Quote:
Originally Posted by toby wilson
If it didn't get personal then why were names and the mention of the club involved? You are here for about 25% of the year tops Roberto (due to your travel of course) so you don't really get to see that I am actually pretty good friends with Scott, my post is not an attack on him or anyone else. My post is stating that it is fine to educate and discuss safety but that singling out the club was not cool in my opinion. A lot of time and effort was put into forming that club by one person. It is MUCH easier to destroy that work than I am sure it was to build it...
I wasn't there, I didn't see what went on. But I think it could have been handled a little bit differently with names and associations omitted.
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I am based here at least 5 out of 12 months/year, so unless someone changed the calendar to 20 months/year I'm here about 41% of the year...I taught over 100 lesson this year while in FL and this does effect me personally as well...
but that's not the point...who cares, nor is it relevant that you are friends with Scott. I would be just as conerned if I only rode here 1 week per year.
I like Matt and Mike and have no doubt they are trying to do a good job. But it does worry me when a few members of the group they are forming seem to have their own agenda or their attitude is defiant, as seems to be the case. To suggest that this is an "absurd" issue and that it simply one persons intention to shut down a club is unbelievable. It really takes just one rider out there that systematically abuses our PRIVILEGE to ride at the local beaches.
We (kitesurfers) do not have "rights" per se to take over the beach and place innocent bystanders in danger. Most of the people watching us and cheering us have NO IDEA what kind of danger they are in until a kite crashes on them, lines wrap around them, or a board slams into them. We are all endangering people when riding too close...anything could happen: loss of control, gear malfunction, unexpected swimmer or obstacle...etc...nobody is immune to that.
In my opinion the individuals involved "singled themselves out" by virtue of their own actions. From what I have seen in the past, when issues are confronted anonymously nobody wants to come forward or accept responsibility...and just pretend like it never happened. I am positive that it was not Scotts intention to direct an attack on Matt or Mike or destroy the club. THAT suggestion is a bit dramatic. Scott is well-intentioned and simply voiced his concern loudly and I think it was very effective in bringing immediate attention to the matter and I trust that Matt has taken/and will continue to take the initiative to telegraph these concerns to members of his group.
When someone forms a group, there is by some logic a collective or shared responsibility. There is still mostly individual responsibility. Like it or not, if a group fosters unacceptable conduct, or legal issues arise because of one of their members actions...it could effect the entire group or the organization that supports the group. That's pretty normal in our society I believe.
I think that this has been an excellent use of the forum and that it actually seems to be having an immediate and positive outcome. Most importantly let's all try to have this situation bring us together instead of turning it into a personal issue that drives us apart. Please.