Because of our values as a community, we feel that it is important that all members of the community stay informed by means of truthful, well documented information. As a result, we have the desire to release information withheld not to deceive, but in attempt to keep a state of civility and relative peace. There will always be the intellectual, heated discussions between a few of our members and that’s a good thing. Without our diversity in thought and approach, this community would not be what it is today. However, certain events have been extensive enough that things outside of these forums need to be addressed.
First off, let us all review what makes the foundation of the I.G.O.T.A. brand. We are a community dedicated to protecting the little guy and making sure he has the right information. After all, these founding principles are what started the first online forums: a place to share information freely, a place where large corporations did not quiet the voices of little guys with issues. Our team within each forum embodies these principles as it is what sets us apart from other communities. It’s not that we are somehow naturally better than others or that we know everything. In fact we realize that no one person can completely understand everything about all the diverse sections within each forum. One member may have extensive experience in building engines, another member may have extensive experience in suspension and yet another may be quite knowledgeable about tuning. Each person understands their own experiences and understanding contribute to the overall knowledge of the community. And each person seeks growth both within their current skill set and without. We promote an area unique because no one person should ever feel like they are less than another. When a member makes a valid point, it doesn’t matter whether they have 1 post or a million; it doesn’t matter if the member has been in the forum for a month or a day. We will continue to set the standard for other communities around the world because we are a tight knit team, a family. In essence we stand for freedom and this will continue to frighten as well as intimidate other communities.
As a staff, we vow to police our own ranks and continue to provide a healthy learning, nurturing environment. Sometimes that means casting aside pride and allowing another perspective brought to the table a chance to take root so long as it does not infringe upon the value we hold most dear: our freedoms. The big difference between this statement and what seems to be popular in society today is the realization that you are free to do what you want so long as it does not take the freedoms of others. We do not have a popular mentality and may not be the go to place for any communal gathering of one singular interest. However, we will continue to build and test the bedrock of information our members have striven to build for these past two years. We will continue to follow a singular path toward a community that is known as not for everyone, but the one that enjoys the most freedom and shares their common passions creating an undeniable camaraderie. There are other places that will be more appealing to some vendors and some members. We have denied the applications of a few vendors now because they weren’t quite right for this particular community.
Remember that freedom isn’t just a right; it’s something you fight and bleed for. There have been costs to maintaining a community founded around integrity and freedom. There will be people who want to sling mud on our name. There will be people who try to skew our intentions so that they may profit from our demise. There have been organizations from the very beginning telling this community to shut down and become part of their flock. But, here we stand today after more than two years, still growing, and still scaring those in powerful places in other communities because we stand for freedom. Our moderators in one arena were recently threatened with expulsion from that media because of their unfaltering commitment to integrity and freedom. Everyone I ask of you: Continue your work, your learning and your questioning of everyone and everything. Continue to ask the best of your moderators and to help them provide you with the best community in the world. Continue to show your moderator teams that the best has yet to come to pass.
Your Servant Leader, JJ Smith
First off, let us all review what makes the foundation of the I.G.O.T.A. brand. We are a community dedicated to protecting the little guy and making sure he has the right information. After all, these founding principles are what started the first online forums: a place to share information freely, a place where large corporations did not quiet the voices of little guys with issues. Our team within each forum embodies these principles as it is what sets us apart from other communities. It’s not that we are somehow naturally better than others or that we know everything. In fact we realize that no one person can completely understand everything about all the diverse sections within each forum. One member may have extensive experience in building engines, another member may have extensive experience in suspension and yet another may be quite knowledgeable about tuning. Each person understands their own experiences and understanding contribute to the overall knowledge of the community. And each person seeks growth both within their current skill set and without. We promote an area unique because no one person should ever feel like they are less than another. When a member makes a valid point, it doesn’t matter whether they have 1 post or a million; it doesn’t matter if the member has been in the forum for a month or a day. We will continue to set the standard for other communities around the world because we are a tight knit team, a family. In essence we stand for freedom and this will continue to frighten as well as intimidate other communities.
As a staff, we vow to police our own ranks and continue to provide a healthy learning, nurturing environment. Sometimes that means casting aside pride and allowing another perspective brought to the table a chance to take root so long as it does not infringe upon the value we hold most dear: our freedoms. The big difference between this statement and what seems to be popular in society today is the realization that you are free to do what you want so long as it does not take the freedoms of others. We do not have a popular mentality and may not be the go to place for any communal gathering of one singular interest. However, we will continue to build and test the bedrock of information our members have striven to build for these past two years. We will continue to follow a singular path toward a community that is known as not for everyone, but the one that enjoys the most freedom and shares their common passions creating an undeniable camaraderie. There are other places that will be more appealing to some vendors and some members. We have denied the applications of a few vendors now because they weren’t quite right for this particular community.
Remember that freedom isn’t just a right; it’s something you fight and bleed for. There have been costs to maintaining a community founded around integrity and freedom. There will be people who want to sling mud on our name. There will be people who try to skew our intentions so that they may profit from our demise. There have been organizations from the very beginning telling this community to shut down and become part of their flock. But, here we stand today after more than two years, still growing, and still scaring those in powerful places in other communities because we stand for freedom. Our moderators in one arena were recently threatened with expulsion from that media because of their unfaltering commitment to integrity and freedom. Everyone I ask of you: Continue your work, your learning and your questioning of everyone and everything. Continue to ask the best of your moderators and to help them provide you with the best community in the world. Continue to show your moderator teams that the best has yet to come to pass.
Your Servant Leader, JJ Smith
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