Originally posted by Kusarigama
I think you are incorrect Charles. We all get it.
What we “get” is the phrase you keep using over and over. And that phrase is more or less as follows:
“I’M OFFENDED” !!
With all due respect Brit (mind you I don't know you from Adam but I am giving it to you anyways so much for having to earn it.. eh?.. think on that one) I think you seem to have missed his point.
I am too lazy to go back and search the entire thread to see if indeed Charles did say "I"M OFFENDED". But at the risk of dragging this out even further, the message I got from Charles is that he believes Meik's choice of words was "OFFENSIVE", and that he does not believe that is an acceptable way for a highly esteemed figure such as Mr. Skoss to make his views know in the budo community.
I did not read anything close to what you apparently have read into the thread.
Originally posted by Kusarigama
Whenever you disagree with someone or dislike how, when, what, and where someone says something, out comes your stock phrase.
“I’M OFFENDED” !!
So Meik says something, IN HIS OPINION, that you disagree with.
“I’M OFFENDED” !!
Someone doesn’t agree with you that MJER is a Koryu.
“I’M OFFENDED” !!
Or says it in a style/manner/verbiage you don’t like.
“I’M OFFENDED” !!
The list goes on and on.
Again, I am too lazy to go through every post Charles has made, but judging by your above statements you must have. So please entertain me and provide some quotes that illustrate the above scenarios you have presented.
Originally posted by Kusarigama
Why do you care what anyone else thinks?
I think Charles has made it pretty clear that he does not care what "anybdy else thinks". What he does seem to care about is:
1- the impact the opinion of somebody like Meik has on the beginning student or on the interested student.
2- The effect that stating a negative opinion has on the community when it is presented with less than tasteful language.
Originally posted by Kusarigama
What I see here is an absolute demand on your part that everyone respect you and your opinions.
Again I disagree. What I see here is a plea that all of us, senior budoka included, be a little more respectful in our choice of language when talking about another style. It is something I happen to agree with even though I personally did not find Meik's wording offensive, I did find it provocative and that may be just what he was trying to do...provoke... If that is the case he certainly was sucsesful.
Originally posted by Kusarigama
Newsflash: Respect is earned. It is not a right.
Please re-read Charles's posts. It at no point is really about respect, it is about respectful behavior. Ttue respect is something that is earned. Respectful behavior on the other hand should be extended towards everyone.
Originally posted by Kusarigama
If you want respect for your opinions then show respect for the opinion of others. If you disagree, state your opinion respectfully and “MOVE ON”. But you can’t, can you? You beat the bloody thing to death.
Big Tony calls you “Crusader”.
“Zealot” is more accurate.
Well Brit it seems that you actually found the center of this afterall (So tell us. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?)
The first sentence of your last paragraph sums up what this has really been all about. And unless I am mistaken it is all Charles was really trying to get at.
The Zealot thing...well take your own advice is my advice.
Respectfully,
Scott Irey
Just another one of those "few peanuts short of a snickers bar" MJER guys.