I'm sorry to have to do this in public, but on our forum a few days ago a very personal attack was made that we at APK take very seriously.

I have tried in emails to work this out with Dan (Danno of PKTO) but to no avail, in fact, he can't figure out why I'm so mad (to paraphrase what he said in an email).


I am going to share my last email to him.  The purpose for this is not to perpetuate the bullshit, but rather to stop it. He has made accusations, called us liars, and said we are using the community.

This is deeply offensive to people who spend the vast majority of their free time working to help others.

Dan has made empty and baseless accusations, and failed to back up a single one with anything concrete, anything even remotely factual. I'm sorry to say that even worse than that, he has certainly damaged what I felt was a personal friendship, he has my phone number, my email, and my home address, however didn't speak a word to me before posting this on our forums.

Personally, I feel if he wanted to help and felt there was an issue, he would have sent an email with any one of these accusations, an example, and a way to fix it. Instead he has come here calling us (those in charge of APK) liars, said we "Don't Care" and that we are using the community for our own gains above the community's needs.

I can't think of anything more insulting, as I have put every effort into making this a place first and foremost for people to get together and share information, meet each other, have good discussions, learn, and enjoy.


Here is Dan's original post unedited, and my response to Danno, unfortunately at this point I am very angry, I don't pretend that my words to him are how I would like to treat anyone.


Ok, you've called me dumb.
 
You've said that my effort to use analogies (because I try to fucking help people understand) is nonsense.
you say that our site is exactly what it shouldn't be.
 
You say that you get your fill of marketed nonsense, lies and egos on THIS SITE because it is the same as urban freeflow
 
You say this because it is horrbile and we should know better and this is bad
 
UF (which has nothing to do wuith me but you like to keep mentioning it) APK and WWJ - complete over the top lies and nonsense and using a community only for the good of the site, not the community
 
"Leave the kids out of it, on't use them it's sad (so we're just using the kids)
 
 
I spend hours out of every day of my life helping people, you come to my site with this, and you want me to be calm?
 
You're fucking crazy.
 
I'm going to post this again on APK, and I'm going to post it on your site.
 
You'll have a chance to say what the lies are, whose ego it is, and how we are using people.
You'll have a chance to compere this site to Urban Freeflow.
You'll have a chance to say exactly what about APK is horiible and bad and exactly what I should know better
You'll have a chance to say exactly what on or about aPK is "complete over the top lieas and nonsense" and exactly how we are using people.
 
You'll then get to say how we should leave the kids out of it ... which is funny since they are the ones we're here to help, but you'll have your chance, you do have your chance, yet you haven't done this. Yo9u haven't answered a single thing with a fact, just your over-self important opinions.
 
You came to my house and shit on my carpet and called me a liar, what kind of fucking person do you think I am?
 
And now you say you just want to have fun?
 
Seriously Dan, f#ck You.
M2

Actually your emails didn't try to work anything out. Thats a lie. Your emails were full of name calling and twisting my words while I tried to explain where I was coming from without being harsh but you've been so angry you wont listen or read my emails properly to understand what I mean. How come me and other Tribe members can talk civilized!? I UNDERSTAND why you're angry, but man, some of it was uncalled for. And why are you spreading a skewed message of me on the Tribe board? dan@pkto.ca Tribe members, let me explain myself to you then you can judge me. Or anyone else who wants to talk for that matter. Or maybe m2 will explain better when he calms down. It doesn't have to be like this. Your angry, but I'm extremely Sad.

REGARDLESS. You are lucky that members from your team care so much and in turn here is my response:

My message was about that thread and the posts. I really hoped that The Tribe would have a good time without having to do too much constant explaining on this site and without pulling business here (hence my 'this is what it shouldn't be'). I was upset that things were rushed solely to compete with UF in order to get a DVD out first, which shows a strong neglect for the member, but again it may have been a couple bad business decisions and that could be the only way to turn something good from it. Which is understandable, but at first it upset me greatly because others were getting all "oh oh look where APK is going" as well. So a tad bit of overreaction on my part and a bump in the road for you guys.

The business world is full of lots of nasty things, and unfortunately business exists now in Parkour all over the world and its a sad truth. My great fear is that America will be overwhelmed with it, and lose site of why we all do this. My comment about the 3 sites was me stating that all those sites have a personal agenda outside of Parkour. But..

