ChicagoX
I'll guess ChicagoX too.. But I really don't know to be honest.
..Actually, I'd like to amend my guess to ILIKEFLASHLIGHTS.
Hmm.. on further consideration I will go back to ChicagoX, final answer. I think.
FOY for me.
This entire proceeding (along with the gift bestowed upon s1mp and the accompanying discussion) has already been fascinating, sometimes fun, sometimes heart wrenching and sometimes just plain interesting. I really don’t know enough about all the members to make an informed or intelligent guess but it’s still fun to give it a little thought based on the little I’ve come to know (or think I know),
I’ll tell you one thing – and that’s that this is a community – a real community in many senses of the word. As such, it has a lot of the elements of a “brick and mortar” community, the leaders, the followers, the “hangers on,” as well as the lonely, the needy, the healthy and the sick. (I could go on.)
Sure, the flashlight thing satisfies many of our needs. (OCD has been mentioned multiple times – and it’s fun on one hand, and consoling on the other, to be able to “hang out” with others who can relate.) Please understand that I’m not belittling flashlights as a hobby. It’s got a lot to offer – but most of you already know that.
Nevertheless, and all things considered, I don’t find "The Shadow's" comments quoted above at all surprising. They could be motivated by several different (some certainly conflicting) feelings and situations in someone’s life. Let’s take the part that reads “How incredibly insulting. All I wanted to do was give away another flashlight and have some fun. It really is true that no good deed goes unpunished. When this is over I'll send out the light then I and my original username are outta here.” It’s the “… I and my original username are outta here …” part that I’ll address for the moment. Certainly the donor could have been offended and hurt and simply reacted in a kneejerk kind of way. That would be one possibility. By the way, I echo the comments of whomever said they hope that (exit) doesn’t come to pass.
[Ironically, if the donor does leave, the mystery IS solved – that’s if I understand the rules correctly.]
Back to reasons for leaving: I have no doubt that more than one of the current (particularly the active) members have more than once considered spending their time and money in a different way. I would have to disagree with those of you who would be offended if any one of them decided to do so. For flashlights to be the glue to hold this community together – so effectively, so intensively at times, and for so long is in itself sort of weird. Obviously it’s fulfilling some other types of needs – and why shouldn’t someone have the opportunity to look for fulfillment elsewhere? Sure there are friendships at the BLF. Many people have come to know a lot and sometimes care a lot about others within the group. But a true friend wouldn’t try to dissuade their friend from foregoing other, better opportunities.
Well, I’ve gone on a lot longer than intended. I may post another “armchair philosophical treatise” relating to all this – and then again, I may – but I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for providing me a place to “hang out” on occasion. It's been great!
Best Regards, -Bob- (KumaBear)
A better question is who hacked my BLF account and bid on all the flashlights at once? Errr um... My wife wants to know. (sounded better the first time I used it)
My first thought of who gave the lights to s1mpl3m4n was a group donation consisting of Foy, Chicago X and E1320. Like most of you, Foy came to mind immediately due to the WK21. CX simply because he is the most generous member I know of on this great forum of ours. E1320 because he too is generous and has given items in the past to Paul.
I can't recall exactly who did the great detective work, and I'm too lazy to interrupt my post to go back a page and look, but they raised a great point that the serial # of the donated WK21 didn't match that of the one Foy was given to review. There goes that theory of mine.
The threat to leave the group and take their username with them removes all 3 from my guesses unless it was a ploy, as Boaz said, to throw us off the trail. None of them would ever get into such a huff and leave their second home that easily. I'm guessing it is someone newer to BLF but have no clue whom. I really don't care to know either, as I believe their charitable act should remain anonymous, and besides, the light will be given away regardless and we would never really know for sure. It sure has been fun guessing though. 
Has there been a correct guess already?
clue please...
Hmmm... what about mitro? He hated his Maelstrom X10. Seems to be motive behind giving away such an expensive light :bigsmile:
EDIT: Sorry, that's not my guess. I'm just thinking out loud since this turned into a discussion 
But Mitro already sold his. He sold it to Anzycpethian.
ChicagoX does (did?) have one though. He also has at least one WK21 of unknown serial#.
