Being an ambassador & attitude

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

My rant:

I took up kiting for the thrill, the water & the travel - but the best part has been the kite community. I have met some of the most amazing people. I came from ski racing & the waterski tournament crowd. Fun, but there was "the too cool for school" attitude and it was beyond competitive and at times hostile. A real turn off for me. Kiting was different. People were helpful & encouraging. Always ready to launch & land, give pointers & saying "well done". A breath of fresh air really. Calling each other "kooks" & "danglers" gets under my skin because I don't want kiting to turn into the experience I had with ski racing & competitive waterskiing. We were all beginners at one time - lets remember that and keep smiling. Look where we live and what we do. This is special.

I want to comment on the Bonetti episode. - not to keep it going but to summarize it and have a bit of completion. I have felt this ugliness all week. It's what people are talking about on the beach & parking lots. I guess that is what Bonetti wants. He insulted my friends and that's not OK for publicity or an image. Evil or Very Mad

Two points.

Point #1
I’ve been in the sports industry a long time in many capacities. One thing has never changed: if a company or local store does you a good turn, you are an ambassador. This means you say good things about the product or store (to sell more), but it also means that you conduct yourself appropriately in any public form because people are watching and looking at you (more than you probably realize). Being sponsored or hooked up isn’t a right…it’s a privilege.

Granted there is some smack-talking on NW Kite. At times I think to the point of wondering who did and didn’t graduate from the 6th grade (I do laugh a lot). But this guy Bonetti—way over the line. Way. Good riders are important, no doubt. They get the looks from the beach. Those of us who can’t, like to watch those who can. But it takes more than a good rider to be an ambassador; it takes people who will promote, are approachable, and who will offer help to those new in the sport. Sorry Chris, your attempts to save your company’s face after what this guy posted were too little too late. Make no mistake: it cost you money, it cost you sales, it cost your brand goodwill. I don’t care how good anyone says their gear is, the industry has evolved to where all of it is good gear. It’s a lot easier to lose customers than get them.

Point #2
We all know how to swear, but again, this Bonetti guy…way over the line. To the point of making himself look more like a fool than anything else. Phil doesn’t need to manually monitor this, we need to self monitor it. A little S*** or F*** here and there to salt and pepper your points is one thing, but when it happens every post or every other sentence it’s nothing more than filthy, vile and disgusting( learn some vocabulary). It really takes away from the spirit and the intent of the forum. I didn’t join NW Kite to listen to a little man rant about gay sex (looking for a lubricant sponsor?) In my opinion, block the guy forever and be done with him. He obviously has nothing of value to contribute to the rest of us. He’s a foul mouthed punk in an adult world. Turn him off.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

Melo

shred_da_gorge · Tue Jul 21, 09 12:20 pm

I agree completely with your general point, but from an outside observer's POV I wouldn't say he wasn't completely unprovoked. I can think of one comment in particular that was likely meant to point fun at the general vibe of what was going on and not the person himself, but it didn't translate as sarcasm and I would have been peeved were it my name used. I may not have reacted the same way - actually were I closer to his age than my own maybe I would have - but it was uncalled for IMHO.

Again I see your general point, also agree on the behavior you're calling out, but I would say he's not the only one to blame from what I read on here. And I'm not saying this to defend anyone, because I don't know him nor most of the commenters in the thread that comes to mind.

Now heading out to pump up the 10m... and I promise not to offend anyone in the process!

Smile

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

if you don't like don't read it

It would seem that Bonetti has put some civility in the forum
for now
but that won't last
phil almost flipped the switch
and that would be fine with me after all the smak talk to everyone for the last few years (not by bonetti)
so each to his/her own
talkin shit just don't work for some
and Bonettis' one of them I would say
( he gets pissed)

There is a good number of folks who don't enjoy a buttload of kook/dangler/legit etc
at thier spots at all.
Broadcasting across the world will bring in every nut job from everywhere
It would seem that the more blabbing the more of a kook/dogshit/thieves/etc, fest everyones spots become Twisted Evil

with the occaisional good vibe thrown in Laughing

so is it worth it?
I really have enjoyed meeting the folks in person from the nw kite
but I would have met them without the forum anyway.

kitenaked · Since 19 Sep 2008 70 Posts West Coast Â

Melo,

Thanks for your words.

Yes, some of the recent events have provided a few bumps in the road. However these are small bumps and will not stop us. Kite Naked and Wainman Hawaii will continue to have a presence in the Gorge that will result in positive and respectful growth for our companies and customers.

Rabbits Kites are truly too special not to share with everyone. People are curious. Those that have the chance to ride them will come off the water with a smile.

Our apologies go to those deserving.

Our business relationship with a specific person has ended. Our personal friendship with the same person continues.

See you all at the demo in August!

Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

I couldn't agree with you more.

Especially the part about kitenaked.
I don't care how good of friends they are and how many times chris says bonetti doesn't represent kitenaked, in every childish post it said "kitenaked" in his signature. Therefore he represents kitenaked.

Andy

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Thanks for the words melo!