Please Read

[journeywoman]

I was so sorry to read this but if you must clear the brain. Just remember this is your board and you can do whatever you want. By doing this you are letting those people know they got to you!You did a great job with the interview with Journey, you brought it to everyone attention to look at them as regular people.At this point WHO CARES WHO DID WHAT? My God look what came out of it!Journey has got a great lead singer now that has brought them back to life!Now if only they would come closer to me!As far as you letting Dean proof read it,hey no other person is a bigger fan than him in my opinion.He goes through alot to get to party with these guys.More power to him,wish I could.If you met him and we all trust your judgement that's all that matters to me.This site is great,I've met some really great people on here.Hope you are back soon.You will be missed greatly! ROCK ON!

[Andrew]

I want to thank everyone for their messages and posts – I really had to get that off my chest yesterday and after some time thinking about things, plus some wise words for a few friends…I’m back.

I think if anyone had to endure the year I just have as far as being moderator of this forum, I think they would completely understand where I was coming from.
So many people to try and keep happy – so many very vocal and passionate fans from two very distinctly opposite sides (both going at each other) – running this forum has been more work than I ever anticipated.
I think those that are new to any Journey forum or new to operating one will soon realize that the online Journey community of 2006 is still very divided and it remains hard to find common ground between the two.

I really want this to be my last word on anything do to with controversy, my personal issues or anything else that isn’t just Journey.
If I have offended anyone, or made a decision that they have not agreed with, or not controlled this forum to their liking – then I am sincerely sorry for that.

That said – I have to accept that I am never going to please everyone and not everyone is going to like this forum (whatever their reasons) and I will accept that.
But anyone with a problem or issue to do with the forum – please do me the courtesy of talking to me directly about it.

To find a new plot, sometimes you have to lose the old one and I think I’ve definitely been close to doing that recently.
But in getting this all off my chest I do feel as if I can move on and whoever is with me here is with me and whoever isn’t, well…perhaps they’ll reconsider down the track sometime.

There will be a different feel in here this year, but I think that will largely be driven by the users, as the turmoil of the last 12 months is now behind everyone.

I think I run a pretty good forum. In fact, I know I do.
But I am also aware of where improvements can be made and while I will not let a disgruntled few distract me from the positives of this place and how much many people enjoy it, I will definitely take on board any valid criticisms or valid advice for making this a better place for all.

There is also the perception that this board is dominated by the larger than life personality of one user. While that may have been the case, I do not think that is true now, but will try to ensure that no one person or small group of people dominate the board.
The job of moderating the board simply ran over the top of me in recent months and I’m stepping straight back in to get it right.

I want one thing made perfectly clear – this is something that has continually been raised and I see it as a fair point. There is a belief that some are allowed to get away with a lot more than others.
If you are under that impression, then again, I apologize.
From this moment onwards – the NO PERSONAL ABUSE rule is the absolute paramount rule and will be applied to everyone and I mean EVERYONE in an equal fashion.

I’m not huge on lists of rule…you guys know them.
I am going to ‘suck it and see’ – meaning if I need to make a new rule as we go along, then I will do so.

Ok, so let’s see how this goes. Starting with no more lengthy posts about bugger knows what from me!

PS. I'll leave T-Bone in the firing line as my back-up. Thank you sir!

[ohsherrie]

Damn Andrew, that was a great post. It seriously almost moved me to tears.

Thank you for coming back and your friends will be here to support you and your board.

It took a lot bigger man than you are in stature to take what you have and come out of it with a positive attitude about it. You just fuckin' rock.

I'm proud to be a member of the MR family and to call you my friend.

[Andrew]

Likewise OhSherrie

Thanks.

[*Laura]

I want to tank everyone for their messages and posts – I really had to get that off my chest yesterday and after some time thinking about things, plus some wise words for a few friends…I’m back.

I think if anyone had to endure the year I just have as far as being moderator of this forum, I think they would completely understand where I was coming from.
So many people to try and keep happy – so many very vocal and passionate fans from two very distinctly opposite sides (both going at each other) – running this forum has been more work than I ever anticipated.
I think those that are new to any Journey forum or new to operating one will soon realize that the online Journey community of 2006 is still very divided and it remains hard to find common ground between the two.

I really want this to be my last word on anything do to with controversy, my personal issues or anything else that isn’t just Journey.
If I have offended anyone, or made a decision that they have not agreed with, or not controlled this forum to their liking – then I am sincerely sorry for that.

