Post #362683 by bigbrotiki on Thu, Feb 21, 2008 10:33 AM

Thank you for all those thoughtful posts, I now feel again that most of us are actually capable of adult intellectual exchange! :D

Here is my mea culpa: I really thought about what some Tiki "liberals" felt they had to defend....and my conclusion is: Their right to CONTRIBUTE. They wish to contribute, and that wish is very legitimate, and I do not negate that. The problem is one of unequality. Many TCers do not live in Tiki-rich states like California or Florida. Many are coming to this board late in the game, and VERY FEW have the experience and resources that I can offer (there are some that DO, but unfortunately choose to not post what they could). So it might come across as injust, and as arrogance when I "strutt my stuff", but believe me, I do it because I love Tiki and I want to share it, not to show off.

So, very much like Tiki Zen's summing up of his Tiki treasures, they choose to post what they CAN post about. And when I come along and put it in its place it is seen as me INVALIDATING their efforts. That is not my intention. I simply have to stick to my standards, and cannot give absolution for something I do not believe in. I am not TELLING THEM what to do, just giving my assessment.

If you would bring a Chinese vase onto Antiques Roadshow, and the appraiser would tell you it's a cheap imitation, would you get upset at him? No, plus you should feel free to take it back home and display it because YOU like it and it looks good in YOUR home. But if you would start to argue with the appraiser and insist "well it's made out of porcelain, could it not be a LITTLE bit authentic" you might get him a little agitated, and get him to make his point a little too forceful....like me. :)

And PLEASE, do NOT stop posting all that great Big Lots and Target Tiki stuff, that is one of the reasons why I love Tiki Central! Just don't get upset if someone tells you their honest opinion about it either.

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2008-02-21 15:47 ]