Best Wishes to EADA

[keggs]

You all know me by now I hope. And you all know that I have some rather radical views. As a professional that visits this forum regularly may I just say a big thank you for allowing me to express my views here. I would also like to state that there are some that I believe would like to see the back of EADA or are at least are opposed to it. I for one fully support you efforts. 2008 was a terrible year from what I hear. I obviously don't know what the problems were in any depth but I can imagine. just keep going and let's hope 2009 will bring much needed harmony in all areas of our world.

Best wishes
Steve

[chris]

I'd noticed that there was a rather vitriolic thread about EADA on dancesportinfo.net recently, which I guess is what's prompted you to write this message here. As I read the other thread two thoughts occurred to me:

• distaste at the focus on unpleasantness and personal attacks rather than discussing the topic in hand (seems to have got all too frequent on that forum unfortunately, which is why I rarely read it nowadays),
• a hope that the representatives within the various British organisations are making progress at an official level on a much more constructive basis than the sorts of things that we're seeing on forums.

[keggs]

Hi Chris

In a way you are right. But I also genuinely felt that it is EADA that welcomes anyone whether they are professional or amateur. It's also the only British organisation that actually has a proper forum to discuss matters.

As for Dance Sport Info, there are too many that seem more interested in attacking anyone just for the fun of it. Serious discussion as you say is at a premium. On a personal note I was naive to think that there could be a proper discussion when so many it seems use different nicknames. They don't read posts - they just pick out anything they can use to attack.

The thread which started this was vitriolic towards EADA. Of course like any body it doesn't always get it right. That's the nature of such things but I felt as a pro in Britain and a parent of a competitor that I had to defend it. While people here know my views (sort of - it's sometimes difficult to say what you think without it being misconstrued and it deliberately is on Dance Sport Net) I try if I can to give a balance. As I said on the DSN thread I hate any injustice and will defend anyone I feel needs defending. I tend to fight for the underdog (always have done) even if we actually oppose each other politically. That might sound a bit strange but that's just me. I'm not a saint - far from it but if I can help in any way I will.

I understand that it was the BDF that put a motion forward to get rid of EADA. Am I correct in my thinking? I hope I am not but if I am, as a member I'm really at a loss as to why they would want to even suggest it.

I do hope you are right Chris in you last point and that our bodies are working together behind the scenes to change thing in this country but somehow I wouldn't put a bet on it.

Best wishes
Steve

[martyn]

I'm not sure there's a protocol for dealing with supportive comments!

I had a quick read of the thread on the other site and yes it is a bit vitriolic isn't it? but Keggs I really don't think its worth bothering about!

The opening post fired a quick insult at me "Why do people never think before making nonsensical observations" , then gave 5 paragraphs justifying what I said in the first place.  Personal insults by people hiding behind false names are not worth even reading. They say more about the writer than they do about the subject.  You will NEVER persuade people like that of anything, so just leave them to have their little rant.  To quote my old mucker Billy Shakespear, it is "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. "

[keggs]

Hi Martyn.

As usual you are quite right. Before writing this brief post I did decide to do what Chris has now done and leave the forum well alone. I kept going back after a while hoping things might have improved. I should have learnt my lesson the very first post I made but sometimes my natural tendency to see the good in people gets in the way. Like Chris I'll watch in future and just let them get on with it. I've had a couple of personal messages from other previous posters who are now doing the same thing. At least with the EADA forum we can have a proper discussion. We might always agree but at least it's friendly and pleasant.

Best wishes
Steve

[Tina]

For some obscure reason I popped onto that forum yesterday, read about 4 posts and lost the will to live.  I try not to go in but sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me despite the fact I should know better!!
Fancy someone else trying to insult dear old Martyn!!  That's my job!

Seriously it is good to have healthy debate even when we disagree.  However just for future reference - I am always right, ask my husband!

[keggs]

Hi Tina

Did your husband know you're right

Best wishes
Steve

[Northern Raider]

If EADA is welcoming to everyone and is the only British Forum worth noting then why is because we dance for Wales, our results abroad get deleted, twice, and I get no response from the webmaster?

I thought that EADA members may be interested in how 'British' couples are doing against foreign opposition?

I think sometimes EADA are there own worst enemy.

Regards

Tony Birchall

[keggs]

Hi Tony

You've got something there. Just a thought. Does EADA have any official link up with the equivalents in Wales & Scotland. If not why not. What about Ulster and the Isle of Man not forgetting the Channel Islands. How is these nations treated?

Steve

[Shell]

Just to say Martyn resigned as our webmaster in october and we have only just got the new one in place, so apologies if anything sent to webmaster@eada recently has not been replied to.

Rachelle

[administration]

Keggs

Just for reference the Guernsey Dance Association is afilliated to EADA and they have representation on the Council.

[keggs]

Does the Isle of Man or is this considered independent as it is basicallt a different country anyway but with foreign links via the UK?

Steve

[Northern Raider]

As a British Couple we are under the BDC which EADA are also under and my question still hasn't been answered.

Why were our results at Alcobendas deleted, twice, from the Results section?

Are we assuming that EADA are not interested in how another couple under the BDC do abroad?

[martyn]

Theres an old jewish word "hutspa" - or some such spelling, it sort of means, cheek, audacity. A lovely definition I saw once was a guy who pleaded guilty to murdering both his parents asked the judge to be lenient as he had just become an orphan.

Tony i thought your post shared the same characteristics. You publicly renounce representing England, renounce the charts , I suspect you are no longer an EADA member (?) you represent the welsh lot - WADA being an organisation that developed following the division of BRITISH Amateur Dancesport partly due to the nationalist attitude of "we're not British, we're welsh"  Then want  to use the resources of an English  organisation you have turned your back on to publicise your achievements! If you are not a member of EADA, why should you have any claim over its resource?

I wonder how the welsh would take to English competitors doing that to them. Or would the "but we're all British" hold no water there?

Personally if I was still doing the site I would probably have left it up . I admire the cheek of it, and I think its a good example to others that self promotion is so important, I wish more english dancers would promote themselves as aggresively. Also I have no problem with the concept of both having cake and eating it - hence my shape.

Webmaster emails are going nowhere at the moment, and we're doing the big hand over  of files etc this evening to the new webby.

Congrats by the way on your result. - even if you are a Taff!

[keggs]

On a more serious note - not too serious I hope. Why does Britain h3 3 (or is it) amateur bodies? Is this an IDSF requirement? While I agree with Martyn's comment I consider myself British not English (actually Manx really but that's another story hence my previous question)> Would there not be more strength in having a British Dance Sport Association again.

Or am I treading heavily on rather sore toes?

Steve