Cooter has 2 of them. Did he give one away?
Oh yeah. I knew he bought one but couldn't remember from who. Chi-X still seems like the most likely suspect. The infantile troll comment made me recall the debacle he got into with a former member 8) (not the fault of Chi-X though)
I think the original username is ALREADY outta here...since I've never heard anyone else make impish claims about leaving...
But he was from the UK and the package was shipped from the US. I think Chicago X is the best bet as he seems to have owned most of these lights at some point at least and has been known to do giveaways in the past.
If y'all really think it's Chicago X, then just ask s1mp13m4n how the package he got was wrapped. If it took ten minutes to unwrap, it's not Chicago X. If it took a half hour and all the lights were in separate boxes filled with foam, And everything had ten layers of tape on it, it might be Chicago X.
Believe me, he can't send a simple package. He has to pack it like there was nitroglycerin in it.
And I still don't believe it could be him or foy. Chicago X really wouldn't want the whole community to know if he sent something to someone and I don't think foy would either. I think they both would do it anonymously and I don't think they would come out and start a thread like this that would cause so much of a stir. I especially don't think they would be as (Quoted by the OP - insulting), as I have seen here so far. Some of the comments would suggest that it is someone who has left BLF and come back. Since some of the replies are purposefully stress inducing and negative toward other members, in their content.
Shadow, I imagine you will feel I am trying to cause a stir, but after carefully reading all of your posts here, I am just trying to sort out the tone, to discount who it would not be.
In Essence, Shadow has said: I am still going to give away a light, but then I am leaving, because you guys hurt my feelings. That is not something Chicago X would do.
Look for a member (or past member) who is more emotional and has a short temper, with no patience (no it's not me). That is how Shadow's replies read. It should help you figure out who it is (or isn't).
DISQUALIFIED!!!
:)
"If y'all really think it's Chicago X, then just ask s1mp13m4n how the package he got was wrapped. If it took ten minutes to unwrap, it's not Chicago X. If it took a half hour and all the lights were in separate boxes filled with foam, And everything had ten layers of tape on it, it might be Chicago X."
Alright, here is what I know. It was a large flat rate USPS box. It cost $18.35 to mail. The box was taped up with clear packing tape, and it was insured. The box had clever little jokes and warning written all over it in different colors. The sayings on the box were...."WARNING blinding light contained inside", "CAUTION contents may cause happiness and smiling", Do you know what the intel inside logo looks like everyone....because the box had a drawn logo that looked like that but said "Lumins Inside". All of the content was swimming in packing peanuts. Each items was wrapped in bubble wrap and taped with clear packing tape. The chargers were in their own white boxes which were wrapped in bubble wrap and clear packing tape. The box did not have any international stickers or paperwork on it.....so it could not have been mailed from outside the USA. Whoever sent the box has a sense of humor and tried to have fun with me when sending the box.
I don't think ChicagoX uses peanut foam. He uses shredded paper.
Hmm…ChicagoX has been known to write stuff like that on his boxes but he usually vacuum packs items in thick freezer bags you need a machete to cut through. LOL.
Maybe I am and maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm putting on an act to throw you all off the trail and maybe I'm not. Maybe I have or will post here under my original username and maybe not. :)
http://youtu.be/jvZsSOkYQw4?t=1m3s
Oh I love sleuthing! It's fun.
Will involve a lot of research and time though so I don't know.... I'll try.
1. My first guess is Don because of three things.... Could easily change later.
2. Now I am adding dthrckt on my list.
3. Now adding ChicagoX to my list. The clue about wrapping is useless because doing it will defeat his purpose of being anonymous, if he is indeed the sender. So the packaging not being ChicagoX style doesn't eliminate him.
I love the old twilight zone referance ....I wonder who noticed when the cop pulled out his flashlight ...
Hmm. it looked like a 1961 Burgess range finder.... http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/Burgess-Flashlight-2-Cell-Chrome-Range-Finder-with-Dual-Switches-for-on-off-and-spot-flood-2D-1960
* here's the link to the last part of the twilight zone clip ... Because who doesn't want to know who the alien is ?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1U12d1Olo8&feature=relmfu