I don't think we come off as anything, IMO, except a group of people who share a passion or two, and are still quite bothered by people who threaten to leave and never do. Then again, that's what we are. lol
This guy's original post seemed childish, and incomplete, and the first couple of responses merely echoed that fact. As he came around and aired out his problems, I think everyone stepped over themselves to help out!
I know just what you guys mean, and am inclined to agree.
Though I haven't been posting here that long, I've been following these forums since late last year as a curious reader. I've seen other examples of these "I'm leaving" posts.....thought they were invitations for scorn and contempt. However, when you use words like "childish", you have to remember that some forum members are just that---children! I don't know Awash's age, but I've gotten into the habit of checking their personal profile to see if they tell their age (and sometimes you can get a general indication from their posts).
Shortly after I started participating in forums, I learned an early lesson about this. It was on a motor-racing forum, and I got involved in a heated debate with someone who, I ascertained, was a sarcastic, over-opinionated and verbose college kid who seemed to think he had a bit of expertise in everything. He made the mistake of venturing into the subject of aviation (to make some sort of point on aerodynamics). I caught this guy "quoting", supposedly, things like drag coefficients and stall characteristics of the F16....it was evident he had no real idea what he was talking about. It was clear to me he had quickly pulled some data from some source and then attempted his own half-ass thesis. Well, I couldn't resist laying into this jerk, calling him a fraud and an ignoramus (and a few other things)while pointing out several examples of his mistakes. After trading several more insulting posts with him, would you believe his
mother gets on, posts an apology, and then scolds me for being callous and rude to her 12 year old son! I sort of felt like the jerk after that, and I posted an apology for losing my temper.
So.....now I try and have a better idea about who I'm talking to.....and always refrain from expressing anger or hostility in my posts (not that I've seen too much of that in this thread).