:
When CC made his thread back in May or June I think it was, and announced his 6 month challenge, it presented a good opportunity for me as well. I was going through a very difficult time (and many of the members here were incredibly supportive and kind) and I figured it would be easier to do it then and with someone I respected, CC.... who I respect immensely. I have met the man face to face, and he is a genuine guy. Whether CC thinks the same of me? Who knows, it is not like we are close friends or anything, but I respect him. He is the real deal. It is like quitting smoking, it is easier to do with someone else.
I have also made a few good friends on this site, that I respect immensely. Some very professional people that I have a ton of admiration for. People I could only dream of being as successful and likeable as. But there was some private messages that were sent, and some things that were said by a few members, that were pretty cruel, and very out of line. I just needed a break. But simply walking away from this site was a little more complex for me than some other users.
In my 5 or so years here, I have unofficially become kinda the car 'go to guy', and I get a lot of messages, from people inquiring about general questions, and some about doing real business. That was never my intent when I joined, I joined as a Flames fan first and foremost, and never expected any more to come of it. However, as it turned out, we have helped a lot of CP members simply via word of mouth, and I did not want to:
1) leave any prospective customer in the cold.
2) Leave any existing customer in the cold.
3) Leave someones request for advice unanswered.
I give unbiased advice, and never push anything on anyone that inquires. These are the rules I imposed on myself. Don't be a fanboy of my brand. Only sell something to someone if I am approached, if someone expresses an explicit need that I have the exact solution for, just send them a soft reminder. And if I know I can help someones credit situation, (as that is my specialty), try and help so they don't get gouged by some lending shark. I couldn't just leave all that on the table.
I actually had encouraged one of my staff set up an account so he could kind take over and be the 'car advice guy'. I first considered giving him my account, but I was still getting messages from people both personal and business related so I couldn't simply hand over the keys to my login, plus it would be against the forum rules. So it was difficult, when those messages came in, to not kinda browse through the goings on and want to voice my opinion on something.... as you all know, I certainly like to do that. So for me it was a real catch 22. I really genuinely wanted to step away from this and take a break, but I am also dedicated to what I do in the real world, and could not just feel I was leaving anyone in the cold, as I genuinely wanted to help. I also didn't want to hurt my reputation, as a ton of people here know who I am and where I work. And it is also pretty easy to figure out.
I don't NEED this place, and could certainly go on without it, but I like it here. There are some incredibly unique people, some ridiculously funny people, and some brutally blunt people, but at the end of the day, no matter what, 95% of them, are good people. Whether I agree with them, or they agree with me, or not.
CC is probably one of the the most respected guys on this site. And personally, I do not feel it was out of line for a second when he announced he was taking a break. He is almost like the sites well travelled, wise uncle. And it certainly wasn't a cry for attention. Seriously if you met the guy.... you would understand that. But if he simply vanished without a trace, I would have been concerned, and I would have probably tried contacting him to make sure he was fine. I felt it was courteous.
I certainly didn't want to start my own thread, as I don't have near the respect here he does, but I felt dropping a couple paragraphs in his thread would be enough to at least let people know, that I supported him, and I was doing the same. It had nothing to do with being an attention whore, or looking for sympathy, I didn't want any. I just wanted the 20 or so people I communicate on here regularly outside of the public forums to know, and anyone looking for any advice, to know to contact someone else instead of me.
So TL;DR, but I know a lot of the little shots in this thread are about me, and rightfully so, so I felt it was only fair I offered up my side of it.
Also, I know this will come up, so I will address the elephant in the room. I am working with my employer on a some sort of financial sponsorship for the site, as I feel we should give more back than the measly personal donations I have dropped over the years.
Also I'll just get this out of the way: