RhondaLea

If you want sensitive and sympathetic responses to your loss, go start a thread about it in The Bonfire. Oh wait...you can't...silly me. But you're lying anyway, and the two cases wouldn't be parallel even if you weren't. rl P.S. to Sinker: Duct tape to keep them from climbing up the lines and collapsing their little pilot chute canopies. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Ron, you haven't spent enough time in DeLand to know what the situation is between the town and the dropzone. Given that, your comments are without a specific (to DeLand) factual basis. That said, let's talk about who we listen to and who we trust: Letter to the Editor The Daytona Beach News-Journal October 30, 2005 I am responding to recent articles in the media about the tragic death of my brother, who was struck by an aircraft at Skydive DeLand in April. Knowing the particulars of the case, my contention is that there was incomplete police work by investigators inexperienced in aviation accidents, with hasty and self-serving media reporting, creating additional and totally unnecessary heartache for the family. How can they get it so wrong? My brother and Bill Buchmann have been convicted through the media, apparently in response to information released by the DeLand police. I do know I was never contacted, even though I told the DeLand police I might have some insight into the accident. Gus and I had our first parachute jumps together nearly 30 years ago and I am familiar with his pervasive safety consciousness. I am currently an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner and have some knowledge of the pilot community, and I have been the medical officer on numerous investigation boards involving military aircraft fatalities. Now the family reads of alleged behavior so out of character for these two close friends that any conclusions are patently suspect. Gus was no daredevil and Bill is a good pilot. These conclusions are self-evident: Daredevils don't have nearly 30 years of safe skydiving experience; and reckless pilots don't have more than 5,000 safe flights. The animus that exists between Skydive DeLand and some in the local community is apparently a motive in what must be viewed as a dubious investigation. My brother's death was tragic and accidental, and should not be used for activist purposes. John Wing, M.D. Lebanon, Pa. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Kittens as wind drift indicators are only for use off antennas. All other uses are proscribed. Don't forget the duct tape. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I'm pretty sure I said this already, but I have no objection to black humor. For a time after a friend of mine nearly burned himself to death in power lines, the joke of the day was, "Maddog quit smoking...halfway to the hospital," and some people began referring to him as "Hotdog." Made me laugh...as soon as I was sure he was going to live, that is. Black humor is a shield against death and pain and suffering, but if misapplied, it is even more hurtful than what it insulates against. I know all the really bad skydiving jokes, but you wouldn't catch me telling them to the family of someone who just went in. Ian's entre into Squink's thread was so far from funny as to be shocking--at least to me. Much like the rest of us, I apply my experience to what I see of others, and I make judgments about whether I would want to know that person better or to be his friend. I know enough about the sort of person who behaves as Ian did and does, with all the subtleties, that I just want nothing to do with him. I don't much care about the posts he aims at me--and there's nothing he has written to me that is worthy of banning, IMO, but I'm just as happy to see him gone. I prefer a little elegance in my humor--I refer you to the posts of Skinflicka in the Base Zone for true dry English wit. If it's quality, it's worth reading, but if one is not smart enough and clever enough to do it elegantly, it's a waste of my time. rl Edited to add note to MooChooser: If it were just the internet, it would be one thing--you expect that--but in this case it's a community that reaches into the real world in a major way. A lot of these people know each other live and in-person. It's not just some anonymous bulletin board where a troll is just another voice on the net. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Social Blindness If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Here, for highfly, is the thread you obviously missed: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1885554;#1885554 And if you think that "it's great" that someone can manipulate someone else's emotions, well...I don't know what to say. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

And those who post 36% of the time in The Bonfire and Speakers Corner? Which type are they? rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Someone made more than a couple of mistakes for which he never showed remorse or offered a sincere apology. "I'm going to keep on this way" is not an apology. rl P.S. to Jen: Most of the time, I stay out of Ian's threads, and none of these people are from DeLand that I know of. Nonetheless, if there is a "DeLand Clique," I am most curious to know who it is I'm hanging out with these days. Or am I being overly egotistical, and you're actually referring to Skymama? If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Sometimes things just happen, but to actively pursue someone who is happily involved with another person is just...crummy. Isn't that the kind of behavior we see in those who are just looking for another notch on the bedpost? Serial conquest, in other words? Why would anyone want to inflict that kind of pain on another human being, when it's easily avoidable? rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Has the point been lost on some of you what Gus' brother does for a living--he's an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner--and what he has had to say about this whole thing, particularly in his letter to the editor of the Daytona Beach News-Journal? I suppose he's also blindly loyal to Bill. As for the cop, he had much more to say--that was just one quote, sorry--and it was clear from the conversation that there is a vendetta. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

