OT:
Roger,
Did you purposely leave your html unclosed? In Internet Explorer the whole toolbar at the bottom of your post is scrolling.
I guess that’s one way to avoid being quoted out of context. 
I’d hate (or maybe love) to see what would happen if Steve Power and Phil Hardy got into it!
I know what we could do with all of this mis-placed aggresion…
THE CHIFF AND FIPPLE MORTAL KOMBAT TORNEMENT
sponsered by dazedindustries.
But seriously, Kelhorn Mike is right(?). When you mess or potentially mess with someones livelyhood, you can’t always expect people to behave rationally. Didn’t your mother tell you to leave the dog alone when he’s eatin? And you listened to her because that dog might bite you. Well follow the same guidelines when posting problems or questions about makers and dealers. Use your head, and then use your free speak, but do it in a responsible and respectable manner.
And if someone insults or offends you, take a deep breath and gather your thoughts in a clear and organized manner. Right it down and read it over a few times. Think about it, think about how others are going to react to it, and make sure you don’t sound like an asshole in your responce.
Anyways long live chiff and fipple! And Rich or Dale, since you guys are paying for this stuff out of your own pocket, I and other good responsible C & F citizens wouldn’t mind helping you out with these costs.
And Week, Thom Larsen is a class act and I can’t imagine anyone saying bad things about him.
And about that tournement…
Jack Murphy
Nope, Walden, I’m barely html-literate and must have put the slash in the wrong place.
I’ve been trying in vain to hit the moving target ever since. Lucky my feet didn’t get in the way.
I am familiar with Steve and Phillip’s business and after reading this lengthy thread I have come to the conclusion that some people on this board feel it is immoral to make a profit from the Irish Tradition and tend to look down their noses at those who do. I’m not talking about people saying they don’t agree with prices or those that have a bad experience etc.. but those that at every possible opportunity attempt to criticize those who do make a living from it.
These criticisms of the purveyors / sellers of the Irish tradition seems to bring allot of head nodding from those who think they are “purist”.
I think it’s a hard business to be in and there is no doubt you need to have a thick skin. Having your business too closly tied too something as fickle as a discussion board may not be too wise. It’s obvious that this business is very important to Steve and I wish him all the best in his business. I believe that if Steve maintains his high level of quality and service that a couple comments on a discussion board won’t matter and it’s probably better to ignore them.
What can there possibly be to add? I’ll admit that I’ve always been a little put off by Steve’s aggressive attempts to use C&F for marketing his business. Not only did he rigidly pursue the allowed “one commercial message per month” but he also seemed to work Shanna Quay into other, at least somewhat unrelated threads. Admittedly, Steve could be helpful and seemingly had plenty of satisfied customers, but in the main, his approach seemed a bit too much like the loud suit and voice of an American used car dealer, especially when compared to the other whistle makers/sellers who hang out here and almost never sought to blow their own horns.
I thought Azalin could perhaps have been a little more circumspect in making his first point. My granny always taught me you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Ne’ertheless, Azalin is often in the thick of the more edgy discussions here and his board persona should hardly be a shock to anyone.
Reading Steve’s public comments brought to mind the thought that “Geez, I thought Americans were unnecessarily litigious. Maybe the folks from the old country are learning our bad habits with the good.”
What do I think? If Steve really is gone, it’s probably a net loss to the board. If not, he’ll no doubt learn that slamming doors on the way out merely adds to your problems, no matter how good it might make you feel. Was anyone really harmed, in either business or reality other than feelings being hurt? I really doubt it.
If Steve wants back in, I’d support reestablishing his links after a week or so cooling off period. But I’d also like to add that I would not be at all unhappy to see a complete end of commercial posts. If Steve wants to come back as part of the whistling community, all well and good. But if his return was only to continue his access to free ad space, then I’m not sure it’d be worth it.
\
“Still 'round the corner there may wait a new road or a secret gate.
And though we pass them by today, tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run toward the moon and to the sun.”
-J.R.R. Tolkien
[ This Message was edited by: Chuck_Clark on 2002-09-16 18:44 ]
-The tone of the previous exchanges between Azalin and Steve on this thread
prompted my agreement with Steve that Azalin’s offer to appear at the shop sounded like a threat. I hear similar comments frequently from people attempting to coerce or threaten, and, given a testy nature
of previous communication and a capability to carry out such, a reasonable person would and should regard it so. This is not paranoia, but routine good sense. -Azalin’s clarification of non-hostile intent was a relief, as the phrasing of his post: “…we just might end up having a chat in person…” sounded bullying, juvenile and meant to intimidate.
