Missing Members

[vandermolen]

I just heard from André
He is fine but busy with other things at the moment and wanted me to reassure you that he is ok.

[SonicMan46]

I just heard from André
He is fine but busy with other things at the moment and wanted me to reassure you that he is ok.

Thanks for the news!  Dave 

[Spotted Horses]

I just heard from André
He is fine but busy with other things at the moment and wanted me to reassure you that he is ok.

Busy?  What could be more important than GMG?

[ritter]

I just heard from André
He is fine but busy with other things at the moment and wanted me to reassure you that he is ok.

Good to hear! He's missed, and we hope to welcome him back soon...

[Florestan]

Busy?  What could be more important than GMG?

[vandermolen]

Thanks for the news!  Dave 

My pleasure

[Karl Henning]

Excellent!

[JBS]

I just heard from André
He is fine but busy with other things at the moment and wanted me to reassure you that he is ok.

Excellent!

[Symphonic Addict]

I just heard from André
He is fine but busy with other things at the moment and wanted me to reassure you that he is ok.

Thanks for the good news, Jeffrey!

[vandermolen]

Thanks for the good news, Jeffrey!

You are most welcome Cesar.

[Mirror Image]

Mirror Image was a bully, a loudmouth, and a homophobe. He also struggled with mental health issues and frequently followed up his worst attacks on other GMG members by saying that he had forgotten to take medication. He was also a widely-listened person who was a tremendous resource about various recordings and obscure repertoire. And he was generous with his time and attention.

I have refrained from discussing his departure since it took place. Both because it seems tasteless, and because I expect him back at any moment. ( )

But we might as well say three things:
(1) Given his contributions and his character, it is natural to have mixed feelings. I do. I'm glad certain discussions can take place without him loudly repeating ad nauseam that he disapproves of those discussions. I'm glad he isn't replying to me telling me I'm "wrong" to like or dislike something. I also frequently wish I could ask him about a particular recording or see if he thinks a certain obscure composer is worthwhile, or wish he was around to read my reports on new releases that he would like.

(2) It is frivolous to blame anyone else for his choices and actions, and rude to hunt for a person to blame and expect them to issue a statement like a politician.

(3) I hope that MI finds the help he needs, whatever form it may take, to lead a happier life and have healthier relationships with other people. He made me sad more than he made me mad. May he grow, find support, gain perspective, and flourish.

I wasn't going to post again, but this one from you, Brian, has lured me back out of the sinkhole. Firstly, I'm rather perplexed that you believe me to have mental health issues and for you to, unknowingly, single this out as if it were a flaw in the first-place is, quite frankly, insulting. Those comments about me not taking my medication were only in relation to me being wrong and going off the deep-end with comments that I made to another member. I usually followed these comments up with an emoticon like a smiley face, a wink or a laugh or whatever. In other words, they were jokes. Secondly, you know absolutely NOTHING about me outside of this forum. We've never spoke or have done any face-to-face chatting like I have done with several members namely both Jeffries (Vandermolen and JBS). Yes, I can be a loudmouth and sure, I've been a bully from time-to-time, there's no denying that at all. In fact, the reality is I've always owned up to any of these times that I have been rude or "aggressive" to another member. This isn't someone who has mental health issues, this is someone that's human. Lastly, and most importantly, I'm just someone who's out there trying to share my love of music with people and I'm well-aware in doing so, things can get heated from time to time. The reason they do is because there's passion involved.

Anyway, I'm just trying to be a better person everyday and I can only suggest to you and anyone else to do the same and this decency involves not talking about someone who was absent from the forum and chose not to respond until now.

P. S. I was terribly saddened by also being leveled a 'homophobe', which I certainly am not. One of the people I admire in this world is homosexual. She has a great managerial job, she has a partner and she has two children that she and her partner are raising. This woman is a friend of mine and I admire her choices and, most importantly, her own friendship to me, which has always been about mutual understanding and respect. This person is someone I know within my own life and not some made up person or a person I've met online. I'm proud to know her and her "gay pride" or whatever you want to call it doesn't threaten me nor am I bothered by it --- in fact, I support it. I've made some jokes about homosexual people in the past, but the reality is there are good people in every walk of life and if you've shown me kindness, then I, in return, will show you the same. That's just the kind of person I am, but I've made mistakes and there are scars to show for them.

[Mirror Image]

It's good to be back posting and a "hello" to everyone here but I'm not going to post a lot, but I will peek my head in from time to time. Thanks to all who have wished me well. I'm still not sure how I feel about GMG right now given the negative air that I've breathed in from some of the members here whilst re-reading some of the posts on this thread...

Anyway, I'll see you all sometime down the road!

[Lisztianwagner]

It's good to be back posting and a "hello" to everyone here but I'm not going to post a lot, but I will peek my head in from time to time. Thanks to all who have wished me well. I'm still not sure how I feel about GMG right now given the negative air that I've breathed in from some of the members here whilst re-reading some of the posts on this thread...

Anyway, I'll see you all sometime down the road!

Although you're not going to spend much time here, it's wonderful to hear from you again, John, welcome back! 

[Florestan]

Although you're not going to spend much time here, it's wonderful to hear from you again, John, welcome back! 

+ 1.

[vandermolen]

Ah, you are back again John!
I'm delighted to see that. I have missed your posts here and our contact.
Jeffrey (the British one)

[Traverso]

Ah, you are back again John!
I'm delighted to see that. I have missed your posts here and our contact.
Jeffrey (the British one)

+1

[JBS]

Good to see you, John!

[Cato]

It's good to be back posting and a "hello" to everyone here but I'm not going to post a lot, but I will peek my head in from time to time. Thanks to all who have wished me well. I'm still not sure how I feel about GMG right now given the negative air that I've breathed in from some of the members here whilst re-reading some of the posts on this thread...

Anyway, I'll see you all sometime down the road!

Greetings Mirror Image!

Yes, it is grating to have somebody deliver a psychological précis on you from a few comments on Music or whatever!

So, welcome back!

[prémont]

Ah, you are back again John!
I'm delighted to see that. I have missed your posts here and our contact.
Jeffrey (the British one)

+ 2

[SonicMan46]

Although you're not going to spend much time here, it's wonderful to hear from you again, John, welcome back! 

Hi John - great to have you back - looking forward to your postings!  Dave