zaat wrote:Hello and greetings to the many of you who have been reading this thread. I’ve been staying out of this discussion not because I’m being censored as Matt speculated but because I don’t see the dialogue here as being constructive.
I appreciate your opinion but I must strongly object to it based on the fact that it is producing a shift in paradigm at your store as I write this message even. You've gotten very complacent over there simply because you've never been under any real scrutiny. Well now you are and it's going to force you into an air of change. That is if you guys are really taking this to heart, and I hope that you are for the sake of the store's reputation.
zaat wrote:I’ll bet most of those viewing this thread would prefer that these types of issues be more discreet not just for saving face but because most of us like to deal with difficult situations in private.
I believe that most viewers of this thread enjoy reading this thread; Why else would they read it? Also it's human nature to enjoy watching these types of events unfold. Most people just prefer to not be implicated. Granted those that are implicated would rather have this not be public, but I think you are mistaken to say that would included viewers that are not directly implicated.
Dealing with situations in private gets us nowhere and you've made that very obvious. In private, I can be ignored, as I feel that I have been. By making this a matter of written public record I have effectively shone a spotlight on your situation so that it may be examined and that it can be fixed. However, just as in any medical operation, the long term benefit can easily be lost in the discomfort of the actual procedure. You're experiencing some growing pains right now. It will pass though, and you'll see that your going to come out of this better for it. However, to say that I've made this public would be a misrepresentation of reality. People have been discussing the exact same problems amongst themselves for a while now. So much, that for most it had become common
public knowledge. All I did was tell the internet about it.
zaat wrote:I’m going to be selective about what I say here and I hope the reasons for that are obvious. It may be construed as spin and will probably be broken down and analyzed as flawed but I accept that so here we go.
I'll cut you some slack, but I'll tell you one thing... You'd be FAR more effective as a listener right now than as a speaker.
zaat wrote:There is a large focus on customer service here at L&M and I have no doubts that Brian’s comments about wanting to do better are sincere as are mine. Mistakes happen but we want to learn from them.
In that case I respect that, but you need to listen and acknowledge that there's a problem instead of being defensive. The more defensive you are, the less inclined you are to actually hear the things I'm saying. I can't tell you my truth until you are done trying to tell me yours.
zaat wrote:This store has six staff members who show up to work each day at a place they feel is enjoyable, enriching and ultimately making a difference. Do you remember when you got your first instrument and how that impacted your life?
This site has 5 staff members that barely talk to each other, so you guys win on that one. I
do remember getting my first instrument though, it got me the attention of girls and sometimes it still does. The system works.
zaat wrote:I feel bad for the guys here that have to see their roles here at the store so heavily scrutinized like we’re characters on a sit-com. (I want to be played by Dick Van Dyke)
Agreed. However unfortunately you've put me in a position where I felt that the most effective way to improve the overall situation there, is to do exactly that, put the whole thing under scrutiny.
zaat wrote:I see that we are not alone though and there are other local businesses that employ musicians that are also subject to mean spirited criticisms and I guess that’s what happens on this forum and I can always choose not to partake.
I really wish you could have said your peace on this matter without going to that level. You were as instrumental in instigation the negative threads concerning Atlantica as anyone. Just because you now have a good relation with them, doesn't erase the fact that you had gotten a lot of heat from your superiors because you asked me to start a
thread that was very negative to Atlantica. I tried my best to keep you out of the line of fire in that but things got very messy when the higher ups got involved. So don't throw stones. We've all made mistakes in our lives and you bringing up that topic serves no purpose here. Just as Warren's post served no purpose here either. When people post things like that on this thread it diminishes the credibility of the thread, by making it seem petty. Let's stay on topic and conduct ourselves with some decorum. Destructive comments like that serve no purpose here, and I don't want anyone thinking any less of you because I've known you long enough to know that you are really above that approach.
zaat wrote:That’s all you’ll hear from me publicly on this matter but I will reiterate that I can be contacted at any time if you the reader feels we have fallen short and you would like to discuss it.
That's
all I've heard from you publicly
or privately.
I will say this, I doubt you've learned the lesson yet. I say that because the obvious solution has been avoided on your end since the beginning. You still think that this is me or this site being a problem
to you. You don't want the
problem to go away, you just want the
heat to go away. That's why you are being defensive and that's why you can't solve this. So long as you have that attitude you will not succeed in making this go away. You refuse to acknowledge that in the 21st century this is simply a naturally occurring series of events, the internet is a powerfully effective tool, as you are now learning. So this discussion will continue. Not because it's "not constructive" but because it's exactly the opposite. I've said nothing mean-spirited here. I am stating facts based on observations. You simply choose to ignore them. What's worse is that your bosses are also choosing to ignore them. However it's not their problem to deal with, it's yours, and if they haven't made that clear to you yet, I will.
You are quick to say "This thread is hurtful." without saying "How did it come to this?" The latter would serve you much better.