Contributions aren't a factor in whether someone has the right to express an opinion, and I don't believe Max would ever tell anyone so. It may be frustrating, but people who've donated have not bought the right to express an opinion. That's free. Anyway, we have no way of knowing if someone has donated money.

This might have been a troll. It might have been someone in a worm-eating, spiteful mood because something they cared about isn't perfect. A person doesn't usually get that spiteful unless you feel betrayed by something/someone.
"You're not what I wanted, what I expected.    You were once my love, but now you're worthless, your dead to me! Do you hear? DEAD, and I'm leaving the rotting corpse of our love forever!"
[slams door, then realizes s/he left car keys are on the coffee table]
[knock, knock] "Er, excuse me?"

Yep, I think it was different, and I think 'different', for me PERSONALLY, was 'better' in many respects. It's still a fine place to communicate, if you can weave your way through personal agendas, pet peeves, inane comments, things you've heard a bazillion times, other people's pissing contests, poor socialization skills, lack of comprehension and eagerness to jump on what they don't understand or to jump on others who don't understand, other people's stupid opinions or intolerance to others' opinions^[3]... basically other people.

Things bother me based on how bad a mood I'm in. My ability to see the good stuff is also based on my mood. Somewhere beyond my moods, there's a decent 'place' with decent people. Many things didn't happen the way I wanted, and 'other people' can get on my nerves, and I really don't feel the community spirit I used to feel.^[d] It's not my ideal, it's not the 'place where I always wanted to live', and it's a site I now only cautiously recommend to others, with disclaimers, but there's enough here that I keep coming back.

I'm usually the last one standing at the end of a long night's party. Well, not so much anymore, but if I could be... It's because I believe that as long as the party's still going on, there's the possibility of something remarkable happening. I wouldn't want to miss it.

^[3] Yes, I meant that. It was supposed to be funny, in such a way that indicated I may not be as miserable and grumpy as you may think I am.

^[d] Good place for people in whatever communities to communicate, for old friends/acquaintances to hang out, to make plans. But seriously, how many folks would feel safe inviting 'everybody who reads this' to their house or even want to, feel safe posting sensitive stuff or doing any number of things involving some risk? It's just too big and there are too many damaged or merely hurtful people here.