Dobson,
I just reinstated my VIP membership that I cancelled less than two weeks ago.  I don't know the circumstances that drove you away, but they may have been the same ones that pushed me over the edge as well.  The tone of the board had become intolerable to me and I was getting drawn into the negativity, which I did not want to let happen (but it did).

It took TER a little while to figure out that the "melt-down" we were experiencing on the LA board was a deliberately orchestrated hate campaign against a provider by an individual.  Still, I found it very distressing that he had so many helpers voluteering to form the lynch mob.  But TER took steps, and now I believe it is time for the rest of us to take what steps we can to prevent a recurrence.  That starts with the good-hearted members of TER continuing to set a positive tone that protects everyone's right to participate.  

I decided in the short time that I was gone that, even though a lot of people may not like my posts, I really missed the interaction with the ones that do.  They are the ones whose ideas and humor I enjoy reading, and I hope to provide them something in return.  Some of them wrote me and told me that they hoped I would return.  Once TER took action and the tone of the board improved, I realized that only my bruised ego and pride was still keeping me away.  Hopefully, I've learned a few survival lessons for the future.  But my true hope is that it will never come to that again.  

So last night when Foolish Jon forced me out of my self-imposed exile, I joked that I was still "sulking."  Well, I enjoyed writing that post a lot and I'm not sulking anymore.  I hope you will feel the same way and return also.  There are a lot of good people on TER that will welcome you back.
Regards,
G2