For Wingrider: RIP

[Peter1469]

I don't know how many of the recent members saw Wingrider listed as a mod or not, but there is a reason why you haven't seen him around. It has been a year now, and we are removing his name from the Mod list, but hopefully this will serve as an adequate reminder of the man and mentor that Wingrider was to this forum.





Wingrider joined tPF almost a month after I did. But, if I remember correctly, he took a leadership role here long before I did. I imagine that our members have seen Wingrider listed as a moderator, but most who post here today don’t know who he is.

He passed last October (2012). Stage 3 cancer in the lungs, liver, and kidneys, along with other problems.

Wingrider was often controversial in his positions; he certainly was confident in his political views. But he expressed those views in a respectful and courteous manner. He was an example to all of how to disagree without being disagreeable. As a moderator, he was extremely fair. I know this from the short time that we moderated together and from going back and reading his posts in the Mod room prior to my time. Thinking on it, his example is reflected in the current Mod team. He set the standard.

I never knew the man personally. But I still considered him a friend and a mentor. He is certainly an example for all who wish to get along in cyberspace. Godspeed Wing- I will see you on the high ground.


I won’t link to his posts, because many of them are mod room discussions. But this was his last:


I gotta sign out and lie down for a bit,, room is spinning and I cannot concentrate,, laters Wing.

For reactions to Wing's passing please see this (http://thepoliticalforums.com/threads/9960-Concerning-Wingrider).

[KC]

I only knew him briefly, since I joined much later on, but from what I knew of him he was always respectful and even handed. He must have been a great man indeed.

[GrassrootsConservative]

Why remove his moderator title, though?

That's what I don't understand.

[Dr. Who]

It's less confusing for the membership. We want to honor Wingrider and the fact that he was a great Mod, but at the same time we don't want people to mistakenly think that he is an active Mod who they can PM.

[Mister D]

Reached a detente with Wing on his anti-Catholicism. We became friends.

[oceanloverOH]

Just as a side note: If you look up at the top of the page, to the banner, you will see Political Forums, with three stars on either side of those words. Just under the third star on the right, you will see the letters "WR". This is for Wingrider, marking his contributions and legacy to this Forum. WR will remain in the Political Forums banner for the life of this site.

[Peter1469]

My eulogy is certainly not adequate, so if the members who were here with him want to add to it, that would be appropriate.

[GrassrootsConservative]

It's less confusing for the membership. We want to honor Wingrider and the fact that he was a great Mod, but at the same time we don't want people to mistakenly think that he is an active Mod who they can PM.

That's a good answer. I didn't think of that.

I never got to know him, by the time I was here he was already very sick and forum discussion was going on about why he hasn't been on in so long. I don't know if I ever saw a single post from him. He sounded like a pretty great guy, though.

/Edit: Are you all aware that wingrider currently has a 2.0% activity rating?

Any explanation for that?

[Peter1469]

The others who were here during Wing's time here are certainly free to contribute to my inadequate eulogy. That includes Admin.

[Dr. Who]

That's a good answer. I didn't think of that.

I never got to know him, by the time I was here he was already very sick and forum discussion was going on about why he hasn't been on in so long. I don't know if I ever saw a single post from him. He sounded like a pretty great guy, though.

/Edit: Are you all aware that @wingrider (http://thepoliticalforums.com/member.php?u=62) currently has a 2.0% activity rating?

Any explanation for that?

I'm afraid that is one of the mysteries of v-bulletin. I have asked the same question myself about other non-active members, but haven't received an answer. It may be that the simple presence of the name on the forum creates an activity rating, but as I said I don't know.

[GrassrootsConservative]

I'm afraid that is one of the mysteries of v-bulletin. I have asked the same question myself about other non-active members, but haven't received an answer. It may be that the simple presence of the name on the forum creates an activity rating, but as I said I don't know.

My first thought maybe was that a family member was logging in and observing things here, but the likelihood of that just seems minimal. Why not just make their own account?

Who knows. What inactive members still have an activity rating? (just curious)

[KC]

That's a good answer. I didn't think of that.

I never got to know him, by the time I was here he was already very sick and forum discussion was going on about why he hasn't been on in so long. I don't know if I ever saw a single post from him. He sounded like a pretty great guy, though.

/Edit: Are you all aware that @wingrider (http://thepoliticalforums.com/member.php?u=62) currently has a 2.0% activity rating?

Any explanation for that?

It's just a bug. When a member becomes inactive for a while it stops re-calcualting the activity rating until the member logs in agian. It's the same reason we have banned members with a 99% activity rating, which clearly isn't possible.

[KC]

Who knows. What inactive members still have an activity rating? (just curious)

Billybob, Goldie Locks and Disco Stu, to name a couple I remember getting banned.

[Peter1469]

I think that a family member did log in and talk to Admin.....

Or maybe Wing did from the other side.....

[Mister D]

Billybob, Goldie Locks and Disco Stu, to name a couple I remember getting banned.

There were at least three manifestations of Disco Stu. What a weirdo.

[Captain Obvious]

There were at least three manifestations of Disco Stu. What a weirdo.

Santas little helper, red green

[Mister D]

Santas little helper, red green

red green, yeah. I couldn't remember that one.

[Polecat]

I wonder if I knew him. I used to make all the Goldwing rider gatherings.

[silvereyes]

I know this is an old thread but it kicked in a memory. I knew Lon. We used to chat in pm's frequently. He was having a hard time financially and was asking me about our jobs here. I told him jobs are plentiful down here. He took it upon himself to come down here and showed up at my job. I have no idea how he found out where I worked. All I told him was it was a seafood place. I was off the night he showed up. I didn't know until two days later when I went back to work. It sorta freaked me out (understatement) and soured our friendship.I avoided him online after that. I was sad when he died thought. ..I wish I could have talked to him one more time.

Ride like the wind Lon.

[Gypsy]

I know this is an old thread but I too knew him from another forum. I'm saddened to hear of his passing. :cry:

[Captain Obvious]

I know this is an old thread but I too knew him from another forum. I'm saddened to hear of his passing. :cry:

He wasn't crazy about me but we had a respecting relationship.

I think he was a genuinely good man. Old school.

I'm glad you bumped this, he should be remembered.

[webrockk]

I know this is an old thread but I too knew him from another forum. I'm saddened to hear of his passing. :cry:

Do I remember him from the other forum, too? I've read of his passing here and at least one other forum, but I can't remember if he was a member where you and I were. nevertheless, he seems to have touched a lot of lives on these political fora. RIP, sir.

[Gypsy]

Do I remember him from the other forum, too? I've read of his passing here and at least one other forum, but I can't remember if he was a member where you and I were. nevertheless, he seems to have touched a lot of lives on these political fora. RIP, sir.

Yes, he was. He was a good man.

[Jets]

Good guy all around!

[silvereyes]

Do I remember him from the other forum, too? I've read of his passing here and at least one other forum, but I can't remember if he was a member where you and I were. nevertheless, he seems to have touched a lot of lives on these political fora. RIP, sir.
yep, that was lon. A bit off but decent chap.