[TheForge] YAK: Apology

Fri May 21 13:48:23 EDT 2004

To those who feel that this forum is not the place for such dialogue I
respectfully disagree.  When you have only one national organization that is
publishing the only national newsletter and the board that governs it can
selectively ban someone like George Dixon from advertising a resource like
the Traditional Metalsmith, something is horribly wrong.  Did you know
George was being denied the right to advertise?  Do you think that was an
over-site of the editor of the Anvils Ring to let you know?  Do you know if
they are doing this to others?  Who suffers?  The new members do that have
no dog in the fight, that have no history about this mess.  They are just
denied the resource.  What will change?  Nothing if the members who continue
to vote these board members on are doing so because they don't know any
better.  I have no desire to exchange barbs with Will or the others who are
on the ABANA fence.  That would be like trying to convince my republican
friends to vote for Kerry or trying to convince a right-to-lifer why they
need to leave their laws off my wife's body.  My focus has always been to
promote the art and give back to those lower on the ladder what I have
learned from those higher up.  This forum is one of only a few that can
reach a number of people and to inform them about issues such as what the
current members of the ABANA Executive Committee are doing that directly
effects them.  Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Vida" <osan at netlabs.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 12:45 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] YAK: Apology


>
>
> 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
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