The Way Forward

[QUOTE=Minghequan;1268953]Please keep on subject.[/QUOTE]

Lost cause at this point Ron. A lot of threads start out with good intentions until the idiots arrive and shoot it down.

[QUOTE=KPM;1268957]How so Glenn? Are you going to jump on the bandwagon with the naysayers and Wing Chun bashers as well?[/QUOTE]

And there you go AGAIN Keith

Naysayers, WC bashers, walking int a bar and starting a fight (your previous comment) and so on…

SR makes valid points, the main one being that the WC forum looks like a home for lost b i t c h e s.

[QUOTE=GlennR;1268960]And there you go AGAIN Keith

Naysayers, WC bashers, walking int a bar and starting a fight (your previous comment) and so on…

SR makes valid points, the main one being that the WC forum looks like a home for lost b i t c h e s.[/QUOTE]

Bull Sh!t Glenn! They are WC bashers! They did come to this thread just to start a fight. Did you read SR’s post? I don’t give a d@mn what SR or Frostie thinks if they can’t be polite and say it in a non-inflammatory manner. They want a fight, they’ll get one! We started this thread off trying to reach a calm middle ground and then we have two non-WCK guys jump in with guns blazing. I’m beginning to think this forum is a lost cause when the regular Wing Chun guys won’t even stick up for each other. :rolleyes:

Well that went well didn’t it?

Only a few posts in and it all turn’s to “sh#t”.

Don’t you people get it???

Enough is enough.

What are your homes like? What are your training Halls like? Do you talk to your fellow family members like that? Do you talk to your classmates, co-workers and teachers like this? No wonder the real guys stay hidden away!

Want to argue about Wing Chun versus this or that? Great then start your own thread and off you go, have at it!

But for God’s sake if you have nothing positive to contribute on this thread (yes this thread) then don’t bother posting at all?

And for God’s sake grow up people!

Is all this too much to asks???

[QUOTE=Minghequan;1268962]Well that went well didn’t it?

Only a few posts in and it all turn’s to “sh#t”.

Don’t you people get it??? [/QUOTE]

Obviously they don’t. And the reactions are so extreme, it’s actually kinda funny. But to get back to your OP, the only way forward is to consistently take the high road. We need to be respectful of each other …in spite of the fact that we will often disagree. And when someone posts something that is really beyond the pale, we need to resist the urge to respond in kind or to engage in personal attacks. Instead, the rest of us need to come together out of a sense of fair play and call foul.

That’s how it’s done guys. Ignore the provocateurs and trolls. And if they persist, stand together and call foul. Can you do that?

OK, the following is an example of what I would call totally unacceptable:

[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;1268923]
…Maybe you WC guys should trade in the sand in your vagina for a pair of balls.
That may help…

You guys are lucky than ANYONE wants to moderate this desolate waste of cyber space that is populated by a bunch of whiny pussies.[/QUOTE]

When anyone posts something that reads like this, we all ought to call foul. Crude, hateful and sexist language like that does not persuade anybody of anything. It is just an attempt to elicit an equally over the top response. Too bad too, because SR actually had a legit point to make. But with that kind of language any point goes out the window.

So what do you say SR? Are you willing to make your points with some basic modicum of civility? If so you are welcome. If not, you really should hold back from hitting the “submit reply” button.

Keith, from what I’ve seen, you usually try to stand up and speak out when you see someone being treated unfairly on this forum …even when you don’t necessarily agree with them. I admire that. On the other hand, you have to hold your temper if you want to elevate the quality of this discussion. Check out the quote below. You totally got sucked into a pointless fight. Don’t take the bait. You don’t need to.We all read that post. Just ignore the rude and trollish comments, or at least respond with dignity! We will back you.

[QUOTE=KPM;1268961]Bull Sh!t Glenn! They are WC bashers! They did come to this thread just to start a fight. Did you read SR’s post? I don’t give a d@mn what SR or Frostie thinks if they can’t be polite and say it in a non-inflammatory manner. They want a fight, they’ll get one!.. [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=KPM;1268958]and you don’t think you lot are a running joke to most other stylists here …seriously?

