Post #562302 by Tom Slick on Fri, Oct 29, 2010 7:51 AM

Rather than focusing on what constitutes definitive classic Tiki-style, how about sharing what represents "THE SPIRIT OF TIKI" to you?

That is NOT what this site is geared for. I've tried explaining it to the best of my ability, but what parts of the mission statement is it that people are not understanding?

Everyone here at Tiki Central is passionate about the Polynesian Pop movement. While the exact edges are blurry, we can give you a bit of insight into what Tiki Central is not about:

• It’s not about Jimmy Buffett and Parrotheads
• It’s not modern plastic, brightly-colored tiki party decorations
• It’s not about the Caribbean/Key west design aesthetic
• It’s not about Reggae
• It’s not about African-art inspired masks/carvings/design
• It’s not about Margaritas and tequila-based drinks
• It's not about simply anything that has a tiki on it or in it
  Let me add;
• Seriously, It's not about Eartha Kitt
• Seriously, it isn't about the Andrew Sisters or Rum or Coke
• Seriously, It's not about a generalized plain ol' Tiki Thread within the main General Tiki Forum that shows Hawaiian Shirts(#3), VooDoo Album cover art that is Afro-inspired(#4), or photos of HULA girls(#8)
• Seriously, It's not about what represents the spirit of tiki to you...

There are a few of you who have blurred the subject of what is tiki on THIS SITE, and that to me, is reprehensible.

**The Tiki that Tiki Central focuses on is a mid-century American invention that is Polynesia-inspired. We’re here to discuss classic Tiki, what made it great, how to celebrate it and preserve it today, and how to create and influence new Tiki that isn’t generic, watered down, or MISGUIDED.

It is okay to like one or more of the above and be a member of Tiki Central, just remember that it's not our focus. There are plenty of places on the web for that. We encourage new users who may not know what Tiki is to read up, search our forums, and ASK QUESTIONS.**

Now if someone who's never partook on TC before, just happens to research mid-century tiki, and they come across this site, it will be threads like this one, that will decieve one's research if it is allowed to continue. You have opinions of what tiki is to you, is obvious, but isn't what this site caters to, or educates towards.

I'm not going to 'chill out' and go to other threads, as if to ask me to ignore the community being trashed with insignificant posts that muddles this websites history and accuracy. People who like to meddle and see what they can get away with come and go all the time, but I've been here the whole while, to help watch over the site. I'm not going to let someone who thinks they know better, water down the very ideas behind what established this website to begin with, just as I wouldn't accept water being poured into my Mai Tai just because it came from a bottle that was marked "Rum".

And FYI ATP, I did review your contributions to TC, and have to say I'm not all that impressed.

"What did you eat for TIKI Dinner"
"What TIKI Music are you listening to"(plus reviews!)
"Photo Association" (No surprise there!)
"Suggestions for what TIKI drink I could order at local bar with great tender/great selection?"
"Should Tiki Central be 'Politically Correct'?"
"Whats my TIKI Beef with Atomic Tiki Punk.."
"That would be a great Band Name!(Wow, and somehow it doesn't have the abused word 'tiki' in it!)
"What TIKI cigarette should I smoke, when posting 'what TIKI something...' I post?"(joke, but yea)
And event topics...plenty of event posts/replies.

Did you ever once stop to think that why you've had more than a half dozen internet tangle-ups on TC alone, and that maybe it isn't them (as you say) 'teaming up' on you, but rather its YOU and your topics and/or replies?
Because usually, if I get into a disagreement with one person on a forum, whoopty whoop. But if I rile up more than one person, that maybe I'm the one who is off base, and not them?
Just throwing that out there...

Edited for capitalization of keywords within the statement.

[ Edited by: Tom Slick 2010-10-29 08:16 ]