An apology and an explanation
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:17 pm
It has been brought to my attention that some American WIX members think I am 'anti-American', which was a bit of a surprise. A bit further investigation threw up some interesting views, and for a number of reasons, I thought it best to offer a public explanation. On reason was that I've been advised to hide my 'disdain' for the US better. First, I have no disdain for any country of people, and secondly I say what I think - no hiding.
So straight up - I'm not 'anti-American', and I apologise unreservedly to anyone who gathered that impression.
I've been lucky enough to travel a good deal of the world, and I've had wonderful hospitality from fellow enthusiasts and professionals all over the place, and for the record, I've been shown a wonderful time everywhere I've visited in the US and enjoyed it immensely. Where possible, I've tried to reciprocate
Apparently I'm anti- Mustangs, and ergo anti American. The 'James doesn't like Mustangs' joke actually goes back some way, and may serve as an illustration of why I'm concerned about this myth. A long time ago I worked for the late Paul Coggan, editor of Warbirds Worldwide, as his Assistant Editor. Paul built WW out of 'Mustangs International' and was (and is) regarded as having been an expert on Mustangs in preservation. As a joke, he and I divided he world into Mustangs (for Paul) and 'everything else' for me. Therefore I didn't 'do' Mustangs.
The relevance was that WW existed because it was bankrolled by some very generous Americans, and WW was successful because (among other reasons) unlike most magazines of the time, it was worldwide - we didn't care where the aircraft was, it just needed to be written up. Out of WW, very indirectly, came WIX, thanks to the generosity of Scott, and WW was, in some degree, a model for Warbird Digest, a great asset, I'm sure we'd all agree to warbird operations.
At WW, we also took promoting the idea of a professional warbird industry, working internationally, and (remember, this was mostly pre-internet) the promotion of safe and professional warbird ops, by running reports, highlighting good practice, and first-hand engineering and restoration and crew accounts. Paul was always at pains to point out he was not a pilot (as am I also clear - I'm not either) but we worked hard to enhance the positive and remove the negative in warbirds as far as we could as journalists, anywhere in the world. For that reason, I have demonstrated a commitment to global warbird operations - no one country is enough.
I'm often critical - of stupidity or laziness by intelligent people, or 'wilful' ignorance of other ways of doing things. My language, which is pretty odd (even to my wife!) has got some (justified) criticism, but it comes to the same thing - sometimes we need to hear things we don't like. Bear in mind we are all concerned with 'PC' and 'dumbing down', and my attitude is just against that. I can, of course just be ignored - your life won't lose anything.
On WIX, which I've supported from it's earliest days, there's been little point in me trying to outdo some American posters, such as Jack, but what I can do is add views and knowledge 'frm elsewhere' as a compliment to the forum's North American strength. Often I've fought a corner for those that don't have a voice here - Bill when he was banned the first time, those in PNG, for some unfair remarks, or people who work for museums who, for various reasons, aren't able to or allowed to post here. In those cases I don't necessarily agree with them, but I don't parrot the principles of free speech, I try to live them. I may not agree with what you say, but I'll fight for your right to say it, is the principle.
It appears some may see this as anti-American. If that were the case, I simply wouldn't bother with a predominantly North American forum. We are clear we are behind free speech. If we aren't hearing some stuff we don't expect (or like) then it isn't 'free' speech.
I'm just one of the many people who make up the forum. The only person who is bigger than WIX is Scott. I've got a lot out of WIX, thanks to other, incredibly generous members; so I try and put a lot in - silly photo-quizes, insight, debate, acting as a devil's-advocate, and help, and volunteering to act as a mod. (Anyone who thinks that's a power trip needs to try it - and having run multi-million pound businesses, I don't need power trips on the internet.) Again, if I were anti-American I'd not waste my professional time (often off board) helping various projects in the US.
So I hope that's clarified the point. I don't care where someone's from; a shared interest in vintage aviation and warbirds, good manners and a sense of humour's nice, and all I ask. I've made many friends on WIX (you know who you are) and I have no intent to make any enemies.
That's more than enough; thank you for your indulgence.
Yours,
So straight up - I'm not 'anti-American', and I apologise unreservedly to anyone who gathered that impression.
I've been lucky enough to travel a good deal of the world, and I've had wonderful hospitality from fellow enthusiasts and professionals all over the place, and for the record, I've been shown a wonderful time everywhere I've visited in the US and enjoyed it immensely. Where possible, I've tried to reciprocate
Apparently I'm anti- Mustangs, and ergo anti American. The 'James doesn't like Mustangs' joke actually goes back some way, and may serve as an illustration of why I'm concerned about this myth. A long time ago I worked for the late Paul Coggan, editor of Warbirds Worldwide, as his Assistant Editor. Paul built WW out of 'Mustangs International' and was (and is) regarded as having been an expert on Mustangs in preservation. As a joke, he and I divided he world into Mustangs (for Paul) and 'everything else' for me. Therefore I didn't 'do' Mustangs.
