Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You can welcome debate and questioning. But then, when someone takes you up on it, you can't allege that they are somehow unfairly making you the subject of posts.>> Yes. I welcome debate and questioning about Disney parks. Not about what kind of person you feel I am. <<Whatever, Spirit. I've stated my points here. I'll let you go ahead and get the last word. I trust that thinking LP'ers will understand what I've posted.>> Yes. You took your shots and now you'll go run and hide until you feel like taking some of your real-world frustration? anger? out on me. Look, I-57, you don't like my style. I'm perfectly OK with that. I don't like the fact you feel the need to be defender of the LP, like I'm some evil dragon you feel needs to be slayed so we can all be happy and go back to talking about pintrading, what character is our fave and why we all feel magical at the MK. But there are plenty of 'thinking' LPers out there (not counting lurkers), who not only agree with me, but actually like me ... in the real world. So, I don't care what you think anymore. I was even open to an email you said you felt like sending (remember?) to try and see what your 'issues' were, but to try and insinuate that only unthinking people here would agree with me or find me an agreeable spirit is frankly a low blow to both me and the community at large here. You don't get to decide whether the other kids on the playground like me or not.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<LOL! Wait a second! I take back whatever I said about having made my points.>> Of course, you do. Your only purpose here is to engage me. I hope you're getting paid for it! Which is it, Spirit? (1) That Disney-fan websites have big influence on Disney decisions -- such as resulting in Superstar Limo getting shut down -- as you posted earlier in this thread, or... (2) <<I mean, how do you prove that people aren't going to DCA because he says it sucks? (if anyone actually would take one person's opinion).>> Ummmmm... 1) On-line opinion gets attaction shut down. 2) On-line websites have no effect. Nobody takes one person's opinion. Discuss amongst yourself.>> Very simple. I hope you can wrap your mind around the idea that both are true. I never said Al Lutz caused SuperStar Limo to be shut down. I said the hatred spewed by online fans and APers at the park did ... and they did. Or do you think Cynthia just decided 'this really stinks ... better close it down despite the tens of millions it cost'?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN You guys!! Take a breather. I am out of popcorn. Please continue tomorrow.
Originally Posted By Mr X **I don't believe you can make a statement, though, that Al is actually costing them money. I mean, how do you prove that people aren't going to DCA because he says it sucks? (if anyone actually would take one person's opinion).** Yup, that'd be hard to quantify. Obviously there are lines that can't be crossed, as in the case with mortgageimplode (they ARE fighting the lawsuit, however...). I'd love to see more details on that situation. I believe the contention is that they claimed the company was in trouble, and in making such a claim it harmed the company. I forget all the details though. And obviously, there's nothing they could do if he were simply a harsh critic (as far as I know). If he went beyond that though (gave them material to fight with, like malicious rumors and such), and it was important enough for them, I suppose they would start getting aggressive.
Originally Posted By jonvn "You do talk about the mindless people (in your opinion) who follow him along like a cult thing." Yes, I do. Because there are people like that. But that does not equate to anyone saying anything positive about him is like that. "You readily admit you haven't read him lately because you believe he is so negative. He has been for the most part positive since at least 2005 if not earlier." Yes, I got sick of it all a while ago. I don't read often, unless something is brought up and makes a stir. I'm glad he's more positive now. I've heard that. So, this makes him calling for people to be fired like he did recently OK now? I don't think so. "Don't you get tired?" God, I wish I did. I sleep maybe 4 hours a night at best. Always have been like that. "But this is a public entertainment company and most of the execs are the public face." If they are public figures, they are fair game, then. That's what you get with being a public figure. But if they are not, then it's really not nice to mention someone who is just trying to do their job. Al certainly is a public figure, as he holds himself out as a blogger who gets quoted by papers, writes a column, and so on. That first of all makes his columns the object of comment, and his credentials and veracity able to be questioned. "Erin basically runs the entire WDW Resort on a daily basis," I really don't know who Erin is, but that does not sound like an easy job. "Just like I don't believe Al should be attacked personally." Then Al shouldn't attack people personally. That's why he gets the comments he does. That's what has always caused this, and continues to cause it. "We all get that you think he is an awful human being. I think I got that like 1,076 posts ago!" Yes, lots of posts on this, isn't there. People seem to be compelled to talk to me about it. They seem to care more about it than I do.
