So, there's hope for RAS after all.

Two and a half years ago, I posted the following:

Three things you'll never see on RAS:

1. "I made a misake."
2. "I was wrong."
3. "I apologize."

Well, I was wrong, too. Today I read JJ's apology. Well done!

The heated exchanges triggered by Neil Lawson's accident, like the
angry messages over the Larry Sanderson/SSA scandal in 2003 that
sparked my original posting, above, are distressingly similar to loud,
strident arguments over politics or religion.

Discussion is good. Debate is healthy. Disagreement is normal
(especially among glider pilots). But there are rules.

1. Stick to the facts as much as possible.
2. When you assume or speculate, say so.
3. Don't distort the facts to make your point.
4. Give consideration to conflicting views.
5. Be nice.

I applaud Chris's and JJ's actions, Chris for saying what I believe a
number of us are feeling and JJ for responding. I hope we continue to
benefit from your valuable contributions in the future. There's enough
junk on RAS that we cannot afford to lose two experts who are willing
to share experiences and insight (even if don't always agree with
you...).

I've had to retract a statement or two on this forum over the years and
it's tough, regardless of whether you realize you're wrong or whether
you still believe you're right but admit you could have handled it
better.

I think it's no coincidence that discussion on these threads seems to
have died down. Most of the time, all we need is the knowledge that the
other person respects us and our views even if he doesn't share them.
That and being treated fairly.

Otherwise soaring begins to resemble, at least in tone, the world
around us where fanatics and zealots believe with absolute certainty in
their causes, twist the facts for their own purposes, and take
radical--sometimes criminal--actions to bend the world to their views.
Thank goodness soaring is just a hobby.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
U.S.A.