Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

The orange bee was my favorite too.

Sorry about that. We intentionally made and advertised the Orange Bee as a signed and numbered Limited Edition of 2000. When you make a legitimate numbered limited edition it's unfair to the original buyers to later find more are being produced. We even stated "Hey, these may be worth big bucks someday".

I believe we reserved a few spare housings in case one gets damaged, but it would be unethical for us to issue beyond the original numbered edition. I know ethics are out the window these days, but I'm 75 now and still do my best to follow them.

The trolls are still there on FM http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1020218

Now they're blaming the lack of AB posts on the death of the forum. But the posts I put up were about many products and techniques, technical info, etc.

Looks to me like, with me booted off, no information is being exchanged at all.

You gotta' be careful when you carry a gun . . . you can shoot yourself in the foot. Curious. huh :lol:

Dear Paul

I'm very sorry to see that this happened.

I have (had) a bookmark for finding your posts on Fred's forum. It was the first bookmark in my "FM" bookmarks folder, which was located in my Safari Bookmarks Bar. Reading what you had to say was the primary reason I visited Fred's site.

This kind of thing is depressing.

I love your products, and I also love the many knowledgeable people who contribute to Fred's forums.

On Fred's site I thought you addressed trolls too frequently (once is too often), but you continuously offered solid information and perspective about your products. You were the primary reason I visited Fred's forum.

I reckon times change and I'll have to change with them. So this is the place to point my browser to find out the latest from the designer of my lights. So be it.

--Jaddie

Odd, This just popped up from "Rusty Bag" on the FM thread in question.

Kent, I don't quite get your closing "FM Fanboy" I got no warning before Fred pulled the plug on me, (got one a year earlier) and had sent innumerable complaints about the horrible behavior, and made a concerted effort to make sure I didn't cross the line. I don't think any other human being could have blindly listen to the libel and hate without responding as I did if they have any testosterone at all.

Now the FM Lighting Forum is dead, yet the instigators are all still there and there is no poster left to offer the technical info I provided.

In Fred's defense (he sent out multiple warnings) ... yet, the master baiters excelled at walking the line, whereas PCB would just come 'crashing through the wall' when they pushed his buttons hard enough ... makes some sense when you remember that PCB was a former Marine, i.e. "up, over, around or through". It was probably this tenacious part of PCB's personality that they found most disagreeable ... that or a few of them were simply trolls that subscribed to 'mob mentality' and joined the bandwagon just because they could.

Now, lest anyone think (okay, everyone already does ) I'm a one-sided fan boy of PCB, I did appreciate those who challenged PCB for clarification and explanation. It was a great source of learning for many and was tremendously evidenced by the number of viewers. Yet, those that challenged in good faith were largely overshadowed by the interloping antagonizers. Sadly, the interlopers thought (or at least suggested) they were doing us all a favor, as if they somehow knew that we needed someone to protect us from the dangers of PCB "kool-aid".

The thing that bothers me the most about it is that those same "members" that antagonized PCB, be-little & berate other members as well (albeit a bit more subtly) ... for espousing a different opinion, technique or explanation style, claiming that it isn't appropriate for this forum. To me, this is hypocritically aspiring to apply censorship while they pursue in hiding behind the freedom that Fred affords from censorship. It is not theirs to pressure others into posting as they would have it be, yet they do so with regularity. Many grow weary and simply leave (or acquiesce to lurking) without much fanfare, and the self-proclaimed guardians once again have reduced the diversification, feeling empowered that they again have saved us all.

Despite Fred's efforts to address the baiters (and PCB's response), they knew that as long as they 'walked the line' they could get away with the antagonizing, feigning opinion under the premise of Fred's liberal (and appreciated) resistance to censorship. It was an abysmal example of liberty exploitation, escalating to demise.

I was surprised by and appreciative of Fred's re-instatment of PCB. Yet, I knew the antagonization would resume. I (presumably others as well) tried to get PCB to tone it down a bit, in hope that he would remain as a member. PCB did make an effort following the first re-instatement. But the antagonizers were unaffected by PCB's efforts (albeit small), as they simply had a mission to complete. I got away from the forum for a bit before the second banishment, so I really don't know the specific details surrounding it ... but I can only imagine it was more of the same from both sides ... leaving Fred with little choice on how to proceed with a "lose-lose" decision to be made.

Some people 'tuck tail and run for cover' ... PCB was not / is not that kind of a person ... you always knew where he stood, right or wrong, agree or disagree. For some reason, people just felt that meant he was available for attack as an incessant target and it gave them license to shoot rather than opportunity to display virtue in diversity, i.e. it was a 'witch hunt' ... sink or burn, PCB chose burn.

Much dialogue is given around PCB, but the PCB story only represents the most obvious example of the ills associated with members antagonizing fellow members.
Moving forward to revive the forum ...

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana, Vol. I Reason In Common Sense

Kent Southers
FM Fan-Boy

FM ROCKS !!!

Thanks Fred.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1020218/1

I have only recently read all the old FM/Buff posts. Without getting too deep into it, I found it extremely funny that you have an idiot who burns his own bulb cover trying to argue with a guy who brings revolutionary new products to the industry. :lol: It's just funny!!! He wanted so bad to win the arguments but got absolutely nowhere with all his babble.

You are better than the trolls, PCB. You should really ignore such meaningless idiots



..... named Todd who burn their own bulb covers off!!!!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:


Keep innovating, Paul!


PS I just bought ANOTHER most excellent Einstein!

Actually, Todd accomplished a lot. He, along with others, managed to convince Fred to effectively destroy the FM lighting forum.

It was their loss to let someone as knowledgeable as you go.... just because you were forced to defend yourself against people like Todd "Burns" and his very few friends. I personally thought you handled yourself well and kept your composure just fine. Fred just didn't like you telling him to handle his members. Don't worry about it. There are many many people who will not join that forum and for good reason. Especially now that it's dead. We are all out shooting great images with your products while some of them are wasting time trying to prove others wrong.... with no proof to back it up. Lame.