How old are you? There's more to come. Get ready. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I didn't read the whole thread. Someone beat me to it. Repeats are not clever. Reptiles do have testicles. But internal testicles are not "balls," otherwise women's ovaries would be "balls" too. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

You forgot the subliminal shit (which I don't have the energy to insert right now). Either that, or someone needs to tie him to his chair and cut off his internet access. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Do the transaction through the local rigger, and you can get the gear inspected before you buy too. Send him the money, he sends the rig and turns over the money. Well, it used to work, but now that the community has gotten so big, I'm not sure if it's the best way. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Thanks, I needed a laugh today. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Yes, dear. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Google "narcissistic supply." If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I know quite well what "prop wash" is, and I certainly know what "legal briefs" are. My opinion is not only my own but that of two well-respected local lawyers with whom I've discussed this, one of whom is a pilot, and both of whom know exactly what a joke is this entity we call the DeLand PD. Further, they are out to get him. One of them very plainly said so, recently, in no uncertain terms, i.e., "We're going to get him." The State Attorney's Office is going to hold out until the NTSB report is filed--wait and see--and if nothing comes of that, they have nothing. But the whole thing has been total horse-pucky since the day our brilliant local dimwits got this bright idea to go after Bill. Thank God for John Wing. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

793 miles. At least I have a good head's start. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

It's about context. I have no problem with black humor. But there's a time and a place. As I said, he has no sense of proportion. And you're welcome to think that. I find nothing redeeming about him. That's me. That's not you. But my experience with people like him (as he has shown himself here) is extensive, and I have seen how they manage to worm their way into the good graces of those who are not perceptive enough to realize that they will one day be just another victim. I've had a very interesting life starting from the time I was quite small, and in the 47 years since, it hasn't gotten any less interesting. I know others who have had interesting lives as well. Having bad things happen to one is no excuse for cruelty. It just isn't. It's worse to know what pain is and inflict it, than to have no real understanding and inflict it unknowingly. I didn't say you couldn't like him. Feel free. Just don't say that I should. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

'Scuse me? still won't admit your pathologies? Moderator, I want him banned. BANNED, I say! Anyway...I admitted them to you, didn't I? You're just outting me because I won't send the pictures. As for you, wild one...oh, never mind. You can take your own pictures. admitting them to me just doesn't have the same catharctic effect as it does admitting them to this large group of concerned citizens. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

He came in here, went to a thread where someone was grieving for a beloved pet, and showed absolutely no empathy for the loss. The post he made was mean, and he didn't apologize or show an iota of remorse, although I believe he made a rather ironic, cursory and meaningless "apology" at the tail end of the whole thing--several days and many posts later. Finally, he well-nigh hijacked the thread from its original purpose. I don't know how you treat people, but this is not the way a family member deserves to be treated. It's one thing to be funny, it's another thing to have no sense of proportion. I'm all good with dry humor, and I've got examples to point to. I'm not good with cruelty. He is cruel. I don't like him for that reason, and so I don't find anything about him funny. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Bill Legg John Hoover and there was one other guy that BD, I think. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

'Scuse me? still won't admit your pathologies? Moderator, I want him banned. BANNED, I say! Anyway...I admitted them to you, didn't I? You're just outting me because I won't send the pictures. As for you, wild one...oh, never mind. You can take your own pictures. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Fixed it for ya. And yeah, I'm bored. Spelling flames are a symptom of terminal boredom. rl things slow at the firm these days? No. We're busy. I'm busy as hell...except I can't get shit done because my boss won't leave me alone. Do you have any idea what it's like to be interrupted every five minutes for mishegoss? He's starting to lose it. Just the beginning stages, but we had a big red flag the other day, and it's a definite downhill slide from here. He hates to be alone, so if he isn't in my office, he's calling me on the phone. So I'm bored to death, and the work is piled to the ceiling. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb