Spark crossed a line

scotty1984 said:
Why the hate? .
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I have kept track of this topic as it has come up on the forum over the last month, and I cant find anything that Strider has done that would lead to such "hate".

I have looked at the posts of Strider quotes, and there is just not enough there to support the endless anger I see so much of.
 
Michelle said:
You see, unlike Spark, I don't profit one wit for my participation in the forums. I was actually suprised when I read that he used to get paid $1500 per MONTH just to keep watch over this place. One would assume that now that his silent partner is gone, his profit margins on this place have increased considerably. Enough to pass out hundreds of dollars worth of free subscriptions to people if they'll "help him out". ;)

I don't need to be part of "a club". I don't need to be paid big bucks to participate in my passion, the knife industry.
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I'd love to know where this information came from, because it's nowhere near the truth and anyone who is saying such a thing is outright lying. So, Michelle, you should be careful what unsupported allegations you repeat because there's a very specific legal term for that, and it's called libel. Your buddy Mick Strider got sued and had to settle over similar claims. You sure you want to stand by a statement?

Whether or not I had a silent partner when I took over my business is none of yours. Rest assured, I'm the sole owner of 1SKS and BFC now, and if you want to make specific allegations about anything to do with it, step on up and face the consequences. BladeForums.com is not raking in tens of thousands of dollars in profits, especially after hardware outlays, labor and hosting. So anyone who's talking about it being a cash cow for me is talking out of their ass. It's easy to talk smack when you aren't paying the bills.

As for your "passion for the industry" I find it remarkable that you'd state that your relationship with Strider is "none" but you are actively promoting them on multiple forums (just off the top of my head, Professional Soldier, CKG, USN), defending them here, and running the Badlands forums. For a "none" relationship, that doesn't make any sense. What it does look like is that you are grinding a specific axe and now are making specious claims based on incorrect information. You might want to think a bit before you type.

WIth regards to giving out free accounts, I find it interesting that you are complaining so vociferously about McClung being offered one, when I already gave you an enchanced membership for several years as well. There's a term for that - hypocrisy. I hooked you up so I didn't have to deal with Badlands tech support issues. I offered McClung one on the interests of his providing documentation he said he had. What's good enough for the goose isn't good enough for the gander, eh?
 
Michelle said:
You see, unlike Spark, I don't profit one wit for my participation in the forums. I was actually suprised when I read that he used to get paid $1500 per MONTH just to keep watch over this place. One would assume that now that his silent partner is gone, his profit margins on this place have increased considerably. Enough to pass out hundreds of dollars worth of free subscriptions to people if they'll "help him out". ;)
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LOL! Why don't you write a book, "How To Get Filthy Rich Running an Internet Forum"? You might make a few bucks that way, if anybody buys your book....
 
Smegma said:
I have been watching all of this with interest, and no I must comment on a few things.



Lifter4him; used to be a well respected member here, but fell in with the green kool aid drinkers, and now is one of their leaders. Claims to be a 'Christian', but doesn't act like one. He also won't say anything bad about Strider, or he'll lose his status amongst the green kool aid drinkers and find himself on the outside. Anyone who dares not drink the kool aid gets banned and excommunicated. Lots of members here can attest to that. Oh, Dave, one more thing; a true Christian can be identified by his actions; how he treats his fellow man, and also how he upholds the teachings of the Bible. telling me you are a Christian is shallow; show me through your understanding of God's word..
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If I am not mistaken, Lifter didn't "fall in" with anyone. He was one of the original Emerson fans who started a new forum, no more, no less. He has also continued to contribute and participate here from time to time. Everyone lives their faith in accordance with their convictions. I would never imply that a fellow brother in Christ was not a "true christian". That is between him and the Lord. We should be able to disagree, yell, cuss, etc. but I don't think we need to attack something as personal as faith. Bad form IMO.
 
Spark said:
I'd love to know where this information came from, because it's nowhere near the truth and anyone who is saying such a thing is outright lying. So, Michelle, you should be careful what unsupported allegations you repeat because there's a very specific legal term for that, and it's called libel. Your buddy Mick Strider got sued and had to settle over similar claims. You sure you want to stand by a statement?
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It came from Mike Turber. It's funny because the link that it references here (http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum32/HTML/001714.html) with the information is now broken (HTTP 404 Not Found).

But that's the case with a LOT of links referencing older posts in here dealing with dicey situations.

The content of the post is still up however on you friend Mr. McClung's site.