That said – I have to accept that I am never going to please everyone and not everyone is going to like this forum (whatever their reasons) and I will accept that.
But anyone with a problem or issue to do with the forum – please do me the courtesy of talking to me directly about it.

To find a new plot, sometimes you have to lose the old one and I think I’ve definitely been close to doing that recently.
But in getting this all off my chest I do feel as if I can move on and whoever is with me here is with me and whoever isn’t, well…perhaps they’ll reconsider down the track sometime.

There will be a different feel in here this year, but I think that will largely be driven by the users, as the turmoil of the last 12 months is now behind everyone.

I think I run a pretty good forum. In fact, I know I do.
But I am also aware of where improvements can be made and while I will not let a disgruntled few distract me from the positives of this place and how much many people enjoy it, I will definitely take on board any valid criticisms or valid advice for making this a better place for all.

There is also the perception that this board is dominated by the larger than life personality of one user. While that may have been the case, I do not think that is true now, but will try to ensure that no one person or small group of people dominate the board.
The job of moderating the board simply ran over the top of me in recent months and I’m stepping straight back in to get it right.

I want one thing made perfectly clear – this is something that has continually been raised and I see it as a fair point. There is a belief that some are allowed to get away with a lot more than others.
If you are under that impression, then again, I apologize.
From this moment onwards – the NO PERSONAL ABUSE rule is the absolute paramount rule and will be applied to everyone and I mean EVERYONE in an equal fashion.

I’m not huge on lists of rule…you guys know them.
I am going to ‘suck it and see’ – meaning if I need to make a new rule as we go along, then I will do so.

Ok, so let’s see how this goes. Starting with no more lengthy posts about bugger knows what from me!

PS. I'll leave T-Bone in the firing line as my back-up. Thank you sir!

Wise words and a very wise decision,Andrew!
It was a pleasure reading your post and it truly made me happy that you have found the strenght to overcome all the negativity.
Never forget that you are a true professional and no one can take your gold medals away from you.You deserve each and everyone of them,because you do your job with passion and commitment.

I never doubted the fact that,despite the 2006 turmoil (which was inevitable),your site IS # 1.
Also,I still hope that one day,Journey's fanbase will be united by the music and not divided by it.

Thanks again for all your efforts and welcome back!

[donnaplease]

Welcome home, Andrew!

[Journeyman2122]

Its good to have you back mate.

[Melissa]

Good for you Andrew.

[Carlitto H@kk]

From this moment onwards – the NO PERSONAL ABUSE rule is the absolute paramount rule and will be applied to everyone and I mean EVERYONE in an equal fashion.

Well here's your chance to prove it because I'm about to start bashing away...
ON YOU, NO LESS!!!

You must be outa your freakin' mind to come back to this place so soon,
you silly pile of Wombat terds!

You worked your tail off all year long trying to keep EVERYONE happy
here only to be constantly badgered, criticized and bitched at for anything you did!

Funny part is, w/o you, NO ONE would have ever heard Jeff, Neal, Jon and Deen talk about the
past 6 months because, Guess What?...
No other sites, journalists or news agencies care about Journey anyway!

Thru all these years you have been the one-and-only true Journey Supporter and
Informer on the web and this is the payback you get...

Holy Hell Drew, you fuckin' Diva!
Take a bow, take a LONG OVER DUE AND
MUCH DESERVED VACATION
before it really catches up to you and you
wind up just walking away for good!

Now scram, Terd!
Go spend time with that family of yours!
Read a good book!
Go see a good movie!
Throw the wifey down and pound her for a few hours!
But for God's sake,
take a break!

ps...

I absolutely love you, man

[Rockindeano]

It's turd, not terd, you fuking moran.

[Andrew]

Now scram, Terd!
Go spend time with that family of yours!
Read a good book!
Go see a good movie!
Throw the wifey down and pound her for a few hours!
But for God's sake,
take a break!

LOL

Well, it's a work day, so I'm here doing my thing for the site....but I will efinitely have more time away from the boards in an attempt to regain my sanity.

[ohsherrie]

It's turd, not terd, you fuking moran.

Yeah, but it was a cool post anyway.

[Carlitto H@kk]

It's turd, not terd, you fuking moran.

