Hi Kevin,
I've been reluctant to weigh in on this, but as the thread grows, perhaps I should add my opinion. I've missed Steven Black's opinion a lot, but not JVP's. I admit, I read John's posts and like a gawker at a car wreck; I found them entertaining and even insightful. But his tone was confrontational. (Why is it always the shortest guys? It’s the same on basketball court.) He was confrontational to the point of being out of civilized bounds. I can imagine him reading this last statement and demanding, at the risk of a slander suit, that I back up my opinion with specific messages. I am not intimidated, but it does make me weary, and I’m never going to spend time in such an unproductive way.
I come on the UT to see what the programming community is up to. I see the struggles and solutions that reflect the lives of developers across the world. I like your passion along with others as we try to analyze the best practices. But there’s point where it gets out of control. John may be missing a valuable gene that makes him unable to know when that point has been reached.

Hi, Charlie,

Thanks for your input - you know that I always respect your viewpoint.

Since you've brought this up - I'll state it to all. Two years ago, John and I had a series of verbal debates that escalated to the point that we stopped conversing with each other. We did not talk for approximately 22 months.

Before Christmas, I reached out to John, and found that he had changed...not a lot, not a little, but he had changed. He may or may not admit it, but he has said a few things he might not have said before...and he's saying other things in different ways than he did before. While I wish we had never had the verbal altercations we had, I think the end result is that we are both a little better for the time "away" from each other. (jesus, i better stop talking this way, it sounds like a divorce!) :)

Yes, John blows off steam...we all blow off steam. Yes, John's methods can be intimidating. I experienced it first-hand. However, even with all that, in my view, he should be allowed back.

Even during the period where we were not talking, I still felt he should be on the UT. It was only last week that I even had the idea of petitioning for his return.