Goodby ATVFLORIDA

[budman]

I have thought long and hard about this, and no one reason stands alone for my decision. I have been a member since Jan. 2004. I joined this site because I love riding. I found it to be a VERY informative place as far as riding spots were concerned. I also discovered how many nice folks were users. The first thing I really posted on this site was where a muddin’ picture was taken and how I could go there.
  I met Claude (aka “the Grizz) and his family at Bad Luck Prairie, along with sk8rdude and his wife Rocio, pair o grizz and his wife Lauren, meathead1, and a few others who I run into occasionally.
  And then there were the Rodman rides! Man wasn’t that great!  Met another batch of great folks…jjamesbar, the other Rodman guide. Idaman, susieblazer and family, thrasher,..duuuude….asphaltdragon, customrubicon, caospop, Dr Walum, (where’s my beer) among others that I met that were good people. That was a couple of rides that I’ll never forget.
  MS&G rides…found them here…along with atvgirl & bam-bam, kawgirl & shortcut, ZIN, BCConviber, Nos, BBF, ..great times there as well….
  It was great that you could post your ride pictures and people all over the state could relate. Either they rode there, or they had experiences that they wanted to share with you that made us a real community. Friends that you never met in person. Common ground was RIDING. We were brothers in a sense. It was great. I couldn’t wait till Monday, to see all the pics, read about what went on in their spots. My grandson always wanted to look at all the pics and see the people he met while on these rides…

  Now we have come to, what I consider, such a sad state of affairs…I have quit posting since this all came to a head. I won’t be naming names, because I don’t want this to be a parting shot at anyone. In my opinion…we all have them, but we should respect others…this site has lost what made it great. 
 
<MY OPINION SECTION>

Open Discussion:
Talk about whatever you like. Inappropriate threads will be deleted without notice.

This hasn’t happened for a while. Must be a new addition….
  I really think this is the downfall of this site. You can’t really talk  about what you like for several reasons now.  I used to post on any subject in open discussion. Lately, I have not posted there as much, because I would really see a thread that I would like to join in with some interesting point, but because of the subject matter, it would never be “free speech”. It would somehow degrade into a battle, or be hijacked to trash either a race, cultural or religious group.  There are those members who would trample on MY freedom of speech, religion, or expression, because my thought did not align with them. Long winded replies that preach their gospel to me, like one brand is the only brand. My ancestor’s blood was spilled in this land, and on foreign soil to guarantee those rights.
  Yes, we all have the ability to change channels, or not read a thread. But certain behavior was allowed, people were attacked, feelings and friendships were damaged, and I only fault moderators for not stopping this sooner. The rules were established, and broken MANY time. I blame individuals for that, but as moderators, it is their job to be the sheriff.  Without laws (rules) and guardians of the law (mods), anarchy will be the norm. Look at New Orleans. Without the enforcement of law, chaos was the order of the day. If you can’t moderate the boards without crying about it, don’t take the job. Friends of mine have been repeatedly attacked with no provocation that would warrant the treatment they got here. Yet ATP gets threads deleted, because of unhappy customers comments. Based in truth or not, they seemed first hand accounts of customer dissatisfaction. But 2 people I find to be the most giving and friendly folks I’ve met on this site, have been driven away for no other reason than an unfriendly exchange between them and another member, that escalated (one sided I might add) into quite a few threads bashing them, here, and on another site. The latest installment of that was here last week, when Grizz left this site and as soon as he had done that, someone took his old screen name and made SEVERAL posts on that screen name that made him look like he was online, and posting stupid remarks just to make him look bad. This was removed by the mods shortly after it was started, but where is the punishment like what has been handed out to kids that post too much. They get banned or locked in their rooms for a few days…
If the mods wanted to find out who it was, they could have just checked the IP address and you would know who did it.  All the negative remarks about ATP were taken down, but the many personal attacks made on the Grizz family remain in both the River Ranch section, and Open Discussion.
   A lot has been made of the kids on this site. Content of a few threads was really objectionable, but I had no problem with that. I ran into the 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke thread, and didn’t like it. So what. I moved on. I don’t have little ones to protect, other than Kyle. He was only looking at what I looked at, AFTER I saw it. I chose not to read it. However, if I had kids with open access, I would have reported it to the mods. But the point is, we shouldn’t have to “screen” ATVFLORIDA before our kids read it. Well, according to the rules set forth before you became a member….But the point is, I had to screen the site.
  The Post sleeper kids…. Who cares? So they want to up their post count. Does it make you mad because they post a lot? Don’t read or respond then…they are kids! My goodness….the fretting over annoying kids! When you were a kid, did you have the right answers? Did you annoy the crap out of people? Or did you always act over 30 years old. It’s a bulletin board! Get over it already.