I don’t really care what “other stylists” think. I don’t participate in their forum and they don’t have to participate in this one. Like I told SR, you are welcome to “GET THE HELL OUT” if you don’t like us, don’t do Wing Chun, and think we are pussies. Go elsewhere! You are a very frequent Wing Chun basher here. Go play in the MMA forum and leave us alone.

You don’t think all you do is whinge and whine like a bunch of school girls…

What the heck is “whinge”? But if you think that fine, then GO ELSEWHERE AND LEAVE US ALONE.

someone like ronin with a very good tcma background and actual extensive full contact and vale tudo experience offers advice listen

I’m not going to listen to anyone that gets in my face and calls me a “p#ssy.” How about you? Do you respond well to that??[/QUOTE]

Why on earth are you “taking the bait”?!
Why are you so concerned what they think that you need to reply in such a way?
Why are you taking it personally?

You are basically encouraging more of the same creating a thread that you said you dont want to see.

Its so funny that by retorting to every post you are helping to get what you dont want lol. There is a hint a truth in what they are saying but it doesnt apply to all. So like you advised to others just ignore the comments like “water running off a duck’s back”.

No malicious intent meant here by the way.

[QUOTE=Grumblegeezer;1268968]Keith, from what I’ve seen, you usually try to stand up and speak out when you see someone being treated unfairly on this forum …even when you don’t necessarily agree with them. I admire that. On the other hand, you have to hold your temper if you want to elevate the quality of this discussion. Check out the quote below. You totally got sucked into a pointless fight. Don’t take the bait. You don’t need to.We all read that post. Just ignore the rude and trollish comments, or at least respond with dignity! We will back you.[/QUOTE]

And that was my pint grumble, Keith sees it as personal and I, and many others, don’t

Whilst SR made some good points he did, admittedly , come across as a big crass but, hey, so be it… The
Points he made still stand

This is an open forum.

Some people who don’t do WC come in and are rather, er, surprised by the antics of us all here.

I for one don’t mind their suggestions and sometimes their input is excellent. Sanjuro and Knifefighter are/were two good examples.

Not much point wishing WC people would cross train or fight with other stylists when you’re not even going to let them on the forum.

I gave up expecting sensible conversation and useful input here a long time ago (though occasionally I’m pleasantly surprised) and usually just come here for amusement.

It’s just a forum. Not the friggin’ UN.

Obviously they don’t. And the reactions are so extreme, it’s actually kinda funny. But to get back to your OP, the only way forward is to consistently take the high road. We need to be respectful of each other …in spite of the fact that we will often disagree. And when someone posts something that is really beyond the pale, we need to resist the urge to respond in kind or to engage in personal attacks. Instead, the rest of us need to come together out of a sense of fair play and call foul.

That’s how it’s done guys. Ignore the provocateurs and trolls. And if they persist, stand together and call foul. Can you do that?

I agree totally! Thank you!

When anyone posts something that reads like this, we all ought to call foul. Crude, hateful and sexist language like that does not persuade anybody of anything. It is just an attempt to elicit an equally over the top response. Too bad too, because SR actually had a legit point to make. But with that kind of language any point goes out the window.

So what do you say SR? Are you willing to make your points with some basic modicum of civility? If so you are welcome. If not, you really should hold back from hitting the “submit reply” button.

I agree again.

So guys can we do this the right way???

[SIZE=3]
The only way forward is to consistently take the high road.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]We need to be respectful of each other …in spite of the fact that we will often disagree[/SIZE].

Are you guys willing to let go of your ego’s, your stylistics bias and just try to work on what could be a real turning point for this entire forum?

If enough of us truly apply ourselves then the “Way Forward” will come to fruition and this forum may be a nicer place where people actually discuss the Martial Arts (it’s original purpose!).

