[GeoStL] Re: You catch more flies with honey, than vinegar

  • From: DRM <drmdcm@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 13:55:29 -0800 (PST)

-
I just want to say that I have never been to a SLAGA
or MOGO event before and was looking forward to the
event this March. I have paid my fee and sent in my
waver. I have been collecting JEEP TRAVEL BUGS to
bring for however the group distributes the travel
bugs at these events. However, after reading the
forums today I will not feel comfortable or feel safe
bring my son who is eight to this event. I don't know
many of the members or their backgrounds to know who
may go "Postal". 
I have never met the two cachers who where offended or
know what the "offensive" joke was that was said so as
a member of SLAGA how am I liable and now labled
"Racist"? 

--- tklnhl & kyd <sydstyr@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> -
> _______________________________________-
> > (But not to me, with the others in the group who
> are
> > anxious to have an intelligent discussion.)
> > 
> > Paul Konopacki
> Hey now ...   
> 
> ++++
> 
> Tried to read through the "Breaking News" update and
> got a bit lost when Bush started spying on  the
> Quakers.
> 
> It's a shame, because, if presented to the group in
> a calm, logical way, I probably would have been on
> Jim's "side."  
> 
> As it stands, the message is lost in the
> presentation/attack. 
> 
> This website is the first most of us have even been
> made aware of a concern. My guess is that if
> presented to the group/list  in a calm,
> nonconfrontational way  (without naming names  as
> has been done in  the past), that another round of
> selfcensoring would have taken place.  
> 
> SLAGA is still, relatively speaking,  a group in its
> infancy. We (my family) and I were not there "in 
> the beginning". But I'll go out on a  limb and say I
> doubt  that those who were there in the beginning
> imagined that  geocaching and SLAGA would grow as it
> has and would result in what  it is becoming. 
> 
> It is also because those people were willing to go
> waaaaaaaaay  out on an even larger limb that anyone
> in  this group has the opportunity to create
> websites, or send email to a list against the group.
> Without those people there would be no  group. There
> would be no  events in which to hear derogatory
> things;  no mail lists in which to discuss the
> merits of membership dues -- no website to track our
> stats (even if we try  to say it's NOT about the
> numbers).  
> 
> As SLAGA continues to grow there will be problems. 
> One month (and  I'm ignoring things that happened 
> TWO and HALF  years ago that everyone admits were
> settled) is  NOT enough time for a group of busy
> people to offer acceptable options.  Especially
> during this time of year when most have families,
> end of year commitments, illness  etc. 
> 
> As an individual, Paul made a  legitimate offer  for
> you to have your voice heard. No it wasn't exactly
> what you wanted but it would have been  a start. 
> Perhaps it would have paved the way for other
> feedback opportunities. Perhaps others would have
> heard your concern and also privately contacted  the
> officers with similar concerns.  
> 
> Now, I will violate my own rule and make this
> personal.  
> 
> Jim, IMHO, you missed a great opportunity. Do you
> really not recognize  that you are a geocaching
> "presence" that many wonder about?  Your caches and
> placements are excellent; logs are interesting and
> when it comes to local natural resources your
> knowledge appears to be unlimited. Your caches have
> taken us places we would never have thought  to go.
> When we were able  to make it to the Christmas party
> YOU were the first person my 8 year old daughter
> wanted to  get a look at (Molly was the first but
> she has too many legs).   I had to  convince her
> though  that  based on my impression, you might not
> take it as a compliment if a laughing 8 year old
> girl walked up to you and said, "Dude..  we HATE you
> .. but I mean  that only in  the most loving way
> possible." Her best times, not only in gecocaching
> but in her little outdoor  life, have been getting
> lost in the woods with her daddy looking for YOUR 
> caches. Just mention the name Myotis in  our house
> and there are at first groans a
>  nd lots of "oh nos" followed  by  "When do we
> go???".  You have been making a statement. A
> positive one whether you are aware  of it or not.
> 
> (end what appears to be a  mini lovefest here)
> 
> You have obviously worked hard to  protect the
> natural resources that you love. Why not do the same
> for the SLAGA organization? The clue is that the
> tactics that work for the US Government do not
> translate well into the interpersonal level. Just
> because it is individuals involved does not mean
> that things move faster. But it does mean that the
> individuals tend to take things personally and react
> on a personal  level. 
> 
> Now, do some of the founding members have different
> backgrounds, values and senses of humor than the
> nonfounding members?  Uh..  I  CAN say ..    YES to
> that. LOL.    This is NOT  the local  boyscouts,
> girlscouts, philanthropy or entrepreneur group.  Not
> the Army, the Knights of Columbus  or the local
> coven.  There are no pledges to be signed and
> memorized. No secret handshakes. (That *I* am aware
> of .. hmmmm  ... ) No higher,  altruistic goals
> except for CITO. Just people looking for a reason to
> head  into the  woods with latest technology. And
> they happened to be able to use the Internet to find
> SLAGA. And now this..
>  
> As it is, the issue is no longer a concern about
> individual behavior in a group,  geo setting, but
> has become about one person and his past
> activities/current presentation and one or  two
> "official" SLAGA members reaction.    
> 
> And then somehow  the Quakers got involved and I'm
> not even sure they use a GPS.
> 
> Also goes to show what must go on behind the scenes
> that we know nothing  about.
> 
> It's my understanding that the officers get their
> pay in cookies. They'd better be really really big
> ones. 
> 
> Nancy
> 
>  
> 
>  ****************************************
>  Our WebPage!  Http://WWW.GeoStL.com  
>  For List Info or To make _ANY_ changes, including
> unsubscribing from this
>  list, click ----->
> //www.freelists.org/list/geocaching 
>  Missouri Caches Scheduled to be Archived 
> http://tinyurl.com/87cqw
> 



                
__________________________________________ 
Yahoo! DSL ? Something to write home about. 
Just $16.99/mo. or less. 
dsl.yahoo.com 

 

 ****************************************
 Our WebPage!  Http://WWW.GeoStL.com  
 For List Info or To make _ANY_ changes, including unsubscribing from this
 list, click -----> //www.freelists.org/list/geocaching 
 Missouri Caches Scheduled to be Archived  http://tinyurl.com/87cqw

Other related posts:

  1. Home
  2. geocaching
  3. Archive
  4. 12-2005