"Invasion of Privacy-No"-a loss to all!!

[Mr. Checkers]

It has been brought to our attention that private messages on this forum have been recently deleted etc. We are missing about a dozen of our own private messages. But more importantly to us all here is that we are also missing one of our ACF Forum members. And with their departure from the ACF Forum went all of their most kind, thoughtful, caring and informative private messages.--yours as well as mine. "Inky"

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Irma from Mexica recently left forum, and asked Alan to remove her nick. As soon as her id was deleted, all her private message and postings also were automatically removed.

Probably these are messages Lindus was concerned ? If so - nothing to be worry about and privacy at forum still remain at the highest level. Just missed one member.

Alex

[Lindus Edwards]

You are correct in your assumption Alex. When several of my private messages were strangely and suddenly deleted I was, as any normal person would be, concerned.

[tommyc]

I hope Irma dint leave on my account.

Any and all posts that are deemed disruptive and insulting to the directors should be deleted.

I will vote (if Alex starts another one on my behalf) on poll "yes" to that.

[Mr. Checkers]

Tommy I had received several kind and thoughtful private messages from Irma during her short stay with us (all of which are deleted now). From what she shared with me I can say that she showed concerns about the atmosphere that she was experiencing on this forum--which certainly was one of turmoil and not one that presented a picture of a friendly, cordial and unified group of people that loved to play checkers/draughts. She mentioned that she loved to play checkers for fun and from what she observed here this was not the place for her to be. I feel truly sorry for what she experienced here on our forum--and we all should have done our part to make her feel welcome in our checker community. I will have to accept our responsibility in not doing so and for displaying my personal feelings about my adversary on this fine forum and for putting those feelings ahead of doing the right thing in making her feel at home with us here. Irma if you are reading this please accept our apologies from our heart and home to yours. And Lindus we also extend those same wishes to you knowing that all of us have our faults to overcome (and in my case I will have to admit that I am not very tactful at times and don't spell that well), but at the same time all of us have many more good points which bring us together as one unified body who love to play the game of checkers/draughts. Lindus please accept our apologies (for all of the unkind words that we have unfortunately uttered during our confrontations with you) and I am extending my hand in friendship to you with the hopes that we can both walk down the path together and together work to help build a better future for checkers/draughts for many years to come. And hopefully the scars of our battles will heal soon. Take care and God Bless. Mr. Checkers

[Mr. Checkers]

P.S. And I would sincerely like to extend our apologies also to my many good friends in checkers who unfortunately were caught up in the middle of all of this, which put them in the very difficult position of having to choose sides. As one of my friends shared with me today--"Two wrongs don't make a right", which in this case is very true. One of the hardest things to do in life is to ask another for forgiveness, but that is what I am asking of Lindus and of all of my friends that were impacted by all of this. The hour grows late and I have not slept for many nights due to all the stress that this has caused in my life, so I must bid you all good night. Take care and God Bless. Mr. Checkers

[Palomino]

Don,

It makes me happy to see this post, it takes a big man to be the first one to step forward and admit to a mistake and ask for forgiveness. I've stayed out of this believing there was nothing I could add that would make the situation any better. Hopefully Lindus will accept your peace offering and you two gentlemen can bury the hatchet. I will be glad to dig the grave. (I thought I'd add a bit of humor here.) I don't think Lindus knows that I'm the superintendent of our town's two cemeteries. Anyway I join in with you and the others asking and hoping that Irma will return to the the forum. I have known Irma for sometime before she first joined the forum, playing friendly games and visiting with her and our mutual friends at kurnik. She is a great lady (not "just a lady", a little humor here for Irma, I'm sure she understands) A lot has been said here on the forum about the dwindling numbers of checker players over the last several years and discussions about what could be done to get more people involved. Irma is just the kind of person we have been wanting to join us and we can't let her get away.

Regards, "Pal"

[Lindus Edwards]

Dear Mr Checkers,
I too wish to offer my most sincere apologies for any hurtful words I have said to you during the past several days. In some of my posts I might have created a poor image of myself and one who is a callous individual. Many who know me will know that this is far from the truth. I am a soft-hearted person and will do my best to help anyone I can in checkers or in any other way. I think we both got a bit hot under the collar, but now it is time to put our differences to one side.
We both have a great love - that love is checkers. We should, nay must, try and get along as friends therefore for the sake of the game and indeed ourselves.
I think we are all capable of saying things flippantly and I certainly am no exception.
Once again, I am sorry for the nasty things I said and also wish to apologise to all members of this site for creating a poor image of myself.
Yours with all sincerity,
Lindus Edwards.