Fuk you write bakk

[Clasicrockldy]

Good to have you back, Andrew!

[ohsherrie]

It's turd, not terd, you fuking moran.

Fuk you write bakk

OK, that's gotta be an MR classic.

[Behshad]

Welcome back mate. I knew Jeff could get you to change your mind


Thanks Jeff

[Carlitto H@kk]

OK, that's gotta be an MR classic.

Want another???

[Deb]

It's turd, not terd, you fuking moran.

Fuk you write bakk

Too funny!!

[Voyager]

I think those that are new to any Journey forum or new to operating one will soon realize that the online Journey community of 2006 is still very divided and it remains hard to find common ground between the two.

Dude, it's like operating a forum that has both Repuplicans and Democrats on it arguing politics with each other.

[Andrew]

I think those that are new to any Journey forum or new to operating one will soon realize that the online Journey community of 2006 is still very divided and it remains hard to find common ground between the two.

Dude, it's like operating a forum that has both Repuplicans and Democrats on it arguing politics with each other.

Exactly. And we have our own Weapons Of Mass Destruction also

[Tom Jrnyfn]

With no touring, It is always crazy at this time..Just a little more because of the changes..Things will calm down

Thanks for this place Andrew..

[Aaron]

Mac,

First of all you need to recognize the great job that you do with the site and this forum. You'll never satisfy 100% of the folks because there are are always assholes! Take the input from credible folks and shit can the input from the ones that aren't credible. I personally think you have done a great job at moderating this forum. Now quit being a pussy and tell the assholes to fuck off that are bothering you! Seriously, take the break you need but get your ass back here. You are a big fan of Journey and JSS. You input and in-site, as well as moderation style, are very much valued to this forum. Don't let the assholes get to you mate.

In regards to your other post in this string, everyone fucks up on occasion and hind sight is always 20/20. It takes a person with balls with admit their mistakes and be accountable. I really appreciate that characteristic. Keep up the good work mate!

L8r,

Aaron

Hi all,

As of this moment, T-Bone, my faithful helper on this set of boards, is now the sole moderator of this forum.

I am taking a break from this and all other Journey forums. The constant negativity of some (most of which would rather bitch and moan on other forums, than contact me directly) has taken it's toll.

While I hate to admit that these people have an effect on me, they have. I do not wish to be overly dramatic about this, but I really need a break from this.

While I have tried to make everyone as happy as possible - with all the many issues between personalities and factions - it clearly has not been good enough and I have had enough.

The best thing to do is withdraw from this and concentrate on running a website, which after all, is supposedly what I do.

Anyone needing to contact me about general site business should do so via my mail e-mail address - ajm@melodicrock.com

Cheers for the positive support of the majority.

[Perry86fan]

Andrew, i am glad you are back it is your site after all. And we all have a good time here i know i do. There will always be jerks in the world.Now as for Deano i think he is a really cool guy.

[RedWingFan]

OK, that's gotta be an MR classic.

Want another???

Funny According to the brilliant John Kerry, you're the dumb one. You should have stayed in school or something or other. That's why you have to go back to Iraq. These are not my words or feelings about you or our military. I haven't heard Bush or Cheney degrade you like that.

[Carlitto H@kk]

Funny According to the brilliant John Kerry, you're the dumb one. You should have stayed in school or something or other. That's why you have to go back to Iraq. These are not my words or feelings about you or our military. I haven't heard Bush or Cheney degrade you like that.

I hear ya

Look, I don't get upset about going to Iraq 'because I don't want to go'.
I actually eat this shit up because I get to REALLY do my job.
We know when we work on those jets and send them up, they are gonna drop bombs for real!
Think of it as a Law School student that graduates and then spends the next 10-15 years only
doing mock-trials or practices litigations... It would get pretty boring, eh?

What I do get upset about is that this administration has now put us in a situation
without any solution or end in sight. Its actually getting worse.
That's what pisses me off. We started out with a decent agenda but now...

[T-Bone]

this is all very strange, but i can say T-Bone is cool and has a most rockin guitar collection... big into music .. and we know he has a delete button..

What guitars does T-Bone have?

