Let's all chill....

[francis7]

Since Josh and I have been banned, I had to create a new account to make a necessary reply to respond to this situation which has escalated to a very unpleasant level.

We did NOT, NOR did we ever call Spark a "nazi".

Regardless of Spark's and I's apparent mutual contempt and our damn stubborn natures, to use such an inflamatory term is simply not in our lexicon.

Josh perceived Spark's last name as German, and as such used "Herr" to criticize the his seemingly authoritarian and disciplinarian nature.

Nothing to be interpreted beyond that. Period.

It is clear that there is not love lost between Spark and TAD. It is my hot-head which often clashes with Spark's. Sometimes people just cannot get along.

Despite all of that, to call Spark such a term would not be done.

We are out of here, at Spark's perogative. You will not see us here again if he can help it.

I suggest that we all of BFC go back to discussing knives and knife related topics. We should save our "fights" for where the fighting is truely due.

Ultimately, i think we are all good people here, a whole host of races, creeds, religions, & nationalities. Myself, my staff, and our wide variety of customers and friends are all "multicultural". Evan and I are prior service with the US Marine Corp and US Army, we follow and understand honor. All of TAD sincerely thank those who have been honorable with us.

I bow out. Peace.


-Patrick

 

[Mick Strider]

Thanks Patrick,
I hope you guys work this out.

Mick

 

[tom mayo]

From Kevins remarks on the other thread I can easily observe that you are NOT the only one with a hot temper. I can guarantee that this goes a LOT deeper than one post and one misqued word. I suggest we all back up three steps, take a deep breath, and remember that we are all really brothers with the same interests and concerns.
Where did all these bad vibes come from??? The heart of man is deceitful above all things....who can know it. We ALL need to clean house on occasion and take a DEEP look inside and get RID OF THE CRAP!
God Bless America.

 

[Razoredj]

Originally posted by francis7
Josh perceived Spark's last name as German, and as such used "Herr" to criticize the his seemingly authoritarian and disciplinarian nature.

Nothing to be interpreted beyond that. Period.

I'm not taking sides here -- I don't know enough about what has happened to do that -- but let's look at this from an objective linguistic standpoint:

Ask the average person what another word for "authoritarian, disciplinarian" German might be. Then stand back and see how many of them respond with "Nazi." It is an interpretation that simply cannot be avoided, given the cultural connections most people make with those adjectives and the German people.

I have no reason not to believe you didn't intend it that way, but understand that it's pretty obvious some people would interpret it that way.

 

[Spark]

Originally posted by francis7
Regardless of Spark's and I's apparent mutual contempt.... [snip]

Josh perceived Spark's last name as German, and as such used "Herr" to criticize the his seemingly authoritarian and disciplinarian nature.
[snip]
I bow out. Peace.
-Patrick

I've had all day to think about this. I find the choice of words extremely interesting and that this is more of a parting shot than bowing out.

When I took over BladeForums.com, one of the first things I did was to specifically email Patrick saying that no matter what had happened between him and Mike, I had no problems with him, nor did I see him as a threat. I've offered him a helping hand or information several times.

Patrick apparently feels contempt for me. I feel no such thing - if anything, I pity him for seeing enemies where there are none.

Most people have no difficulties with me, provided they abide by our extremely simple rules. Instead of following our advertising policies, TAD felt that they'd best served by ignoring them. Unfortunately, this more than anything else has caused the friction everyone is now feeling.

I have no interest in having an adversarial relationship with anyone; I'd rather avoid the stress it brings on. So, it's easier for me to move on and *not* do business with TAD, because this hasn't stopped for the past 6 months (not to mention all the time prior to my taking over BladeForums.com). I avoid other forum sites for a reason - I don't like interacting with people who thrive on strife and discontent, it's not worth the effort.

Knowing the path and walking the path are two different things. Honor is taking responsibility when you are wrong, not offering some excuse about how you are making a generalization about someone's ethnicity. Substitute "Massah K.S" if I was African-American, or "Commissar K.S" if I was Russian, or any other stereotyping and it wouldn't be any more acceptable. This is common sense.

TAD felt that they needed our service enough to purchase a Dealer Membership, despite their earlier declarations that it wasn't worth it. I took this as a sign that they wanted to put the past behind them. I guess I was wrong.

Patrick, Josh, you seem to have a problem with live and let live. You'll note I don't tell you how you should run your company, so I'd appreciate the same courtesy.

Even at the end of this I still have no problem with TAD, nor do I wish them any ill will. I hope their business prospers. I just don't want them on my site, as they have worn out their welcome through behavior like this. My energy is better spent on some thing more constructive.

Good luck in your endeavors.

Kevin

 

[tom mayo]