Post by kensei on Jan 12, 2012 20:47:08 GMT
So I have been rereading some of my library of emails and such I have kept over the years and with out going into details I can say that a TONE Of people are Sheep!
I am specifically pointing to people who read something that a "good writer" has written on the web, never having met the author and suddenly converting their thinking to his!
I met a gent over the web about 15 years ago....fairly famous now, infamous really, but he is a very well known name in the Karate world of online Jammy wearing geeks like myself. He is very anti organization...to the point that if you are not independent you are seen as being a big moron!
Well, the emails I sent to him were a bit challenging like "okay, then explain why you view all organizations as being horrible and wrong" or "saying because I said so does not make it so" and the horrible crime of challenging a few of his ideas...with facts! The HORROR!!!!
anyways, I have seen so many people suddenly shift their way of thinking because this individual has the gift of the gab and is a very good writer. The facts be damned apparently!
I have also seen some "experts" come down hard on individuals and challenge their ranking without the reverse happening. What I mean by this is that if a person said that they were not going to recognize my rank...even though I was not asking them to (IE they say I don’t have the right qualifications and they do) I would probably say that they are not getting recognized by me for their rank and their attitude stinks to the point that I might grade them at a 1st Kyu based on technical ability, but personality drove the rank down!
Point is that you cannot let "Experts" sway you just because they threaten your perception of worth or you cannot challenge them in writing skills. Lets face it some of us have not developed the ability to spew such beautiful nuggets as others and our ability to write is akin to some peoples driving skills!
I am a JKA member because of a few specific people, I was blasted because of this by one person and asked why I was JKA and not ITKF/ISKF/JKS/or some other group…or independent. My answer was because I am more comfortable training with the specific people like My instructor and having links to Saeki Sensei in Ottawa meant a lot to me. Did not wash…apparently I was a wanna be because of this link alone, never mind the moronic Git never met me…trained with me…or even listened to me. And then after being battered about by him, when I finally stood up to him and asked…”Okay, why do you think this” I got the response “Because”, when I pushed a bit harder I got “you are being a bully”….LMAO…for asking why I was a bully and this snotty moron banned me from his site.
Fast forwards and the guy has a very successful web site and more power to him. I often stop by and read his blog and the comments and the amount of butt kissing and sheep herding is crazy. But ever so often…someone does not agree with him…and he reacts the same way.
My suggestion to all of us is to just train, forget what the expert says and use your head. If the guy/Gal is a world class idiot then sticking around or even listening to them…regardless of skill level in Karate…its not worth it. Don’t be a sheep…sheep get lead to slaughter! Follow whom you want and why you want, but don’t do it blindly and don’t do it “Just cuz” who that person is and what reputation they have….I think in the last four or so years we have all seen and learned this!
I am specifically pointing to people who read something that a "good writer" has written on the web, never having met the author and suddenly converting their thinking to his!
I met a gent over the web about 15 years ago....fairly famous now, infamous really, but he is a very well known name in the Karate world of online Jammy wearing geeks like myself. He is very anti organization...to the point that if you are not independent you are seen as being a big moron!
Well, the emails I sent to him were a bit challenging like "okay, then explain why you view all organizations as being horrible and wrong" or "saying because I said so does not make it so" and the horrible crime of challenging a few of his ideas...with facts! The HORROR!!!!
anyways, I have seen so many people suddenly shift their way of thinking because this individual has the gift of the gab and is a very good writer. The facts be damned apparently!
I have also seen some "experts" come down hard on individuals and challenge their ranking without the reverse happening. What I mean by this is that if a person said that they were not going to recognize my rank...even though I was not asking them to (IE they say I don’t have the right qualifications and they do) I would probably say that they are not getting recognized by me for their rank and their attitude stinks to the point that I might grade them at a 1st Kyu based on technical ability, but personality drove the rank down!
Point is that you cannot let "Experts" sway you just because they threaten your perception of worth or you cannot challenge them in writing skills. Lets face it some of us have not developed the ability to spew such beautiful nuggets as others and our ability to write is akin to some peoples driving skills!
I am a JKA member because of a few specific people, I was blasted because of this by one person and asked why I was JKA and not ITKF/ISKF/JKS/or some other group…or independent. My answer was because I am more comfortable training with the specific people like My instructor and having links to Saeki Sensei in Ottawa meant a lot to me. Did not wash…apparently I was a wanna be because of this link alone, never mind the moronic Git never met me…trained with me…or even listened to me. And then after being battered about by him, when I finally stood up to him and asked…”Okay, why do you think this” I got the response “Because”, when I pushed a bit harder I got “you are being a bully”….LMAO…for asking why I was a bully and this snotty moron banned me from his site.
Fast forwards and the guy has a very successful web site and more power to him. I often stop by and read his blog and the comments and the amount of butt kissing and sheep herding is crazy. But ever so often…someone does not agree with him…and he reacts the same way.
My suggestion to all of us is to just train, forget what the expert says and use your head. If the guy/Gal is a world class idiot then sticking around or even listening to them…regardless of skill level in Karate…its not worth it. Don’t be a sheep…sheep get lead to slaughter! Follow whom you want and why you want, but don’t do it blindly and don’t do it “Just cuz” who that person is and what reputation they have….I think in the last four or so years we have all seen and learned this!
