This latest incident with Lance Hedrick erupted whilst I was in Italy and admin access via the mobile is tricky, as I needed to reconfigure the forum, so it has taken until today to resolve this.

This is my final word on the matter, after discussion with the moderators. @dfk41 has been a very good friend to me over the years, in fact we have known each other for over 18 years. I have found him to be generous and helpful, but with a tendency to use on line forums in a way that is not always in line with our guidelines. This community is for everyone and not for pursuing perceived slights, or attacks on it’s members or their equipment. There was a lot of trouble created, partly by David, Lance and also few “members” in our midst who are here only to troll (you don’t see their posts, but I do).

Why on earth it was seen fit to call lance out in the way done is beyond me, there was nothing to gain in that. If anything, the better way to have pursued it to the benefit of all would have been to say "you didn’t show “this” and I think it’s important that potential purchasers see it. I think you should re-upload the video with the omitted material included. A simple statement of fact and something you would like to see. If it’s anything else it should be done off the forum. As always play the ball not the man, use facts not emotions. David gave those who would wish to see our forum fail a huge amount of ammunition, it’s not going to happen again..

As for Lance, his behaviour was in no way exemplary either, especially as he is a YouTube influencer with a reasonable following on a public platform. He:

Allowed himself to be manipulated by others not actively part of this forum
He didn’t read the rules or act on them
He didn’t flag the post or report it in any way to the moderators
He did not have the courtesy to contact me either by my forum e-mail, or my personal e-mail
Tried to use his position to destroy the forum, openly expressing his opinion of it, all of us, especially claiming it was toxic. The ageist part was not pleasant to read either.

Personally, I am very disappointed in @lancehedrick , especially as he was warmly welcomed onto the forum. I think he could have handled it in a far more classy way! However, we don’t need members who are going to do these things the first time they get upset, or are so easily manipulated by others. Most of you will have all seen the thread and read everything. I had rightly considered some sanctions on Lance, but as I don’t think he will be back it seems pointless. I sincerely hope espresso machine manufacturers didn’t read what he wrote as most of those owner companies are run by “old men”, many of who I know personally.

I have configured the forum in such a way (if I’ve done it right) that @dfk41 post content will have to be approved by a moderator or myself for the next 3 months. This will end on 29th April 2023. If after this it happens again, he will be put into approval for 6 months. If it keeps happening there will be no alternative but to ban him from the forum, an action I hope to avoid.

I’ve taken this action because no single person has the right to potentially negatively affect all the other members of this forum. We all came here seeking a better place, a forum for us, non-commercial and won’t be sold from under us….ever!