Talking to some Tribe members over the last few days showed me that there are truly genuine people on this site and in the Tribe. Whatever the Tribe was created for, it's members on a personal level want to do good. And really good from the ones Ive talked to! And care for the scene in an insane amount just as I do. I thank the ones that took the time to talk to me about both sides of the story, and the ones that did, please note that my words here are the honest to goodness truth. Therefore on a personal level this personal agenda is not present, and Ive been told by a few there wont be and that pleases me ever so much....

In turn, this is all the American Public should take from my words. There are truths and lies in what I said, and it should not be upto me to post that on the board here. I handled my first post wrong, and a too much came out. I tend to be a blunt person and it showed to the 10th degree on here in one quick swoosh of the enter key when I was sitting here at the computer grumpy as usual. I 100% take back what I said no matter what it means. If I knew things would grow to these epic proportions wow... 100% bad on my part to do what I did. I'm sorry American Public. Forgive me. We all make mistakes on here.

I want to see the USA grow as a scene. I want people to have a great time in doing so. The Tribe could potentially be the driving force in order to get both done. Some people say yes, some say no, but none of it matters right now because its still too early to tell.

Personally, the American scene has some great guys to look upto on the Tribe and outside the Tribe and in turn if they do what they truly believe in, I think things will be just fine for you guys. I will be down there this year more then a few times jamming with some of yous, and I look forward to it so much.

Please again, whatever varying degree of upseted-ness (ha) you are at me, lets just end this for the sake of Parkour. Those who have met me know I mean well, this is all getting blown way way out of proportion. Please.

Dan

I'm glad that we spoke as well and i'm glad that we are going to move on from this argument and just let what is be until it actually is something. I hope that we can all keep the friendships we formed through parkour strong and overcome all the crap that tries to find it's way between us moving on and forward(see all that parkour imagery right there?). I wish you the best of luck in your own oncoming endeavors which appear to be immense and i hope we are able to jam together again.

I hold people accountable with what they say, but it's not what we say online it's what we do on the street that i take most to heart.

Danno,

I appreciate that you have apologized.

Your explanation still makes assumptions that business and rivalries are the key motivating factor, but I'm afraid that's just not the case. I'm sorry you feel this way, but let time and our actions tell.

I would hate to cause any rifts in scenes or make anyone feel they have to choose sides, because there are no sides, and I am not out to make enemies. Despite feeling personally attacked, to me the worst outcome would be any harm to the community as a whole.

All I ask is that you judge APK based on the information presented, and judge the Tribe based on their actions.

Let's let bygones be bygones, we all live for tomorrow, not yesterday.
M2

i love you all 

i love this new environment that apk has [/sarcasm]

My Emotional rant on the growing U.S. Parkour scene: what I believe

Parkour - is what brings us all together, but we've all got this one other amazing thing going for us...
We're Americans (and most of us) proud of it.
 
There is much more that binds us together than that drives us apart (old cliché, but a great one), and that is what makes APK (not just the website, but the American PK scene as a whole) the truly amazing community that it is.

Great example:
    I recently injured myself tricking with some friends. I lost focus and really messed up my leg on a relatively easy technique that I'd nailed probably a dozen times before. Almost immediately, I was bombarded with, phone calls, E-mails, IMs, and was even the subject of a thread on my local forum - all from fellow traceurs. Not one of which was written to put me down or reprimand me for my lack of focus. Good friends of all ages, people I've only met a few times, and online acquaintances alike asked me if there was anything they could do, demanded to visit, and went as far as putting me in their prayers -the interesting thing is that the large part of this correspondence occurred before I heard anything from school friends or even family. I now optimistically look forward to my recovery - more determined then ever before to return to my training with a renewed passion and vigor.

    Let me tell you, when you're down and out of the action for a while - this type of response seriously means the world. I've always had the view that because of the nature of the discipline we all practice - Traceurs are largely kind, intelligent, and genuine people - and I now believe this more strongly than ever. In the 8 or so months I have seriously practiced Parkour I have yet to meet one person whom I truly disliked.

The point of all of this is that while I have only been an active part of the U.S. scene for a short time it has become a huge part of my life (as anyone reading this can understand). And most importantly – I have faith in the U.S. Parkour scene, and in the men and women of influence in the American Parkour community. I’ve met, and have gotten to know a few tribe members – and they are all good people with PK’s best interests at heart.
So next time you question their motives, have a little faith in APK and their ability to continually do great things for the U.S. Parkour community.

sorry, i'll clear what i said up. i think that apk started with a great atmosphere, and has recently been going a bit downhill, though it's still way better than uf or pk.net or whatever.

ex.: this thread, nuff said.