State of the Union Address (CRT SYYLE)!
My Fellow Brothers!
As we approach our 5th Year at CRT, I felt it was time to address the masses in a State Of The Union Address CRT style. Things have been going off on tangents all over the place with much of it nonsense. For our members who have been here from the beginning as well as myself, I know I’m tired of it, so instead of addressing individual posts, members etc, I’ll address the brotherhood. I hope after reading this EVERYONE will take a timely pause, reflect and reform as we certainly don’t want to happen here what caused the demise of the other site that was the purpose of CRT!
Where we Started!
Why was CRT Started? Many long standing members where members of C.R.S. It collapsed due to non moderation, and a few very specific members running rough shod over the members. With no moderation, it turned into one all out flame war that nobody wanted to be a part of. Three gentlemen, I, Tman & Dallasman, came up with a concept, why not provide a “FREE†moderated board that would provide every single piece of information one would require to enjoy their time in Costa Rica. It soon took like a rocket, because liked minded “GENTLEMEN†yearned for a blog that allowed them all of the aforementioned without being subject of ridicule, flames and personal attacks not to mention touts for 1 particular hotel.
The concept was sound & it worked. The brotherhood grew and soon it was apparent CRT was much more than just a few people exchanging thoughts and information. It became a way for persons to plan trips around each other, for persons to share time and experiences with people they had never met before, where going to a foreign country alone was not an off the wall idea. It also became a way to educate the traveler on being gentlemen in a foreign country. How the idea of treating ladies & your fellow brothers with respect and not be the “Ugly Americanâ€. This is where it all began and it was a glorious time.
Where we have been!
That was over 5 years ago, and things have changed over the years. During that time CRT grew from a few hundred to over 15 Thousand board members, with me taking control running a solo show. The small gatherings of members grew to masses of members meeting and greeting at our favorite watering holes. The masses have had parties of all types, some thrown by the members themselves, some thrown by CRT. These parties / gatherings are some of the best times we have ever had. Persons of all walks of life, from heart surgeons to garbage men, the façade comes off, and we are all one, no one person better than the other. Brothers that we had never met, friends that we would have never known, in some cases lifelong friendships born, where people now travel all over the world with their CRT brothers.
Sure we have had our ups and downs, through the years, members being banned, the occasional YAHOO who would cause trouble with the rapid growth and expansion it was inevitable you can not expect every single member to be a gentlemen. Just because someone pays for a membership does not make them a brother. A brother is earned by treating your other brothers with respect. It also never mattered if you were A VIP or not. If you contributed to the board regardless if you flew a flag you were accepted. It has always been the negativity, that brings down any situation and that is something we have to work on.
Where we Are!
For the most part even with all the changes, through the years we were in a good place overall. We were all looking forward to a Five year anniversary party that this year because of all the previously explained reasons is not in the best interest of the brotherhood and has been cancelled. What is most disturbing to me, & the long standing members of this site as discussed privately via emails, PM’s etc. is the group of individuals who seem to have appointed themselves the CR GURU where only their opinions count, any newbie is Dog do do, and making a newbie afraid to even ask a question for fear of the CR Guru’s ridiculing them.
This same group of individuals also takes control of topics and hijacks them for the sake of showing their superiority above everyone else. Then they turn into a pillow fight or worse where you can’t even find the original topic after 10 pages of Bullsh*t between the CR Guru’s.
I try to let things play out on their own, try not to edit, censor or even get involved as there are many members here who will do it for me. They protect the board and the membership by letting me know of problems, or they make statements to the above trying to appease a situation. Trust me I appreciate all of the help as without the brotherhood we could not I COULD not handle this. At the same time this should not even be necessary, why do the same individuals over and over have to cause problems. Why is it necessary to have to monitor the same people for the same issues, whether it is 3 months apart of 3 days apart it keeps coming back to the same problem person or persons.
Let me also mention that the Internet is a Super Highway of Information. It has been stated that we share too much information, that people are watching, that we should tone it down a bit. It has also been mentioned that we should be 100% paid / private as this would somehow protect what is being discussed. Two points here, first the Internet is beyond full of information. We are not alone nor are we singular as to where information comes from. Just Google your own name sometime or go to people search and you have your entire life history as well as where you lived, known relatives etc.