The relevance was that WW existed because it was bankrolled by some very generous Americans, and WW was successful because (among other reasons) unlike most magazines of the time, it was worldwide - we didn't care where the aircraft was, it just needed to be written up. Out of WW, very indirectly, came WIX, thanks to the generosity of Scott, and WW was, in some degree, a model for Warbird Digest, a great asset, I'm sure we'd all agree to warbird operations.
At WW, we also took promoting the idea of a professional warbird industry, working internationally, and (remember, this was mostly pre-internet) the promotion of safe and professional warbird ops, by running reports, highlighting good practice, and first-hand engineering and restoration and crew accounts. Paul was always at pains to point out he was not a pilot (as am I also clear - I'm not either) but we worked hard to enhance the positive and remove the negative in warbirds as far as we could as journalists, anywhere in the world. For that reason, I have demonstrated a commitment to global warbird operations - no one country is enough.
I'm often critical - of stupidity or laziness by intelligent people, or 'wilful' ignorance of other ways of doing things. My language, which is pretty odd (even to my wife!) has got some (justified) criticism, but it comes to the same thing - sometimes we need to hear things we don't like. Bear in mind we are all concerned with 'PC' and 'dumbing down', and my attitude is just against that. I can, of course just be ignored - your life won't lose anything.
On WIX, which I've supported from it's earliest days, there's been little point in me trying to outdo some American posters, such as Jack, but what I can do is add views and knowledge 'frm elsewhere' as a compliment to the forum's North American strength. Often I've fought a corner for those that don't have a voice here - Bill when he was banned the first time, those in PNG, for some unfair remarks, or people who work for museums who, for various reasons, aren't able to or allowed to post here. In those cases I don't necessarily agree with them, but I don't parrot the principles of free speech, I try to live them. I may not agree with what you say, but I'll fight for your right to say it, is the principle.
It appears some may see this as anti-American. If that were the case, I simply wouldn't bother with a predominantly North American forum. We are clear we are behind free speech. If we aren't hearing some stuff we don't expect (or like) then it isn't 'free' speech.
I'm just one of the many people who make up the forum. The only person who is bigger than WIX is Scott. I've got a lot out of WIX, thanks to other, incredibly generous members; so I try and put a lot in - silly photo-quizes, insight, debate, acting as a devil's-advocate, and help, and volunteering to act as a mod. (Anyone who thinks that's a power trip needs to try it - and having run multi-million pound businesses, I don't need power trips on the internet.) Again, if I were anti-American I'd not waste my professional time (often off board) helping various projects in the US.
So I hope that's clarified the point. I don't care where someone's from; a shared interest in vintage aviation and warbirds, good manners and a sense of humour's nice, and all I ask. I've made many friends on WIX (you know who you are) and I have no intent to make any enemies.
That's more than enough; thank you for your indulgence.
Yours,
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:22 pm
Well, I don't know if I'll be fast enough to do this, but if I can let me be the first to say that I have never perceived you as anti-American and actually enjoy the obscure adversarial edge some perceive in your comments. Keep up the good work.
Ryan
P.S. The canopy / droop snoot discussion was quite fun!
Ryan
P.S. The canopy / droop snoot discussion was quite fun!
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:29 pm
You're a humble to be able to apologize for this, but I sure wouldn't.
Anyway, no need to explain, who cares what other people think. Most are wrong. Watch the movie Gran Torino, did he care what they thought? I sure wouldn't.
Anyway, no need to explain, who cares what other people think. Most are wrong. Watch the movie Gran Torino, did he care what they thought? I sure wouldn't.
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:33 pm
Nobody likes you James. Just live with it. It might help if you bribe us to like you. I take paypal, but you might need to start a new checking account for everyone else. Also, you need to apologize more, especially about not sending more Australian coeds here to go to school. And you should also consider tattooing an American flag on your forehead so when you get to GITMO ( I know it's closing but we're really breaking our backs to get you in under the wire) they'll be able to identify you more easily as that guy who hates Americans.
(I'm just joking of course [except for the paypal part
] 
)
(I'm just joking of course [except for the paypal part
] )
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:35 pm
Muddyboots, So eloquently spoken. You must be a poet. Can we call you Brokenspeare?
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:35 pm
I never perceived you as anti-American either, and Australia rocks! I can't wait to visit there, maybe next winter (ours, not yours).
Rich
Rich
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:40 pm
James,
Never detected any 'anti' anything from you, just the ability to detach yourself from the 'close in' in a thread and open out (or attempt to anyway) the discusson some.
