GlenStephens

I was a member of Stampboards forum, and not being that well versed in downloading photos etc, or computer savvy, the comments I received from the "Sherrif" (an administrator") was rude, arrogant, condacending, and basically the views of an egotist. And to top it off, some clown from Canada agrees, saying "unprofessional, loser, needs to get it together". Thanks, I will buy off EBay or Gumtree and bypass the self indulgent crew at Glen Stephens, who owns Stampboards.

Stampboards is an efficiently run free resource without ads. The guy that runs it and owns it, Glen Stephens, contributes significant time, energy and money to ensure it stays that way. It is run with a very firm hand to ensure that is stays efficient and useful.

There is a great amount of good information available for collectors of all levels.

However, if you do not subscribe to the mantra that Glen knows all, you are not made welcome (Richard Debney and Rod Perry are tolerated by Glen, even though they challenge him). Anyone else trying it on are shown the door or shouted down and humiliated in public.

What his site does not do, is be welcoming and accommodating to new and budding collectors, or those who have inquiries that come from a low base of knowledge.

I understand that it is the firm hand that keeps the site free of material that clogs up many sites, but when people sign up and treat it like many other forums where such rules are not exercised, they are publicly shamed and made to feel foolish.

In a dying hobby, senior members of the philatelic community have a responsibility to welcome and nurture new collectors but Glen Stephens and stampboards does nothing of the sort. A great opportunity to expand the collecting community is lost because Glen Stephens cannot see the forest for his giant ego and all his little minions go along for the ride so thay can continue to play on his playground.

I have seldom met anyone in such denial of their failings. I know as we get older, becoming more right-wing is normal (Glen is 65 now from his own account) but Glen Stephens makes Ted Nugent look like a communist. He is unpleasant, abusive and intolerant of anyone who he believes does not meet his (constantly varying) standards.

Try www.stampcommunity.org of www.stamporama.com for a much friendlier, if less 'philatelic' approach to online forums.

John G (not Fossick).