Here is the link http://www.tacticalforums.com/ thread is called "Forum Costs, Bandwidth and other fables".

and I've also provided the text below.

Mr. Blade Forums
FNG
Member # 295

Rate Member posted 12-15-1999 12:06
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Horse,
The Mission knife I tested (notice the past tense) was the A2 version no the Ti version.
tactec,
So now our site costs $3,000 a year? Can you and McCLung get together on your figures?
BFC is not really a business, yet. I am looking at it hard and currently it is a liability paid for mostly by me and my WOW business. I am now advised by my accountant that I need to remove the liability or make it an asset. A web site with my traffic should be making over $10,000 a day based on Internet examples. Man I wish!
The store has taken in about $40,000 since opening including banners. With about $12,000 of that gross profit.
Here is the math.
Our server cost us $5,500 (A bargain!).
Our Software costs about $800.
Sparks salary accounts for about $1,500 a month for his time spent on BFC. So about $18,000 since the beginning.
Not to mention the other things we have bought like knives for testing, 600' of Hemp rope, boards and other stuff.
So as you can see we are very much in the red. I don't mind breaking even but at the rate we are growing the problem will get worse unless I institute a plan now.
It may appear I am grasping at straws at time. Maybe I am. I have tried several things short of putting a full on-line knife store here.
I am expanding ways to make the site self supportive.
tactec can tap dance all he wants. A simple phone call to Rich at The Firing Line will reveal the problem Rich ran into when he got into bandwidth issues with his ISP. We now host The Firing Line on my server now and I actually pay a position of Rich's bandwidth.
I will not respond to the Jedi mind tricks used by McClung. They do not work on me but it is apparent they work on some
Best Regards,
Jabba Da BladeForum

Edited for MarkLee

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[This message has been edited by Mr. Blade Forums (edited 12-15-1999).]


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Posts: 5 | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged |


Is it invalid because it is on Kevin McClung's site?

Is it hearsay? Noooo.... it was posted by someone who is still a member of your forum, who would be "in the know". It was posted by the very person who BUILT this site with you.

Whether or not I had a silent partner when I took over my business is none of yours. Rest assured, I'm the sole owner of 1SKS and BFC now, and if you want to make specific allegations about anything to do with it, step on up and face the consequences.
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Wow. Did I strik a nerve? I posted information based on something that was posted by your forum partner in 1999.

You are allowed to post hearsay regarding someone else, and you sit by every day while misinformation gets posted in your forum regarding Mick and you do nothing to set the record straight.

The whole "Purple Heart" issue. Do You know the truth of that matter? If you don't than you were not telling the truth about having access to the custody lawsuit garbage.

Which is it Spark?

BladeForums.com is not raking in tens of thousands of dollars in profits, especially after hardware outlays, labor and hosting. So anyone who's talking about it being a cash cow for me is talking out of their ass.
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No one said you were a cash cow?? What I stated is you do not provide this site simply out of the goodness of your heart. You make money off of it. It's part of your business. And then you use it to try to hurt other people's business.

As for your "passion for the industry" I find it remarkable that you'd state that your relationship with Strider is "none" but you are actively promoting them on multiple forums (just off the top of my head, Professional Soldier, CKG, USN), defending them here, and running the Badlands forums. For a "none" relationship, that doesn't make any sense. What it does look like is that you are grinding a specific axe and now are making specious claims based on incorrect information. You might want to think a bit before you type.
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I DO think before I type. I've heard so much "hearsay and rumor" about you I could fill a book. I've seen a lot of things that don't match up regarding you. I, however, unlike you, don't post it all up for the world to see and pass judgement on. I am not willing to judge you as a "bad person" based on stuff you do and say that does not match up. And I am not the type of person to EVER try to hurt your business or assinate your character, just because *I* see things that don't match up.

Do I "promote" Strider knives on other forums? I support them yes. You will also find I "promote" Coogler, Hinderer, Brock, Brum, Hossom, Harsey, Reeve and a lot of other knife makers. I like their product and I like them as people as well.

WIth regards to giving out free accounts, I find it interesting that you are complaining so vociferously about McClung being offered one, when I already gave you an enchanced membership for several years as well.
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I never asked for that. You did it during the Mick Bash thread in order to facilitate helping people having registration issues on BL (which no one else did but you). Why would you do it for "several years"? You never stated that before. Feel free to take it away as it served it purpose for the time period that was appropriate.

There's a term for that - hypocrisy. I hooked you up so I didn't have to deal with Badlands tech support issues.
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Okay Spark. That was nice of you. Thank you. Please remove it.