Now the last straw…..  Mod comes out of  his shell, and goes on the attack. Now you can’t speak without threatening comments from the mod!! Speak up, so I can smite thee with my almighty “DELETE” button. Retaliation has come back by way of “Open your mouth, and I shall destroy you!!!” I can do anything I want! I am the mod. Sure, now you do your job and rub it in our faces that you wield some power beyond our comprehension.
So now I come to the deletion of my account. It means I’ll still have the friends I have met here, and will meet more as I ride in the same places, but I won’t have to deal with the pettiness of a few who have no patience for the newbies or tolerance of others.
With that said, I will sit back and see how this “expression” is taken for a while before I delete my account.

[SkyHighT100]

I can definately understand where you are coming from. All things aside, it has been a wild and eye-opening past few months.

[gery350]

i can relate to alot of your comments. but "the mod" you speak of did apologize and those accounts have the 3 day ban rule before being reinstated(thats what i was told). i think that realizing the err's of your way and posting it speaks alot for character. we're not playin games here we all know we're talkin about mike and like i've said before, i think hes a great guy(i also feel that the people that got caught up in this are good people). i  feel that the good people here outway the few that are trying to bring it down. deleting you account will  just be  playing into the hands of those that want to ruin it . i for one will not but i do respect your opinion. and i do think your one of the good ones. hate to see you go.

[mrbones]

Goodbye. You will be missed.

[z400]

Just go already. Jeesh....

Oh, the site will never be the same without BUDman...

[mrbones]

Watch it Z400, keep it clean or get banned. 3 strikes and your out.

[o4250]

I have thought long and hard about this, and no one reason stands alone for my decision. I have been a member since Jan. 2004. I joined this site because I love riding. I found it to be a VERY informative place as far as riding spots were concerned. I also discovered how many nice folks were users. The first thing I really posted on this site was where a muddin’ picture was taken and how I could go there.
  I met Claude (aka “the Grizz) and his family at Bad Luck Prairie, along with sk8rdude and his wife Rocio, pair o grizz and his wife Lauren,

Ohh man the good ole days, "down and dirty" rides.. The grizz left? That sucks. He was one of the few members I've actually met.  

[SkyHighT100]

I believe it's comments like that that you were referring to Budman? lol.. it does get old. I'll have to agree with Gery... there are WAY more good people on this site then bad. Even though there have been some serious issues lately, at the end of the day were all here for the reason and at the many Rodman Rides we have all shared so many memories. I miss those rides! Nothing better then spending the weekend practically turning Elite Resort into AtvFlorida Resort, lol. Hopefully the next few months will be a positive turn around for this site.

[kawGIRL]

See you later Budman 

I hear you..... I also have been here a long time.... Member #49.   I have seen things change    but it usually comes back to the norm 
I have not posted much lately, it urk's me with some of the Bull $hit going on    So I just go elsewhere till it blows over...What can you do ? if you post and tell someone to stop it just fuels the fire.

Hopefully things will go back to ATV's/Quad"s soon.
Later

[o4250]

http://64.177.67.115/atv/bud.wmv






LOL had too

[kawGIRL]

  I took that picture

[RL400]

I can agree with a majority of the things you said.  Everyone thinks differently.  Unless you're a mod its pretty hard to change the way ATVFL is.  Its gotten out of hand, and is too late now.
One of my teachers always said, Opinions are like noses, everyone has one.

Sorry to see you leave,

rl.

[TRX450R_Racer]

Bye

[Qdawg76]

Good bye Budman, You will be missed along with all the others who have left the site lately for the same reasons your leaving, I also agree with majority of what you said.
gery350 and Skyhigh I also agree with what you have to say. There are the few people that can Ruin a whole site for everyone It is Just sad

[bluesman]

GOOD BYE........ THIS BUDS FOR YOU!!

