Georgia Fiero Club Forum
General Discussion and Announcements => General Discussion => Topic started by: GTRS Fiero on May 09, 2017, 09:48:24 pm
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Several times, I've agreed to meet up with Fiero people. We were all strangers, and met places we'd never been before. The meeting details were time and place. We all met up. None of us wore anything Fiero, and only one person drove their Fiero. We didn't know what car the others would be driving, except that it wouldn't be a Fiero.
My wife wasn't happy. She wanted to know how we'd ever find each other, since we had no idea what the others looked like, and wore no identifying clothing.
I usually identified the people in the parking lot, but I'm not really sure how, other than in one case by the out-of-state plate. In each case, the arranged meeting places were popular eateries, but usually in a multi-business parking lot.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
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mostly from the "I'm looking for someone too look"
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That worked with one person.
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Sometimes it just doesn't happen.
I remember one Saturday, during a club meeting. This was many years ago.
We were sitting in the usual space, in the usual restaurant. (American Pie, in this case.) Doing our usual thing.
A couple came in, sat down, and chilled for a while, several tables away from us. Never said a word. Stayed for more than an hour.
Then they got up and left, climbed into an immaculate white 85 GT and drove out of the parking lot. (I saw it leave.) I was like... WTH?!
I'm quite sure they went home, thinking we were the rudest bunch of cretins walking the face of the earth. In reality, we never even knew they were there to visit us.
I have always regretted that.
Subliminal message... if you're there to see us, SAY SOMETHING! We don't bite. I promise. Well... most of us.
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Ouch! Yeah, they were probably rather dejected. Some years ago, my family and I went to a particular Fiero event. We never really felt welcome. A handful of the people I could only term as snobs. It was like a high school clique, complete with hair toss, and these women were older than I am. My wife went back to the hotel room, but I stayed and conversed with some other "outcasts". After the event, my wife told me we'd never be back, and we haven't been. She also told me "those people aren't friends of yours". I couldn't disagree. A particular group of people were inconsiderate, rude, and certainly not the best Fiero representatives. At another event, there was a dinner as part of the event. We attended the dinner. The people who sat at our table never spoke with us, but had a lively conversation among themselves. Worse yet, the servers took forever to take all the orders, the food took over an hour to arrive, and the orders were all messed up. Fortunately, we persisted, and have had positive experiences at some other Fiero events. I guess it's about expectations. The people who attend should appreciate the people who put on the event, and everyone should be appreciative of the people who attend.
For my wife and I to attend an event, it's a big deal. No matter which days, we both have to take time off work. Hers is just a matter of slots and availability, but usually takes many requests, and requires a lot of people to sign off on it. It's an ordeal, for me, largely because of verbal abuse from my boss. I don't really ever get time off, because I still have to handle all the daily task assignments, file all time sheets, answer the drama calls from my boss, handle tech escalations, and field any calls from clients. My boss doesn't understand boundaries, and will encourage clients to call while I'm on "vacation". I rarely get a lunch, because the calls just never stop, and I never get to eat. The time sheets and task assignments I have to do daily. Worse, I'm the escalation tech AND the only level 3 tech, and the IT manager. I'm always on call. During several Fiero events, I had calls after 2am. Numerous times, while on the way to/from a Fiero event, I've had to pull over and handle some issue or other. My boss' idea of vacation for me was getting off 1 hour early on Fridays, if the day wasn't too busy, meaning that I'd have to wait until after 3pm that Friday before a decision could be made. For 5 years, I went without a vacation day, or working less than 14 hours/day without a lunch, although he did let me come in late one day when everyone was closed for bad weather, and he let me rest on the floor in the office one day when I had food poisoning, and I got off for a few hours (6pm-10pm, after coming in to work at 7am) when my daughter was born. It was so bad, in fact, that one of my clients offered to cover for me so I could have a few days off. I've been able to hire another tech to help with the simple stuff, but that only gives me a bit of a reprieve. The threats, put-downs, and name-calling, etc are unpleasant, but bearable for an enjoyable event; however, if my wife isn't happy, I'm not happy. One good thing about the drives to Fiero events is that we're in separate vehicles, so my wife isn't aware of how much of the drive I'm dealing with issues over the phone. For the kids, they're of an age for school and lots of activities. Somehow, Fiero events are mostly during the work week, during the school year/kids' events, etc. There's a lot of juggling. Once we get to an event, if no one wants us there, why should we go back? I'm sure many people have more difficulties than we do.
I'd taken a disabled friend to run some errands. On the way back, we stopped by a restaurant to eat. In the lot was a black 85GT. The weather was unpleasant, and the kids were with me, so we just went on in. I didn't see anyone likely in the restaurant. We left. A while later, we pulled up to a light. After a bit, I heard a horn a ways back. Next thing, that GT pulled up next to me. He waved me over, and we talked for a bit. He'd been somewhere nearby, and seen me check out his Fiero.
Some Fiero people don't seem to want to be approached. I encountered one of those, too.
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I remember one Saturday, during a club meeting. This was many years ago.
We were sitting in the usual space, in the usual restaurant. (American Pie, in this case.) Doing our usual thing.
American Pie? I thought that was a movie.
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Correct, sir. But it was a song and a restaurant, first,
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I've quit more GOOD Jobs than most people can get because of Boss's like that, Therefore I am A broke Old SOB. So onward, Ya'll Know this is My Second round round Here, Because of this very thing, I got so upset I deleated Everything I could, So I'll Share, We were all Doing "Intro's" and Being "Cute" about Linda's Petitness and someone said she could Protect Herself, Well Bravo for her and I will Protect any and All women folk from Predators. then when her Husband? threw In A "I'm Armed and Dangerous Remark" It blew my Mind. I wanted Nothing to do with this attiude, I have since been assured it was in Jest and Now Offer any Apoliges that may be needed, and Do look Forward to Being a Part of your Clique' Lol. So you see It sometimes dosn't take much to alienate a person that dosen't know you. Other than that My wife Say's "I'll talk to anybody that will talk Back".
