[TheForge] YAK: Apology

[Andy Vida]

Will Hightower wrote:
> 
> First, I must apologize to the subscribers of theforge.  When ABANA
> helped to setup "theforge" they did not intend it to be a bashing
> place but rather a place to exchange metal ideas.  In fact, at one
> point, "theforge" had gone so far astray that ABANA thought about
> pulling its support.  At that time, I was one of the board favoring
> pulling support.

	Jeez Will, I don't think you owe an apology for it.  We all hold
	an opinion based upon our best knowledge.  Sometimes we're right
	and at others perhaps not so right.  Living life is an imprecise
	art.  I think we all do the best we can. I'm a dumbass, I admit,
	and I may be a bigger dumbass for believing this, but I do not
	think that anyone involved in the teapot tempest wakes up in
	the morning saying "I'm going to endeavor to do my worst today".
> 
> Most of theforge subscribers are doing just what this site is about,
> talking about metalwork. Dave Brown is doing a great job. Thanks Dave.  

	Hear hear.  Or is it "here here"?

> This is the spot that [has been] picked to vent so I guess this
> is where it will be played out.

	I think you are correct.  The only practical way of having it 
	stop here and now is for voluntary cessation, or to shut the 
	list down.  It's unlikely that the former will, or even should 
	happen, but I will say that the smell of drama has become a bit
	wearisome.  If 	the forum is going to be used in this manner 
	then make the argument complete with all evidence (prefereably 
	posted to a website and not here), or drop it.  And if someone, 
	and I mean ANYONE, feels so damaged by anything ABANA has done 
	to them, they should retain counsel and try to make a case in 
	the courts of equity. Otherwise	I say let it go and move on with 
	living.  Hanging on to this is fine if it is kept within the 
	confines of one's skull, but dragging the rest of us into it 
	without satisfaction is unnecessary, unwarranted, and I daresay
	unwanted by the folks.  I think the ABANA members here are more 
	than willing to see the evidence, but then let them see all of 
	it so a decision can be made what to do, and let us not have any 
	more of these periodic attacks that lack any hint of resolution.  
	This has been like going halfway to screwing on a date.  Exciting 
	at first, but ultimately frustrating and perhaps not so satisfying 
	in the end.

	I definitely would not like to see the list shut down... not that
	a new one couldn't be established, but still...

> 
	-Andy