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

  • From: "tklnhl & kyd" <sydstyr@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 15:11:39 -0600

-
_______________________________________-
> (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 and 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

 

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