Sadly, it is. Seems with your latest posts, they're direct jabs toward Mapex possibly in spite of my thoughts about the whole "inside joke" thing. I personally would expect more from a grown business man who makes drums himself and probably wouldn't like his companies name dragged through the mud like you continue to do with said company. I'm sure you and all your dearest friends on here are whispering to one another in PM's deciding if I'm that guy Sticks or who ever because of how I feel about such actions about a company but I'm not. I just don't find it funny and I don't care what badge it is. Only thing I own of Mapex is a double thick, double braced throne with an awesome heavy duty memory lock that I got new and for free and is an incredible seat IMO. Much better than the memory lock on my DW snare stand or PDP hi hat.
Though hey, you're an adult and can do what you want and say what you want and I have the right to defend an innocent bystander who seems to make great products when their name gets dragged through the mud because of some idiotic inside joke brought on because some guy got to you all. Good day to you sir.
What I find deeply disappointing is that you're clearly personally annoyed with me, or my stance, & believe for one minute that my comments are anything other than a joke, & accepted by many as such. Hell, I just spent the weekend with Ben who plays Mapex Saturns. Moreover, you seem to completely disregard the numerous posts where I've both applauded the sonic virtues of some Mapex products, & even recommended them as a first choice. I'm bashed all the time, but in a way that I can instantly tell it's a joke. I accept it as such, just as everyone here knows that any mention of Mapex badge size is a joke. The reason that became a joke was the incredible defence of any Mapex critique by said previous member. I'm even more perplexed as to why you would choose to introduce your frustration in this thread, where there has been no mention of Mapex. Your final line of "good day to you sir" is a strong indication of your disgust at my actions, that's fine, but calling me unprofessional, pathetic, & ignorant is a fairly robust stance against someone you know little of.
There's no back door PMs here in the clique way you're inferring. I can think of only one previous member here who used PMs as a very personal & hateful means of stirring the pot. On the subject of PMs, if you are sufficiently disgusted with my actions as to post them in an unrelated thread, I would expect such frustrations or disapproval to be taken by PM as a first call. That's their purpose. If there's an outward perception of a clique, I can only return with the explanation of a very wide group of people who get on - nothing more than that. Unlike you, I'm not going to jump to conclusions about you based on one post, or one subject.
So there's my part response, but here's the part of my response where I agree with you. I sometimes struggle with representing Andy the drummer & forum member, juxtaposition with Andy the drum company owner. I was a member here well before I had any involvement with Guru drums. Andy the drummer likes to joke with other forum members, just like anyone else. Sometimes, & especially in circumstances were members are not fully acquainted with the context, that crosses boundries that should always be observed by someone in a commercially partisan position. As this is clearly the case here, I apologise, & I take your reaction as a serious warning shot that I should heed. As a footnote though, those who care to read my posts, will find that I give honest non partisan advice on all manner of drum related subjects, & across all brands + constructions. Those who know me in the business will tell you the same thing. I'm not a drum snob, nor am I dismissive of instruments at any price range, unless crazy claims are made about their virtues, then I'll call them out like anyone else.
If I've upset you personally, I apologise. If I've given anyone the impression that Mapex are anything other than a worthy participant in the market, I apologise.
