docsnov
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I have used Purists
since 2010 and it is the only website I faithfully read to obtain knowledge and opinions about watches. I do not have the time or desire to read multiple websites and consider myself lucky to have found this place early on as I developed an interest in watches. I have been reading Dr. Cheong's posts for years, and I have never been able to understand them. I consider myself pretty well educated, I am a doctor also, but I would question my own intelligence when reading Bernard's posts because they always seem like insane rants about high end watches. The one thing that was always evident in his posts is that he had an agenda to push and was not just interested in talking about watches. This is a place to talk about cases, movements, brands, what we like and dislike, and I have always enjoyed that it stays away from talking prices or money because you should not be excluded from the club if you cannot afford the watches Bernard likes to buy. I think Purists has done a pretty good job of providing a forum for discussion about the love of watches without being elitist or exclusive. I like that there is the range of topics and brands from Seiko to Patek " and everyone who has an interest is welcomed regardless of their ability or inability to afford higher end watches. Mike, I understand your position and support it completely. There are plenty of other sites where Bernard can do his thing, whatever that is. On a humorous note I will miss his rants a little, as they always made me laugh and ask myself "what the f*#k is this guy talking about ?" When we are often so serious about our passion it is just funny sometimes to read some crazy shit that just makes you laugh or think WTF? Alas those crazy rants always came with the agenda, thus he needs to go. Thanks you for keeping the forum an open and welcome place for people of all backgrounds who love watches can participate.
Stewart
An Open Letter to Dr. Bernard Cheong
Dear Bernard, In the real world, we would never meet. Social constructs would artificially keep us apart in Singapore and here, in the USA, I just wouldn't "hang" with people like you. It just happens that our shared passion for horology has brought us to...
Stop posting these hypnose movies Ming !!!
I just sat for half an hour watching these people applauding until they would stop .... which they didn't .... :-) Hypnotised Bim
Finally... some sense!
Well said... we all think it and I think the time is right for action. Cheers Andrew
Hi Salamanca, perhaps you misunderstand the term "open"
"Open" in the sense that it is transparent, written in honesty, with passion, and out on a limb without commercial agenda. "Open" in the sense that everyone in the community can respond, if they choose to do so, freely without edit (hence the thread was n...
Salamanca, you say potato, I say potatoe
You say hate, I say something else. Again if you like to read Macromania parts 1,2,3,4, and 5 and other aspects of Dr. Cheong's life, feel free to do so. I've provided the link to Dr. Cheong's blog already for your easy reference. Its just not going to be...
Question.
"Conflict of interests" I see the problem if a moderator has a conflict of interests, and wishes to remove post that make a brand look bad. I am sure no moderator here does this. How is this a problem when Bernard's not a moderator? He has no powers in th...
Hi Merv, good questions
"I see the problem if a moderator has a conflict of interests, and wishes to remove post that make a brand look bad." --We discourage this within our team. We should encourage a healthy and respectful discourse on the problem being addressed. Unfortunatel...
There was a time...
...when I really enjoyed Bernard's posts. It's unfortunate that his continued flouting of the rules here has led to this. Daos
OMG ...
I waited half a year for an opportunity to post this pic. But, seriously: I am convinced that neither this open letter nor the supportive reactions thereupon express any "hate". The letter tries to draw a line under a chapter that has accompanied our comm...
This post by Marcus will clarify for those who don't understand.
Thanks for putting things in perspective.
Not often I react on posts like these...
but this time: thank you for trying to keep the integrity of this forum alive. And yes, not being naive, it is give and take, so there is always a risk in crossing a line. But this was something else. On the other hand, the main issue I have with Bernards...
Bernard violated the forum's rules.
So, why didn't you ban him? I know this world from more than 10 years and it is like all the others industries, money means conflict of interests, more or less clear. Compared to the pharmaceuticals these are really small toys (and earnings)....
How would you propose to ban him?
Will you take away his laptop? His smartphone? Disconnect his wifi? No one can be BANNED from the Forum. It can be accessed by anyone with internet connectivity. But the Moderators have now vowed to delete his posts, apparently after many, many warnings. ...
every forum can ban a member
when you login, your IP is registered. easy to block. p.s. this is a common practice
Perhaps ur way lies with the Sith ...
while i too enjoyed Bernard's wild posts in the early days, i must admit to have also observed looming darkness that has finally consumed his purist force. a bit sadden to see that we lost one purist master to the darkside cheers, ed~ ...
Why post if you not are welcome?...................
If someone kick me out I'm gone. I haven't follow this mess and I'm happy for that. :-) :-) :-) I hope everyone come out good from this.
Because, this was an individual action
Initiated by myself, not a group mandate. This is a long, perhaps overdue, decision made after multiple attempts to ask Dr. Cheong to respect the community and the code of conduct. Sure, I have a "ban" button. You, being a previous MOD at another site, ha...
Everyone on the web is selling something...
....watches, cars, hopes, truths.... the only thing that really matters is MONEY.
That post is just inane.
The Moderators here are not selling anything. I'm not. Even you aren't.
