Since a few people have decided to speak about me either directly or indirectly I would like to make this brief, public statement:
When I first entered this community(about lets say 4 or 5 years ago) I myself was rather rude towards veterans and said some outlandish comments with little respect towards anyone's feelings simply to get my point across. Guess what? I got beaten down like a red-headed step child. And although on some points I had a right to get angry on things, I really did deserve it. Snaake went through a similar hazing because he can be equally hot tempered at times and a lot of the oer excitable members have similar growing pains.
Well guess what, you have to decide if being angry is more important than getting help, or more importantly can you put all that enegy towards something good and give back to the community in the form of programs, good advice, voluntering for projects or other random acts of kindness.
Snaaake and I don't get along, there isn't in secret there. But something people don't realize is that although we don't get along neither one of us have ever done anything worth being banned, yelled at, insulted or other such hostility because we both try to contribute to the community and do the right thing. As much as I hate to admit it, snaake has become a valuable member of the community in terms of artwork and a general sense that he is here to help. Now we still do see things eye to eye, but at least we can just agree to disagree on some things, keep out of each other's hair and both try to do our own thing.
That last part was a little o.t. but I think the kid deserved to hear it.

Getting back to the point. I have changed since back in the day. I don't insult people. I don't say bad things for the sake of saying bad things. I will, however, blatently tell you when I think you are giving bad advice, or when you are out right wrong on something. Don't mistake me correcting a person with me inslulting a person. Don't think that because I don't like an opinion that I dislike the person that gave it. Trust me, I'm a nice guy. If I had a personal problem with someone on this board, they would know about it.
I don't pull punches when it comes to my 2 cents, and I don't think anything is wrong with that, and I encourage other memebers to be "brave" and debate me if they feel that they are still right. I don't, however, encourage people to feel offended, take it personally, or become hostile when I or anyone else says something that rubs them the wrong way. When someone is offended by me or anyone else I suggest that that person send a polite, private message to the person in question. You'll usually find that it's as simple as a little mis-communication and you were over-reacting for nothing.
I am writing this specifically for newbies like wisker who feel that the whole board is against them.
Answering your questions specifically:
No there isn't any excuse for me insulting you and if I did then I apologize. But if you look back at the thread I never inslulted you, I merely said that you needed to research more and that you were "out of the loop" with your info. If you find that insulting then I truely feel for you. I did say something rather juvenille after you decided you physically threaten me and I am sorry for that. Usually I'm a better person than that.
Yes there is a hierarchy here. It's based on respect, not who is friends with who. I've been here for a long time and I've earned the respect of many on the board. If that intimidates you then I am sorry, but it can't be helped. You can't seriously expect the veterans to have less pull that the newbs can you? After all, they have been here to earn the respect and the newb hasn't. That isn't to say that newbies are less important than the vets, it's just that vets are going to be listened to first because generally they have more of a point.
No I am NOT a moderator, I CANNOT ban anyone. Also although I would like to think that saint and I get along great, I have absolutely no political pull with him. Some people here seem to think that I can say jump and the mods say "how high?" Nothing could be furher from the truth. If you are banned then one of the mods was given reason to ban you. If you are repremanded, it has absolutely nothing to do with me. If someone has done you wrong, contact saint about it, I guarantee you he will treat you just as farily as me or anyone else.
Saint's handle is aptly named, he is literally the most fair moderator on any board on the internet. If he says you are gone then you must have done something bad. To give you an example, if he wasn't so fair, snaake, myself and several others would have been gone ages ago.
Trust me kids, if this was a popularity contest, this board would be a LOT thinner. Luckily, it isn't. It's about being the greatest resource for arcade control related advice and discussion on the internet today. Personally I'm ready to get back to it.
later,
HAC