Sure. I went through cancer and a brain tumor (among other things). Not to mention recent hip and shoulder replacement. It certainly puts things in perspective doesn't it? All we have is this moment and the past is gone . . . . no one knows what the future holds. Seems stupid to dwell on what 'was' and bickering w people you don't even know online. I'm a motorcyclist so I expect more coming. It's just the way it is.
Yes that is obviously one option and some members there actually did that, abandon the survey.
But there are other members there who genuinely want to help improve that site by contributing to the survey and not abandon it because their other survey inputs would be lost. From their posts that I have seen Dirk was very evasive or dismissive of their suggestions on how to improve the survey.
Of course it's up to him as Admin but it's not a good look for him and I see nothing wrong with pointing that out to anyone who might be considering joining his forums.
With my dealings with him there, I have no reason to trust him at all.
I had previously made a direct suggestion about forum nomenclature, which was rejected. That's OK, but I do think that members' specific suggestions are more likely to be useful and actionable than a general survey, which IMO is difficult to structure in a useful way.
Personally, trust doesn't enter into it for me. I have nothing at risk here, so no need for trust.
I think you are both putting way too much thought into someone else's site. It's on Dirk if it fails. Both this site and his are fledgling for sure.
I've never seen a poll, questionnaire on DPReview asking for input on how to run the place, and it certainly wouldn't have went astray. I have a copy of a PM relating to an issue going straight to Scott Everett, and how it was handled, and it was no less dismissive than you believe Dirk to be.
An initial impression for me is that I'm not a fan of him or his site. So I simply stayed away
Whether what you write is true or not, I think it is dishonorable to lament over someone who is not present and cannot defend himself. Without knowing the whole story from both perspectives, this thread is pretty useless for us anyway. If you have a problem with the man, take it up with him directly. Backbiting is never a good thing!
Sorry, but this is an exceptionally bad excuse! Why would he come after you? The "problem" happened on his website and that's where it should be dealt with. To drag it here was from my point of view already a bad idea. But this is the end of the subject for me. I will not comment further.