Well, I do not think forgiven is the right word. More like I 'wised up' and learned how to deal with that situation- even in my old- age I can learn apparently.
For me, it is simple: I like a lot of COG folks, includin' some way down in Tehas.
But there were things I did not like, and made the foolish choice to try and change some of those things. Then of course, I let my emotions get in front of my thinking and that went poorly as it had to. But I still really like a lot of COGgers, most local though some very far away, and still interact with my local group somewhat- I am actually 'the' C-14 tech. guy at tech. day in MA every spring. And I look forward to it- it is a great time, with great people and a guy usually shows up who spends the day telling bad jokes and making witty observations :-) And I do participate on their forum though only when I think I can say something of some use and never, ever, EVER, get sucked up into any type of back- and- forth or conflict.
And COG has changed quite a bit since I was a member though it has nothing to do with me (which is fine of course). So the blatant favoritism is pretty much over although the subtler favoritism marches on- but again, it is not my group and it is none of my business so I am not invested in any of that.
But at any rate, I am not spending any additional emotion on that issue. Besides, a little over a year ago I got what I think is the best experience of my life when my Granddaughter was born; easily the cutest, most adorable and most pleasant human anywhere on the planet. So any annoyances with people over the 'Net will shrink in comparison to real- life events.
Brian (proud Grandfather of Penelope- I even love her name!)
One of the reasons I love COG and yet don't go on the COG forum much. The fan boys problem, the control and worry about "COG's appearance on the web" to the point that I can't modify my own posts there, after a week I need a mod's help to mess with them. Here, or on the MSTA forum, I can delete my account or go back to my my very first post (2011) and add a comma if I want to. On the COG forum they own my posts now even though I pay dues.
I think Brian has sort of forgiven them, me not so much.