Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:16:51 +0000
Reply-To: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject: Re: Snarky and in-groupish
In-Reply-To: <51643F44-9692-4148-A399-F90CEFC3C137@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I don't think the list is curmudgeonly!
My two and a half years living in my van were immeasurably enriched by this
list. I've made friends whom I really treasure, even though I don't get to
see most of you nearly enough, especially those who insist on living in
places like Phoenix AZ, Campbell River BC, Portland OR, and elsewhere - you
know who you are! (Oops, I forgot Bev Beam isn't on this list! Well, the
rest of you know who she is, out there in Portland...) I've felt I have a
cushion for when Matilda is feeling unwell, just at the other end of my
keyboard. I've felt I have a community all over the US & Canada even if I
haven't met you yet.
Sure, it has its moments. But what relationship doesn't?
Joy
On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 8:52 PM, Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski <
kupcinski@gmail.com> wrote:
> When I tell people about the list, they shake their heads and mutter
> something about, "you vw nuts." It is hard to get most people to understand
> the camaraderie that exists between Vanagon owners. After all, "it's just a
> car." We, of course, know better.
>
> What I thought was interesting is that when Mark posted his thoughts,
> people jumped to the defense of the list pretty quickly. That's cool. What
> wasn't so cool was that by way of defense many people referred to some other
> list or group which is or was far worse than anything you might see here on
> the Vanagon list. Or that we used to be worse, but now we're better. See, we
> only beat you half as much as we did in yesteryear. That may be true, but it
> doesn't make the chastisement or snarkiness right.
>
> I work in a pediatric clinic. It's hard to take every single parent's
> concerns seriously because some people are uneducated, some are overly
> needy, and some are, well, not the sharpest tools in the shed. But they call
> us when their problems are bigger than they are, and so we respond.
> Compassionately. Because they called us.
>
> When someone writes to the list with a concern or a problem, it's probably
> because their problems are bigger than they are. We would do well to
> remember that sometimes. And the person who writes to the list might be
> inexperienced, lazy, or stupid, BUT they drive a Vanagon. That makes them,
> for better or worse, one of us, and we would do well remember the spirit of
> community which brought us here in the first place.
>
> (Disclaimers: I like the list a lot. I really do talk about you guys to my
> non-vw friends. I think the admins do an amazing job of herding the wild
> bunch which makes up this group. I like the sense of humor which is often
> shared by vanagon owners which tends to be dry and sarcastic. I think most
> people on the list do try to be helpful and compassionate most of the time.
> I do think the list has gotten better. I don't think Mark Hineline is
> inexperienced, lazy, or stupid.)
>
> And though the list is better than it used to be, and better than most,
> there's no reason we can't be even better than we are now. I would invite
> the group to look at Mark's comments not as calling for a fight, but rather
> as an invitation to look in the mirror and make sure we're doing the best we
> can.
>
> -Jarrett
> 89 Westy, Oly
> On Nov 8, 2010, at 1:29 PM, Joe T. wrote:
>
> > I think this group is somewhat curmudgeonly, but that's part of the
> appeal!
> > I'm a member of several groups on a range of different subjects, and
> overall
> > I can say that this one takes care of their own more than any other that
> > I've associated with.
> >
> > And while through 11 years of membership I've caught the bad end of the
> > occasional mob mentality a few times (one that made me quit for six
> > months...I kinda deserved it...) I've reaped the benefits of this group
> more
> > than I can even quantify.
> >
> > I look up to the elders of this list and the SubaruVanagon Yahoo group
> > because there is some serious brain power at work around here. Why it's
> all
> > drawn to Vanagons, I have no idea. But through the lively discourse,
> > technical info, life stories, and adventures, I've learned a lot, and
> > remained completely entertained by the unique and varied individuals who
> > hang out here.
> >
> > Booty-kissing session over. I'll go back to lurking now.
> >
> > Joe T.
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 11:52 AM, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Phase of the moon.......
> >>
> >> Tom
> >> www.towercooler.com
> >>
> >>
> >> Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
> >> Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 12:48 PM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >> Subject: Re: Snarky and in-groupish
> >>
> >> lol.
> >> right on.
> >> but how do they stop them, if they're not there.
> >>
> >> nobody posts drunk do they ?