I really enjoyed our little sparing match a few months ago over the KC tanker dealings, I tried fairly hard to trip you up but you stuck by your guns, and have garnered my respect (for whatever that may be worth) and my admiration for remaining with your principles. I enjoy your postings and respect your knowledge of aviation history.
by all means RAVE ON BROTHER!!!
Never detected any 'anti' anything from you, just the ability to detach yourself from the 'close in' in a thread and open out (or attempt to anyway) the discusson some.
I really enjoyed our little sparing match a few months ago over the KC tanker dealings, I tried fairly hard to trip you up but you stuck by your guns, and have garnered my respect (for whatever that may be worth) and my admiration for remaining with your principles. I enjoy your postings and respect your knowledge of aviation history.
by all means RAVE ON BROTHER!!!
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:43 pm
A2C wrote:Muddyboots, So eloquently spoken. You must be a poet. Can we call you Brokenspeare?
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:45 pm
It's o.k. James, we know you hate all countries except for Australia and Great Britain. 
I don't perceive you as Anti-American, I just think you like the intellectual exercise of a good debate by always taking the opposite side.
I do like how you are actually "Moderating" and keeping this board under control. Unfortunately, I think we have some other thin-skinned Mods on this forum who are afraid of hurting other people's feelings and refuse to moderate. It's real simple, it you take the job, just do it! People get too wrapped up about stupid things like having their threads moved to other sub-forums and take it personally. People, it's the internet, get over it already!
I'm a member of a LOT of forums on the internet, approximately 25. By far, this one is one of the most benign I've visited. You guys should see what a "real, uncontrolled forum" is like out there in the Wild West.
Keep up the good work as a Mod, James!
I don't perceive you as Anti-American, I just think you like the intellectual exercise of a good debate by always taking the opposite side.
I do like how you are actually "Moderating" and keeping this board under control. Unfortunately, I think we have some other thin-skinned Mods on this forum who are afraid of hurting other people's feelings and refuse to moderate. It's real simple, it you take the job, just do it! People get too wrapped up about stupid things like having their threads moved to other sub-forums and take it personally. People, it's the internet, get over it already!
I'm a member of a LOT of forums on the internet, approximately 25. By far, this one is one of the most benign I've visited. You guys should see what a "real, uncontrolled forum" is like out there in the Wild West.
Keep up the good work as a Mod, James!
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:47 pm
warbird1 wrote: You guys should see what a "real, uncontrolled forum" is like out there in the Wild West.
http://www.4chan.org/
comes to mind. Beware of this site. It is not...benign.
An apology and an explanation
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:48 pm
James,
I've always recognized your tounge in cheek humour and find it to be quite amusing.We might have the same problem,though.I've been told that I have a dry sense of humor and I sometimes find that certain people find it difficult to tell when I'm serious and when I'm joking,although it's always obvious to me.I look forward to your posts....LK
I've always recognized your tounge in cheek humour and find it to be quite amusing.We might have the same problem,though.I've been told that I have a dry sense of humor and I sometimes find that certain people find it difficult to tell when I'm serious and when I'm joking,although it's always obvious to me.I look forward to your posts....LK
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:52 pm
http://www.4chan.org/
comes to mind. Beware of this site. It is not...benign.
What are you talking about? That looks like a namby pamby Origami site, pretty vicious stuff.
Last edited by A2C on Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:57 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Schiesse Macht WIX uber Frei
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:53 pm
Well,
There's nothing like people who do nothing getting on a horse and going nowhere. When you are sitting in your trailer park and run out of Piels, it's great to have a Limey to get your a$$ in the air and then have to run to the Piggly Wiggly to get your blood pressure medication, lotto numbers, and hair spray. Why can't we all get along? Because Obama is President, John Thain can't pick a decent decorator, and people are flapping their gums here instead of pounding tin on airplanes, doing real research on aviation, or burning 100LL.
I flew the L-5 on Friday, and strangely, didn't think about WIX once during the flight... crystal clear, smooth air, a roaring O-435. James, come fly with me sometime... you seem like good people...
There's nothing like people who do nothing getting on a horse and going nowhere. When you are sitting in your trailer park and run out of Piels, it's great to have a Limey to get your a$$ in the air and then have to run to the Piggly Wiggly to get your blood pressure medication, lotto numbers, and hair spray. Why can't we all get along? Because Obama is President, John Thain can't pick a decent decorator, and people are flapping their gums here instead of pounding tin on airplanes, doing real research on aviation, or burning 100LL.
I flew the L-5 on Friday, and strangely, didn't think about WIX once during the flight... crystal clear, smooth air, a roaring O-435. James, come fly with me sometime... you seem like good people...
Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:55 pm
James, come fly with me sometime
In that case he'd better stay on the ground.
Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:06 pm
I musta missed something. Either that or I just know enough Ozzies to know when they're joking.
Hang in there James.
Hang in there James.