Re: SIMTA and "International Happenings"

[Tom Harais <tjhemh@domain.elided>]

August 18, 1998

Bill, Digest members:

My apologies.

I first should have mentioned that I was loosely paraphrasing a quote I
vaguely remembered from the Binder Bulletin ads and that it wasn't to be
taken as a direct quote.

Second, you are right. I had always assumed that the quote was a
comparison with the only other IH publication I was aware of, that was
SIMTA's. An honest mistake to be sure. I just saw that as a "sales
gimmick" or maybe a friendly rivalry.

To your credit, I always considered the Binder Bulletin to be the better
value for me, because of it's Scout emphasis and because of it's non
stock reconstruction themes. I also found it be much more consistent,
timely and appropriate for my own interests. However, you will note that
I continued to belong to SIMTA solely to subscribe to "International
Happenings" because it provided a broader look at IHC vehicles that I
found interesting, although not completely relevant to my use for my
"Scout" hobby.

Let me state right here: My post about SIMTA was purposely inflammatory
to a small degree, for some very personal reasons. I felt safe in "just
ripping off a note" considering the fact that we tend to be pretty
"loose" on this Digest and I consider it a forum where I can be less
than diplomatic at times in the name of economy without anyone taking a
major offense. That doesn't mean I think we should engage in liable or
slander here. I just treat the Digest as I would a personal conversation
at a Scout gathering when we are all talking around the campfire. If I'm
full of it; tell me so. If I cross a line; flame me. I have never wished
to offend anyone on the Digest, that is something I would want to do
personally and direct. But I don't get all hung up on semantics and
politicking and use euphemisms like Mr. Clinton was forced to do last
night. We are more open here. A spade is a spade and a shovel is a
shovel!

In this case, because evidently there were some issues between SIMTA and
Bill Thebert, I have evidently overstepped the bounds of appropriateness
and irritated some old wounds. None of what I said was meant to be
personally directed at ANYONE. Should you have issue with what I said,
by all means let me have it: I was hoping someone would. But, Bill
Thebert is not in any way related to my post and I didn't mean to imply
he was, so please leave him out of this. Hey, my father doesn't call me
a "shit disturber" for nothing. :-)

And Bill, I feel badly that you went out of your way to defend your use
of the revenues from "The Binder Bulletin". You will certainly not find
me attacking anything you do with them, even if you just pocketed all of
them in excess of your costs of publication. This is not a commercial
site and I appreciate that. But "profit" is not a dirty word here. If it
was, we'd have to kick the Fleckster off every time he "sells" a little
of his service.

I am a "free market" supporter, as I think many members of this Digest
are. I chose to subscribe to "The Binder Bulletin" as well as be a
member of SIMTA of my own free will, without regards to whom the
revenues flow. If they should no longer meet my needs (as I conjectured
that SIMTA may be about to do) I will stop subscribing.

I think it's commendable that you choose to use a not-for-profit status
and return the funds to the IH community through various vehicles. But I
also don't ever want you to feel that you owe me or anyone else, an
explanation of what happens to the money we send, as long as you meet
your obligation to publish as stated.

I go through this lengthy explanation, because I remember the same thing
happening another time. You really don't owe any of us an explanation of
what you do with those funds. And, I never have meant it question it in
any way. So, in the future, if you should think I am questioning what
you do with the money, be assured that I am not: That is solely your
business!

Now, if you lied about the not-for-profit status, or if you failed to
deliver as promised, that would be a whole different issue and I would
expect a full explanation. Of course you could just tell me to "get
knotted" but I don't think that is your style.

An explanation is kind of what I was hunting for about SIMTA. I was
hoping someone who knows what they are all about would point out where I
am in error or tell me that they in fact, are no longer meeting their
obligation to publish. Because it sure looks to me like they are failing
miserably to do so and I think I might be the last to know. And, the
most foolish considering I just sent them another year's membership.

Again Bill, I didn't mean to drag your good name into scandal here. And,
other Digesters, that post was solely my own and Bill had nothing to do
with it - even my blatant misinterpretation of his advertising line. So,
if you have a problem with my post, the buck stops here!

Tom H.