I don't know who you are, but I've been on the AMC List since its
inception. It came down to a choice of banning one member or losing
many, including running newcomers off. That's the bottom line.
There were many more active list members until Randy came along. At
one point about a year ago he all but shut the list down because of
inflammatory personal attacks in public. I've known Randy for a few
years, and have talked to him on the phone and in person. I agree,
we have lost some experience and expertise without him. When he
posts about engine related items he's great. But he cannot control
his temperament. It has simply come down to the point that the long
time listers are tired of dealing with the attitude. He has driven
away MANY people, long timers and newcomers. I can't tell you how
many e-mails I've received over the last few years from people
asking questions that would have been better answered on the list.
They didn't post for fear of being jumped on. The "flame wars" that
Randy has started gives the list in particular, and the AMC hobby in
general, a bad reputation for people not being able to get along,
and jumping to conclusions. 90% of those wars were sta!
rted by Randy, intentionally or not. He has walked over to many
people's basic right to be treated in a civil manner, disagree or
not.
It's not a matter of Randy's point of view. I don't care about that,
neither do the other long termers. He could have stated his
viewpoint in a polite, civil manner, at any time. No one would have
complained, disagree or not. Personal attacks in public and stating
your view in a way designed specifically to offend is not tolerated
on ANY on-line groups that I know of.
It's not Randy's point of view that got him kicked off the list,
it's his acerbic way of presenting it. Did you know that he was
banned from the AMC Forum 2-3 years ago? That's when he came over to
the AMC List. We've tolerated this long enough. I have attempted to
convey to him that if he could calm down a bit there wouldn't be any
problems, and several others have as well. How much pleading should
we do (with only temporary results, at best) before enough is
enough? There has been more than enough.
Now, can we go on with talking about AMCs and drop this? It wasn't a
crusade against Randy nor an attempt to make anyone feel they can't
express a different point of view. Express, just be a little
courteous and respectful of others, especially when their views are
different than ours.
---
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent
Magazine" (AIM)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
(free download available!)
Back to the Home of the AMC Gremlin