Originally Posted By jonvn "Wouldn't it be interesting if Disney has been monitoring the guy all this time and are just waiting for enough leverage to sue him into bankruptcy?" I have said this for a long time, I don't know why, if they really do find him troublesome, that they don't take care of the situation. Basic ineptitude, I imagine. How much bad publicity could come of it? Couple days worth? They have a legal department, if they don't want to be bothered, they can use it. They A: Don't Care, or B: Are using him. One of those.
Originally Posted By Mr X I'd go with "Don't Care"...I highly doubt he generates as much additional revenue in a year (if any) as they can get themselves with one 30 second spot on ABC.
Originally Posted By cmash95 it is my belief that people like Al and sites like this one are good for disney execs to read and keep an eye on because they get honest feedback from the people that matter the most, the hard core fans of their product. they are the one's disney should focus on because the casual traveler will pay attention to what is said. the good and the bad. and AL doesn't sugarcoat things. when they are good he says so and when they aren't he says so. just as the regulars on this board do. and a bit off topic but as a newcomer here i must admit I enjoy the discussions on this board.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip You smell that? Do you smell that? Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning... This has been a GREAT morning read!!
Originally Posted By dshyates Wow. I wish I was the most controversial megastar in the online Disneyland Resort fansite universe. I should probably kick up the pompus guruism. Wait, first I should get a website, then inflate my ego like Mickey@Macy's Parade.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I still respect the man for putting himself out there for all to read. Let's face it... how many of you would ever place your reputation on public display and be open to criticism from right and left, and high scrutiny from WDC and backdoor Disney geek operatives and go-betweens? Not too many of you would have the guts. That's for sure. Your critique is actually Al's highest compliment.
Originally Posted By jonvn I suggest humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic while reading that. It makes it read much better.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I still respect the man for putting himself out there for all to read.<< Whoopdee doo. Look, when he focuses on the park stuff and doesn't get into smirky tabloid gossip, it is interesting stuff. When he points out some neglected bit of maintenance, that's great for everyone. But unfortunately, he isn't content with that. So we get hysterical nonsense like the "dom" business and worse. That's where he loses respect from many of us, not that it bothers him in the least.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> You smell that? Do you smell that? Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning... << It smells like...Victory. I made my coleslaw last night, and I started smoking my brisket this morning. I just used a dry chili rub on it. I wish I could make a good homemade dinner roll. I would feel like a complete person then.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<I still respect the man for putting himself out there for all to read.>> Yeah. And I also respect Paris and Britney for selflessly subjecting themselves to the public eye. How very, very noble of them. Such a sacrifice for our benefit. Attention whores, each of them. <<Your critique is actually Al's highest compliment.>> What a classic twisted defense response! "If you say I'm wrong, I'm right." LOL!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I suggest humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic while reading that. It makes it read much better.<< I suggest you find the reason why you have been banned from so many fan sites in the past, including this one... and here you are again because no one likes you. >>Whoopdee doo.<< Is that an invitation ? >>Attention whores, each of them.<< Paris and Britney are attention whores because the press is relentlessly on them, just like a few of you are doing here. Maybe if the press and some of you fans here learned to dismiss, then things would not matter as much. Personally I could not care less if Al is right or wrong, but the way many of you are going on and on about him, leads me to believe he has a valid point that many of you would like discredited at all cost.. just like any good Disney insider would be paid to defend.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>but the way many of you are going on and on about him, leads me to believe he has a valid point << And that point would be? That anyone who disagrees with his view is a defender of mediocrity? LOL! Ohhhkay... >>that many of you would like discredited at all cost..<< I thought he did a great job covering issues like the rotting Tiki Room thatch and the sponsor film so faded as to be invisble. That was the sort of valid criticism that isn't a bit subjective, and the photos told the story. Nothing to "discredit there." Several times he's focused on areas lacking maintenance, and most every time, he is 100% correct to do so. >> just like any good Disney insider would be paid to defend.<< Oh brother. Actually, it has more to do with frustration that he has this great forum he's created and makes excellent points at times, but then he undermines that with childish junk like "call people DoMs." But apparently, at least some of his fans enjoy that snippy stuff and leap to his defense whenever anyone dares to have a different opinion, so what can you do?