Here's mine:

Gibson Les Paul Standard (Cherry Sunburst)
Ibanez PS-10 II
Fender Strat American Standard (rare red headstock ltd edition)
Ovation Elite Standard (acoustic electric)
Ovation Standard Balladeer (12 string)
Epiphone Casino
Mexican Telecaster
Cheapo Yamaha (1st guitar)

I sold most of mine off. I only have 3 at the moment, as well as my Line 6 Flextone II XL

1. My trusty 1992 Ibanez RG570 in flip flop Purple/Blue (Old Reliable)

2. A Strat copy

and....

3. A Prototype of my very own design from 1989 that finally got finished about 2 years ago. It was then revamped a little and the design is in the trusty hands of Neal Moser and Moser Custom Shop and will be part of his lineup of awesome axes in the near future. The tail was cut about 4 inches and the upper fret access was improved by making a little better cut and moving the lower horn out a little.

Neal was the man behind the BC Rich Bich and Virgin guitars as well as the electronics package they still use today on their handmades. He worked for them from 1974-1985

www.nealmoser.com and www.mosercustomshop.com

[T-Bone]

Past Toys:


Dean Custom 450 Neckthru




BC Rich Innovator 6. Less than 80 ever made. The body was meant for Bass guitars, but they decided to try a 6 string on it. I wish I never would have sold it




All these are gone now too







My Dillion LP679. Only about 25 were made as Gibson slapped them for it.





My BC Rich Gunslinger that I refinished.

When I got it:




What I did to it:







My 1991 RG570. I got it when it was white and had Mitchel at Mean Street Guitars refinish it in Holoflash





And Lastly....

My Moser Evil Bich. Neal Designed the original Bich for BC Rich in 1976 as well as the Virgin. He's building his own guitars now. I sold this one, but I'm kinda kicking myself now

[donnaplease]

Funny According to the brilliant John Kerry, you're the dumb one. You should have stayed in school or something or other. That's why you have to go back to Iraq. These are not my words or feelings about you or our military. I haven't heard Bush or Cheney degrade you like that.

I hear ya

Look, I don't get upset about going to Iraq 'because I don't want to go'.
I actually eat this shit up because I get to REALLY do my job.
We know when we work on those jets and send them up, they are gonna drop bombs for real!
Think of it as a Law School student that graduates and then spends the next 10-15 years only
doing mock-trials or practices litigations... It would get pretty boring, eh?

What I do get upset about is that this administration has now put us in a situation
without any solution or end in sight. Its actually getting worse.
That's what pisses me off. We started out with a decent agenda but now...

Carl,

I appreciate your perspective on the way things are. It's great to hear something like that from those who have put "boots on the ground". All the 'armchair quarterbacks' on both sides of the aisle are tearing our county apart when you guys just want to do the job you've been assigned to do. I admire your commitment to your job and your country. YOU ROCK!!!

[RedWingFan]

Funny According to the brilliant John Kerry, you're the dumb one. You should have stayed in school or something or other. That's why you have to go back to Iraq. These are not my words or feelings about you or our military. I haven't heard Bush or Cheney degrade you like that.

I hear ya

Look, I don't get upset about going to Iraq 'because I don't want to go'.
I actually eat this shit up because I get to REALLY do my job.
We know when we work on those jets and send them up, they are gonna drop bombs for real!
Think of it as a Law School student that graduates and then spends the next 10-15 years only
doing mock-trials or practices litigations... It would get pretty boring, eh?

What I do get upset about is that this administration has now put us in a situation
without any solution or end in sight. Its actually getting worse.
That's what pisses me off. We started out with a decent agenda but now...

Well if I remember correctly. Before we went into Iraq, the U.S. media was reporting that we would need 100,000 bodybags to capture the Iraqi capitol. I also know from the media, that we have lost 3000 men and women in combat and we have only killed 3 (al-zarqawi and Hussein's two boys Uday and Qusay) ABC even showed video of a couple of our boys get hit by snipers after ABC promised to give the terrorists "a fair shake". What pisses me off is that people act like Bush never said this was a war like no other....that it would take a long time, it would outlast his time in office.
What pisses me off is a political party depicting our guys as being abusive to prisoners. I hope you know that there are alot in that party that want you to fail. I for one want you guys to succeed. Then again I'm not a politician who's not looking to become president
I get you're analogy though, like practicing martial arts and finally making it into the UFC...

[tammy]

Good for you on sticking around, Andrew...very nice post. Moderating must be like mothering...most days I'm screeching & pulling out my hair with the things these kids do & the tantrums they throw, so in a way you're not alone.
tammy