> >> everybody knows to think carefully before clicking on 'send' ..right !!
> >>
> >> learned that one the hard way, one could say.
> >>
> >> I think something's been weird lately ..either the change of seasons, or
> >> elections, or sunspots or general concern about the craziness of the
> >> species.
> >>
> >> now if they would all just enjoy Vanagons things would be a lot better.
> >>
> >> speaking of ...
> >> vans for sale that I have -
> >> 84 L model, near pristene two tone blue and cream white, Nice simple
> >> basic
> >> van, no AC, no PS, 4 speed.
> >>
> >> 82 sunroff diesel vanagon ....freshly rebuilt engine, 124K totla miles,
> >> so
> >> ding-free it belongs in a museum.
> >>
> >> 83 rare sunroof 5 speed diesel vanagon, no rust, runs, rebuilt 1.6 TD
> >> planned, or engine can go with
> >> van as a project.
> >>
> >> 87 Wolfsburg, ...the first Carat madel. Silver. Factory lower springs,
> >> alloys, 3 dented areas ...extra sporty van, no rust. Jump seat, fold
> >> out
> >> table, rear Z bed ...a super likeable model for a non-camper.
> >>
> >> 85 Westy GL/Faux Weekender....it's on theSamba. Dailey driver. Fresh
> >> valve
> >> job and head gaskets on 1.9 wbxr engine , 20 to 21 mpg on highway, Goes
> >> well
> >> . 4 speed and power steering, leather volvo driver's seat. Just in time
> >> for
> >> southwest winter desert trips.
> >>
> >> and about 4 more, including a 83 Eurovan poptop MV with semi-rare 5
> >> speed
> >> manual trans.
> >>
> >> all located in southern Oregon, in the very dry and rust-free Rogue
> >> Valley.
> >>
> >> hey, bring your van here to work on it with my support.
> >>
> >> stay cozy everyone !
> >> Scott
> >> www.turbovans.com
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Karl Wolz" <wolzphoto@q.com>
> >> To: "'Scott Daniel - Turbovans'" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>;
> >> <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >> Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2010 10:00 PM
> >> Subject: RE: Snarky and in-groupish
> >>
> >>
> >>> Friends don't let friends post drunk!
> >>>
> >>> Karl Wolz
> >>>
> >>> |-----Original Message-----
> >>> |From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> >> Behalf
> >>> Of
> >>> |Scott Daniel - Turbovans
> >>> |Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2010 4:28 PM
> >>> |To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>> |Subject: Re: Snarky and in-groupish
> >>> |
> >>> |Mark, I am so sorry that is your experience.
> >>> |and ..anything about 'in group' is a turn-off to me.
> >>> |
> >>> |and if you're getting chastised or barked at ..
> >>> |that's not ok.
> >>> |
> >>> |if you are referring to what I think you are ...
> >>> |seems to me that incident was just a 'hopefully one-time thing' done
> >> in
> >>> |poor judgment at the time.
> >>> |
> >>> |it was out of character for the original poster too I think..
> >>> |if it's what I think it is. Never saw anything like that before from
> >> that
> >>> |person ...
> >>> |perhaps stress is a factor.
> >>> |( ..oh ...I just notice weirdness happens ...it just does sometime
> >>> |unfortunately )
> >>> |
> >>> |intending civility and support for all,
> >>> |Scott
> >>> |----- Original Message -----
> >>> |From: "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
> >>> |To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >>> |Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2010 4:50 PM
> >>> |Subject: Snarky and in-groupish
> >>> |
> >>> |
> >>> |> This list seems to have gotten in-groupish, snarky, and insular
> >>> |> relative to what it once was. That's a shame, because it used to be
> >> a
> >>> |> key resource for learning how to take care of a Vanagon and for
> >>> |> becoming part of a community. It still has the reputation, but
> >> gosh,
> >>> |> if you're not one of the in group you get chastised for asking
> >>> |> questions, for making comments, for any participation at all.
> >>> |>
> >>> |> Mark
> >>> |> 1982 Westy
> >>>
> >>
> >> ________________________________
> >>
> >> No virus found in this message.
> >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> >> Version: 10.0.1153 / Virus Database: 424/3244 - Release Date: 11/08/10
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Joe T.
> > '85 Wolfsburg Westy Subie 2.2
>
|