Perhaps it is time for you and a few others to start your own board where you will have the time & ability to scrutinize/verify the authenticity and honesty of all your reviewers.
In the meantime, I'll say this: I have been an active member of TERB almost as long as you. I was a working gal for almost 6 years prior to starting EXQ and have had the privilege of making many, MANY friends/acquaintances; & I wouldn't have it any other way. (In fact, seven+ years ago I kidded with you; inviting YOU to join me at a Canada/US rally--post 9/11. Little did I know at the time perhaps that was a big no-no because
OMG Vanessa would have met the Fruity Hare from TERB).
I don't like seeing good people maligned.
Vanessa
I did attend that rally, (Do you have that good a memory, or did you look through my posting history?) and would have been more than happy to chat with you had I seen you. I have attended at least one of the TERB functions. I don't consider it fraternizing with the enemy.
I am quite happy on this board. I have seen the changes, accept them and am more than content to remain here.
There is an abundance of animosity being thrown around by both sides, and when that happens, very often people stop listening, and just repeat what they want to convey.
I have been trying to point out that Group A is upset that they are being called shills. Which is unfair to them and as far as I can see, untrue. They are not shilling, just relating their sessions.
There are a number of members in Group B who may feel mislead by a review, because they feel once a person divulges their TERB handle, that person will be treated (even perhaps unconsciously) better than the average Joe. They are not calling the others shills, but since one person used that word in the original thread, the reviewers have their backs up and any any comment is taken to mean that they are shills. It seems there can be no impartiality anymore.
Yes, there are apparently several hard core members who would settle for nothing less than a lynching, however of all the writers saying that they prefer to remain unknown, I believe there are only two who are hard core anti divulging identities. The others have tried to put their point across without becoming belligerent or over bearing.
To simplify it, I gues they are looking at group A as the kid in class who takes an apple in to the teacher and then gets special treatment. To the kid with the apple, he is doing no wrong in his mind, it's just an apple. But to the kid from group B, that apple means higher marks, and less work from the teacher for apple boy.
And teacher just sees an apple.
So, as I just said in a previous post it all comes down to perspective. And YMMV.