Mixed emotions reading this thread. I typically mind my own business in these situations because I'm not a big fan of confrontation or drama. I'm not looking to stir up a big pile a shit here either but I tend to fall towards giving TFD some room and leverage here. I don't think he's full of shit. I think he needs some friends right now.
He's taken the ass kicking for caving; granted, it hasn't been as graceful or humble as it could have been but I suppose it's pretty easy to get defensive when you're reading words on the internet....there's no emotion or inflection; sometimes we read things the wrong way lose our shit. I'm not happy that he's no longer a March Ironman. I would hope that's the most disappointing thing to him as well, because our group is fucking awesome. Our group has dropped from 100+ to 22 now as March closes in on the 2nd floor..... it sucks but it's a part of addiction.
I don't know the whole story here, but I do know that if I was working so far out in BFE that I didn't have the internet or cell service, I'd have a really hard time staying quit, especially if I felt like the rest of my life was spiraling into the shitter at the same time. I'm not condoning the cave.
Hell, I'm trying not to ramble and thread jack but the bottom line, TFD, is stay fucking quit.
I'm pretty sure you've got my digits and you've got others in March too. Reach out. Some might tell you to pound sand, but I won't. As long as you promise me that you'll sooner go stick your dick in a pmsing polar bear than stick a dip in your lip, we're good.
It's not the KTC way, but if it's the best you can do, then it's the fucking best you can do. The objective here is to quit dipping and to stay quit.