What we've got here is ...
It's not about being right or wrong, it's about getting along with others, which is something we all should be able to do, no?
Some individuals here - past and present - seriously struggle with getting messages across without offending others. Most often, on any board, it's not so much about what you communicate, but how you communicate. You can push an opinion all day that no one agrees with and not offend people. Really, you can. You can say something a million times and not upset others. But when you try to drive something down their throats - they'll react. Negatively. And this is how the problem usually starts. People react to and battle over behavior - not opinion. We've seen this happen here time and time and time again. Many of us are 'guilty' of it; some more than others.
Dirk had been here for a long while. Easily, one of the most popular members of the board since I've been here. He's a smart, accomplished, funny and intelligent person. Many people liked him, many considered him a friend. He's a good guy, who has strong opinions of his own but loses patience sometimes. We all do / have.