DocJohn--do you know something we dont? Really, OBT has helped many. It has also changed a lot over the years but one thing was for certain--it crashed and went off line on a regular basis.

Forums are made up of people and this one or any other will be what "we" make it for the most part.
JL has not vanished--he can be seen on-line at his other sites. Why he doesnt communicate is anyones guess--he never was very good at keeping us updated when the thing went down.

For myself --the frequent crashes caused me to back off and enter lurkdom as I found it was making me far to irritated for my own good.
BUT--I still felt--"ah BT will be there to help when i really need it" and last week was one of those times.

I went searching and found it still wasnt back but I found this one and was very happy I did cause the people who are most likely to help me for my current crisis are here!

So--I have nothing agasint JL but understand those that are upset. I am not so sure OBT is coming back at all. I disagree that JL doesnt owe the people something.
I think he owes common courtesy and respect by way of a 3 sentence notification regarding whats up or not.

As alwats this is nothing more than my opinion which isnt worth a hill of beans anyway lol