I don't often bring this up but I sometimes wonder why we even have this site. I get considerable hate mail every single day because of this site.

Someone didn't get a wallpaper accepted. No idea what the wallpaper was since I didn't moderate it but I get called a Nazi or worse.

Some other guy's network connection isn't working and can't access their skin for some reason so naturally we deleted it because we're "assholes".

And don't even get me started about the people who run into the 50 megabyte limits. You can be assured that for every guy who posts something here, I get 2 emails about it explaining why I am personally a putrid human being.

And I've had days where I get called a "fucking Nazi" and a "blood sucking Jew" (I'm not even Jewish) for things ranging from not "doing something" about the ratings on the site or some comment on some skin that I didn't remove.

And on top of that, this site costs a fortune to run.  The ONLY reason this site is remotely possible to keep up at this point is because of the generous volunteers who run this site day to day.  The admins and moderators who, I might add, often get treated poorly and without any kind of gratitude.  The other variable are the people who SUBSCRIBE to the site.  I.e. pay the $20 for 2 years.

One of the few pleasures I get out of the site lately has been to write about things that interest me.  I realize that some people don't like "blogs".  Or me ranting about niche developer stuff.  What does a PC user care if some obscure Mac developer is getting screwed over by Apple? Why should I keep "whining" about it? It doesn't affect Stardock one iota. If anything, it helps Stardock by taking out a potential competitor.

But I can't even do that without people bitching about THAT. Sure, those people don't know about all the crap that I and others have to put up with on a daily basis because of the site.

But then again, neither does the egomaniac skinner who sends me the nastygram telling me how I'm a parasite on the backs of skinners for working to make customization software.  And the "artist" who sends me a 10 page email insisting that other artists like him should be getting a "royalty" off of every WinCustomize subscription because it is really THEY who matter.  THEY, their ART is what makes this site run and for me to even suggest that developers, moderators, or even users fit in is a demonstration of my "arrogance" and "ignorance" of the circle of life that is the skinning community. That guy doesn't know about the crap we go through either.  Not that he'd be interested.

Right now, what's really helping keep thigns going besides the wonderful people who moderate this site and the users gracious enough to purchase WC subscriptions is the IT team working full time to create the next generation WinCustomize.  Their hard work and tireless devotion to trying to make something really special helps keep the excitement going.

But to those who feel the need to email me telling me that writing non-news items is a "waste of their time" or "yet another example of your petty egoism" or are just "lame rantings", I say to you: Fuck you. Of those who have emailed me, who have accounts, NOT ONE of them has a WC subscription.

Most people dont' seem to have a problem with editorials. And those who don't like them who have posted on the message boards have been at least constructive about it. I have a LOT more respect for the guy who publicly writes their views than the coward who just sends hate mail from their anonymous Hotmail or Yahoo or whatever email account spewing venom at me.

But I'm not having fun right now with this site.  I look at the bills (hundreds of thousands of dollars a year).  I look at my inbox.  And I ask "Why? What's the point?" 

Sorry if I sound a little depressed. I think everyone has those days once in awhile.  And I'm having one today.