[QUOTE=Minghequan;1268976]So guys can we do this the right way???
[/QUOTE]

Thanks for standing up as an agent of change. Respect.

From my perspective this forum always has issues with these topics:

  1. My wing chun is older / better / more original than your wing chun
  2. I can fight with wing chun
  3. My chi sau practice teaches me to fight

Whenever topics float towards either of those 3 items, things seem to turn into a sh1t storm. What this shows me is that for the vast majority of WCK practitioners, they have a lot of illusion and drama surrounding their own self image regarding those topics. The inauthenticity surrounding those topics to me seems higher than the inauthenticity I perceive surrounding discussing other topics.

So I’ve been real rational and all defining the problem - now I’m going to throw down a challenge. If you post on this forum and get all heated over these topics, you have DRAMA in your life surrounding them and not REALITY. It is your own self image that is the problem, and no amount of “not bickering” is going to solve that. The only thing that will is you starting to become authentic and truthful regarding this drama.

My answers:

  1. I have no idea really but stories are cool and can help me connect with the art
  2. Depends on who I’m fighting
  3. No. But neither does jumping rope and I like that too to help train for fighting because it helps my footwork.

[QUOTE=Grumblegeezer;1268968]Keith, from what I’ve seen, you usually try to stand up and speak out when you see someone being treated unfairly on this forum …even when you don’t necessarily agree with them. I admire that. On the other hand, you have to hold your temper if you want to elevate the quality of this discussion. Check out the quote below. You totally got sucked into a pointless fight. Don’t take the bait. You don’t need to.We all read that post. Just ignore the rude and trollish comments, or at least respond with dignity! We will back you.[/QUOTE]

Thank you Steve. Point taken. I guess Ron and I ARE a lot alike! We’re both crazy and we both get a little overly passionate at times. :wink: No offense Ron! But Steve you give good advice that I will try and follow from here on out. Thanks again!

[QUOTE=anerlich;1268973]This is an open forum.

Some people who don’t do WC come in and are rather, er, surprised by the antics of us all here.

I for one don’t mind their suggestions and sometimes their input is excellent. Sanjuro and Knifefighter are/were two good examples.

Not much point wishing WC people would cross train or fight with other stylists when you’re not even going to let them on the forum.

I gave up expecting sensible conversation and useful input here a long time ago (though occasionally I’m pleasantly surprised) and usually just come here for amusement.

It’s just a forum. Not the friggin’ UN.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, you’re right. Its just a forum. My mistake all along has been that I look upon the forum as a “virtual teahouse” so to speak. A place where some guys with the same interests gather to talk about what they do, shoot the sh!t and compare notes. Like in my original description on this thread…sitting around at a table at the local pub having a few drinks with friends and talking about Wing Chun. I thought the cool thing about it was I could sit around the table with a guy from Australia, another from Hong Kong, and another from Hungary all at the same time. And people interacting that way are going to be friendly but polite when they are talking to you face to face. They aren’t going to storm into the group calling people names and upsetting the table without someone calling them on it, and calling them on it rather loudly! A non-Wing Chun guy is welcome at the table, but if he starts spouting anti-Wing Chun stuff the people around the table are going to speak up! Aren’t they?

But that was my mistake. Obviously no one else here sees it that way. This is just a random forum that people come to for amusement and to slander others. So be it. From now on I have no friends and no buddies here. I will come here just for amusement and for the occasional exchange of information. That’s it.

You want a drama queen analogy? In the past I have been Captain Kirk…passionate, hoping to help and direct others, reactive, and a little loud. From now on I will be Spock…cool, calculating, rational, and dispassionate. :cool:

[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;1268909]The WC forum is kind of a running joke, I am sorry to say.
The pointless bickering and arguments about the most insignificant of crap is truly mind boggling.
Some WC people are under the impression that their system is SO MUCH better/different than any other, they are closed minded and arrogant AND ignorant about the reality of MA.
This whole forum gets into arguments about things that anywhere else in any other circumstances, would be the biggest joke ever.
I think you guys just need to grow up, stop trying to be such prima donas and simple realize that it is OK to be different, Its OK to have different ways of doing WC and that there is NO “real” WC.
WC is about fighting, every MA is about fighting regardless of the extra baggage anyone tries to tatted to it ( for whatever reason).
The first step in you guys growing up is to realize THAT.
The next step is to stop listening and giving and sort of credibility to those that can NOT ( or their students can not) “practice what they preach”, ie:
See it taught, see it fought.
If someone comes up with some “theory” and they or their students CAN’T demonstrate for real, simply realize that what can’t be fought with deserves as little consideration as possible.

