My thoughts re: Harding's, MK, and "community".

My last post on the issue, unless people want to talk directly to something I say. To preface this, I consider myself a responsible kiter who enjoys both the sport and the vibe on the beach. I enjoy kiting when I can, and I enjoy sharing photos and videos and talks about kiting when I can't. This drama shit is the reason why I kite alone for most of the summer. I will make a few specific points to a few specific people so you don't have to read a wall of text unless you want to.

To the individuals directly responsible for Hardings. You knowlingly broke the rules, acted irresponsibily, and behaved poorly enough that a bad light has been cast on the few hundred people that are also involved in this website. At least one of you has a history of acting irresponsible. My advice would be post an apology and help work to a solution. For the individual with the past history, you owe it to everyone to either stop kiting or do some soul-searching and come back with a pledge to start acting like an adult.  

To the "lynch mob", or rather, the people as upset as me at a few individuals. If individuals do step up and take responsibility for their actions, refrain from hints/threats/acts of violence, they do nothing but make this worse. It also encourages cowards to stay cowards. For me, if they are man enough to step up, apologize, and work to a solution that I am man enough to forgive them and move on.

To MK admins. Repeating the peoblem of the past is a luxury we don't have. Heed the advice of true vetrans who are trying to help you avoid the mistakes made previously. Go a step further, and weclome, accomodate, and respect the advice provided. 

To Mike/Jimmy/other real vetrans. MK needs your involvement, it's (likely) not going away anytime soon, so your consulatation in to the direction and focus is extremely important, you have more insight than most people. I know that you likely feel scorned by an apparent lack of respect for your opinion, and that often results into a mix of bashing and belittilg mixed with good advice. Maybe someone (or more than one) is willing to step up and provide some guidance into the future of MK, provide some leadership and insight, and help control the future (both of MK and the kite community). 

To everyone who enjoys MK. MK needs your feedback too, not only n regards to what you are looking for from the site, but also on the beaches. Every person that reads this, and every kiter in general, has a responsibility to promote safety and preservation of access. Speak up, you'll find there are others that will support you. MK might also need your support right now to move in a new direction. 

To those that can't control themselves, be that control themsevles to behave like adults, kite responsibily, or to know the right/wrong time to party and/or behave like a d-bag due to alcohol. Do us all a favor and abstain from kiting till you can grow up, it's not just your safety you are jeapordizing. 

To the people that just blame it all on MK. At least make an effort to be objective, and try to be constructive. Everything is not the "fault" of MK. If you have a problem with specific aspects of MK, bring them up and help to resolve them.

To the issue of the "beaches" section. Just take it down. While I was of belief that it was beneficial to people, it's not worth the trouble it either caused or is being blamed for. Take it down out of respect for those that feel strongly about it, it's an olive branch into working to gether to make a site where everyone can share the stoke and feel comfortable doing so. 

To the comment that this is a social site. It is! At least to me, this is a social networking site for the sport of kiteboarding in this area. I don't think there is anything wrong with that, and I think it has a purpose in that. Share the stoke.

To the responsibility of MK (meaning everyone from admins to people the read posts. To be a community, you need to meet the needs of the community as the first-and-foremost priority, and you need to give something greater to the community-at-large: beach cleanups, promotion of water safety, clean-water initiaves,  etc. 

That's all I've got. If you want to speak directly to something here, I am happy to chat abo0ut it, but I don't want to continue propegating ineffective dialogue.

Shane