Not sure why you are so hot about this whole issue... the money thing.... But if you are threatening me with libel or anything else, keep in mind that I am sourcing the very same places you did for your information.

For you, its righteous and valid "documentation". Unless it doesn't work in your favor.

m1
 
Well, you certainly can add "reading comprehension" to your list of skills to develope. My $1500 per month salary wasn't just for surfing on BladeForums.com, like you stated. I certainly wasn't paid an extra $1500 just to watch over this place. But, based on the amount of time I spent here, we could trace back $1500 in labor costs per month (minimum) on my part. Those estimates were actually way low. So, your statements of
I was actually suprised when I read that he used to get paid $1500 per MONTH just to keep watch over this place. One would assume that now that his silent partner is gone, his profit margins on this place have increased considerably. Enough to pass out hundreds of dollars worth of free subscriptions to people if they'll "help him out".
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Is inaccurate, and grossly incorrect.

So yes, you should think before you type. Because your little snipes certainly don't work out in your favor when the full story is told.

As for my documentation - everything I provided in the other thread is backed up by documents, the party's own words (with appropriate links and citations), or other material. If something is my opinion, I clearly state it as such. If you want to dispute any of it, be specific - I notice you certainly weren't in the other thread, and aren't here.

With regards to the Purple Heart matter, I'm guessing you are referring to the court records custody document where Mick Strider's ex wife stated that he claimed he was awarded a Purple Heart for operations in South America by the head of the CIA? The one where she said he admitted lying to her in letters from prison? Is that the one you mean? Because that's just a guess, since I didn't link to that document in the other thread, and certainly don't remember mentioning the specifics of it before now. I don't like using custody / divorce documents as "evidence" since divorces & custody battles are ugly matters. I mentioned the custody document though, in reference to his specific service dates since he was being less than forthcoming in providing them and said as such.

Since you brought it up though... it's interesting that Mick Strider has a history of lying about stuff like this, even before he went to prison. As for the rest of it though, his custody battle isn't my business, and I left any claims of Purple Hearts and combat service mentioned therein out of the other thread. If you'd like to further that discussion, please recognize that you are the one that brought up the subject of Purple hearts, not I.

As for "hearsay and rumor" that I'm posting up, please, by all means, point to something specific, because every claim I've made, I've been sure to source. You'd be wise to do the same. Specifically claims about me using this site to actively hurt other people's businesses, because that's some actionable commentary right there.
 
I read that and thought the same thing: Spark contributed the equivalent of $1500 in labor monthly, not that he got PAID that amount. Besides that here's a little business lesson for you Michelle. Even if he WAS getting paid, the important part of the quote was this:

Michelle said:
So as you can see we are very much in the red. I don't mind breaking even but at the rate we are growing the problem will get worse unless I institute a plan now.
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The above quote, quoted by you from an excerpt of a communication regarding 1SKS, is the one that should be focused on, NOT the one where you assumed Spark got paid $1500/mo. Even if Spark was getting paid then (who knows?) for his contribution to the partnership, it's not relevant because the site was losing money, which is the more important fact.

They were in the red before as a partnership, but NOW it is a solely owned entity and the bottom line is that even if Spark is paying himself as an expense to BFC, the site could still be losing money and since the site IS Spark (100% owner), Spark therefore is LOSING money, even if he is paying himself. Here is a hypothetical example:

BFC Quick and Dirty Income Analysis

BFC Gross Income (before expenses): $80,000
BFC Expenses (not counting Spark's salary): $90,000
BFC Salary expense (to Spark): $18,000

BFC Net Income (Loss): $(28,000) (a loss)

Spark Personal Income Analysis (Not counting outside income from 1SKS)

Salary from BFC: $18,000

So, based on the above Spark "made" $18,000 personally off of BFC. BUT remember that Spark IS BFC, therefore the overall affect of BFC on Spark's personal bottom line is: Spark + BFC, or $18,000 + $(28,000), which equals $(10,000). (a loss)

In the above example Spark got paid, but the net effect of the operation of BFC on his bottom line was still negative.

I see businesses come across my desk with sole owners who pay themselves all the time as an expense but still lose money on a consolidated basis. It is the nature of a solely run businesses alot of the time. Never assume someone is making bank until you know the whole picture.

Granted, this whole example may not be a reflection of reality in Spark's case, but the point is that even if he does pay himself, it does NOT mean that he is making money. Maybe in third grade math, but not in real life.
 
