Goodbye HiFi Wigwam

[Effem]

Oh yes you are! You're a very naughty boy. I am detecting the smell of grapes and not of the sweet variety

Not entirely true Chris that I have sour grapes, more a case of disappointment of what could have been had it been managed properly - I left of my own free will because I had that choice. I also see the benefits too, how else would we have met and had some cracking good bakeoffs?

If I were to be completely honest now, it was finding AoS that has also thrown my time at WW into very sharp contrast because there is a deep foundation laid here how the forum operates and how the membership conducts themselves. I have not seen any dual standards, back-biting, bullying or petty squabbles and yes there has been hot topics and questions about my own points of view, but always resolved with great courtesy and respect. Maybe had I not found AoS I could have just let it lie.

Maybe I am naive to believe that in my utopian world we can huddle together in our microcosm and chew the fat, discuss and pass on experiences and great tips about our little (expensive) passion and that perhaps I lavished too much expectations on WW being just that without sinking down to where it did. My good lady wife often said to me that I am not wrong for hoping that forum would be a gathering place for like-minded hi-fi enthusiasts, but she believed a good portion of the membership were there simply on an ego trip looking for an argument and the "hi-fi" part was pretty much secondary. She was not wrong either.

[Marco]

Nice one, Joe. That's pretty much how I thought the situation would be, and so good news for all Wammers and Scalford show goers

James has fired his shot across the bow, and so hopefully will have achieved the intended effect!

When Wigwam is back, let's hope that all those who took it for granted and selfishly used it as their own private playground, have a right good look in the mirror and change their behaviour, as if that crap happens again, I think it will be the final straw that broke the camel's back.......

Marco.

[John]

Looks like wigwam will be back but perhaps a bit different to the past
I am sure there will be a way forward for people and they can be part of wigwam again

[zanash]

Not entirely true Chris that I have sour grapes, more a case of disappointment of what could have been had it been managed properly - I left of my own free will because I had that choice. I also see the benefits too, how else would we have met and had some cracking good bakeoffs?

If I were to be completely honest now, it was finding AoS that has also thrown my time at WW into very sharp contrast because there is a deep foundation laid here how the forum operates and how the membership conducts themselves. I have not seen any dual standards, back-biting, bullying or petty squabbles and yes there has been hot topics and questions about my own points of view, but always resolved with great courtesy and respect. Maybe had I not found AoS I could have just let it lie.

Maybe I am naive to believe that in my utopian world we can huddle together in our microcosm and chew the fat, discuss and pass on experiences and great tips about our little (expensive) passion and that perhaps I lavished too much expectations on WW being just that without sinking down to where it did. My good lady wife often said to me that I am not wrong for hoping that forum would be a gathering place for like-minded hi-fi enthusiasts, but she believed a good portion of the membership were there simply on an ego trip looking for an argument and the "hi-fi" part was pretty much secondary. She was not wrong either.

I'll second those sentiments ....

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Looks like wigwam will be back but perhaps a bit different to the past
I am sure there will be a way forward for people and they can be part of wigwam again

Sorry this is wishful thinking, IMO obviously, but that many people don't change overnight. They were there because that is the way they wanted it. For a few days, maybe a week they will all pussy foot around. But someone will arrive and ask a silly newby question, or someone will ask about cable, or Jerry will find a new rave, and the pack mentality will surface again.

A forum is its members, and the leader of the pack is James, and it is his mentality as well. So if he wants less work he should just let it self regulate and let the people behave how they want and normal people will stay well clear of it. Plus the added advantage of it keeps them away from the rest of us.

[John]

I am not sure how it will change Richard and agree its hard to change overnight but its possible if their is a will to change; otherwise the mistakes from the past will come back to haunt
and I think its healthy to have very different forums
I always knew wigwam was not really for me but alot of people like it for good or bad.
I guess like all changes some will go with some will rebel and some will leave

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

I think the comments about him owning "the commercial rights" to Scalford is very pertinent. It points to the direction he wants to take it. I think he will find that apart from the existing goodwill, the balance sheet will be empty. Anyone can do one any time they want to and all Wigwam members and owner can do is try to insult it and put it down as much as they can.

[MartinT]

Scalford is a long way for me, too, but I have committed to going next year anyway.

[montesquieu]

I think the comments about him owning "the commercial rights" to Scalford is very pertinent. It points to the direction he wants to take it. I think he will find that apart from the existing goodwill, the balance sheet will be empty. Anyone can do one any time they want to and all Wigwam members and owner can do is try to insult it and put it down as much as they can.

Richard, give it a rest. You are obviously taking great delight in this situation but no-one could ever call you an impartial observer.

[Marco]

I think that Richard's comment is a pertinent one, although if he's honest, I'm sure that, given the history between WW and him, he'll not have been too unhappy at recent events....

However, I have zero interest in hosting the contents of people's grudges, so I'm sure that Richard will respect my wishes for him to leave it there and concentrate on other things that are more constructive.

As an aside, I also found James' comment about having the commercial rights for the show interesting, but that would of course only be for the 'Pie Show', as it's known, in its current format.

There is nothing to stop anyone else doing the same thing at a different venue, under another name. We've had plans for a while for AoS to do its own show/bake-off event, and that will be definitely be happening in the near future, and the venue will be, as suggested, somewhere in the Midlands.

However, in the meantime, we will continue to support Wigwam in ensuring that the much loved 'Pie Show' takes place again next year!

Marco.