Comments on UJ Thee and Me: JUST SOME IDLE THOUGHTS

I think, based on an experience I had talking abou...

2009-10-15T12:06:05.984-05:00

I think, based on an experience I had talking about involving "the next generation" with some individuals who were not truly internet-savvy, hat perhaps the idea was that this would create a "buzz" of sorts with the "next generation"...

The basic idea is good, but perhaps the people who ran this should have paid a little more attention to the true nature of internet-based stuff - if you don't completely control it, it is completely controlled by other people. In this case - Chabad.

Too bad, for if they had used communities, such as that Lynn Schusterman created, this could have been a REAL picker-upper. Oh, well. Better luck next time.

Richard: You're a fool. Best, Anonymous

2009-10-15T11:39:06.468-05:00

Richard:

You're a fool.

Best,

Anonymous

To those who have written to attack me for an Anon...

2009-10-15T09:31:59.156-05:00

To those who have written to attack me for an Anonymous Comment made by a third party. I take responsibility for that which I have written. When the subject was the ex-CEO almost all of my Posts focused on the actions and the results, not the person. As with all things, at least one claiming Anonymity (but for all it is clear who this "writer" is) has chosen to characterize anything I write that mentions an action taken by the ex-CEO as "insult and character assassination." Now the Comments of others are being attributed to me not only by that "Anonymous" but by at least one other hiding behind anonymity defending him. Fine with me but as long as you "hide behind the mask," don't expect your Comments to be accepted for this Blog, but know that I read them with interest.

unpacking the controversy it can be said that chab...

2009-10-14T20:37:12.366-05:00

unpacking the controversy it can be said that chabad's cyber assault on the competition was not particularly honorable and a contest that marginalized the heroes of the federation movement was not particularly well thought out. It can therefore also be said that both Chabad and UJC have invited the derision of the various commentators -both should have known better. Lastly, Howard's defender should be commended for his loyalty and pointing out that even indefenseable people deserve their dignity.

Last "Anonymous," I think anyone who tracks this ...

2009-10-14T19:28:03.611-05:00

Last "Anonymous,"

I think anyone who tracks this Post knows who wrote it. My apologies to my readers.

that's right, insult and character assassination. ...

2009-10-14T19:02:54.284-05:00

that's right, insult and character assassination. you should be proud, 3:29 pm anonymous. but then again, you've had a good mentor in richard. jewish ideals in practice, huh?

...and yes, i'm sure this entire initiative was born of howard's "affection" for chabad.

what a crock.

Anonymous, I think you give the former CEO way to...

2009-10-14T15:29:10.856-05:00

Anonymous,

I think you give the former CEO way too much credit for thought of any kind.

a conspiracy theorist might surmise that it is all...

2009-10-14T15:02:05.514-05:00

a conspiracy theorist might surmise that it is all linked to the immediate past CEO's well known affections for Chabad...not that they are without merit but resources tend to flow to them not from them!

"Team rowing" is a terrific analogy -- or, to stay...

2009-10-14T13:37:31.299-05:00

"Team rowing" is a terrific analogy -- or, to stay with the analogy, we have ships crossing in the night. When you see such bright and creative people jump at idea afer idea without any apparent thought of the consequences (or any apparent discussion of them), you just want to cry.

Did someone look at this and say "eureka we've found the secret to engaging the Chabad?" If so, success -- as when Ford rolled out the Edsel.

The entire Hero idea is great use of the new stand...

2009-10-14T13:07:41.246-05:00

The entire Hero idea is great use of the new standard of grass-roots organizing in cyber space.

But, here comes the "but".

But, why?

Please tell me why would UJC set out to name heroes particularily out of the Federation volunteer system and celebrate them at the annual gathering of Federation volunteers?

Does the value of 500,000 fragile and short lived e-mail addresses bring so much value to UJC that it would collect them at the price of insulting the very volunteers, whose day-in and day-out work, make up the very lifeblood of Federations?

And then wonder why UJC dues collection are such a struggle.

I am sure that the current UJC leadership did not think this initiative through.

And that is the problem.

Team Rowing is a great analogy.

The Federations are rowing the boat and providing the power. UJC must be like the coxswain who coaches the rowers, provides motivation and steers the boat.

In this project the coxwain is motivating some other boat and it can only serve to hurt the motivation in our boat.

well at least the Rebbe wasn't in the the top 20 -...

2009-10-14T10:40:28.451-05:00

well at least the Rebbe wasn't in the the top 20 -- that would have called for a real manipulation of the rules!