This will not be a reification of the old Cosby enquiry into the philosophy of air, then again...
We Wreck initially because we have a common interest in WoodDorking.
This should pass without comment, as it should be a given.
Let me not let this pass without comment.
There are those who would seem to have no interest in WoodDorking who have come to infest this newsgroup with their nefarious opinions and interests.
These interest are not consanguinary with those of us who would work wood.
The Political Scientologists are those of whom I speak.
Miller and Baldesrstone are true WoodDorkers who are occasionally drawn towards the dark side. Watson is occasionally drawn there too, and hates himself when he has allowed this.
Daneliuck, Barta, etc. have shown no WoodDorking interest and have posted mostly shit.
This is also the case for Enoch root.
What is most disturbing to me is that all of these people seem to be bright and engaging people.
They just don't seem to be able to confine themselves to the topic at hand.
This is about the time that some asshole stands up and parrots, "It's Usenet, Tom. Get over it." ("It's Chinatown, Jake. Get over it".)
You've seen the movie. You get the point.
What do I want out of all this?
I want everything.
I want the intelligence that is embodied in the aforementioned gentlemen to be at least partially directed towards WoodDorking.
Certainly the Messrs Daneliuck, Barta, Root, et al, must have some informed opinions on art, design, techniques, etc. - and I would be damned glad to hear them.
Doug Miller knows a shitload about WoodDorking. So does Davey Balderstone. This has been proven in past postings.
I want them back and on target and I want the newer guys to use their obvious intellectual gifts in the furtherance of our Wrecklish knowledge.
Frankly, I've given up on BAD.
Do I want the conversation to be totally directed towards WoodDorking? Hell no!
I admire the model of the Wreck that describes it as a kind of clubhouse that people gather at to shoot the shit.
Most of the shit is about WoodDorking but, as we are not only WodoDorkers -we will not only speak of WoodDorking.
I enjoy brief interludes of conversation about the events of the day - the recent problem with the Wreck has been that argumentation has taken precedence over the good of the group.
This sort of thing would not occur, with the same people, in a face to face situation - I am almost sure of that.
Why can we not apply the same restraint that we would use in a real world clubhouse to this virtual one?
I stopped posting to the Wreck about a month ago.
Since then I have gotten quite a number of emails describing my action as everything from self indulgent to cowardly.
I would not like to be either.
The kindest emails said that it was understandable.
I am trying to understand better than I have.
I have always enjoyed the Wreck in the past.
I hope that there is some possibility that I can do so in the future.
I will certainly miss the input of Keith Bohn and Paully Rad (rip), and the reduced input of O'Deen, the almost lurkdom of Charlie Self is much to be regretted, Tommy Plamann used to be around much more, as was Phully.
Let's create an environment that would welcome most of them back to full participation.
Let's be self-moderating to the degree that we do not upset our fellow WoodDorkers.
Why Is There Wreck?
Because, at the most basic level, we share a passion for the activity of WoodDorking.
Let's use this Newsgroup to celebrate that.
It is a worthy undertaking.
Regards,
Tom Watson
tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (real email)