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Hey Don - a quick question if I may - and this is a serious question not meant to rile you up or elevate your agitation threshold. Why have you taken it upon yourself to bring things up from the past and fight other people's battles - people who I am certain are quite capable of fighting for themselves - assuming there is, indeed, a reason to do so or just let things drop. Did Mike South ever do anything to YOU to bring out this Lockwood-esque rant against him? To make it clear, I am not saying if I support or condemn what you are doing...but WHY are you taking it upon yourself to do it? Is it even any of your business? Just wondering...

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Hi Bob! (Bob's one of my favorite reviewers)
I don't mind the question even if I think it could've been worded a bit more neutrally from someone not taking sides. I guess the answer would be a bit more complex but distilling it down as best I can. My answer has no bearing on the truthful comments made and it shouldn't matter what my motivations are but here goes:

Mike goes around shitting on half the industry, sometimes for justified reasons, more often to stroke his ego to a handful of slavering followers. By doing so, he opened the door for people to return the favor. XPT, like ADT and the myriad of other internet forums, is a place where people discuss matters of interest to them. My initial comment in the Bone thread was supportive of Mike, albeit with some pointed comments that he didn't appreciate (espcially because they were true). As he has in the past, he made some dismissive comments and ill founded personal attacks that had nothing to do with the matter at hand; provoking a response.

Having read a handful of supportive comments about Mike on some forums, much like ones I myself used to make before his nature became more apparent, I thought it was fair to warn others about some of his behaviors WITHOUT his usual spin attached. Does it matter to anyone other than those directly impacted? It should since compartmentalizing serves no one (to expand the idea that others can fight their own fights, should no one speak out when someone does another wrong?). As far as the jab comparing what I wrote to ANYTHING Lockwood has written in the past, I suggest you haven't read anything of his even passing for coherent and all of it self serving to him.

But again, taking your analogy a step further; should no one have spoken out when Lockwood assaulted Gram? How about when someone was infecting others with AIDS/HIV a few years back? I don't recall seeing you question any of them or even anyone on this forum to essentially "mind your own business" when they made comments about someone in the industry (which is how your post comes across on first reading by a guy headed for bed). That you picked the forum to ask the question rather than send me an email was a curious choice but not unwelcome considering I believe what I wrote.

So, as much as any internet forum is a place for discussion about topics of interest to any of us; yes, it was as much my business as any other comments made here or elsewhere.

Take care and thanks for asking!