[tekhanto]

Hope to see you at RR with the Grizz.....................

[GrizzlyBear]

I think size has had a lot to do with the problems.  ! year ago when I joined there wer about 1300 dedicated ATV riders as members.  As it has grown, it has become younger in age of members and appears to be the only place these members have to vent their feelings.  As you can see from the posts, both in the open discussion and the for sale, ATV's are NOT the majority of the posts.

We who have been came looking for ATV discussion.  I can't remember the fighting and bickering ever happening, and if it did, it was over quickly.

I am a contributing member because I wanted to support an ATV forum,  now it has grown so big we have sponsors.  Well and good, but remember why this was formed.

[SkyHighT100]

I do have to agree with you there. I joined this site on April 11. 2003 as the 73rd member, lol... now we have over 3716 (granted at least half of those dont actually post anything).

[Southern4x4]

bye

[big-daddy]

had to jump in here on this one. first Mike apologize for what he sayed and do you know what Mikes personal life is going thru? hhmmmm.... Second personal attacks; Wow thats a big one hmmm............. maybe you need to look in the mirror on that one...... Third the easy thing to do is quit! This site we go forward with you or without you. Sorry to see you go!

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

Budman, never meet you, but you were always cool in my book. Even though Big D is not always known for his edicate, he does have a valid point. There is the internet and then there is us riding together. People you meet in life matter, not Avatars. Hope to ride with you one day.

We need to get pass all this drama and ban together again so we can save our sport and our land. We have enough problems dividing us in real life to deal with as it is.

[Asphaltdragon]

Sorry to see you go. For the newbies (within the last year) this site has been more than beneficial for me, I found a great printer (Budman), I found people to hang out with on Monday nights (Margarita Monday's at LaBambas), and not to mention, The Grizz Family is one of a kind.

It is sad that some here on this site will never now what they missed.

See ya soon BudMan, I got some more cards to be printed

[wheelie_boy]

Sorry to hear your leaving Budman.  I never really talked to you except when we stumbled apon each other out at riverranch.  Hope to meet you again.

[Ida_Mann]

you mean the Budman will actually drink something other than Bud ;-)

Budman, you will be missed,,,,,I know I'll see ya somewhere again if not online.  Who could ever forget the little blue quad passing me by in the mini-lake that Jeff said was no big deal right after I drowned my quad at the beginning of a rodman trail ride.

The man, the legend,,,,the Budman.

I will say I agree with BigD on something here,,,it's easy to quit, I myself entertained thoughts of it over the weekend, but I'd rather stay and help turn this site back into what it used to be and we are well on our way.

see ya on the trails.

Id@

[qt314nfla]

I haven't read the RR section so I don't know what is going on there.  I have met Budman and the Grizz family.  They are all great people and I am fortunate for knowing them.  I will see them again.  I am very saddened to see them leave!

I have only been on this site for a short while but I have sat and watched the drama escalate.  I have been fortunate and have only been attacked one time.  I won't be leaving as of yet.  I am holding faith in the fact that these people that are creating drama and bashing on this site will stop, or that the mods will put a stop to it.

I feel that mtg_man and family are great people.  He did appologize for his actions.  We have all gotten to the boiling point at times and lashed out w/o thinking.  It is the better person that realizes their mistakes and honestly tries to make it right.  Sometimes this is a simple appology.  Other times it requires action steps to correct what has been destroyed.

I have personally seen where ppl have made comments to intentionally get someone's goat, or egg them on.  They continue w/ the abuse then after they get out what they want to say they make an appology which does not at all seem sincere.  Rather a ploy to stay off the radar before they go on to repeat this action.

It seems a shame that we are losing a few of the great members that are active in ATV issues to the few that are constantly negative and abusive.  Why are so many ok w/ watching these good members leave rather than purging the site of the few bad members. 

If these situations aren't corrected I can see that this site may lose alot more great members and be left w/ more bad than good members.  Is this really what everyone wants?  Let's try to fix it, mend broken friendships, and get back to riding and positive comments.

Budman I hope you don't leave us.