Yes, it is all that. But what about here? What is this website forum that we all frequent and call SPAM?
Is it a marriage/monogamous relationship? No. We all come here and share our work, thoughts, feelings, opinions, findings, and so much more. But not only here. Members are free to come and go as they choose and post whatever they choose wherever they choose (within forum guidelines of course) as much as, or as little as they care to do. Lurk silently or post promiscuously, the choice is yours.
Is it a gulag/prison/jail? Certainly not! No members are brought here at gunpoint and forced to stay here for life or until penance is served. We all came here of our own free will, either by invitation, own discovery, or some other means. No one makes us join or stay if we are unhappy. The internet door works both ways- you can come in on your own and you can leave on your own.
Is it elitist? Hell No! Members do not have to build a certain subject type or scale. Or brand or even skill level. They are all welcome here, from the beginner to the guru. We just want to build things from plastic, resin, metal, scraps of whatever. And share it amongst ourselves and anybody else who wants to partake. But there is no last word in how or what to do.
Is it a refuge? Sort of... many of us came here after some blow ups, dust ups, melt downs on other forums and gravitated together due to a common interest- model building. I don't want to say scale modeling because some subjects are not scale miniature reproductions of something real, but are instead based purely upon the imaginary and by that virtue they sidestep that issue. But yes, we came here from around the globe, built this up, and stayed because we thought that we could all get along and do it just a bit different than on other sites, and hopefully better while doing so. We tend to have a mutual respect for one another. I don't think that there is a member here, who if they showed up on my front porch tomorrow that I could not invite in to my home, crack open a cool refreshing beverage to drink with them, fire up the BBQ to make some food to enjoy with them, and talk about our shared passion for this great hobby of modeling. We all may have differing subject interest areas, but we all like to create these miniatures with our own two hands. Otherwise we could go out, buy and collect, pre assembled, pre painted miniatures. The enjoyment is both in the path and at the destination.
What is SPAM to you?
