From: jkim@jingoro.Eng.Sun.COM (Jun Kim)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime
Subject: Re: Flame Fest?  What Flame Fest?
Date: 21 Jul 1992 18:50:27 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: jingoro

In article <1992Jul21.155145.19729@sura.net> wbarnes@sura.net (Bill Barnes) writes:
>
>So far, from what I've seen, Medinnus is trying to be polite and
>receptive to a merger/reunion/whatever you call it between the two
>anime cons.  

Well, as far as I can see, it's more of a takeover.  When one wants to use
a pretty euphemism for "takeover", one uses "merger".  I've seen it one
too many times.

>He has made one indirect slam against Mike (about him
>being a behind-the- scenes kind of organizer - whatever that means - a
>practice David doesn't like for reasons of his own) which he has
>apologized for.  He has also apologized for the fact his real name
>isn't in his signature and promises to fix that.  He claims to respect
>Mike and has no reason to engage in a net.fisticuffs with him.  On the
>other hand, one wonders about why he choose the 4th of July for his
>AnimeCon.  It could be sort of a, "BWAHAHAHA!! We're stealing your
>space, Mike!" or it could be meant as an implicit, "Look, since it's
>going to be on the same days in the same town, why don't we get
>together to make one, true con?"  I can only hope it's the latter. 

Well then, he needs to consider the choice of there being no AnimeCon
as much as he wants Mike to consider the choice of there being no AE.
It seems clear enough to me that he has not done this, and is not
seriously considering it... since:

>also the matter of his comment about why he feels his con is the best,
>which could be construed as another indirect (and perhaps unintentional)
>jab at Mike and co.

Look, it seems plain to me that Medinnus is not a bad fellow per se, but
after accepting his post has basically taken himself as a valiant warrior
for the AnimeCon forces, and wants to make sure AC's PR here on the net
is a good one, and that AE/Mike T's PR is a bit more shaky.  Which is fine.
But to me, his apologies and explanations sound a bit too coy.  Like
"oops, I forgot this!" or "Gee, did I do that?"  Not to say that it
wasn't legitimate.  I'm  going to try to believe that.  However, more
statements like those should not be coming from someone who is obviusly
trying to be quite "political" (in my book).  Someone looking out to
not "slam" people can do a much better job with only a little more
effort.  At least more effort than just saying "I'm not trying to slam
anyone."

>
>Mike, for his part, from the one post of his on the subject, seems intent
>not to baited by criticism into a flamefest, which is fine by me.  However,
>I really *really* hope this doesn't mean he's going to be close-minded about
>a reconcilliation between his group and David's.  As David readily admits,
>two cons in the same place at nearly the same time does no one any good.
>I'm presuming Mike recognizes the wisdom of this.
>

The only reason that I'm replying here is that it seems to me that you too
are taking sides here.  It seems that you doubt Mike as much as I doubt
Medinnus.  Again, this is fine, but I feel kinda uncomfortable with the
notion that your original intent appeared to be one of pure objectivity
and not "taking sides".  I'm nit-picking, I know, and I realize if there
is a bias on your part, it is subtle.  But it is just this:  I think
both "sides" know exactly what is going on and what the ramifications are,
and to doubt their ability to see this is underestimating everyone involved.
I think everyone knows exactly what they are doing.  So we need to look 
very hard at the initiators of the turmoil to understand their motivations.
And the best way to do this is to watch their actions, not just their words.
Words are very cheap without actions to back them up.  And so far, I don't
like their actions.  I guess I'm too much of a skeptic to give people "the
benifit of the doubt" until they can prove to me they deserve it.  It just
might cost too much if I was wrong.





--
Jun Kim                                    jkim@jingoro.Eng.Sun.Com
Sun Microsystems           "It's amazing that that tiny little brain of his 
Mountain View, CA           can generate enough energy to keep his legs moving" 
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