From: fafhrd@clubzen.fidonet.org (Fafhrd)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime
Subject: Re: Flame Fest?  What Flame Fest?
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 01:04:10 PST
Organization: Club Zen BBS - Fidonet/Internet - +1 408 734 2289


> Sheesh, people, try decaf tomorrow or something!  It's ironic that the
> people who want there to be no Medinnus (Did I get it right?) vs.
> Tatsugawa (Geez, no wonder you sign all your messages 'Mike'! 8^) flame
> fest are twitching on the ol' flamethrowers' triggers before these two
> have even bothered to turn on their pilot lights! 8->
> 
> 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.  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.  There's
> 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.
> 
> 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 question remains, then: What's preventing such a merger?  If I
> remember Medinnus' post on the matter properly, Mike was originally
> ameniable to the idea, but then someone in the AnimeCon upper echelons
> (Toren Smith?) vetoed the idea of Mike having a position of power in
> AnimeCon's Board of Directors (or whatever it's called) and since then
> Mike hasn't spoken to Dave about it.  In any case, it looks to me like
> we have a conflict of interests (egos?) between Tatsugawa and someone(s)
> in AnimeCon.  [If I'm misinterpreting events, I'd appreciate it if one
> of you two would correct me.]  If this is so, I hope one of the two sides
> involved would yield.
> 
> So, my totally unasked for and probably undesired advice to all parties is:
> 
> Mike:  PLEASE be willing to negotiate a settlement with the AnimeCon people.
> I can understand if you don't care for some of their practices (to put
> it mildly) and whatever else they've done to tick you off, but I think
> it should also be obvious that two competing AnimeExpoCons don't do *any*
> of us any favors.  Bury the hatchet, kiss and make up, I don't care,
> but *please* find a way to end this strife.  This is kinda like the Cold
> War, only there aren't even any defense contractors to make a buck off
> of it and there isn't the threat of nuclear annihilation (yet).
> 
> Dave:  I'm glad to see you're willing to shake hands and strike a bargain.
> But watch those indirect barbs of yours; you're not going to put Mike
> in a better mood if you're unconsciously slamming him.  And if there's
> anything you can do about any malcontents in your camp, it'd be appreciated
> if you could mollify them too (a chainsaw makes a *very* good bargaining
> tool 8^).  Sooth any bruised egos and the like - if you're serious about
> joining these two cons, it looks like you've got your work cut out for
> you...
> 
> The rest of you: Hey, I can understand your concern about the
> possibility of two cons and your distaste for fan politics and the
> like, but the antagonistic stance some of you have been taking (you
> know who you are!) isn't helping any.  We need a peaceful settlement
> to their differences, not name-calling.  The hand-wringing on the
> sidelines isn't much better - we need an idea on how to solve our
> problem, not a lot of people bemoaning it!  And if any of you has any
> skill as a negotiator...you might want to step forward and offer your
> services.  <grin>
> 
> So until the 3WA is petitioned to solve this little matter *for* us
> (remember the bit about "nuclear annihilation" a little earlier on? 8^),
> good night, and always remember to put the safety on your gun *before*
> you stick it down the front of your pants.
> -- 
> Bill "Whassamatter?!  Can't you take a joke?!" Barnes   wbarnes@sura.net
> Disclaimer:  The author apologizes for any thought-provoking material he may
> 	     have accidentally included and promises not to do it again.
> Datclaimer:  My employers wouldn't WANT to share some of my opinions.

Thanks. I appreciate the kind words, and, while MT is not responding to 
me on-line (which may be for the best...who knows?), I am in contact with 
the Board of Directors for the SPJA. Sigh. This is WHY neither MIke nor 
myself were not going to make an announcement for 30 days....

aaargh. 

Talks are not dead. There is hope. 

Thanx,

David Medinnus

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