[tape begins]

Q. How do you think acf is doing?

A. It's doing fine. There is a part of me which mourns the reduced activity, but it's undeniably more pleasant to administrate. As a user I prefer the slower pace. The downside is that fewer voices can mean less variety of opinion. Or not, given the popularity of bandwagons. Attrition also has more of an effect than it would otherwise.

Q. How do you feel about the split, and YACF?

A. Although I don't blame people for wanting to recreate what they thought had been lost here, they went about it the wrong way. By taking basically the same name, board layout, and other ideas - even the librarian was cloned - they committed intellectual property theft. (If it's so easy to make a forum, why not come up with your own? Oh, that's right. It's even easier to grab somebody else's. All you need is general agreement that it was never really his to begin with.) One is tempted to messianic pronouncement: they know not what they do. Even those who wrote me ugly emails.

Theft aside, it worked out rather well in the end. Running acf is simpler. This is not a function of numbers; it has to do with my not having to deal with a type of user who feels they have some sort of lien on the place.

Q. Do you follow what goes on across the road?

A. No. Although originally I visited to see the full extent of what had been copied, I haven't gone back and have no desire to.

Q. What's your opinion of dual citizenship?

A. Officially it's none of my business.

Privately, I'd like them to see that when they lightly skip across the road they're contributing to a morally flawed enterprise. Some of that is down to friendships. Ironic, as I was the one who made a safe haven where they could flourish, and went to great lengths to provide comfort to the old Cycling Plus gang while welcoming newcomers into a 'cliqueless' forum.

I'm fully aware that most people don't care about this stuff. It's uncomfortable to think about. They'll go wherever the party is. More fool me for playing host for so long to those who check their conscience at the door.

Q. Any regrets?

A. Allowing myself to be hurt as much as I was, by people who repaid my years of patience and understanding with their tidal wave of selfishness and thoughtlessness. Having yet to completely move on. Maybe writing this will help.

[tape ends]