We Want You Back!

Today I received an email of such presumptious crap that it actually left me flabbergasted and fuming with a tempestuous but impotent rage (damn, read too much Hornblower...). Last year I was banned from a certain forum because of a mix of things, first one was saying a few rules didn't make sense (later said rules were removed but no apology, in fact threats of banning someone irrelevant to the suspension were issued from the charming admin) and second was a clique who were frightened that I'd finally refer the forums resident self confessed sex offender by name following verbal abuse, of course, the official response was "talking about the forum" but we're not idiots.

Imagine then my surprise when in my inbox pops an email asking me to come back "providing I behave myself"... What sort of rubbish is this? It's a decision as stupid as a Spanish infantry commander (DAMN YOU HORNBLOWER!) to even act as if they're doing me a favour isn't it? A year ago I might've considered it but I have no intention of crawling back to them tail between my legs and grovelling for them to let me back in. I've got some pride and begging some arrogant, obnoxious, egotistical Frenchmen (DAMN HORN... No actually that's right) to "let me in" and crawling as if I've actually done something wrong does not fit in with this.

Had the place changed in the slightest, I'd almost come close to considering it, but it's not. It's still ultimately run by the same few people and every topic involves the same few people, who get upset if someone ignores them. A great example from last year Poster A "An old friend died" Poster B "Oh, God I'm sorry" Poster C "Sorry to Hear that, knew him myself he was cool" Poster D "Sorry for your loss guys" Poster E "MY FINERNAIL BROKE!" Poster F "Sorry about your friend A and C" Poster G "He was awesome, great guy RIP" Poster H "Yeah, I liked him, so sad RIP" Poster E "MY F*£*^*£* FINGERNAIL F*$*^*£*^* HURTS!". Yeah just the atmosphere I've missed.

I did receive an email from a current member and friend letting me know that I could come back so I can assume that members there have discussed me favourably and want me back. The thing is, I talk to the few members I'd want to in the outside world anyway, those who live abroad I email and those at home I meet up with two or three times a year. Forum friendships are nice and if they work in the real world they can be great. I know for a start I'd not have Hannah and neither of us would have friends like Kate or GemGem had it not been for them but I'm not going to grovel like some whipped midshipman under a tyrant captain (DAMN HORNBLOWER!) to talk to these people in another format, especially when they're the only reason I was there anyway!

Nope, it's nice to see that some people miss me in that old time waster but if they think I'm bending over and crawling back they're sorely mistaken. Did Wellington say to Boney "you're a dem good soldier, let's call Waterloo a draw and refight next month"? Did Nelson say to Villeneuve "go and make a few more ships and we'll give you another chance in a years time"? No of course they didn't so why would I do ultimately the same? Nope, I'm going to carry on doing what I do now and enjoying my free time which for the most part involves much less face palming.

Now to brace the mainsail and head to leaward before making anchor at Spithead where I'll be seasick... OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!