[TheForge] Tempest in a commode

[Andy Vida]

Ries Niemi wrote:
> 
> I admit it- I am a member of ABANA.

	I am no longer a member, but it's not for any reason other
	than financial.  If I could afford it I would still be one.
	The bath water may need changing, but the baby is still
	worth keeping.
> 
> The yearly dues are a good deal for the two magazine subscriptions,
> even if I got nothing else out of it.

	I tend to agree, though I've heard a lot of complaints about
	the Ring being too artsy-fartsy, lacking in enough how-to
	articles and focusing too much on smiths not from North
	America.  I guess I'm just not sophisticated enough to see
	the fuss about it.  I don't much care where the beautiful work
	comes from; I just like seeing it.

> But I also think ABANA does a lot of good things- scholarships,
> bringing demonstrators from overseas, and putting on the conferences.
> So I dont mind sending em a few bucks every year, even if I dont agree
> with everything the board does.

	Can't be all things to all people.

> I dont know either George Dixon, or Claire Yellin.
> I dont really have an opinion either way on who is right or who is
> wrong.

	Consider this: perception is 90% of everything in our lives.
	Perhaps Claire honestly believe George screwed her, figuratively
	speaking.  Perhaps George honestly believes the board has
	taken unfair action against him for all the reasons he cites.
	In the course of my life I have come to see that the truth of 
	a given situation can vary wildly between the people sharing
	in the experience. I doubt that guys like Pol Pot do what they
	do thinking "ha ha ha, I'm so eeeeevil... waa haa haa haa..."
	as they slaughter millions of souls.  I'd bet money that their
	view of reality tells them that they are doing the "right"
	thing.  This is an extreme example, but the principle remains
	the same, even in the comparatively tame and paltry politics
	of a blackmsithing organization.

	People's perceptions of the truth bends, almost without
	exception, to fit their expectations and/or their needs.
	This doesn't mean they are evil or even intentionally mean,
	but it also doesn't make them right.  I don't know what the
	answer may be here.  The aggrieved parties may certainly
	decide to slug it out, either in words, fists, or with
	lawyers.  I won't say they are wrog to do so, but perhaps
	they would at least give some consideration to what the
	likely material outcomes are before lighting their fuzes.
	As an outsider, I see precious time, life, and even money
	being spent on seeking satisfaction for their apparently
	rancorous feelings.  If that is what they want, then let
	them have at it.  Personally, I think it is a waste, but
	then again, were I to find myself in their place I might
	hold a differing opinion.
> 
> But, as I tell my kids all the time, it doesnt matter who started it,
> and it doesnt matter who is "RIGHT". If you want it to stop, YOU have
> to stop it, and if you dont, you got nobody to blame but yourself.

	I hope you also tell them that it takes two to tango and
	that at times the other party is unwilling to stop dancing
	no matter how solicitous you may be.

>  My
> kids, who are 10 and 13, seem a little more mature than either of the
> above mentioned.

	Hee hee hee... that's cute, and may even be true.  Being a
	grown up doesn't make one an adult.  A dolt, perhaps. :)

	One problem here is that I am acquainted with many of the
	people on both sides of the argument and I am fond of them
	all.  I also have no argument with Claire as we don't really
	know one another.  I just htink the whole thing is rather sad.
	I guess I just have no stomach for watching good people doing
	their level best to cause each other injury.  I've seen too
	much of this in my life and the older I get, the sadder it
	makes me.
> 
> As far as ABANA politics go, there is a simple rule that applies to all
> politicians-
> Did you vote?

	It's not as simple as that, Ries.  I think you know that.

	We elect presidents, and they are scoundrels one after the
	other.  Mayors, senators, representatives, dog catchers...
	One cannot say to another who has chosen John Doe for seat
	X that it is their fault Mr. Doe turned out crooked because
	that is for whom they voted.  One presumably votes in good
	faith; when the winner turns out to be less than adequate to
	the job, there must be mechanisms to make amends besides 
	shaking one's fingers at the voting constituency and telling
	them that it is their fault.

> And as far as burning a tape goes- how else would a blacksmith destroy
> evidence?

	Wa wa wa...