Pilgrim23 and the SAS Avatar

[Rotary Booty]

You may have seen posts from Pilgrim23 (Mark), mainly on the Gulf War II Forum, and he is using the badge of the Special Air Service (SAS) as his avatar.

He and I disagreed on a couple of threads, and he informed Sticky and Bootneck in one thread , '...keep hiding behind your keyboard'. He took me to task, quite vehemently, for referring to the 'Union Jack', until ratso put him straight. Finally, on one of the threads, I asked him to explain his use of the SAS badge as his avatar.
I received a pm from him on the 30 March at 15.18hrs, in which he began, 'I must admit to a little bit of bravado'.
He told me he wanted to join 23 SAS TA, and made it through to selection, but then had a medical problem which halted the process. He added, 'I may have made the wrong decision to use the Winged Dagger as my avatar. I will never know if I would have made the grade. Please allow me my fantasy'.
I suggested in my reply that he had two options: to change his avatar, and explain to the forum why he had done so, or cancel his registration totally, and return to the forum as who he really is.
I added that if he chose neither option, I would post what I knew on the forum, so that everyone was aware of his false persona.
I advised the moderators of my actions, and they have been aware of the situation throughout.
I am posting this now because I have checked the forum today, and the SAS avatar is still in use by Pilgrim23.

Yours Aye, Derek

[gash-hand]

Jesus Christ...not another walter

[harry hackedoff]

Well done, Derek. Another one bites the dust.
Aye,

[Andy O'Pray]

Nice one Derek. I would expose myself, but I don't have a digital camera.

Aye - Andy

[Wully]

Loz, who could ever, or would dare, doubt that you are not what you claim to be!!

[El Prez]

I repeat, "If you haven't done the course, then don't wear the badge."
The same applies to people wanting RM T shirts; who then wear them to the pub. Wrong.

[El Prez]

Ah but Callum is family, not wannabee.

[Pilgrim23]

Apology/confession time!

I know I should be ashamed. I probably would be, but life has kicked me in the teeth too many times, not least what is laid out below.

It may seem, to some, that I am winging. Not at all.
This is an explanation, not an excuse.

I never completed selection (23SAS TA) due to a hereditary condition, which I agravated during training for selection. I thought it was groin strain. If only. It got to the stage where I had to seek medical attention, and subsequently drop out.
Said hereditary condition is called hip dysplasia. That means my hips were not properly formed at birth. It did not stop me from taking up all manner of sports in my younger days; squash, badminton, football and martial arts. Didn't stop me, because I knew nothing about it, until selection.
Failing selection may have been a blessing in disguise, as it brought my condition to light, but did not seem like it at the time. I was gobsmacked to say the least. My dream, shattered!
Five years after failing selection, I had to have both hips replaced at the tender age of 31! Sharing a ward with others having had the same op who were all 30 odd years older than me, took my already low mental state down to depths I never knew existed. I did the lot, drink, drugs, abused my missus (verbally only, thankfully!) Lost my wife, home and job.
A mate in the Sigs took me under his wing (in front of his fist occasionally too, when required), helped me sort myself out. Took a couple of years, with a couple of minor relapses.

I used the avatar, not because I felt I had a right to, but because it is the only emblem I ALMOST had the right to.

A fool, an a****le? Probably both. A fraud? Not totally. I tried.

[El Prez]

Thanks for coming clean Mark. Some would say 'it's only a badge', but to us the badges and insignia mean a tremendous amount. I hope you can continue to enjoy the site and input to it. Our judgements may seem harsh, but they are honest, and unfortunately lately we have experienced a few people who we don't need on the site, hence our reaction.

Do you still go line dancing........just asking? Keep smiling.

Now that's all cleared up may I have permission to edit the Topic to reduce any embarrasment, please.

[MarkE]

Permission granted, but I feel it ought to stay as is.
Feel free to amend, if you wish.

Have re-registered and turned Pilgrim23 avatar off.

Line dancing, ho ho oooh there goes another rib!

Again, I apologise, no offence meant. Sometimes the gremlins get in before the brain does.

Mark.

[Rotary Booty]

Rob, that's fine by me.

Mark, so you did take the first option after all. Good on you for that.

[MarkE]

Can I use the Boys Brigade emblem as my avatar? (LOL )
Managed 5 years with them.
(You may have noticed, today's a good day!)

Mark.