Andre Bertel Blog!

[Rob S]

I have to admit, the hostility in this thread, and in others, detracts from karate.

It is fine to exchange views etc. But recent posts and demands make this seem like an unpleasant place to get too involved in.

Other blogs in the past have been plagued by hostility, flaming, etc.

This one purports not to engage in such, but it appears we have also been.

Sad to say, but I think it is time to check out.

Regards to all.

[Bob Davis]

Hi Bagpuss (for the want of anything better )

Appologies if you took my post the wrong way, I don't believe that you have anything to fear here by way of threats or name calling (probably less here than on any other forum out there).

There has been a bit of a spat between members who (it would seem) have a back story and some history so best for the rest of us to just ignore it BUT this is very rare here.

..it's intimidating as it was and I was wrong to say anything anyway when I know nothing...

At the end of the day you are as entitled to your opinion as anyone else and if "knowing nothing" were the criteria then many of us would have a lot less to say on many subjects

It's by getting involved that we move on to knowing something and learning new things. Please do not be intimidated, the worst that happens is that if you don't like the way a thread is going just walk away and don't be drawn.

Take a while (lurk if you prefer, there's no pressure) and then dip your toe again when you feel ready and you'll find people friendly and helpful.

The "sign you name" rule is there purely to avoid the things you see on many other forums where "brave" people abuse others from behind their keyboards annonymously. At least here if you make an a*se of yourself, as I've done many times (case in point above it seems at least everyone knows it's you (but because of that, nobody cares so it actually makes life easier).

Best regards

Bob D.

[kensei]

First off "Bag o Puss" The name rule is in place, as bob suggested, to stop internet bullies from having free time to stomp on people with out recourse. With the name firmly applaced we hope that others realize that out bursts and silly actions are not just seen by us who may be the target of an abusive tirade but also by others who may know you...this may or may not stop them...as seen previous.

@ rob, first off this kind of out burst was very rair here and we still pride ourselves on having a clean site where we "gather" to share ideas. Often personal issues come up and we see that they can boil over, its very strange this last one but I assure you steve was never that mentally stable to begin with (I KID STEVE)! And I am sure that this is kind of a net blow up because of other issues he is working to take care of.

Now, to ALL here....please lets walk past, dont rubber neck anymore and let this little "Issue" blow over. You will all note that Steve is not lamenting over this and pushing the button to bring it back, he is being a bigger person (NO NOT A FAT JOKE) and letting it go. Lets all stop being little drama queens and let it DIE!

I think the charactor of those that KEEP bringing it up will show at some point so lets just let it die out naturally!

[Allan Shepherd]

To ALL forum contributors.

"Dear Forum Members - we have decided to introduce a basic but very important Forum Rule:

we understand and expect that forum members may not always agree with each other but you MUST adopt this approach to such situations -

AGREE TO DISAGREE AGREEABLY!

IF you do not you will be warned and given chance to explain. if it continues you may be barred but not before a chance to give your version of events - BUT the administrators judgments and decisions will be final but publicly explained.

we hope the above is clear and contributes to a robust site that allows diverse opinions under an ethos of agreeable positive conduct."

The above ethos of "agreeable positive conduct" was posted by the site owners on 03/09/2010 at 12:32. They apply to EVERYONE who contributes, hopefully NO ONE is immune!! or are they?

I fully understand all that is currently taking priority with certain events and I sincerely appreciate the positive comments that appear to "tip the scales" so to speak in my favour but there still seems to be an element of negative assumptions in the relationship between me and Steve. Like I said in a previous posting there is none as I have respected his opinion(s) in the past but on this occassion for what ever reason he has failed to apply the ethos of this website. He simply took umbrage to me playing devil's advocate and did not "agree to disagree agreeably" with my opinion.

I have eagerly been waiting (without posting further) for a number of events to occur with regards to this topic and the one that instigated it, namely the Andre Bertel interview/video previously posted. The first event is the "facts" whatever they are if indeed they exist and secondly an unreserved apology from Steve for his seemingly uncharacteristic outburst (read contributors comments) and name calling that he directed towards me personally. The only positive and polite part of his posting(s) was when he said "please" phone me!

Steve's reply to Rob S on 16/06/2012 at 11:08 in a previous posting condemnation of Andre Bertel as being very unpleasant and very critical of karateka that he has never meet nor never trained with etc begs one question! Question.. Steve does this not sound familiar? Does it not warrant an unreserved apology to me but more importantly the forum membership?

Best Regards
Allan

[kensei]

Allan and the rest of the forum!

