Another Misguided Comment

Though with good intentions (I hope), here is another comment that fails to see that wrong is wrong:

"I agree with John. Its too bad the fun of going to a show has been taken away by all of this nonsense. While I agree with some of what you say I do believe the BS is taking the fun of going to a car show. No matter its give us honest folks something to laugh about. It is funny to watch some stand by their car and attempt to buy the vote as we walk by. You know how it works either belong to that club mentioned earlier, or stand by your car most of the day. Perhaps if all else fails do both and beat the odds if it means that much to you. "

[REPLY] First, many of the folks who stay by their cars do so because they are proud of their ride, and they enjoy talking about it, showing it, and answering questions about it. This in no way suggests they are trying to "buy votes", and your insinuation to the contrary is unwarranted. I often wish I could talk to the owner when I find a vehicle I want to know more about. If he is there, and answers my questions, and we become friends, is he buying my vote? Absolutely not.

As for your other assertion: So, you are saying it is OK to allow dishonesty and cheating, as long as it does not affect you "honest folks", and as long as you can laugh about it because it happened to someone else. And you say you must either "belong to the club, or stand by your car all day." I say there is another, better option: require honesty, and disallow the cheating. Then you do not have to belong to a rat pack OR stand by your car all day. If you do not tolerate the cheating, and put an end to it, think of how much more enjoyable the show would be for all (and not just you). Of course, you would no longer be able to laugh at other people's misfortunes.

It never ceases to amaze me that some folks just don't get it. They believe that bad behavior is fine as long as they, themselves, are not the victims of it. They are all too willing to look the other way, as long as it does not affect their little world.

I would guess that some (not all) of the people who write these comments are probably some of the same people who break the rules, and want to be able to keep right on doing it. Otherwise, why would it matter to them so much? Why would they oppose trying to make things honest? Why do they strongly object to wanting the cheating to stop?

How can any honest person with good moral values and integrity be against bringing honesty and integrity into our shows?

One more time: no matter what the venue - a car show, a classroom, a business - cheating is WRONG! It is a PROBLEM! And if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. Because part of the problem lies in ALLOWING cheats to cheat, and standing by without objecting. Allowing something encourages it. By looking the other way and not standing against cheating, we encourage cheating. We are "giving permission".

And that gives birth to the problem.

And the only way to deal with a problem is to solve it. Ignoring it simply allows it to grow, until it infects everything. Good things require care and maintenance. Bad things do not.

Yes, you may ignore the weeds in your garden. But if you do, the garden will cease to be, as the weeds will soon overtake it, and consume it.