From my perspective, it feels like every time I want to make a positive contribution, because I am the MS/Aces/FS guy everyone takes out their favorite axe and grinds it on me, no matter how many times they have already done so. It gets tiring.
I am just explaining how it feels on the other end.
For instance, on another site, a poster threw in my face that he runs FS9 because FSX RTM perf was so bad on this thread about FSX benchies. When I asked to stay on topic, he insulted me. Then apologized to the forum, but not to me because "I should be able to take a little criticism". And told me I was off-topic. Well, FSX RTM wasnt my watch,SP1 was my first release. So how about them fairness rules? How about being on topic and discussing the post? How about being an adult, mentioning your pregnant dog once and moving on instead of acting like my 3.5 year old and repeating the same thing over and over every time you get a chance?
That's what is like on my side. It does make me wonder why I bother a lot of the time.
When you take that kind of day-in, day-out, relentless drubbing, year-in and year-out, no amount of well meaning encouragement not to let the, errr, illegitimate persons wear you down can overcome the Chinese water torture effect.
Nothing can undo or offset that. But be assured there are a great many others who appreciate your efforts in the past, gain from your communications, and look forward to what you will do in the future. I'm one, and I thank you.
I think you've hit upon a good interim solution to primarily avoid venues where the opportunity to take a cheap shot at you is freely available and not under your control. I saw what happened on your personal blog's comments the other day, and think closing them to comments is a good choice. People will still post comments elsewhere, and you can choose whether and how to respond in your own venue.
Your choices aren't limited solely to being silent or being attacked. If the power to reply is being abused, simply speak where reply is not possible. We'll miss the good part of the conversation, but we're as tired of the bad part as you are, just not as personally injured by it.
Doug