I look back to when we started this all off nearly a year ago and we seemed to have a clear set of aims and objectives, which some of us now seem ot be ignoring . These stated objectives are
Non-profit making and site independent
Organise WW2 games that follow a 'film-sim' principle (restricted ammo, authentic uniforms and weapons, period props) giving a high degree of suspension of belief
Clear and consitent rules for CiA and CiA supported games
Encourage site owners to run like-minded WW2 games
Create a hub for WW2 airsofters to share their enthusiasm
Forge links between suppliers, sites and players
Keep an 'friendly and inclusive' approach rather than 'elitist and stitch-counting'
As of the past couple of months we seem ot be veering away from these, we have had endless stitchcounting and sniping, we don't want ot encourage anyone else ot run a game because it's not up to our high standards, and we've pissed a number of good guys off.
This episode with the training day has really left me numb , and I'm questioning some of your motives. Certainly the way in which this has gone on and the almost gloating way some of us reacted ot the news, coupled with the sheer denial of any responsibility makes me wonder if some of us are heading in opposite directions .
If people here feel they are unable ot sign up in spirit to the core values of CiA then perhaps it is time for them to step down from the organisation .
Discuss
We need to be doing more wwii less open days in fancy dress to be honest.
We've had no stitch counting either, for the ninetieth time the only stitch counting we've had is webby ironically.
I'm losing interest at the way as soon as anyone tries to up the standard its poo pood down as being elitist.
And joshs game looks shite and he freely admits he knows net to nothing abnout wwii, im sorry but it does and he has.. If that makes me eliteist then yeah im eleitist in haivng some standards.
Sorry if thats too much for you.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
GUY, YOU ARE TALKING BOLLOCKS.
Don't blame me for saying that... you basically said it to me earlier...
As of the past couple of months we seem to be veering away from these, we have had endless stitchcounting and sniping, we don't want to encourage anyone else to run a game because it's not up to our high standards, and we've pissed a number of good guys off.
- Stitchcounting... ban the word. Its not happening. You are imagining it.
- Sniping... This is only in the annoying forum user thread and there I think we can agree it is completely appropriate considering the particular forum users.
- I'd love to know when we've discouraged people from running games? This training event is the only time I can think of and as far as I can see all Gadge was doing was trying to encourage it to be run better... and even offering to do the job. How is that discouragement?
- Good guys pissed off? Who? From what I can see SH has just pissed himself off... anyone else doesn't look to be a "good guy" anyway.
This episode with the training day has really left me numb , and I'm questioning some of your motives. Certainly the way in which this has gone on and the almost gloating way some of us reacted to the news, coupled with the sheer denial of any responsibility makes me wonder if some of us are heading in opposite directions .
- Numbness, I'm not happy either. I'd be happier with it running anyway it can, which is exactly the reason I suggested taking it over if SH doesn't want anything to do with it any more. There's no point in wasting good work.
- Gloating? I think thats aimed at me. You misunderstand me... I'm pissed off that all things seem to be in my way about getting to one of these events... SH seems to be the source of the this from my point of view (whether he is or not, thats the way it feels) I am not gloating at all and I am just pissed off with him and want it to go ahead with-or-without him!
- We have absolutely no responsibility to the training event. Its not CiA and when SH asks for help he wants it 100% on his own terms. We owe him nowt in that respect.
I do however have an extra objective that is not listed there... to be honest I thought it was one of our aims and suggest it should be.
- We should encourage WW2 games to be accurate as well as fun. However we should not put accuracy ahead of fun in our list of priorities and whilst we should continue to be all-embracing and not overly restrictive, we should also encourage and help players to improve their impressions, and by that I mean not only the quality and accuracy of kit but all aspects of their impressions.
Can we please not resort to petty insults? It's confrontational machismo and brings nothing to the debate. I didn't like it when Guy posted that originally, and I don't like it now either.
I'm considering my response to this thread and will post soon.
Ta
S
I'll post up my thoughts later tonight. After a few beers...
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Can we please not resort to petty insults? It's confrontational machismo and brings nothing to the debate. I didn't like it when Guy posted that originally, and I don't like it now either.
Agreed.... which is why I posted it again... it was kind of like an ironic statement... 
Hence why I then posted the rest of the stuff...
I'll post up my thoughts later tonight. After a few beers...
lol... probably not wise... the alcohol will destroy the thoughts... 
Stitch-counting - agreed that this has been an abused term. We all know the level of aggressive point-scoring, gain-saying and pedantry displayed on other WW2 forums (fora?) and we haven't reached those heights/sunk to those depths, yet anyway. I can't think of a suitable phrase to use instead of stitch-counting though. Er what about 'kit obsession'?
So, what is the issue? I think it's the outward impression given that kit is everything, running counter to our 'inclusive' aims.
Really and truly the standard of kit pales into insignificance compared to the quality of players we attract (generally very good when compared to a typical open day mix) and the games we provide (the best that we are capable of achieving). It isn't a fashion parade, it's not a competition for the best loadout, it's not living history, it's a game of outwitting your fellow WW2 enthusiasts (of varying degrees) outdoors (or underground!) and enjoying yourself. Some might manage to loose themselves in a suspension of disbelief, others might just enjoy dressing up, yet others a means of learning more about a period of history. Doesn't matter a great deal - without players there isn't a game. And we (CiA) need a large pool of enthusiastic players who feel wanted on the forum and on the field - we need to keep them happy and content.
We have a tendency to be over-critical of forum users/players who we don't particularly care for. I have been urging caution as I'm fearful of an ASCUK style 'I don't like you so you can fook off' attitude. We are here to provide the means of building a community. What we think of some individuals is neither here nor there - they can be as cheeky as they like from my POV. It's only when the good of the community is affected (or in anticipation of being affected) that we should take action.
Otherwise we have achieved an amazing amount in just a year - quite probably more than could be predicted.
OK, I’ve had a 5 minute cat-nap, and another beer. So its time for a response. PS – Gadge, wake me up with a phone call again, and I’ll track you down and eviscerate you slowly. With a spoon 
I can’t be arsed to trawl back through the whole thread, so I’ve just picked out notes that I think are important.
We need to be doing more wwii less open days in fancy dress to be honest.
The lethal phrase - “weâ€Â
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........