-I don’t back Dale’s decision to pull Steve’s link, nor do I back Steve’s demand
to eliminate the thread. I have little enough of the maturity or wisdom of many who post here, but see NO place for intimidation from or toward anyone posting on the C & F board.
-Peace
Brian
[ This Message was edited by: brianormond on 2002-09-16 19:14 ]
On 2002-09-16 18:36, Chuck_Clark wrote:
What can there possibly be to add? I’ll admit that I’ve always been a little put off by Steve’s aggressive attempts to use C&F for marketing his business. Not only did he rigidly pursue the allowed “one commercial message per month” but he also seemed to work Shanna Quay into other, at least somewhat unrelated threads.
I’m glad you brought up that point, Chuck.
I never bought anything from his shop for exactly that reason. I don’t like the idea of someone manipulating the board and its members for monetary gain. I don’t come here to be subjected to advertising or commercials.
This has been an ongoing pattern which began last year: someone asked about the Whistle Shop’s email response (which, acutally, was a misunderstanding) and Steve came back with: “Tom certainly does have a great name - but there are other websites in the whistle field getting a great name for service and reliability. (I realise I said this myself) but I think it’s true. It wouldn’t be right to suggest that only one website whistle seller is that reliable.” That, in my opinion, was way out of line. Such self-promoting posts have continued. Unrelated threads have been met with a hey, buy from me! tone. It seems to be the old frog in boiling water syndrome. Slowly heat the water, the frog sits and cooks to death; drop him in the already boiling water, he tries to jump out.
Simply reading back through Steve’s posts will show how a large number of them have been self-serving.
I, for one, will not miss him.
Teri
On 2002-09-16 18:28, MurphyStout wrote:
I know what we could do with all of this mis-placed aggresion…THE CHIFF AND FIPPLE MORTAL KOMBAT TORNEMENT
sponsered by dazedindustries.
Hey, whatever Dazed Industries can do to help us through these troubled times
I reinstated Steve’s link and emailed him that I had. He sent back an email indicating he has left the board.
Dale
He’ll be back. They all come back sooner or later.
Earlier in this thread, he said that he is leaving the board. Then he came back and edited his message.
On 2002-09-17 06:28, DaleWisely wrote:
I reinstated Steve’s link and emailed him that I had. He sent back an email indicating he has left the board.Dale
Dale, once again you prove to be fair minded & even handed, even after being royally “ticked” off. Thank you for creating this marvelous forum for musicians & misfits. I wish more people would read your “kingdom” line…
I’m young and naive but… I find it all very sad. 
Perhaps Steve will do the proper thing and come up with a Pseudonym and return as ‘yourmomma’ or ‘steve v2.0’ or something.
On 2002-09-17 10:47, goesto11 wrote:
Earlier in this thread, he said that he is leaving the board. Then he came back and edited his message.
He edited it immediately after he posted it, because he spelled civilized as “cinilised,” and had the word “by” after his byline.
[wrong thread]
[ This Message was edited by: The Weekenders on 2002-09-17 16:00 ]
On 2002-09-16 22:37, DazedinLA wrote:
sponsored by dazedindustries.
Man, I’m sick and tired of those frigging commercial posts by Dazed Industries 
Steve, Just in case you were interested…Azalin’s post wouldn’t have stop me from purchasing something from Shanna Quay…your responses were enough to do that.
Cliff
Careful, there, Gary…don’t be talkin’ about my client or I may have to go on retainer here.
Well, no, who am I kidding…I cant get Dazed to sue anyone, try as I might…all those things that Loren and Weekenders and Bloo say about him, and all those untrue things people say about the wonderful FippleShield, and still I cant get him to sue. He has this crazy idea that it is best to be courteous and understanding in the face of criticism, rather than to invoke the legal system. Sigh. What is the world coming to? BAh!!! How else will I pay for my kids’ college tuition, and that new Jag my wife wants?
[ This Message was edited by: Melvin Belly on 2002-09-17 18:02 ]