ORIGINAL: kingaltair
I don't really know how to respond to a barrage of "explanation" like this. All I can say after reading Mike's extended comments is, if I were in SPA, (and I am), I wouldn't feel all that warm--and--fuzzy about how he views the SPA/BPA relationship--despite his claims to the contrary. I sure feel I'm being yelled at by an angry man with very inflammatory rhetoric--that may be his style, but it is not helpful if his aim is to bring the groups together. Just count the number of references to "BS". That is not something I'd say to someone unless I wanted to argue with them. That talk is not coming from me or SPA.
Enough said by me
Duane
I am sorry you feel that way. However, we have spoken in person and you had the same problems with me. Not once did I ever raise my voice, and you know it. But you are perhaps the most defensive person I have ever met. I will not change the way I speak or type just because someone has a problem with it. If you view it as angry, inflammatory or whatever, that's your take...NOT the truth. I am very direct, and that won't change. I am sorry you do not subscribe or cannot deal with the direct approach.
But you have yet to actually counter anything I have typed. Not one single thing. You can't, because it's ice cold fact.
I say "BS" to those things I mentioned because that's what they are...old myths as old as the hills that have no basis in truth in TODAY'S era. I asked you in person why you felt AMA pattern guys were so arrogant and unfriendly, remember that? You said you'd had bad experiences in the past. But when I asked you when was the last time you actually ATTENDED an AMA pattern contest, your answer was "1985". That's 22 years. Going by that logic, computers are slow, huge, expensive and cell phones are a pipe dream.
But this is what we're dealing with...myths. If you want to know where the REAL friction lies, it's in old myths that are still being spread like it was the gospel. Sorry, but that really aggrivates me. Maybe you have to get spitting angry and yelling to be direct and cut to the chase, but I do not. To me it's simply a problem that needs a solution. I do not claim to be the voice of the BPA, this is just my own opinion. I clearly outlined the facts and the myths and the "whys" of it all. From a BPA founder's perspective, simply as why we did what we did. If you choose to believe there's anger in it, well knock yourself out.
But some of the things that have been discussed "off the record" are just as important (and crucial to this debate) as the ones that are on the record. So if it looks like part of this story is missing; it is. Thus far I have honored my agreement. But if I keep getting singled out by you, because you have an apparent issue with me on a personal level, we may need to discuss some things more openly.
There are a lot of SPA members that want to promote better ties with BPA--I've talked with them. Remember things don't change overnight, but they never will change if there are constant negative "vibes" in RCU threads. Let's promote the positive without further "explanations"--they have been adequately described.
Hello!!!!!!!!!!! We do not want to change SPA!!!!!!!! (ok now I'm yelling because you've ignored this time and again. Perhaps you just missed it so I typed it in bold). We're fine just like we are. This thread is not about the Florida meet, it's about SPA and BPA and thier co-existance and future relationships.
We do not have a problem with SPA!!! In fact we really appreciate the efforts that the SPA organizers are going through to try and accomidate us. If I did not have to attend the AMA meet in Orlando the weekend before, I would be there for certain. Unfortunately I have business at the AMA meet so this one is a no brainer.
Now as for the original direction of this thread....I would hope so. but I gaurantee you nothing will change until the
BS myths and untruths are dealt with and put to rest forever.
Because I was singled out by Duane (once again) I felt the need to clarify...once again. I'm not sure how many times I need to type the same thing before it stops being swept under the rug and someone makes a deliberate misdirection in order to avoid the topic.
Can't we all just get along? Maybe but I am beginning to think something someone told me "off the record" is more true than I gave it credit for.
-M