Rush to judgment...
again and again and again...

Forums are great for people to say what they think or how they feel. And if they want to criticize someone else, they can freely do it with anonymity. (God Bless the Constitution, really!)
     Unfortunately some people speak before they think. Why don't people try to learn the facts of an issue before "creating" a truism founded on nothing more than an emotional impulse? How much time does it take out of your day to be sure of what you say and be civil before you say it? Are people that quick to make their point and that selfish and guarded about their "turf" that they would presume to demand a higher station for themselves before sacrificing something for their neighbor or at least trying to understand their neighbor's situation before criticizing?
     Some of the dialog - I use the term loosely - coming out of the Red Hook Rooster seems to be highly inflammatory rhetoric rather heartfelt community discussions - as if we were talking to each other over coffee. I thought this forum would be good for the community. The idea is good, but the execution is faulty.
     So what is happening to our community? I believe email, the internet and forums have given us an excuse to throw dignity, civility and compassion to the wind. I hardly believe that some people's comments would see the light of day if they had to be held accountable or be face to face with their target. On the other hand, there are some who would act that way face to face - and do. I guess we are just dealing with the rougher edges, the darker side, if you will, of humanity in general.

This morning, I just had to reply to someone who jumped to a conclusion just by miss-reading a newspaper article posted on The Red Hook Rooster. It was in reference to Keith Lore's presentation on Anderson Commons to the Town Board the other evening.

2/28/08 - Daily Freeman Developer requests rec fee reduction

My reply:

If you read the news article again carefully, you will see that Mr. Lore is quoting from a letter from then Town Attorney Trezza advising the then Town Board why it would be advisable to grant the request for lower recreation fee.
     Come on, Mr. Lore is not threatening litigation, Mr. Trezza is simply advising the town board one reason to go along with the request "...and this was an issue that would create potential litigation for the town." What the heck!!!
     Everyone is so quick to pounce on a situation in negative ways - Keith Lore is an honest business man who works very hard in a hands-on way to succeed and satisfy his customers. And today's economy, customers in any business are getting harder to come by. Keith and his family have lived in Red Hook a long time, do you really think he
is chomping at the bit bring a law suit to the town. He pays taxes too!!!
     The fact of the matter is why are we still muddling through this issue since 2004? How much money is someone with an idea for a project supposed to spend, how long is that person supposed to wait while still trying to run a legitimate business in this town?
     Think about it for a moment. You may not like the idea he has but try walking two miles in his shoes before drawing wrong conclusions as to his motives. He also has family mouths to feed, employees to pay, business debts to honor.... his money doesn't grow on trees any more than does your's or mine!
     Let's get real and try to solve the problems rather than continue to fuel the flames of division. - Richard Wambach

The Rooster Post:

--- In redhookrooster@yahoogroups.com, "dtroll64" <dtroll64@...> wrote:
     It sounds like Mr. Lore is announcing a veiled threat in this article by proposing 'potential litigation'. And yet he would probably be the first to complain about higher taxes. While we appreciate Mr. Lore's standing up for the rights of his potential out of town clients by asking to have this fee reduction, it does not serve the current residents of the town of Red Hook and our present tax burden to grant him this reduction. This fee reduction may go through for Mr. Lore, but in the spirit of the day it is wrong. (anonymous!!!)