Well I am a bit sad by this post...perhaps that is reality
I sincerely hope not. At least not here on PuristSPro Thanks Dsgalaxy1 for pointing out that there are alternate realities that I have ignored. Best, Mike
Oh, what a week!...
First Obamacare, then gay marriage, now this! We, the tired but the faithful, salute you Mike. Cheers, pplater.
What a great idea!...
Yes, there is now definitely a 2009 CO Gran Teran on the horizon. Thank you again, dear friend! Cheers, pplater.
Dr. Ting, your open letter is full of hate and quite frankly, it seems
a bit immature. I have been visiting Purists every day for the last few years, and quite frankly I feel that it has really gone down while some of the other newer blogs are more entertaining and also confer more knowledge and much better information. Whil...
I apologize for the tone of Dr. Ting's open letter but ...
I stand behind the action taken, even though it really saddens me. Bernard has been requested, then warned, many times, over many years, to please respect "local rules and standards." He continued to flout those polite requests and warnings. He then recen...
In the name of decorum, I suggest locking this thread
after leaving those final words to Thomas M - and mkt33. It should be obvious to many that I endorse them. amerix
your suggestion is well taken.
Dear Amerix, Thank you for caring enough to comment and for your suggestion. Given the delicate nature of this situation I feel we need to give it just a little more time to "air out" - for both / all sides. Contrary to what might be believed (and certain...
Surely you are right to let this thread run its entire course.
Dear Thomas, It is indeed strange how some factions of pro and con get together and tend to revolve around a central theme - in this case a self-made horophile who strives to become a prominent taste-maker and trend-setter within the watchmaking business ...
please send Mr. Andersen my sincere and warmest regards. You know, it's funny...
You know, Amery, I find it funny... Anyone who knows me knows that I know a few people in the industry as well... And I have done more than a little to help shape and develop the industry, hopefully in the direction of respect and integrity towards the co...
Hi Thomas, I surely will - personally!
The last time I have boarded a plane must have been around 40 years ago. Not only respect but enthusiasm from me - - for all that you have done at this site - and continue to do! I too have tried to explain to some naive but genuinely interested fellows w...
Power corrupts
You are defending the indefensible. In the fullness of time, perhaps you will realize that this isn't about community standards or your dedicated service to the community as a moderator. Please. This is about a personal dispute between a poster and those ...
Thank you for your point of view.
I disagree for the most part on "the facts" but will keep your opinions under consideration. Cheers, TM
Rubbish. Lord Acton was undoubtedly correct . . .
. . . but his analogy does not apply here. Bernard flouted the rules, written and otherwise, of this forum for years. Mike meted out justice; nothing more, nothing less. Art
oh man, sorry you feel this way
before you slam me again can I share something with you? From Dr. Cheong's own Wiki page: "Cheong's knowledge of how to collect wisely is gleaned and developed from Karl Marx's idea on how the world works etc..." My memories from college philosphy classes...
I am afraid there is a winner - Dr. Cheong
After setting up his operation, having it end this way was a foregone conclusion, if a bit earlier than he himself had planned. What he gains is an influx of migrant - or previously anonymous - followers, fans and staunch supporters into his other blogs, ...
So what you are saying is that I should be more optomistic
instead of looking at it as lose/ lose that I should look at it as a win/win :-) thank you for your sage advice, I am grateful for a community that "has my 6" Best, Mike
Hi KPK, thanks for your insight
Like Salamanca you can call the open letter "hate" if you wish. I am truly sorry you and others think this way. AND if I wanted to remove all the "negative" comments, I could just as easily delete your comment and only let the positive comments stand. But...
Not hate, but sad that Bernard brought this upon himself
I don't understand Bernards jibberish rantings on PuristSPro, so I choose to ignore his posts. However I fully agree with every word that Dr. Ting wrote in his open letter along with the follow up responses that he has posted. Kudos to him for this. Berna...
community?
without wanting to enter into a debate on bernard himself, i'd only suggest that if community has any meaning, then often it's a community that ought to decide. i don't know the logistics of how that would work here. maybe it wouldn't be the right way to ...
Hi Chris, I appreciate your comment and understand
the impression that my action has caused. Yes, I made a "selfish" decision to delete Dr. Cheong's future posts in response to his multiple violations of our community rules. Have I deprived the community of the controversial opinions of a member? Some wou...
Chapeau - for your countenance, Mike!
Dear Mike, I am one of probably many forum members here who have had no idea (and most likely do not have it even now) about the background of your post. But I now understand by your initial post and your replies and those of others that there is a long-l...
Guts & Glory
Dear Mike Taking "one for the team" is never an easy task but then again it feels good ;) :) Fun aside in this not so humorous times for PPro Bernard was the icon .... learning about Dufour, Vianney and others (he never cared for Kari much...very interest...
Hi D- Not looking for glory
just time for me to do what I feel is right. Its not just me, many mods have tried. In the end, right for me and my decision to delete Dr. Cheong's posts, may not be the right one for PuristSPro and the community. Again this was an "open" letter. If someo...