[Mr. Checkers]

Lindus thank you for your most kind and thoughtful words and we whole-heartedly accept your apology (Ms. Becky never had anything to do with this whole matter)--and if I may speak for both of us then Ed it is time now to bury the hatchet. Take care and God Bless. Mr. Checkers P.S. Lindus you don't really know me so please allow me to share this with you. During my lifetime I have had to climb, overcome, and conquer many mountains. My mother once told me years ago that if I did not have that driving spirit that God has blessed me with then I would have never been able to overcome all of the obstacles that I have had to face each and everyday of my life. Also one of the most important things that I have learned in my life is that you don't always have to be right. I found that especially to be true during my marriage--when my darling wife would always allow me to have the last word--"yes dear".

[Palomino]

I had to write this poem and keep in mind.
Wm. Shakespeare said: "All is well that ends well."

A Near Checker Cat-astrophe

Some checkers players are more like dogs,
Others could be likened to a cat.
Sometimes they come face to face,
Baring teeth, they bark and hiss and spat.

It begins with a squaring off, just a sizing up of sorts.
But where a little provoking word is spoke, a battle soon erupts.
At first it's just a tiny dig or two, a little tongue-in-cheek jab here or there,
But it soon becomes a contest of one-upsmanship, fur and hair begin to fill the air.

They go at each other tooth and nail, with hurtful words they hope to inflict some pain.
Each in turn unwilling to let words pass by unnoticed, respond in kind, intent's to do the same.
This comes as no surprise to us that know the history of their checkered past.
Too bad that all differences can't be settled over the checkerboard, is that too much to ask?

It's hard to say who was right or wrong, 'twas like looking through a fog.
Some tried to help by adding their two cents, others just looked on in awe.
Was all too much for "one" to take, I mean the blood and guts and gore.
She packed her bag and ran away and behind her closed the door.

I always try to find the good in everything, and I think her leaving us made them see the light.
I believe it was the workings of a miracle, I think God reached down and touched their hearts last night.
It was a blessing to see them make apologies and vowing to get along.
I believe their hearts are filled with sincere remorse, I think the anger, hate and bitterness are truly gone.

Well the war of words is finally over, we can all finally get some sleep.
They have given up the battle axes and I intend to bury them extra deep.
Mother Nature tells us cats and dogs are born enemies and will fight it out unto the end.
But I believe we have an exception here and pray these two will soon be calling each other friend.


And hopefully Irma will return, I'm sure everyone wants that.

Regards, "Pal" Bucker

[Lindus Edwards]

Hi Mr Checkers,
You did not have to apologise to me as there was nothing to apologise for. I was absolutely in the wrong to attack you for mentioning a book on ebay. I am the one who must apologise to you. I have acted like a complete jerk and deserve to be horse-whipped.
I am actually very well aware of the kindnesses you have shown to people in this great game of ours. I know that you have given away numerous books out of the kindness of your heart. I believe you gave away twenty copies of the Draughts Razoo only a short time ago.
I truly enjoy your trivia section which obviously takes a lot of work. My only regret is that I can seldom answer the questions.
Suffice it to say that I am thoroughly ashamed of my conduct on this site throughout the past days. I promise you that there will be no repetition of this shameful behaviour ever again.
You have my absolute respect as one who has done huge amounts for our great game.
Lindus Edwards.

[Mr. Checkers]

Dear Lindus, Please know that your earlier post today (as shown above) really means a great deal to me. It is not my nature to attack others for any reason. I am a very quiet, kind, soft spoken, giving fellow with a unique sense of humor that brightens the days of all those that I come in contact with everyday. I know that it is a little late to say this now, but I truly wish that both of us would have taken the time to get to know each other years ago. I feel that would have given us both more insight and understanding into knowing where the other person was coming from. What started out in a dentist office in 1978 was transformed into something that the world of checkers can be proud of for many generations to come. But I could not have accomplished any of this without the love and help of hundreds of caring people, such as yourself, that God put into my life. In 1978 I did not have a dime to my name (and I still don't), but I had a dream and my faith in God gave me the strength of character to make that dream come true. My very first and also my favorite checker book was a Lees' Guide, which I purchased from Tommy Wiswell, who later became my mentor and very good friend. And the stories of "Checker Book World", the John Caldwell-Irving Windt Library of Checkers, the World and Checkers Museum etc. all started as a result of going to the dentist many ages ago. Please do me a favor Lindus and do something special just for yourself today. Thank you for sharing your day. Take care and God Bless. Mr. Checkers