Re: Space Cowboy 0 Surrendering To A List Bully

On Sep 12, 7:59 pm, Shen <ilu...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I don't get a discount. I don't get a commission. Usually, I get the
satisfaction of knowing I've shared something that may interest
someone as it did me.
I am, though, very, very sick of being bullied.
The tyrannical approach with which he seizes this list is disturbing
and pitiable and I am sincerely hoping that someone with some computer
or list savvy can find a way to put an end to this.
For all intents and purposes, it feels as though we are all being held
hostage by this abuse of "freedom of speech".
Unfortunately, these vicious and ridiculous tirades have resulted in
valued members leaving.
I have hesitated to "throw up my hands and surrender" to such
unfathomable nastiness, but to come home from working in a hospice and
then hope to read a good bit about tea and have to suffer through this
verbal battering is too much.
Initially, I thought that if Space Cowboy should appear in anywhere on
any thread, I will not post.
I guess I have to say, he wins. I can't cope with this much more.
Shen

I can't speak directly about your particular situation, but I too
really just wanted to give up on this group. I have dealt with more
bull*** behind the scenes than anyone could imagine, and I agree it
gets to be tedious and lose any appeal. I would get strong hate mail
from both the spammers I'd call out (which didn't bother me) *and*
from group members who either fancied themselves "experts" or took on
the attitude of letting people decide for themselves and if they get
taken, so be it. I don't agree with that, and do my part to keep both
members and people who might just roll by from getting taken by known
scammers. It's frustrating.

I've also grown tired of some of the really off the wall stuff and the
super technical babble that really serves no purpose other than to
show off. That kind of thing excludes more than it includes. Sure
sometimes it is legit and very informative, and those are not my point
of contention. Again, not always just because *I* don't like it but
because it pushes away newcomers.

Some might say, so what? Who needs 'em? But fresh blood is always a
good thing. The other problem is that many of the most knowledgable
folks are the most quiet, that doesn't help either. Many forums/
newsgroups tend to fall into an obsessive crowd who has lost sight of
reality and actual enjoyment and becomes just an area of collection/
obsession and this one had a good mix for a change. I've gone into
that obsessive/collection mode myself a few times over the years, but
I've always broke out of it as soon as I saw it rear it's ugly head.
There is a fine line between a hobby/interest and an obession.

I don't really know where to go from here. This group still has some
really amazing folks and I'd hate to think of days not filled with
cool insights and information, but it is certainly a shell of its
former self. I thought leaving was the thing to do, but I also thought
that I was kind of taking the easy way out and not helping in any way.
Not that I'm that important or think I make or break the group, just
that one less is one less.

FWIW, what I saw was a good intentioned move turn out to be something
other than what you had thought... it happens, it happened to me with
that Zong Guo Cha or whatever they were called, and in fairness they
had very good tea but their prices were a bit high. Nothing you can do
but be honest. Maybe taking the bait and arguing over it was just the
wrong choice and it would have been better left with an: I'm sorry if
it's not for you, I was happy with it and wanted to share.

It can get personal, and it can cause you to lose your mind even. I
guess the best option is to just keep on truckin and let it roll off.
Sometimes easier said than done. Don't feed the trolls, as they say.
Or as one of my favorite (but certinly not PC) Internet sayings goes:
Arguing on the Internet is like competing in the Special Olympics,
even if you win your still retarded. You'll never change their mind,
they'll never change yours and when anonymity and non-face-to-face
conversations happen people feel it is their duty to become an ass the
likes of which they never would in real life. That's the Internet,
always has been, always will.

Just my 10 cents worth.

- Dominic

/I just drank some Tai Ping Hou Kui that I'll try to review tomorrow,
and was in a relaxed and happy mood to type a long and drawn out
response. There might be something useful in there somewhere.

.