Well, Drac, as usual, you've given me something to think about. Without thinking, my first response was: "good point." And then I thought. And left it alone for a bit. And thought some more. And here is what I have to say. You're 20 years old. You're still an idealist. Sure, it's refreshing to hear someone "speak their mind". But there are degrees. There are always degrees. To speak your mind, sometimes you have to mind your speak. Basically--watch not only what you say, but how you say it. I could speak my mind. I could say to you: "You acted like a child when Renderosity wouldn't let you advertise the IRC." I could say to Ornlu: "You acted like a child when Renderosity didn't get your file to the marketplace like you want." And, what does that accomplish? Does it give you any insight? Does it help you realize anything useful? No, not especially--it just makes people defensive. Sometimes it's a wake-up call, but usually, it's just inflammatory. I've spoken my mind, but accomplished nothing. Now, if I say, "yes, you are frustrated by what is happening, and these are some of the causal factors and these are some of the choices you have and these are some of the consequences" then perhaps you say "hmmm, I hadn't thought of that, perhaps I'll consider it." And maybe, just maybe, you think a bit, and you learn something (hopefully, about yourself). In a way I've "said" the same thing--but the message I convey is very different. Hopefully, I have accomplished something. I love this community. As Boomer stated, it's about friends. I've never actually met one of you, but I respect your views and opinions, and over the months I've gotten to "know" many of you. So, when someone has a bad day, and goes off on a rant, we can let them. We can support them and say "sure, you're right, I understand." But, as friends, we are also obligated to say "stop whining, and see that it's not all about the universe being against you personally, and this is what you might do about it." That is what a true friend should do do--sure, you provide support, but you also need to help people grow. And to grow, we need to be challenged. We need that "honesty" that shadowdragonlord was talking about. And, I guess somehow that comes back to "speaking your mind". By doing so, we challenge people. I suspect, on some level, that was what Clay was trying to accomplish. Is this "his" forum? No, of course not. No more than it belongs to AgentSmith, me, or you. This forum belongs to everyone who comes and makes themselves a part of it. And speaking your mind can take many different forms. It can be a 'flame' (like we have seen several examples of in the past month). Or, it can be something that we can learn from. It's all degrees of the same thing. There will always be change. People will come and go. I've looked at some of the past monthly challenges, and there are names there that I haven't heard in ages, and there are lots of names now that weren't here before. And that change, that flux, will always occur. It's happening before our eyes right now. For example, Ornlu will be heading off to college, and will have lots less time. And, when he does have time, he'll be different. It couldn't be otherwise--life changes each of us as we pass through it. And, when and if he does return, who will be here then? We will still be here? Will there be some other young hotshot who knows it all? Will there be someone who has found a way to take Bryce even further? Will Bryce 6 be here by then, and with it a whole new community of users? Time will tell. Is Renderosity tame? Is it a different level of maturity? I'm not certain. What I am certain of, is that people are learning. This post is proof of that. Sometimes, you think you've learned something about someone when, in truth, you've learned something about yourself.