So it came to a head today. I learned that Beechtalk forum is infested by greedy sales con artists called brokers who jack up the price of aircraft by 20-30%. I called them on this bluff and was banned as a result. A lot of cranky pilots on that forum even though there are some good Beech pilots there as well.
As one who is also banned from Beechtalk, I am certain it has nothing to do with brokers, although you did continually poke them in the eye with a stick for no good reason -- other than to tout yourself as SuperLowballs the Airplane Dealmaking Genius.
I'm confident that you were banned for being a repeat-offending douchebag. Your tone was completely contrary to the drum-circle vibe they try to maintain there. If you eye the site as a 20,000 (or however many) member bingo club, where everyone shows up to high-five each other for their aircraft brand selection genius, and criticism of the marque is unwelcome -- things might make more sense. Witness the drubbing the Cirrus guys keep getting on there -- and they're friendly!
When you complained of trouble getting your own Beechcraft, they circled the wagons and tried very hard to solve any issue that you might have -- not because they like you -- but because they are paying homage to the marque. So they showered you in free rides, plane research, and all the info you'd care to learn -- that is until they all realized they were being played for chumps and you weren't drinking the kool-aid. Once they identified you as not "one of them" (ie, loyal to the brand B and willing to pay a little more for the value of the marque, or the value of planes owned by active Beechtalkers), they became totally allergic to your discounting the value of their help, wisdom, time, and advice, and the sneering at their planes.
Frankly, I agree with them giving you the boot. You're insufferable even on abrasive forums like AOPA's, where I actually visit to read the Douchebag Jowl Squad sparring with one another and bicker over the most amazing minutia.
I'm certain you had several condescending warnings from the Jeffs, where they talked to you like you were a 4 year old, and which you clearly didn't heed. I am not aware of any "Surprise! Banhammer!" kicks from that site. So the mock outrage is misplaced.
I'm certain they fielded innumerable complaints about you, which anyone would find tiresome. (who on earth would want to be an internet forum moderator?
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And really, you did nothing to advance the state of aircraft shopping with your continual whining, the trash-talking of every for-sale ad on the site, and the Brand B Boosters took it personally. Anyone who has been through the plane purchase process from start to finish could identify your tire-kicking ways. I get it. A plane is a huge purchase, and one doesn't want to leave money on the table. Hopping up and down and telling everyone their planes are overpriced junk isn't really a great tactic for making friends. It was amusing to watch, though.
For the record, I have three Beechcrafts. I still boost the brand in my own way, but I'm not part of the Official Unofficial Beech Rah-rah squad anymore. Despite your antics, I'd even take you for a ride, and I'd even pay for the gas. I think the planes are "worth it", and there are so damn many of them, you can eventually find one for a steal of a price by staying quiet and being ready to pounce.
Regardless of all of my noise -- You should get a Piper Comanche. Seriously. It's a good personality match with most of those guys. I still remember going to the ICS Comanche Fly-in where dozens of owners were kvetching about the stabilator horn crack AD -- and were incensed at the cost of a few hundred bucks to discover if their stabilator was going to flutter off of the airplane and cause their violent death. Hilarious. Join em, you can ***** with and at them for hours, and they all believe their plane is as good as a Bonanza for half of the price. They're pretty close to right about that, too. (...but check your stabilator horn, put on the new style one, fly with confidence, hate on Bonanzas. Lather, Kvetch, Repeat.
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$0.02. I actually hope you end up in a TBM900 and give them all the finger. The butthurt would flow like spring wine. Heh!
- Mike
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