Hey Carol
I've been here almost as long as you have and I remember just a little of Spike. Seems when things went wrong here, Spike would get the blame.

I can only imagine how much hard work he put in so we could have a nice place to chat about our love.

Thanks for the memory!

Susie

Even though Spike isn't with us anymore there are powers to be that can send you on a teacup ride!

Ah, yes. I do remember Spike who kept thing in good working order. If there was a someone who posted something unkind, he or she was 'sent to Disney', the happiest place on earth, until they repented. Then they were allowed back on Garden Web.
Things ran smoothly when he was in charge.

Linda Leaf

Oh yes, I remember Spike. I've been here since 2003, almost as long as you guys.

I remember Spike. When Princess Diana died he told us that 12 threads about her was too many. Don't remember off-hand what year that was. He ran a tight ship, and he was boss (and fun).
theo

I found this site in 1999 and I loved it! Spike kept things in order. There was no selling and if you played dirty you were sent to Disney. This site was really busy then and I met some good friends. My original name here was ladygardener.

I remember some controversy when he locked a lot of people out of forums after 9/11. Sadly, I was not very active back then, but I do know that a lot of people left GW never to return until he was gone. I wasn't very active back then, just a lurker.

Haha, you guys made me laugh! You remember him much better than I do - I don't remember all of those juicy tidbits - not sure I ever knew some of that. Still giggling that he called timeout "Disney".

Carol

I didn't get to know Spike but wish I had, sorry I missed him by a few years, sounds like a real man....

I remember him. He was tough and not always fair. He ran this site like a dictator. I got Disneyed a few times after getting involved in arguments. He didn't like arguments.

Anyone could complain to him and he'd send you off to Disney until you apologized and promised not to argue again.

Then he tried to charge to post on the forums. It cost $15.00 a year and you'd get a Garden Web T-shirt. There was a small riot over this and many left. People started to organize a protest and he finally dropped the idea. Then he sold the site to IVillage for 1 million dollars, which everyone thought was sooo much money. How funny is that?

IVillage seems to run the website better and has made it profitable.

Jane