Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 13:49:25 -0800
Reply-To: Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Snarky and in-groupish
In-Reply-To: <51643F44-9692-4148-A399-F90CEFC3C137@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Great analogy, Jarrett!
I like your thinking...
Anthony'89 Syncro GL (Hidalgo)
--- On Mon, 11/8/10, Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski <kupcinski@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
From: Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski <kupcinski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Snarky and in-groupish
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Monday, November 8, 2010, 3:52 PM
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
| 
