apology to groper/my thoughts on dz bashing

[Levin 0]

first off i want to apologize to groper for flaming him so bad. i just started really spending time reading this forum when the carbone threads started. i'm still figuring out how all this works. i just figured out the PM's. i had 12 dating a month back. didn't mean to ignore everybody. also just figured out thread view. wish aol had that for rec. when i looked in thread view it looked like i was on a serious rant (now i get the "get the guy a beer" comment). i hadn't read the entire thing so i was counter attacking as i went. i should have read it all first and made one post. so to groper, sorry for continuosly flaming you.
as far a dz bashing goes. if you have not witnessed or do not have factual information regarding specific far and bsr violations at a particular dz then do not post hear say to a news forum. it is unfare to the dzo and it does not always go without consequence.
i want to use two possible examples from the october issue of skydiving magazine to help make my point. anyone that reads rec. remember the numerous bashing threads on atlanta skydiving center months ago. an article was published about dz just shortly afterwards. on page 18 is an article titled georgia dz's promotional efforts attract criticism. basically it is a controversial article about their marketing technique using multiple domain names and search engines to attract new studens from a broader area. they wre also cited for numerous false claims on their website. does anyone think it might be possible for the writer to have gotten the idea for this story from reading rec? now the second example just happened to be in the same magazine. otherwise i wouldn't dare have used it. on page 17 michael hawkes bans experienced jumpers from his dropzone. it has been known that he does not want us there. does anybody think it i possible that he may have written that to pu a final end to all the rants about him on rec.
jumpers are not the only people that read these news groups. they are also read by non jumpers, faa and who ever else may be interested. how do you think it looks to a faa or non jumper to click on that thread and find accusations of multiple far violations, people flying thru props, people hooking it in and flying cameras without a license looks. all this in one thread pointing at one dz. and 2 of these are definety incorrect. these people do not know that flying cameras without a license is misinformation and the prop incident was at another dz. it just sounds dangerous and against the rules to them. and to new jumpers; if you suspect that a dzo is doing something wrong then i sugest yo 1.) get an opinion from a seasond jumper or somehigher up 2.) learn as much as you can about the situation before you bring it to a public forum. for example if you do not know whether or not a license is required to fly a camera, then you probably do not know enough about this sport to pass judgement on a dzo and discredit him publicly.
hooknswoops case is a little different. this person knows the dzo and worked at the dz since close to day one as head instructor. this person tried to take his case to the uspa before bringing it this forum. i do not disagree with what he did, but i definitely don't like what he did. but he is in a position to make these claims. and he alone. and if the dzo is guilty then it may be fixng to come back and bite him in the butt. i hope not. and i hope people take note on how the misinformation of others jumping on this bandwagon tied to it the incident at san marcos and could have incited a spin off on camera flying.
as far as this dzo goes, i have known him for several years. heis a business man and he runs a business. imo, a first class business at that. i think it is unfortnate that some of his employees have left on bad terms. whoevers fault it may be. but in other fields of business people in management positions do not or should not hire their friends to work for them. in skydiving you often don't have a choice. just for the record this dzo has been in this business for about 11 yrs. his dz's have seen few injuries and no fatalities.

[Hooknswoop 19]

Levin- Very nicely put, thanks. I have said my keep and promise not to bring it up ever again.
Hook

[rgoper 0]

**as far a dz bashing goes. if you have not witnessed or do not have factual information regarding specific far and bsr violations at a particular dz then do not post hear say to a news forum. it is unfare to the dzo and it does not always go without consequence.**
i never bashed the d.z. i "questioned the position" the injured skydiver was in, if you would have read my posts thourougly, surely you would have arrived at that same conclusion. as far as my having first hand knowledge, why don't you do some research on my back ground before you decide what i do and/or do not know, instead of "flying off at the handle" like you did. i ignored your rant, because in my opinion your'e young, and not as experienced as others i've met. i understand your close ties to this d.z. but as i said "facilities aren't everything" and by the way, i DO have first hand knowlege of quite a few incidents that could have some authorities looking in, i never reported them to anyone, i just quit coming. FYI, i trained there, and bought my first rig, and first downsized canopy there, i brought numerous tandem students to this dz, and paid for there jumps, and video myself, out of my pocket to patronize the dzo, i have jumped through clouds on numerous occasions, i have seen particular substances, i have witnessed consumption of odd type bevereges on different occasions by key personnal, i've seen a lot, and i kept my mouth shut, you didn't, and you don't know anything about me, or my character. and as far as saying something, or making statements that don't go without consequences, watch your mouth why don't you. put the "napoleon" complex behind you, and get on with it. and by the way, this "groper" shit is meant to flame, that is it's sole intention, you know it, and i know it, it's odd that you would address me as such in a letter of apology, i guess i could counter the slang with one of my own, but your so insignificant in my world, and will continue to be so, so get over it, and quit being influenced by others who may be a few bricks shy of a load. (notice, NO NAMES) you have a great day young man.
Richard
"Gravity Is My Friend"
P.S.
don't EVER talk to me again, here or anywhere else

[PhreeZone 20]

Dude!...... Levin was trying to apoligize to you and everyone on here. Thats a slap in the face if I've seen one.....
I had posted wrong info and then later found out what was wrong about it. It was my fault for getting the towns mixed up and I'm sorry about that...
Cause I don't wanna come back down from this cloud... ~ Bush

[Emma 0]

Fuckssake guys, CHILL!

[sangiro 26]

Seen this before... moving right along...
Safe swoops
Sangiro