Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

I always wanted to keep this place as open as possible. No moderators, not banning anyone. It has been a very, very interesting year. Telemark Talk has been a nice social demonstration of cooperation and self-moderation. Really, I'm proud of what we did here all together.

Since the beginning, a lot of people emailed me and asked me to ban Ron from the forum. He was banned from the old forum, and he's banned from (almost) all the other ski forums on the net. But I had faith in you guys, faith that things will adjust by themselves. The reality is that a lot of people left the forum because of Ron, and they let me know about it. A lot of people won't join the forum because of Ron, and they let me know about it.

Once again, I wanted to try something new with Telemark Talk 2. This is not my forum or anyone else's forum. It's YOUR forum. You decide what's going on here. Personally, I think it's now problematic. Raventele has been littering every single thread lately. I'd really like to keep up with you guys but I don't have time to go through pages of bullshit to read all your very interesting stories and comments. It's a huge lack of respect for all the new (and the old) members here. Personally, I can't stand it anymore. I don't think it's funny anymore. But my voice and my humble opinion is only 1/500th of this forum. So it's up to you to decide what we should do about it.

I was cool and tolerant, but this time I will listen to you guys and do whatever you decide. I'll wait a few days for your suggestions, feel free to express here whatever you think is the best for the future of your forum. You can also PM me if you prefer. I'll go with the majority.

Thanks!

I don't think this is a conversation for closed doors... but I like to keep the garbage out in the open instead of sweeping it under the rug.

Johnny - you are much more tolerant than I am. I would have banned Ron the first time he looked at me funny. But maybe you are onto something. Maybe your little social experiment has taught me something - I surely know I'm not great at ignoring him... not much different than another famous monster that I know of. So I'm really no better than they are... everyone has some monster inside, it just depends on whether they show it or not...

Which then brings up the question of why Ron can control himself at Telemark East, and not here? I've been reading this forum for almost as long as Johnny has taken it over, and I recall the instances where people purposely came here to troll Ron. Most of that evidence vanished (no comment there) but despite any shortcomings of Ron, that was a real dick thing to do. It's not surprising though given the number of enemies Ron has made over the years. Either way it has left him in a state of constant defense and paranoia, again like some other internet assassins who think everyone is out to get them. Maybe he was that way before, but he really has got the shit end of the stick more than once - maybe deservedly so, but who am I to judge?

I would say if Ron can bring himself back to his energy level at Tele East, then he should be allowed to stay provided he doesn't go completely apeshit again. That would of course require some effort on our parts to try to be kind to him and not provoke him to go apeshit. Given his current state he'd have to accept some mild hazing here and there, no one that knows him isn't going to bust his balls a bit.

Anyway, this all sounds like a lot of work - and from what I know about Johnny, he doesn't like work.

When he calms down, he can have valuable information. But lately, I haven't seen much of that. I will say, it's pretty damn disheartening to see new/first time posters start a thread with a question/introduction and watch their thread get completely shit on, especially if it doesn't fall within his narrow criteria for acceptable ways to slide around on the snow. In the last week or two, it seems like it's gotten completely out of hand, and the threads that are just a blatant spewing of hatred for EYT are rather pathetic. I like humor and sarcasm, but unless I'm completely out of touch with his brand, he just comes off as a complete asshole most of the time, and I don't understand why there's a need to do that.

I applaud you for your tolerance Johnny, but I can't even read through half the threads right now, as previously I knew which threads he'd mostly stay out of, or actually have a contribution to if he did post, but now it just looks like one complete shit-show.

I'd say if his current antics persist, show him the door. If he calms it down, let him stay, but as on other forums, he'll usually revert back to his ways before long.

TomH wrote:I'd say if his current antics persist, show him the door. If he calms it down, let him stay

I'm new here but I agree 100% with the above quote. Once he starts back up with the rage and ridicule, show him the door, toute de suite. I think MikeK brought up a good point in a different thread: does anyone know him personally? Is it even possible he behaves the same way in real life as he does on this and other forums?

Teledance and Teleman know him for sure in real life. I'm not sure they'll comment on this matter though. It always seems to be avoided when it has come up.

He has the potential to be chill - like I say, he is fine over at Telemarkeast.

Maybe he just felt like Johnny was a pushover and he could get away with murder here? I'm not sure that is the case because he was even worse at EYT (although provoked severely). No one really provokes him at Telemarkeast, and he doesn't really provoke anyone else. My guess is he knows if he steps out of line there he'll be banned and the crowd is rather docile and doesn't bother him much.

I actually enjoy his "trip reports" and posting of the Kingdom boys pics. He does love his skiing. And does have a sense of humor.

The other crap? Not. I don't think he can help it (being an a-hole on the internet). For whatever reason.

Would I ski with him? No. Because I would want to do that little juvie trick in the lift line where you plant your pole behind his boot and dump him on his ass. I skied at Lookout 50 years ago when all they had was a poma lift and a series of killer ropetows to the top. There used to be epic fights in the parking lot, Wallace vs Kellogg (free busride to Lookout for the free ski school. Ron would have been on the Wallace bus. Or the "short bus" ). But I digress....

Good luck, Ron.

Maybe we can all chip in and hook grandpa Teleman up with a satellite feed to post his photos (you may have to do a bit of brushing to get a clear shot, Teleman).

1EyedJack wrote:I actually enjoy his "trip reports" and posting of the Kingdom boys pics. He does love his skiing. And does have a sense of humor.

