[DML] DOA and the Future - Long

["outatime81" <outatime81@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have been reading the back and forth about the issue with the DOA 
and the DMA in terms of the invitation, or lack there and the ongoing 
mis-trust that is evident.  

1.  It is my belief that any complaint should have come from the 
President of the DMA as the representative of that organization. In 
all orgainzations there is a Chain of Command.  If this was seen as a 
snub I believe it would have been more appropriate for the President 
of the DMA to decide how to address it and be the voice for the 
organization.   This situation, to me, could have been resolved via a 
private communication or phone call with no embarrassment or hard 
feelings on anyone's part.  

Here's a better senario....A simple private note saying 

"Hey Ken, 

Some people are seeing the invite as non-inclusive of the DMA, could 
you look into it and perhaps have Mark re-post to mention the group 
or at least let us know if there are any issues we can work together 
to resolve.


A little different, eh?   This is how people should treat other 
people in the same community.  If Mr. Baker wrote back and said "Piss 
off, we will post whatever we want"  THEN you would have something to 
complain about.  At least have the kindness to ask people what their 
intentions are first before hitting the boards.  

 

2. I believe the post had no evil intentions and was not a direct 
snubbing of the DMA.  The poster tried to clarify his intent and as a 
member of the DMA I was ok with his explaination.  It was, in my 
mind, not a big deal and a simple mis-understanding.  People are not 
perfect.  I feel he was unfairly critized.  Have none of you ever 
made an error?

3.  An invitation was then sent on the boards to DMA members for this 
perceived oversight.  In my mind this ended the issue with both 
groups moving forward. However, a late post was allowed by the 
moderators that I felt was unnecessary and only served to continue 
what should have been a dead issue.

4.  I believe that the DOA has made great strides in repairing the 
rifts caused by the old-school members.  For anyone still on the 
fence, as I was, a simple talk with Ken Baker would serve you well.  
I found him to be honest, open and ready to tackle the issues we 
have.  He does not want to post on the boards as we ALL KNOW that the 
meaning of what someone writes will be taken in whatever manner the 
READER wishes.  We have seen too many times when posts are taken the 
wrong way by people and a flame war starts.  Mr. Baker has said from 
the outset that he wants to stop this kind of mis-understanding and
would rather talk to people in person, so there is a real dialogue.  
Rather than honor this, some members continue to see this request 
as "hiding" and not "wanting to address" things....which is, in my 
opinion, unfair and mis-trusting.

I totally honor this kind of outreach on the part of a DOA 
President.  We have not seen this in many many years and I think this 
is an opportunity we as a group should not see as a hiding of 
agendas, or trying an attempt to continue in the former method of the 
old DOA.  What ever happened to taking a man for his word? What ever 
happened to simply kindness?


5. I have not seen or read any post by the DOA that would suggest 
they are continuing in the manner in which it was run before.  Aside 
from the one post that some took as a snub. I have been in this 
community since 1986 and I have never seen this kind of desire on the 
part of the DOA to include people.

6.  I believe Mr.Baker and "new" DOA will make some mistakes and not 
be perfect.  How can any of us expect them not to? Given the past 
history they need to deal with and our ingrained bias against the 
organization they are fighting alot of negative feelings many have.  
I believe they are not being given the chance to do so and am sad to 
continue to read unkind and negative posts.  

7. As for Mr. Bakers comment about the unrest within the DMA, I took 
Mr. Bakers comment on the status of the DMA as shear frustration on 
his part that he is not being given an open and clear shot at making 
things better.  How many slams has Mr. Baker been the recipient of??? 
I've read post after post from people attacking his character and 
intentions and when Mr. Baker finally had enough, he fires one back 
and gets beat up for that as well.  Mr. Baker did not start 
this....he was attacked the minute he posted about wanting to take 
the DOA in a new direction.

Mr. Bakers posts to the boards have been dissected, chewed up and 
spit back at him often.  I think his comment was a bit inappropriate, 
but after reading all the digs he has been given I think he reached a 
boiling point. How many of you would like to have everything you 
write here taken as some form of hidden agenda or with evil intent?  
After awhile, you would get upset too.  Mr. Baker has personally done 
NOTHING to any of you.....Is this how we treat people now on these 
boards?  If the moderators wish to allow these kinds of posts then 
they should also allow rebuttal posts in support of Mr. Baker and his 
efforts.

Let's remember, back in the late 90's I was the victim of a threat of 
physical violence from the DOA after I complained about preferential 
placements of ads in Delorean World Magazine for D1.  "I'll be at 
your house tonight with a baseball bat and beat your head in"... So 
if there is anyone on this board that should continue with hatred in 
their hearts for the DOA it is me!....So don't any of you dare 
question my intent or my integrity as you are so quick to do with Mr. 
Baker.  I am not a cheerleader for the DOA or a sockpuppet. I am a 
person who thinks people should be given a fighting chance for change 
and not be so tainted with past issues. 

If you think Mr. Baker has made an error or isn't following through 
have the moral character to talk to him and stop this no-win 
situation.  We have been waiting too long for someone to take 
leadership of the DOA that WANTS to reach out and make things better.

If I can stop the hatred of the past in my heart and give Mr. Baker a 
chance I think all of you should do so as well.  If in the end the 
DOA fails to deliver, wouldn't you all rather be able to say that we 
gave Mr. Baker our 100% support?  If they falter "with" our support 
we can at least say that we tried rather than being pompous and 
saying "See, I told you they would screw up".  It will be our fault 
if we continue be mis-trusting and not give them a chance.


9. I believe that some of you will quickly write back to this post 
attempting to counterpoint my thoughts.  I would ask that rather than 
shoot back a post give me a call so we can talk person-to-person.  
207-743-6435.  If you feel the need to then post about our 
conversation so be it.  At least give me the courtesy to hear your 
opinions.

10...and finally....take a walk in Mr. Bakers shoes for one moment 
and see how you would feel to have so much anger and hatred thrown at 
you when you have done nothing to deserve it.  I will not be a part 
of this.  Give him your trust and support...what does it hurt? What 
does it cost you to say "Go for it, what can I do to help?"  Give 
this guy some glimmer of hope that we as a group will stop pissing on 
everything they say, write and do.   If they screw up, believe me 
I'll be the first one to slam them, but until then I will not be an 
obstacle.


Thanks for reading.


Tom Watkins



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