MPK - What a great thread
I don't recall having an "impression" either way of you except that of your handle, but I can say that now that I have had the pleasure of meeting you, I look forward to reading your posts. I think that's why meeting each other is so important.
On the other side of it for those who cant make local gatherings, its important for all of us, providers and hobbyists alike, to remember that every post we make leaves an impression, whether is negative, positive, or neutral. The board in of itself is a "society" with a unique culture. I would venture to say that most of the readers, rarely, if ever post. There is a whole group of lurkers who don't participate in the discussion but actively read and hobby.
I'm sure I'm in the minority, but there are some hobbyists that I've declined to see bc of their "board presence" and some providers I won't do doubles with for the same reason. Perhaps, I'm on the "do not see/work with" list for the same reason. Just today, I recommended a provider to a client but he was unhappy with my choice based on previous email exchanges made over 2 years ago. When he said that, I rethought it and realized, that it would be a bad fit for him bc of a personality conflict that was highlighted in the emails (not a bad trait for either party, just a difference). I partially agree with WM in that this is not always a bad thing. It would be insane for us to expect everyone to like everyone. My father once told me "If everyone likes you, you're doing something wrong". Threads and posts give hobbyists and providers a chance to preview the personality and find those that are a good match. I do think the SA board comes close to the top of the list for cities with drama, but it also gives the participants a lurkers the opportunity to get a feel for who the ladies are. Whenever I'm not getting as much business as I'd like, the first thing I do is reread every recent ad and post to make sure I'm not presenting a board presence that is not truly indicative of my character. Even the lowest volume providers have turnover and once its on the internet, its there forever.