"Yep, and that is the sort of apathy that I've been describing this Community as having now. The only time anyone speaks up against something that is wrong, is if it directly effects them... if it doesn't, they shrug and go back to what they were doing. Which is why nothing will change in this Community, whatever standards remain will slowly disappear because the unity that was once so heavily present and encouraged is long since gone." Partially true. People stopped speaking out, and instead said screw that, I'll do it my own damn self. And, for the most part, all of those people who did so are flourishing, even as this one tends to weaken. That is a natural cycle. Don't confuse diversification with apathy -- unless you truly do only hang out here. Few folks these days do. They hang here and at one of the other sites. Things do change in the community. In some ways, more rapidly than they have in the past, and in others more slowly. That's normal for any social group of human beings in any situation. But in business, particularly, that's a sign of growth from cottage into something larger. There comes a point where a certain type of unity -- in this case, one which would essentially limit the community to a single site -- be that site DAZ or RO or whoever -- is detrimental to any form of growth or evolution. We've come a long way since the old site wars, Jack. If such a thing were to happen today, it would cause a ripple, but it wouldn't threaten to destroy anything now. The community has grown outside the confines of the small village and is now a series of vilalges -- but all still within the same country, sharing the same core values and the same basic commonalities. That's not bad. well, unless you're a priest or other protector of traditions. THose tend to get broken as things grow larger, new ones forming to replace the old. Exclusive of my own personal investment in the company to which I am a part, instead of trying to confine and restrict the community to a single spot, we -- that is, the shop owners and groups and invidiuals -- shoudl be doing everything we can to encourage a greater level of cooperation and ventures. Which requires trust. Hard thing to come by. This would require changes in the way the sites operate to some extent. For example, I'd like to see renderoaity shift a bit to allow for more advertising by offsite stores. Aside from being a potentially decent source of revenue, they would gain additional goodwill benefits and continue to develop and encourage growth for both themselves and others simply by becoming a hub around which the other places can be located. Unlikely, true. Yet there's trememndous value there. Even the game companies are aware of that one, lol. Ultimately, as I noted before, this isn't anything. THis whole renda fiasco, now, isn't surprising not becuase its renderosity, but becuase its somethign folks expected from the beginning. anyone who does this is expected to have the same result. It was expected by many with the Sixus figure, Linlin. It's still expected by some with Apollo Maximus. That's the dynamic in place, and that dynamic is so deeply ingrained, that its only now starting to percolate that hey, this isn't a good thing. So it will change. IT has too. THere's not edge in similarity, no truly creative expression in conformity. If you look back and see only greatness and forward and only see despair, then yeah -- time to get out. Your ision is clouded by baggage and what ifs. Conversely, if all you see is blue skies and bunny rabbits, then you should likely step back and slap yourself silly. Aside from being rather refreshing, the experience might make you aware that events like this are now just part of the whole deal. sorta like the rest of the world. The truth is that there will be great things in the future (increasing revenues for the stores, more diversified products for the customers, better overall quality, more advanced use of the available featuresets, etc) and bad things in the future (failed stores, buyouts, mergers, bickering, scandals, vendettas, continued oversaturation of the Victoria markets). But, no matter what, it'll keep going. There ain't no fat lady to sing on this one yet...

thou and I, my friend, can, in the most flunkey world, make, each of us, one non-flunkey, one hero, if we like: that will be two heroes to begin with. (Carlyle)