A little harsh, I know, but I thought it was time it should be said.

The history of this forum (and almost everything else) is rich with righteous indignation and criticism about various styles as they come and go. There was a time when adopters of four line kites and chicken loops were attacked in the same fashion prevalent in this thread, as though they'd destroy kiteboarding and the (hetero)sexuality of those who used them.

But life went on, threads got buried, and many new chapters of style condemnation followed, including this thread. If you're new around here, try digging deep into the archives. You may find a surprising number of raging opinions, history eventually portraying their proponents as pointless whiners (or assclowns, frankly, if they don't learn from experience).

It's also childish to attack someone persistently for their preferences. If someone wants to pursue a particular discipline or launch a new one, let them. If you favour a different discipline, go ahead and promote it positively. If you get an enthusiastic following, or attention from journalists (who regrettably know little of many specialized topics), congratulations for whatever your thing is.

Cheers,
James

On a philosophical note, we, by complaining here about people here who complain about Toby, are no different than them. We are haters' haters.
Some people like the Airstyle concept, let them like it. Some others like to protest and hate it, let them do it. Why are why trying to convince them they should not hate it? Why we people can't accept difference?
Should positive attitude include being neutral towards negativity, kind of ignoring it? Should we try, James?

quote, why so many haters?

to have new disciplines in my opinion is good for kitesurfing, and I like to see more hooked-in freestyle

Speak for yourself. My intention is to criticize and hopefully subdue offensive behaviour which would be almost unthinkable in person. The difference is clear to me.


I'm not. But I am trying to convince them to be civilized. Why? Same reason we teach kids... so they don't make our communities miserable.

It is unthinkable to me that criticizing people on kiteforum will subdue their offensive behaviour which has its deep origins in their childhood and later experiences and their DNA as well.

This goal being unachievable, all that is left to hope by attacking attackers is to prove mental and emotional superiority. I am speaking for myself, of course, to whom I promised never to do the same mistake again.

Ned, are you attacking the attackers attackers?

Hey Brent... from your previous posts with the vids, through intense scientific analysis and one six pack I have concluded that both disciplines are risky with a higher risk of breaking bones in wake style... and who fetches all those runaway kites?

After your last few posts I had to go back and check my own. Im not sure where you guys are seeing offensive behavior or anything close to hate. I don't see anything more than a little tongue in cheekyness at the beginning and then pretty straight up debate criticizing how Toby had gone about promoting airstyle more than deriding the style itself. I make no slurs, no name calling, no personal attacks other than to claim the sum total of his actions betrays a massive ego. I repeatedly acknowledge his skill and that people are free to pursue the sport in any way they choose. For sure its a long thread and probably a long dead horse, but you guys kept claiming my ego is the issue or that I am just a small minded primitive hater. It went in all kinds of directions including a discussion on "risk" that was simply trying to put this in the context of evolving spectator sports in general. Not one of the posters debating me acknowledged my central beef ! which is that promoting the first ever competition in his undisputedly personally branded style, a world championship is completely ridiculous.

A world championship implies implicitly that there have been at least a few regional championships! But these are simply the plain facts. Toby has long claimed that current freestyle lacks common appeal because it looks repetitive. Toby puts out a video staring only himself featuring 500 tricks and in the process rebrands the discipline by coining the phrase airstyle. We are all very aware of this fact as it is ever present in banner adds on here. This forum is massive in its user base and this understandably gives Toby some influence in the industry. He works hard to get Airstyle included in the PKRA's event in his home country stop complete with a share of the already meagre prize money. He competes in the event and does not podium. The guy who won the event competes in a mask, a fairly obvious indication that he does not take the event all that seriously. Toby immediately claims that conditions are to blame and that if it were in his personally preferred spot in Brazil he would be untouchable... Did I miss anything? Did I exaggerate? No, I don't think so.

I think if see a 500 trick video starring only a single rider put out by that rider.... That alone is enough to make me think the dude has a serious ego. Who does shit like that?

To turn it around and call a critic of the obvious an egotistical hater unnecessarily spreading negativity, and how uncool and bitter I must be for raining on someone else's fun????

Its all just a bit too much. I'm sure if you ask the emperor of airstyle he will put you in touch with his tailor!

Brent are you in your 20's or 30's ?

I just can't see someone in their 40's or 50's talk the way you do about Toby

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Brent you started back on KF this March 01 2012

Before that post the previous one was Feb 17 2011

And before that one it was Dec 02 2010

3 posts in over 2 years......were you on vacation ? and now feel like catching up on your writing

Haha, no, I am attacking myself for spending my time commenting on attacks on kiteforum!