If a person wants information, it does not take rocket science to figure it out where to get it. Point two is how many members would have never been brothers had we locked them out at the beginning. Persons want to be secure in what they join, are the group something I want to be part of, and are the people bunch of idiots, and on and on. Let us remember our original idea was to provide information to our brothers to assist them in their trips and experiences. To keep them safe, provide security information, to help them avoid pitfalls by providing them with the mistakes that we have made so that they don’t make the same ones. To provide the brothers with travel & transportation tips that make their overall travel experience a better and easier one. This is what CRT is and what it should be about.
Where we are going and want to be!
I have tried to sum up everything that has transpired without preaching. I also want to point out where we are going, & where we went to be in the near future. Its time to get back to the grass roots that made CRT what it was. We need to get back to helping out a brother instead of ridiculing a newbie. Its time to stop being a know it all about everything and contribute your knowledge rather than condescend because a particular subject may be remedial to you as you have been traveling 3,5 or 10 plus years to a location. Its time to stop your private hijacking of threads and turning them into your own little pissing contest and circle jerk.
In simpler terms its time to remember at all costs this is a forum and brotherhood of “LIKE MINDED GENTLEMENâ€. No one person is better than anyone else. If you can’t follow that simple rule, than you will be asked to leave. I do not care if you are a new member, paid member, lifetime member, etc. I do not care if you are here 5 minutes or 5 years. Nobody wants to come to a board full of negativity and I certainly do not want to wake up every morning to moderate pissing contests among the Guru’s. I am not calling out any one member, or group of members. If you think this applies to you than go back and think about why you feel that way. Perhaps if you immediately feel its you than you must in your own mind and heart that you already know you’re causing more damage than good.
The bottom line the negativity stops now! There will be very little tolerance on the subject. We will continue to grow and we will continue to bring new brothers to the fold. Welcome them don’t ridicule them. Help, them guide them; assist them towards information instead of making them afraid to ask a question. Share a beer with them; make them feel at home in a foreign land. Remember what it was like when you were a newbie, how you felt overwhelmed by the information; the enormity of what is available. Let us get back to feeling like a brotherhood instead of feeling like it’s not worth logging on for fear of reading more negativity & attacks from the “Guru’sâ€
Let us follow the above yet let us also follow the following items as well.
1. Read the Forum Code of conduct. Much of it is common sense which many do not have.
https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=23499
2. For newbie’s, there is a tremendous amount of information here, with years of experiences here for you. Do some research, use the search engine, don’t expect to be spoon fed, as much of what you ask is here for you. When you have specific questions come out of the box and ask them. If our members are being gentlemen than they wont jump on you for doing so.
3. Of course we are here to have fun too. I am not asking for persons to disregard the razzing of each other, what fun would that be? I am asking it’s done in moderation that we do not need to hijack a thread to make a point of busting someone’s chops. Use restraint, we don’t need to increase your post count to simply add a string of emoticons and smiley’s with absolutely no content of interest to add.
4. When responding to a thread think, am I adding something of interest or assistance, or am I posting just to post.
5. This is not a political forum, we do not need nor do we want political views expressed or discussed here. The fastest way to destroy a friendship is to talk politics. Way too many persons post topics that begin this is not a political rant, yet it is nothing more than that we a pre-emptive caveat to take the heat of It being political.
6. Post in the appropriate section. Trip reports are for TRIP REPORTS. Not for roll calls. General section is for General Information on “COSTA RICAâ€, and on and on. I don’t think we need any more sections if we simply apply some logic when posting.
7. It is not necessary to cut and pate and “quote†and entire persons post inside your response followed by multiple cut and paste “quotesâ€. If you are making a point, use the line itself in your quote before your response. Nobody wants to see pages of white quotes to address 1 line of text.
I would like to thank all of you for the support that you have shown me and your fellow brothers over the years. If you ever get disenchanted think about of all the new friends you have made throughout the years here. Think about the positives, and let me handle the negatives.
I have met and become friends with so many of you, have traveled to other countries, had you in my home, and I know I am not alone in this situation. We have met in groups all over the country in chapter meetings, played golf together, you name it. Can you honestly say that this isn’t a worth wild organization that has enhanced your lives. Of course this does not apply to everyone, but I feel that that CRT has enhanced, enriched, improved, whatever name you want to give it many people’s lives. This is about you the brotherhood and keeping it alive, and full of energy. It’s about you as friends, not as individuals that make this a place people want to visit. It is much more than any of us ever expected it to be, and let us not lose site of what we are about rather than dwell on the negatives that sometime can not be avoided.
Thanks again for all your support and I plan on doing my part to keep the brotherhood together and to improve it for years to come!
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