[pianotech] Question of Protocol; was: but will it split

[Thomas Cole]

Dear Shawn,

You're correct that we should treat each other with respect and often 
hitting the delete button is the best response when I don't think I can 
improve on the silence. But this is an unmoderated list and there are 
times when a person's behavior which is falling outside the norms of the 
community should be commented on and that responsibility can fall on any 
of us. Mostly, in my view, this is done out of respect for the 
individual and for the good of the whole.

There is a fine line between what is seen as support from a colleague 
and what is seen as a persecution. You can learn from it or just feel 
hurt. The choice is yours.

Please accept my best wishes for a prosperous New Year.

Tom Cole

Shawn Brock wrote:
> Hey man,
>  
> what ever turns you on.  If you don't want to treat others how you 
> would like to be treated that's cool I guess.  What ever works for you 
> my friend.  All I am talking about is respect.  If I don't get respect 
> from a person then the ---- with them.  I don't have to be a part of 
> that.  FOR PIKES PEAK PEOPLE!!  THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM!  What the heck 
> is wrong with hitting the delete button?  Is that a foreign concept?  
> I have many times thought a question was stupid but I have never had 
> to become belligerent over it.  I just move on!  Now I have stated my 
> opinion and once again its a big deal!  Maybe I'm the only one who had 
> to work today and others are still off for the holidays so they have 
> time to assess my statements...  All I know is this is becoming vary 
> childish and quite frankly I don't give a flying fig if people like my 
> opinion or not.  Opinions is something I often keep to myself on list 
> just because of what we are seeing play out now.  I try to stick with 
> the black and white and stay out of the gray on this list because what 
> ever opinion you give someone will cry about it and tell you how you 
> should think like they do.  Yes we have some wonderful technicians and 
> musicians in this world.  I don't know where I would be without them.  
> Still the word respect means a lot to many people and I am one of 
> them.  Like I stated, until brother Ed told me I didn't know all of 
> the goings on in this argument and didn't care a lot about it.  I was 
> just trying to get across that as adults we should have just a little 
> respect and tolerance for people.  We all don't think alike...  Lord 
> knows we have had some people on list who didn't know the first thing 
> about pianos and for most that seemed okay.  We have also had heated 
> discussions and I sure don't see anything wrong with that, but why 
> waste time being disrespectful to people and never progressing in a 
> meeting of the minds?  Oh, and no I do not regret thinking more before 
> I hit the send button on my post.  I just said what I thought and I 
> still feel the same way.  If anything I feel more justified in my 
> thinking.  This doesn't mean I would drop out of the PTG or quit 
> associating with technicians.  It just means I don't feel as good 
> about some things as I once did.
>  
> Shawn Brock, RPT
> 513-316-0563
> www.shawnbrock.com <http://www.shawnbrock.com>
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* David Andersen <mailto:david at davidandersenpianos.com>
>     *To:* pianotech at ptg.org <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
>     *Sent:* Saturday, December 27, 2008 1:59 PM
>     *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] Question of Protocol; was: but will it
>     split
>
>     Dude. You shoulda paused a bit before hitting the send button on
>     this one. If you're looking for negativity in people I guarantee
>     you'll find it.
>     If you think you operate in a "throat-cutting" environment with
>     pianos and piano technicians, perhaps it would be useful to take a
>     look at what kind of internal atmosphere you bring to the
>     community. When I look around me, in Los Angeles, a place that's
>     traditionally perceived as the sociopathic weasel capital of the
>     universe, I see both musicians and piano technicians that are
>     overwhelmingly good, honest, thoughtful, giving, smart, funny,
>     complex people. My people. I also see the aforementioned weasels,
>     but I don't have anything to do with them. At all. If I was a
>     country, it would be a capital crime in my country to not treat
>     others as you would like to be treated. Despite sounding cheesy
>     and New Age-y, you DO attract people who live in the same kind of
>     internal, moment-to-moment atmosphere you do. You need a friend to
>     talk you down off the ledge, brother.
>     DA
>
>>     List,
>>     I have not followed this thread so I don't have an opinion on who
>>     is right or wrong.  From what posts I have taken the time to read
>>     though the same old
>>     point is driven home once again.  Some piano technicians think
>>     they are god, and no one else could work the miracles that they
>>     do and everyone other than
>>     them is just s**t.  A colleague in the Cincinnati chapter once
>>     pointed this out to me.  I was vary arguable for a time thinking
>>     the technician just had
>>     a chip on his shoulder.  The longer I'm around a large number of
>>     technicians though the more I think the colleague was correct in
>>     his thinking.  At one
>>     time I would do anything to be a part of this list and all PTG
>>     chapter meetings and conventions.  My mind has changed though... 
>>     Its not worth it!  Its not
>>     worth putting up with people who have such a bad attitude.  I
>>     just go to my appointments, do my shop work and try to keep my
>>     mouth shut.  Musicians are legendary for having large egos and
>>     most of my life I worked in that competitive throat cutting
>>     environment.  I have to tell you though piano technicians are
>>     just as egotistical, perhaps more so than the musicians they/we
>>     serve.  That is a true shame!  We work on perhaps the most
>>     primitive junk piles in the musical world but yet some of us
>>     think we are just the gods all pianists have been waiting fore. 
>>     Don't misunderstand me, I am not talking about any certain
>>     person, its just that this thread brought these ramblings to the
>>     front of my mind.  So, I guess that's all I have to say now.  I'm
>>     out to voice and tune an S&S B. 
>>      
>>     Shawn Brock, RPT
>>     513-316-0563
>