The other crap? Not. I don't think he can help it (being an a-hole on the internet). For whatever reason.

Would I ski with him? No. Because I would want to do that little juvie trick in the lift line where you plant your pole behind his boot and dump him on his ass. I skied at Lookout 50 years ago when all they had was a poma lift and a series of killer ropetows to the top. There used to be epic fights in the parking lot, Wallace vs Kellogg (free busride to Lookout for the free ski school. Ron would have been on the Wallace bus. Or the "short bus" ). But I digress....

Good luck, Ron.

Maybe we can all chip in and hook grandpa Teleman up with a satellite feed to post his photos (you may have to do a bit of brushing to get a clear shot, Teleman).

Jack, ya know, where the old tow went up the Montana Face..It's often a stash hidden in plain site! Sweet little 25-30 degree drop lined with trees..A tad narrow but it makes for some great turns and often does not get hit much for days after a fresh dump!
Kathy and Kelly hitting it here last year! I was off to the left.
[video][/video]

It's the same story again and again. Just a longer chapter this time. Giving Ron probation has never worked in the past so why would it work now? This is no different.

Very well, a few words on bannings/ witch hunts:
If you read carefully over the XCD thread -- what's been posted there the last few days -- you will easily see that various parties were very willing and active participants in the shitshow..But no matter, as an expert in this matter , I can assure you that that the gods generally call for a sacrifice ..It 's not participating per se in a shitshow that will get one banned ; it's not being a member of the club doing the gangbang that is ever really at issue -- being in the group that REALLY is responsible for kicking the disaster off carries no weight in terms of the perception of responsibility AT ALL..It's being the person who refuses to give in and acquiesce that will get ya bounced..It's all about appearances..If 10 people goad you into pointing out their absolute inanities, then you are de facto the guilty party ..You must be ; it's 10 to 1 and all logic ( trust me I know at lot about that subject on a purely abstract level) becomes irrelevant..You MUST be the problem otherwise why would so many be irresistibly drawn into the "debate" with you ?..
Which of all the parties involved in trashing the XCD thread would have continued on as he/she did had they HONESTLY had the superior respect and concern for either the thread or the forum that they now profess ? That's right, not a damned one. And their wading in with holy opinions on a possibly banning is the apex of hypocricy!
I know my own weaknesses quite well --the chief being that if you wish to play snark with me, I am irresistibly more than happy to respond in kind..But you won't catch me whining to the forum owners or mods about such silly shit -partially because I am only serious about 25% of the time in any of those snark fest "debates" anywas..
And Johnny I would not worry too much about those who (say they) left the forum "because " of me (or anyone else).. They are just old Ttips hacks who now call this the "loser Forum" and you a "crackhead/methhead" from the safe haven of EYT..About all they were ever going to contribute was info on a leg cramp or the best 5-start hotel in the "BC" anyways..
And BTW Mike , you have been banned multiple times under "Mike" and god only knows how many times under another handle..Maybe ya might want to step down from the pulpit ?
Great to see ya "jeff" ..this is your first, and no doubt last, "contribution"..Nothing like a good ol' lynchin' to bring out the best citizens!
Jesus people, lose the highschool mentality!

Raventele wrote:Very well, a few words on bannings/ witch hunts:
If you read carefully over the XCD thread -- what's been posted there the last few days -- you will easily see that various parties were very willing and active participants in the shitshow..But no matter, as an expert in this matter , I can assure you that that the gods generally call for a sacrifice ..It 's not participating per se in a shitshow that will get one banned ; it's not being a member of the club doing the gangbang that is ever really at issue -- being in the group that REALLY is responsible for kicking the disaster off carries no weight in terms of the perception of responsibility AT ALL..It's being the person who refuses to give in and acquiesce that will get ya bounced..It's all about appearances..If 10 people goad you into pointing out their absolute inanities, then you are de facto the guilty party ..You must be ; it's 10 to 1 and all logic ( trust me I know at lot about that subject on a purely abstract level) becomes irrelevant..You MUST be the problem otherwise why would so many be irresistibly drawn into the "debate" with you ?..
Which of all the parties involved in trashing the XCD thread would have continued on as he/she did had they HONESTLY had the superior respect and concern for either the thread or the forum that they now profess ? That's right, not a damned one. And their wading in with holy opinions on a possibly banning is the apex of hypocricy!
I know my own weaknesses quite well --the chief being that if you wish to play snark with me, I am irresistibly more than happy to respond in kind..But you won't catch me whining to the forum owners or mods about such silly shit -partially because I am only serious about 25% of the time in any of those snark fest "debates" anywas..
And Johnny I would not worry too much about those who (say they) left the forum "because " of me (or anyone else).. They are just old Ttips hacks who now call this the "loser Forum" and you a "crackhead/methhead" from the safe haven of EYT..About all they were ever going to contribute was info on a leg cramp or the best 5-start hotel in the "BC" anyways..
And BTW Mike , you have been banned multiple times under "Mike" and god only knows how many times under another handle..Maybe ya might want to step down from the pulpit ?
Great to see ya "jeff" ..this is your first, and no doubt last, "contribution"..Nothing like a good ol' lynchin' to bring out the best citizens!
Jesus people, lose the highschool mentality!

Holy hell dude. So now you are a martyr. Your main problem is that you horribly underestimate the intelligence of the people that you fling your shit at: you are not really any smarter than the rest of us so just relax and have a decent discussion for christ's sake. This is not supposed to be a battle. Come here and relax. Not everyone is out to get you.