It also wouldn’t hurt you WC guys to support your fellow WC peeps that are ACTUALLY FIGHTING with WC.

Of course, if you feel that WC is NOT a fighting art, that it was NOT developed to fight with and that fighting is NOT the purpose of a system who’s principles and techniques are about hitting and hurting other people, well then…

Forget all I just wrote and go back to your La-La land.

WC is no more and no less than any other MA, get over yourselves and grow up ( and grow a pair while you are at it).[/QUOTE]

great post! amen brother!

FWIW some points on my take on the issue.

  1. this is just a forum where all kinds of people come and go. Not the end of the world if the forum disappears.
    Lots of highly skilled wing chun people I know are not on the forum.
  2. I stay- just to nibble at the edges and perhaps to respond to some things that I may care about,
  3. Example- I have not argued with Robert Chu for a long time. But he often has opinions that are different from mine.
    Two recent expressions- a. he is wrong on Ho Kam Ming’s knowledge of the kwan.I have seen HKM kwan work and bjd work b. what went into Ip man’s
    knowledge ( the Leung Bik issue). I do not regard him or Hendrik or Sergio as historians of all of wing chun.
  4. aspects of wing chun could be adapted for sport- but traditional Ip Man wing chun was not and is not a sport.
    Not all of Ip man’s students were equally exposed to his direct teaching.
    Extensive chain store wing chun and video watching has ruined much of the art There are still some very good people doing the art
    5..Wing chun is not a collection of techniques though personal and situational techniques can emerge with skill development.
    6 we no longer need insights from crane and snake to develop good wing chun . The key is getting started with a good teacher
    and practicing regularly and correctly and trying out things without breaking the law.
    7 the wing chun tool box is extensive and stands a good chance in dealing with athleticism or the decline of it.
    8 any one can have opinions and internet people usually do. One’s own development is the key. Wing chun is not the only way to fight.
    Good versions of other arts could be better than bad wing chun. Discussing thing in civil fashion can improve dialogue,

[QUOTE=Wayfaring;1268977]Thanks for standing up as an agent of change. Respect.

From my perspective this forum always has issues with these topics:

  1. My wing chun is older / better / more original than your wing chun
  2. I can fight with wing chun
  3. My chi sau practice teaches me to fight

My answers:

  1. I have no idea really but stories are cool and can help me connect with the art
  2. Depends on who I’m fighting
  3. No. But neither does jumping rope and I like that too to help train for fighting because it helps my footwork.[/QUOTE]

These are my answers too. But I’m interested in other points of view as well. I love to hear from both the hyper traditionalists and the progressive pro fighting/sparring/“pressure testing” faction. I believe we are all Wing Chun. I do my WC and I might not like what somebody else does. I’ll disagree with them and tell them why. But I’m still glad they post. I’m here to share, learn, …even to rant sometimes. But not to be a troll.

Those of you who agree, let’s take back this forum. It’ll be tough but it’s possible. We must all practice …“anti-trolling”!!!

[QUOTE=Grumblegeezer;1268997]Those of you who agree, let’s take back this forum. It’ll be tough but it’s possible. We must all practice …“anti-trolling”!!! [/QUOTE]

Take it back from what? I’ve been fighting this battle for nearly a year now, trying to get people to be nicer and more appropriate in their postings. No one listened to me or supported me. You won’t get much agreement because people here do NOT back each other up. Like I said, I was very obviously wrong to think of this forum as some kind of community. It is definitely not. It is just a forum. It is an open forum where it is Ok for people to hide behind keyboards and fake names and say anything they want to say. It is an open forum where it is Ok to be just as rude and inappropriate as you want and say things to people that you would never say in a face to face situation. It is just an open forum where anyone is welcome to post and slander others with names and accusations without providing any explanation or evidence.

