ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: The Effects of Attitude

Re: The Effects of Attitude

Joe Long (jlong@mti.net)
Tue, 14 Oct 1997 15:58:50 GMT

On Mon, 13 Oct 1997 17:52:22 -0600, tish_s@erc.montana.edu wrote:

>Usually I lurk but had to speak up.

>I have seen complaints about Trail Blazer.
>I have seen complaints about the Cosequin Challenge.
>I have seen complaints about the ROC.
>I have seen complaints about SPAM.
>I have seen bashing of the Kanavys.
>I have seen nastiness towards Teddy.
>All on this list.....

>How does the negativity affect you?

>Does it make you want to put on a ride yourself?
>Does it make you want to try to put on a special ride?
>Does it make you want to tackle an endurance related business?
>Does it make you want to stand out?

First, I want to say that this list gets a lot of traffic, and you've
singled out the "negative" parts. There is a lot of positive praise
and support on this list. Second, a lot of that critisicm was
justified, and this is a forum where these things can be aired.

OTOH, your point about the effect of UNjustified criticism on
volunteers is a good one. There was a nasty incident in the Southeast
a few years ago. A family that had managed many SE rides, built and
maintained trails, and even built a new horse camp put on their first
ride from the new camp. They had the misfortune of heavy rainstorms
which turned parts of the new trails into deep quagmires. They had to
re-route from new trail onto roads after the first vet check.

A number of riders complained, and ride management did not take the
complaints gracefully. They made replies like "dealing with bad
weather is part of it, suck it up and ride." Some people then
complained to the Southeast Endurance Riders Association, which
reprimanded the ride managers and threatened to pull sanction from
their remaining rides. The whole thing continued to escalate, with
ride management saying "take your sanction and shove it." The SERA
was badly split over it. I don't think that family is putting on
rides any more.

-- 

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