I recently was asked that...here is the response.
** It is one of the oldest and main forums for historical purists in a general and specific form depending on your interests. Historium is another,sought by many, but junior in age to AE. There is another version of AE.. also out there... that was originally a breakaway group of members here. Who illegally sought to take over the domain name and site. For all of them.... have had an outstanding membership contribution base at one time or another. The problem you will find is not age difference...military purist or specialist. All of them have something of merit. All membership involvement or diversity in nationalities aside.
It lies within the staff and administration and ownerships priorities to either allow a site to become merely an advertisement vehicle to make money. Or whether they allow an infectious mentality of feigned-false intellectual superiority and ridicule of members less knowledgeable...hence ''a clique mentality''. Or whether the admin-owners and staff fight this and welcome any and all no matter the skill level.
We at AE do the last. Why? Because we believe in the concept of furthering the study and increasing awareness of the need for the study of history and an enjoyable exchange of that effort in particular.
We have several professional educators, current and retired, to include military and civilian collegiate level here. And for those type in primacy, this is their goal. Consequently, we do not necessarily equate that as a means of stroking personalities or egos. I have no need for that at my age, for example, nor do the vast majority of others here.
So continue to feel free to participate and I encourage you to do so. And continue to feel free to ask questions.
best
CV
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That imo is what AE is...have we had and or encountered that which I despise? Yep.
But until the man who owns this place dies and I love him well...we....and I... will speak for we... gives you this answer.
Remember.... here... we speak civilly and honestly.... without fear of administrators in the pockets of owners financial gain or their individual lack of commitment because and or due to apathy of action.
Bet my ass on it.
Edited by Centrix Vigilis - 22-Feb-2012 at 18:51