I was very obviously wrong to think I could speak up on behalf of regular posters here with some kind of common opinion or voice. It has become VERY obvious that I cannot count on anyone here to back me up or support me on any consistent basis. It has become very clear that I CAN expect that anyone I interact with here is very capable of turning on me in the very next post.

This is an open forum, not a community. There are no friends here. There is no one to count on here. There are no rules here. I will no longer come to anyone else’s defense when I see something that seems unfair or false. That has only gotten me into trouble. I no longer care, since it is evident that no one else here does. I am done.

I will still come around for “amusement” as anerlich puts it. Maybe occasionally there will be some good information to pick up. But that is becoming a more and more infrequent occasion as the people that may have valuable things to say are chased away.

So, “grumblegeezer” I may have agreed with you 2 days ago. But its too little too late as far as I’m concerned. I’m done.

That’s it. Spock mode…engaged. Carry on.

[QUOTE=KPM;1269005]Take it back from what? I’ve been fighting this battle for nearly a year now, trying to get people to be nicer and more appropriate in their postings. No one listened to me or supported me. You won’t get much agreement because people here do NOT back each other up. Like I said, I was very obviously wrong to think of this forum as some kind of community. It is definitely not. It is just a forum. It is an open forum where it is Ok for people to hide behind keyboards and fake names and say anything they want to say. It is an open forum where it is Ok to be just as rude and inappropriate as you want and say things to people that you would never say in a face to face situation. It is just an open forum where anyone is welcome to post and slander others with names and accusations without providing any explanation or evidence.

I was very obviously wrong to think I could speak up on behalf of regular posters here with some kind of common opinion or voice. It has become VERY obvious that I cannot count on anyone here to back me up or support me on any consistent basis. It has become very clear that I CAN expect that anyone I interact with here is very capable of turning on me in the very next post.

This is an open forum, not a community. There are no friends here. There is no one to count on here. There are no rules here. I will no longer come to anyone else’s defense when I see something that seems unfair or false. That has only gotten me into trouble. I no longer care, since it is evident that no one else here does. I am done.

I will still come around for “amusement” as anerlich puts it. Maybe occasionally there will be some good information to pick up. But that is becoming a more and more infrequent occasion as the people that may have valuable things to say are chased away.

So, “grumblegeezer” I may have agreed with you 2 days ago. But its too little too late as far as I’m concerned. I’m done.

That’s it. Spock mode…engaged. Carry on.[/QUOTE]

get off your high horse YOU are hardly blameless you spent weeks going after Alan for not using proper wing Chun in his guys fights, even going so far as to starting a thread in the main forum hoping others would gang up in him for gods sake so forgive me for not feeling sorry for you…

[QUOTE=Frost;1269009]get off your high horse YOU are hardly blameless you spent weeks going after Alan for not using proper wing Chun in his guys fights, even going so far as to starting a thread in the main forum hoping others would gang up in him for gods sake so forgive me for not feeling sorry for you…[/QUOTE]

In all fairness, While KPM and BPWT did drag on …and on …and on over on that other thread re how much classical 'chun was visible in Josh Kaldani’s recent fight, they had a legitimate question: Namely can you effectively use WC that “looks like WC” in MMA competition or not.

I didn’t take that as a personal attack on Alan Orr. In fact the thread began with a lot of respect. Then like always, it degenerated. People on both sides have a hard time accepting the other guy’s right to his own opinion. So what’s the big deal? Argument is interesting. All we are asking for is to maintain a civil tone. And that only can be done if you regulars start exercising your collective influence. If you want to clean this place up a bit, you can. Or not. It’s your call.