Yep. That was around 2006, shortly after this forum opened, if I recall correctly. Suddenly several folks registered from the same IP using different names and were puffing his products and saying what a wonderful guy he was to do business with. Quick check using some internet utilities showed what was up. Admin was not pleased and that conversation abruptly ended.
BTW, I see both his websites are down now, too. I expect he's curled up somewhere licking his wounds, retooling his sites. He'll show up eventually, but I often wondered how, in the post-EPA ban of old, dirty diesel engines, he could be offering for sale non-compliant engines. Perhaps he finally was noticed and shut down.
I've never met Willem, but I know a couple folks who have, and am told he's a likeable enough guy. Just someone who has a huge ego and seems to want/need affirmation and recognition which I guess he wasn't getting here. Everyone's entitled to live the life of a Walter Mitty,** if they want to. By the same token, everyone is also entitled to express their opinions about what someone posts on the internet. I'll miss his videos for their sophomoric content. I don't know whether Red Green could have done any better. But many of them contained questionable advice and information that might cause a technical noob harm, and I think that's what bugged most people.
BTW, years ago I was also threatened by him. I resisted the impulse to pay him a preemptive visit.
Quinn
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Life_of_Walter_Mitty