I'm getting really tired of this GIRL asking impertinent questions of MEN here! First SHE defends a friend, then SHE points out logical inconsistancies in statements made by HATERS!

How about a simple answer to the simple question: Did Turber lie when he stated that he paid Spark $1500/month (or roughly $18,000) in labor?

If the answer is "no", then where is the libel? Could the threat of it be bullying an uncomfortable truth?

The corollary question is: did Spark tell the whole truth when he stated here on BF for months that he was "the owner" when he laterly admitted he was actually "an owner" without full authority?

Does the "hunt" for truth here begin to seem distinctly unseemly? Perhaps that is line being referred to?
 
to those who admire/like mick strider or consider him a friend

do you think mick strider tells the truth when he talks/posts about his military experience, combat experience, and his past legal issues (especially the recently mentioned somalia plea bargain)?

if you do think he is telling the truth, can you see how a lot of folks have a hard time accepting the veracity of some of his statements?

what about the press articles about strider knives? do they correctly represent the background of the strider guys? where is the information coming from?

i think the issues raised by spark and others will continue to rise up until they are addressed head on.

i do not know what spark's motivation for raising them here was.

however, attacking the messenger does not alter the fact that there are a lot of unanswered questions and concerns for a whole lot of people

so to the friends of mick..... where next?
 
Michelle seems very evasive.

Michelle, with her close connections to Strider, speaks a lot and yet explains very little. I've noticed that in all these recent Strider threads. Hmmm?
Slick, sarcastic, flippant, vague, evasive.

And, I like my Buck/Strider 880 Tanto.
 
so to the friends of mick..... where next?
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I can answer this one:

1) Register of BF

2) jump up and down, rant & rave about how everything is unfair to Strdier

3) Challenge people to "take it outside"

4) Publicly declare they're leaving.

Hmm (check watch), maybe it's time for the afternoon series to start over at step 1.
 
DaveH said:
I can answer this one:

1) Register of BF

2) jump up and down, rant & rave about how everything is unfair to Strdier

3) Challenge people to "take it outside"

4) Publicly declare they're leaving.
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5) Giggling like a spoiled little schoolgirl while telling tales about "cowards" who are too stupid and wrong to settle this with good ol' violence like brave, intelligent and well educated men normally would... :rolleyes:
 
marty123 said:
Michelle seems very evasive.

Michelle, with her close connections to Strider, speaks a lot and yet explains very little. I've noticed that in all these recent Strider threads. Hmmm?
Slick, sarcastic, flippant, vague, evasive.

And, I like my Buck/Strider 880 Tanto.
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Amen! I swear Strider supporters are masters of obfuscation. They will type paragraphs yet not answer a single one of Spark's original points. The new tactic seems to be to question Spark's finances and whether he earns any money running BF. This will help to exonerate Mick Strider how exactly???
 
I'm soooo evasive.......

That earlier today I did something that very few people here in the cyber playground bother to do any more.

I picked up the phone and called Spark.

Did it accomplish anything?

Yes and No.

It took it out of the impersonal realm and put some human-ness to it.

It also was to let him know that I'm not a sock puppet, and I have no problem saying on the phone or to someone's face, what I will say in print.

Are he and I any closer to being in agreement on anything?

Nope.

But at least I took the time to call, and he took the time to talk despite us both being busy working for a living.

If more people did that..... TALK to each other instead of just typing to each other, I bet a lot of the acrimony on-line would stop.

As I said in my first post on this thread, I will say here again in my last, this stuff will get sorted out in time. But it's not going to happen on any forum.


m1
 
that is not entirely true. It might get sorted out, and if it does, that information will be posted on the forums.

I can see that the statement "it will not be settled on the forums" is an attempt to make discussion of the topic seem pointless. It will probably not "technically" be settled on the forums, nor in some childish game of fisticuffs. . . But it will obviously get discussed on the forums. So how is waiting for news of an answer on the forum any different than "settling it on the forum"? Many people will only see the answers (or lack of) through the forums.
 
dizos said:
Spark, you may say that your intent is based on honor but am afraid that the path you took with this simply reeks of a personal vendetta. So continue shake your list of facts about another mans life and try to dupe your community into believing you have a right to do so, I just don't buy it.
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Hi, Jeff!

Could you please explain how Spark has duped me?

Unless I'm misreading your post, it appears you're saying Spark's wrong to call people on their statements.

You, Jeff/dizos, are calling Spark on statements as well. Are you duping me as well?
 
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