Posted by Neil at 209.245.186.89 on August 02, 2001 at 14:54:01:
In Reply to: As a fan of both Kevin and... posted by adamblast on August 02, 2001 at 14:13:11:
: I strongly disagree with the way Neil's been characterizing the donation and its aftermath.
Back that up with something.
Seriously.
It's easy to sit here and say I'm mischaracterizing it, it's quite another to actually explain that.
: N, I don't think you've got the facts to back up your strong accusations.
I don't indeed have any "facts" per se. What I have is an explanation given by one party in the matter. I have repeatedly stated that my conclusions are entirely dependent on what Kevin said being correct.
I stand by, however, that if what Kevin said is factually correct, that what they did was illegal and unconscionable. If he has, lied, misspoken, embellished, left out a key detail or misunderstood some aspect of this, then the same thing might not necessarily be true.
: Your opinions are premature…
You can't have "premature opinions", the very notion is silly.
: … and (to my mind) insulting to a great organization.
Organizations are groups of human beings. I am aware of no group, however great the principal behind their activity, that is made up entirely of great human beings. As such, the "group" is fallible and vulnerable to the actions of less scrupulous, naïve or foolish members.
I have never argued against the basic idea behind what GLAAD is trying to do in general.
: GLAAD had earned my general respect long before I'd ever heard of Kevin…
Good for you. They certainly had a reasonable amount of mine, too.
I remember a day when I respected O.J. Simpson, too, though. That's not to suggest that this is anywhere near as bad a thing as that. It's just to say that past respect makes everything ok or untrue.
: I guess I *DO* believe that both sides have honorable intentions, and I don't expect GLAAD's gonna be getting anything like a fair shake on this board...
I don't think the evidence we have before us supports that belief.
I also think you're wrong on at least one level about the board.
There is a very vocal group that will support Kevin against any perceived enemy, even if that person is merely a filmmaker that he didn't like one of the two movies he saw of. They will shriek and moan and piss all over the board without giving any thought or consideration to the logic behind any of it.
I also think there is a large group of us that are thoughtful and will indeed listen to the story in all its complexity. I have tried from the beginning to make clear that my current conclusion is not based on the definitive evidence, but the story I have before me to understand. These are very different things.