I put out a request to DROP IT! and I meant it. I dont like playing heavy as a mod, I dont believe in banning people, or nixing posts, but I ask that you respect decisions that are made by mods.

As for drumbing up your issues that occured with Steve in the past...dont. Its done...its over...kaput...Zippo...done....el donezo! Lets move on...move along...zip to a different frame of mind and basically STOP IT!

Steve is very busy with his family health issues right now and will NOT be responding for a bit so STOP BRINING IT UP. its not helping and it wont be dealt with for some time. When I "Suggest" we move on take it as "OKAY GANG MOVE ON"..with out any of the frills I am asked to add to my normal gruff posts.

As for steve posting an appology, I will ask that he NOT do it publicly. Reguardless of hte public nature of your tiff.....brining it back up is kind of like ripping the dressing off and cutting the stitches to expose a wound that I WOULD HOPE IS LEFT ALONE long enough to be forgotten!

I know its easy for me to post this as I was not the target of his explosion...but I dont really care at this point. I am sick of hearing what Andre has to say about "us" and what everyone has to say to each other...it has nothing to do with Karate, this site or the intent of this site...if you want to have Drama and act like a school girl with her nickers in a bunch I am sure those that want this can find a more appropriate site to vent their silly issues.

heres the LAST thing on the issues with steve and Andre..and things you need to know...Andre threw the first punch! He started off long before this issue came up blasting members on this forum, and not just Steve by the way. I know of several members who have said that Andre had PM'd them and was harsh. He then went after Steve several times and the final blow was the charactor assasination and insult that he posted on his blog, which even I was shocked at. So, the argument and issues with them were not really created by Steve...nor should we have to see the issues.. after talking to STEVE he asked me to kill the issues as he hopes the issue with Andre simply dries up and blows away when others realize it DOES NOT BOTHER HIM anymore. So, in the end all I am asking is that we respect Steves request to MOVE ON!

As for an appology, if one is forthcoming it should be in private, again to ensure that this issue is LEFT BEHIND us and we can move on to ...oh, I dont know...>KARATE STUFF!!!!

This should be the LAST we hear of this stupid issue...and if not then I will be looking to the forum mods/owner Steve, Ged and Myself and see if locking a bunch of threads and possibly deletion for the sake of directing the chat back to.....I DONT KNOW KARATE stuff may have to be done.

Please, please please move on....drop this and chat about Karate again...I dont like enforcing rules and rulings but I will if I have to!

Enjoy talking about Karate on the site and sharing...if you felt your toes were stepped on by Steve, well they probably were! But its not a public appology and bowing and scraping that you will get. Ask for a private appology and deal with it as adults deal with issues please. NO more chatting about Andre and his issues with us, steve or anyone and please deal with Steve by PM when he is back...you may find that once the pressure and stress is off he is a bit nicer...or they may change his meds and we get a completely different Steve back that wants to sit around a fire and sing camp songs!

I dont have all the answers to this issue but I sure know I am sick of listening to adults bicker like school kids and bring up issues they have been asked to move away from......if I sound pissed its because I am sick of this crap! MOVE ON!

James....a bit nuttier than before I was given this job...James

[Allan Shepherd]

Hi James

Read your response to me and the rest of the forum in respect to these two topics! and I personally agree not to post on same ONLY out of respect for what is currently going on in other area's that are obviously the priority and always will be.

Let me make one thing clear to EVERYONE, this continuance was not about Steve and the two topics relating to Andre Bertel. This is about Steve's unwarranted response to me on this forum on June 29th at 09:01 and his PM to me on June 29th at 09:04.

When an apology is appropriate and forthcoming it should NOT be by a personal PM to me it should be on the forum open to ALL of the membership since his response has sent a message to ALL those who contribute. The message is that administrators/moderators can
do and say what they like without being accountable for their personal and public admonishment of those who post WITHIN the boundaries set out within the ethos of agreeable positive conduct.

For this site to be both successful and creditable it has to be accountable for both their contributors and administrators/moderators actions irrespective if one of their contributors or administrators/moderators has had a "bad" day.

Ultimately it is the membership who decide since they have the option to move one and contribute elsewhere. I would like to think that from day one on this site I have respected the opinions of ALL contributors. If I have not, it has certainly not been evident from the responses that my posting have attracted with ONLY one exception as mentioned above.

Best Regards
Allan

[kensei]

No one is above the right of the membership in general Allan....but as I see we wont hear the end of this and that the post will go on and on and on...with out anyone getting the hint....I am going to lock it and be done with it.

Lets not keep kicking a dead cat and acting like school girl drama queens.....let it die!