It does seem that there generally is a presumption that something in an
email conversation will not be revealed to the public. However, in
Burt's defense, is there the same presumption when you send someone an
unsolicited rude email?



Chip Bearden wrote:
I just came across this thread. At the risk of offending everyone:

1. I didn't see anything derogatory in Burt Compton's email to Tom
Kelley. I might have used slightly different words but...
2. Tom's response to Burt was uncalled for, even in a private email. I
agree with Casey Lenox that I have not heard contest pilots put down
non-contest pilots...but Tom's "go play instructor" is definitely a
written put down.
3. Publishing a private email this way is generally wrong, and Burt
shouldn't have done it, however offended he was. I agree, though, that
Tom's sentiments reinforce the negative stereotype of contest pilots.
4. I've been flying competitively since 1968 but I don't know all the
names today, much less the IDs. The top guys who've kept the same #s
for years are familiar to many non-contest pilots; e.g., KS, DJ, XX.
But I remember when Karl Striedieck and Doug Jacobs both flew under
different #s, and all three of those guys have flown borrowed gliders
with totally different IDs. I agree names would help and the request
was a reasonable one to consider. In his defense, Burt (who's probably
been around soaring at least as long as I have) did close with a note
of appreciation for Tom.

So there's some blame to go around. How about we end this thread with
"Tom, great job on the reporting; your audience would likely be even
larger if you used names of all pilots, but we understand it takes
time to hammer these things out" and "Burt, we appreciate the great
work you've done for soaring over the years and hope you continue to
be a tireless promoter of it so the few of us in this country who
enjoy it can do so in the future."

And now that the weather has finally broken, maybe we can get back to
flying and avoid this stuff for a few months.

Chip Bearden
JB
New Jersey, USA