[ausev] Resignation.

[Chris Robison]

On Tue, November 7, 2006 11:01 pm, jtp said:
> Mark,
>  Since Chris has said that this is all a hobby,  I really can't see
> further
> participation as a board member for a hobby.
> I see that some of the impatience and approaches  prevailing in the club
> are
> too deep seated and  have gone on for too many years for me to be able to
> work safely around.
>
> Best Wishes, however.
> Dan Petit.


I've been away from my email for a couple days, and I sort of feel like I
went on vacation and left the coffee pot on, and returned to find I'd
burned my house down.

Dan -- I apologize for my poorly-chosen words.  The point of my remark was
not to imply that this is just a hobby for you.  I used the word "hobby"
because it's common when referring to building EVs even from and between
people who are passionate about them for idealistic and altruistic
reasons. (It's especially noticeable because apparently the vast majority
of EV enthusiasts are lacking the gene that allows them to properly spell
"hobbyist".)  I chose the word without thinking that it would be
interpreted as my earnest estimation of your personal investment in the
project or the group. And I also did NOT mean to imply that this is not
something in which you should be involved, only to reinforce my point
about the ubiquity of low-frequency emissions in and around EVs.

My choice of words fell squarely in the smart-aleck category, and I agree
this has no place in polite discussion.

Having said that, this is perhaps a good opportunity to make another
point, by which I in no way intend to defend my actions, but instead to
address a pragmatic reality in the greater EV community and how the rest
of the world sees us.  What we are doing is Something Different -- your
trike project especially so since you're starting from the ground up with
an unconventional vehicle style.  When you do something different,
especially something that endeavors as some of us do, to make a change in
the world, you have to be ready for rhetorical push-back from those who
would sooner support the status quo. Unfortunately, you *also* have to
deal with flack from those within the scene who have established their own
methods and understanding that differ from yours, even as ultimately
they're fighting on the same side.  Infighting often seems like the norm
rather than the exception on the EVDL -- I'm not saying it's a good thing,
but I will say that in spite of the frequent bickering, it's a discussion
list you really should be on if you want to learn (see http://evdl.org). 
Post an ill-considered opinion or viewpoint there, and you risk getting
bashed pretty hard, but often by someone who has vastly more experience
and far more accurate information.

When I started with AustinEV a few years ago, I started with even less
than you have. No experience with large-scale electrical devices, and I
had very limited experience with cars as well.  I've endured the hostile,
exasperated and impatient replies to my uninformed (and poorly-formed)
questions, and I've spent a LOT of time lurking on discussion lists,
reading and studying. It's not an always-cheerful experience, but then
real learning probably never is.

Stay with the group in whatever capacity you desire. Build your trike -- I
think all of us would like to see it on the road ... At the current rate,
maybe you'll be able to ride it to my place to find me still working on my
truck.

  --chris