First S-G, I never put you in the same category as the other guy I mentioned. You might even remember this guy!
Second, I agree wholeheartedly, because I had a couple of disputes with the establishment here as well, and had the same experience you are talking about. They treated me like air for a while.
If you didn't suck up to their opinion or close to, you would quickly be the laughing stock. I have spent many years in the US, so I know where some of this stems from. With that said, a lot of the establishment are great people!
That's why I'm not surprised a thread like this shows up. Many genuinly new people are coming to the forum and I think that's great. Makes it easier to be a newbie and get a response!

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Roy-Andrè