Emotions are high
tension as well we truly don't need this..neither we deserved it by no means known to me Sorry if I didn't expressed myself correctly never thought you are doing this for glory but still think you have guts Cheers D
Hi guys,
the internet is a wonderful communication tool but sometimes it lacks "color" to get across the right message. I want to thank you both for your kind words regarding the forum, the community, the moderator staff, and myself during the public barrage. Plea...
Hi D, eventhough we have not met, we are sympatico
I understand exactly what you meant and I truly appreciate it. Just clarifying for others who are following the thread who may misinterpret the phrase "Guts and Glory". Warmest, Mike
Over the past couple years I often wondered why...
...Bernard was allowed to continue posting what he did. I thought maybe it was just me. Now I see I was not alone in my thinking. Thanks to all the moderators for doing an more-often-than-not thankless job. Kudos.
Ok, now everything has been said, expressed and discussed. Let's move on...
And back to watches, don't you think? Bernard was the one who captivated me some 11 years ago, and for some later years. His Madness ( in a positive meaning ) made me see watches in a different way. For that, thank you, Bernard. Now, I was disappointed fo...
Entendre, entendre!
Though it can be very hard to let stupid comments pass by unchallenged. But...to watches.
Well, if I may just add a positive spin to all that has been discussed...
One thing I have seen is the passion that MOST of us have, in defending the moderators of this site. I haven't been here that long, probably since 2005 or 2007, I forget now, and I don't post that frequently... But the passion and dedication that moderato...
Since years I try ...
... to make this "gold watch with Ferrari in night club"-picture, but when I had the gold watch, nobody would lend me a Ferrari, and I grew too old for the night club. World is unjust ... Marcus
Indeed....
There was one day I had a gold watch, AND the ferrari, but they wouldn't allow it through the front door of the nightclub... the world truly is unjust :) (completely tongue in cheek, of course!!)
I see, poor you ....
.... and a picture of a gold watch in a Ferrari parked in a Burgerking Drive thru is just not as likely to attract young ladies scantily clad in glittering costumes. Could it be that the world depicted by pictures like those described are not real, rather...
I have used Purists
since 2010 and it is the only website I faithfully read to obtain knowledge and opinions about watches. I do not have the time or desire to read multiple websites and consider myself lucky to have found this place early on as I developed an interest in wa...
Most poignant, S. If I were ever to change my avatar . . .
. . . it might well be . . . . . . for this album cover.
I hope that you'll never
change your avatar...that would break my heart :) Moreover I was sure that if you would change it it would be to this one ;) ...
Well, if I were going with that theme . . .
. . . it would be . . . . . . this guy ;-) . . . ...
The start of that track sounds like
a sample from the Strangler's "All Day and All of the Night". Oh wait, that's not an original, that's a cover. The original was by the Kinks. Oh wait, these are the Kinks. Never mind.
The lyrics . . .
. . . seemed to fit. Self-destroyer, wreck your health Destroy friends, destroy yourself The time device of self-destruction Light the fuse and start eruption Art
This is a reply to your
rambling post that has nothing to do with Bernard or your distaste for his "rambling" posts. I have been disappointed with multiple aspects of this forum, least of which is the lack of watch knowledge. I've noticed that most of the people whose knowledge ...
Sorry to hear on your feedback Tim
I just posted on the Indies forum so I hope you are not referring to me as a snob I think many PuristS here are sharing their incoming Joys or their collections with us so I don\'t see these as snobs but as fellow collectors sharing our joys. Agree though...
Hi Robin
The snobbery is done via Private Message, so it's invisible to Moderators. You would expect that; it's common sense. I have not had that many watches ( about 28) I worked my way through every iteration of 31 and 32 series Girard Perregaux, had 3 box sets ...
I share Robin's feelings and thank you for your feedback.
Hi, Tim, While I don't see the reality as being quite so grim, "perception" is important too and appreciate very much your feedback. Thanks for sharing your POV. TM
Mike, I understand your frustration.
In this world, there are simply too many people not even worth mentioning in your life. I know you are doing your job but cool down, my friend. Don't let your bp shoot up. Regards Ling
Mike, I need to plead for clemency
for Bernard's rabbit. Seriously, I've grown very fond of seeing pictures of that little guy. It's sort of like Amanico's ferret, I think of them as our furry little mascots for this place. Must the sins of the owner be conferred to the pet??? Perhaps we c...
Fully second your view on the rabbit part! ...
His login and avatar suggested: Roger Rabbit, of course! ...
Sad...
Well who dun have agenda here? Mine is to share some interesting pics and kill time. Sadly fr a reputable forum like this, open banning had to occur...Hmms where is the freedom of speech (provided you do not harm/insult others) that is preach in this free...
Peace to you as well
Hi Iceheller, You are right, everyone has an agenda. The key is, especially if you are an opinion maker sharing your opinion on an open forum of like minded enthusiasts, that you disclose your agenda. But I like your agenda. Keep posting interesting pics ...
Tks
Well we all have to stand firm even if the tide of majority is charging against you. We all need to our own beliefs which do not harm others. Cheers. ...
Interesting timing!
Was cleaning and reorganizing my challenge coins from my Airforce career. My favorite...a simple coin but belonged to the best Airmen on Yokota The first core value: Integrity Best,Mike ...