Hi all,
I was not follwing the forums during the last weeks because of lack of time.
Let me just give my thoughts as one of the oldest members on this site (since 6 Years) about the whole discussion.
The site was first a sort of hobby site of Thomas Pinas with only a few 100 of photos on it, when I discovered it in mid 2004. It was besides a few others the only site, where everyone could post its own photos just for fun. As I had not time to create my own homepage I just started to to post my photos. During the next years lots of other shiplovers got attracted by this site and it grew by members and photos. Some silly guys posted really rubbish, anything, but not a ship photos. For this the admin team was born. During a long time Derek Sands, whom I really can call a good friend was managing the admin team. He has the real spirit to create a balance inbetween rules and chaos and always was friendly. But with a rising always a change is coming. And the more people stick in some way together the bigger are the possible communication problems. There are always guys who wants to show theirselves and making rumours or create discussion. So it became more and more impossible to get an agreement on things. There were hardliners, who wanted to restrict the site to only the best quality photos and there were others who wanted to allow everything. The middle way to make everyone happy was impossible and will it be forever. But Derek and his team tried it (voluntarly) as best as they could. For this I joined the admin team in 2009. And I am doing everything besides a hard work in a larger company.
I did not like the change of the "site sponsors" and the way Thomas "sold" the site. But I still liked the site with all its possibilities and all the friends I have found and met during all those years. For this I stayed and will stay with that site. Not everything is Ok on this site (it cannot be as we are too many members with too different opinions), E.g. I also would have liked the considered for deletion category be rested in the public. But still the site is very attractive for me, much more attractive than others sites like this one of Klaus e.g. who is making with every post publicity for his site (why he needs on every message a comment, that someone should join his site?).
But this site is still the site of the shipsotting members, first of all of the active members, who contribute in photos, thoughts and informations about shipping, despite a sponsor, who is using the site, supporting his products.
And I do not see any reason to leave the site because a few things I do not like on the site.
I hope many of you fell like me, which should not prevent us from discussing friendly, how we can improve with the site. You always can improve.
Have a nice an peaceful Christmas time
Gerolf