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So that's what happened. Since we're bringing that up, I wasn't too happy about having put in the work to obtain, size, post, and order the pics for you, only to have the whole thread deleted, with no reason given. I gathered something happened, but at the time I thought is was because people weren't posting in your thread.
I'm relatively new here, too. So far, I've found the people here to be mostly reasonable. If someone pissed you off, PM them to sort things out. Just as in real life, there can be misunderstandings.
Personally, I thought that comment was humorous, and it sortof continued an offline conversation Fierofool and I had had a few months ago.
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It's difficult to convey voice inflection in print unless one has extensive command of the language and punctuation. Emoticons help, sometimes but are limited in some aspects.
I don't think we have anyone on the active forum that gets bent out of shape easily. As Michael said, pm someone first if there's a perceived problem. Include your phone #. Coming to meetings and events gives everyone a better understanding of who each person is. In the case of GTRX's distance, our private conversations have helped him to 'know' many of us a little better.
It does seem that we do have at least one clique, though. Fortunately, everyone of us are part of it. When I was President, I always felt bad that I didn't get to spend time with everyone at an event or meeting. Maybe some thought I was snobby. Still, maybe some may have been glad I didn't get to them.
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All's well, a New Friend /Member Assured me You all are not as I percived, I might be a bit Thin Skined, So Sorry and GTRS you are the Only One I reached out to to 'Splane what Happened but it went to the wrong Person. Maybe the Caretaker of the web site. But thanks again for the work you put in Hope to Meet and See all of you soon.
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Maybe the Caretaker of the web site.
The Caretaker silently sits and watches from on high... ;)
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So was that Post Sent to You ?. It Was sent to A Do Not Reply message I recieved Thinking that was from GTRS, And worse still It was All the Pics and Info I had On the Car Too ! Can It be Retrieved some How? I promise to Play Nice.
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If you reply to the link in a PM notification, it goes to the Caretaker. I've done that on a number of occasions and wondered why I never got a reply from the intended recipient.
The only way to reply is to log in, then click on My Messages and follow the prompts.
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so in the Once on the Internet, Alway's on the internet train wreck, Can we find the post? Aka Challenge Fiero,Man I'm really Jacking this thread..... Sorry
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All's well, a New Friend /Member Assured me You all are not as I percived, I might be a bit Thin Skined, So Sorry and GTRS you are the Only One I reached out to to 'Splane what Happened but it went to the wrong Person. Maybe the Caretaker of the web site. But thanks again for the work you put in Hope to Meet and See all of you soon.
No worries. OK, so now that that's cleared up, yes, this forum has a very different feel from PFF. I guess it's easy to get used to the readers/fellow members being people you can be very comfortable with and forget that we don't all know each other.
The Caretaker silently sits and watches from on high... ;)
LOL! That logon is still around, huh? Good thing TopNotch has a sense of humor, just guessing where that message went.
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It's difficult to convey voice inflection in print unless one has extensive command of the language and punctuation. Emoticons help, sometimes but are limited in some aspects.
It does seem that we do have at least one clique, though. Fortunately, everyone of us are part of it. When I was President, I always felt bad that I didn't get to spend time with everyone at an event or meeting. Maybe some thought I was snobby. Still, maybe some may have been glad I didn't get to them.
Heck. When I host an event at my house, I don't always get to say more than ”Hi!” to some people. Sometimes, I didn't even get to eat until afterward. I think if everyone makes an effort to talk with people with whom they haven't spoken recently, everyone should be covered. Of course, people need to be approachable, too.
From a newcomer's point of view, yes, I would like people hosting the event to at least acknowledge me. The thing that really irritated me, was a show I entered, where comments were written in stating that my engine bay was ”disgusting”. This was a Fiero show. If they didn't want me to return to that show, they succeeded. I had put a lot of effort into detailing the engine bay, but some things don't scrub off. If a comment was needed, it could've been something more objective, rather than judgmental.
In the my case, we were basically told that we were in a different social class. I bit my tongue, but I'm guessing my social class has less stress and more fun. I don't know that the statement was directed specifically at my family, because a group of people were excluded, and we happened to be with that group. My understanding was that this was a long-standing thing. It led to developing friendships with the other ”outcasts”. Of course, it could have just been a common misunderstanding.
Before I forget, let me apologize for all the things I have posted and will post, that just didn't come out right, and rubbed someone wrong.
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so in the Once on the Internet, Alway's on the internet train wreck, Can we find the post? Aka Challenge Fiero,Man I'm really Jacking this thread..... Sorry
The pics are still there, sized correctly. THAT thread had gone considerably off topic, however. If it can be retrieved, it may need some judicious editing. IF the thread will stay this time, I'd be happy to see it return. That looked to be an interesting project.
Oddly, we're on topic. We're making friends of Fiero strangers. We're overcoming.
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We Shall Over come, Yea I hear that in my Head, I do Like Gospel and Mississippi Blues though....Done to the Rocker side, Ok About the Social side; Are You Kidding Me Snobs in cars that can be Had for 500 bucks, Get Over Your self Is what I would tell them. PRIDE In your Car Is where I stand. I work On some Restored Muscle cars for Larry Kizer, One of the Least Expensive cars he Owns Is a 65 427 Cobra Replica at about 35 Grand and though Not Snobby a bit Presumptus Don't worry I've told him that! so a car that can be bought Running for 500.00 bucks and Made Perfect for a few Grand is My Style, And hell no It's not expensive so don't act like it, Of course I would own a Lotus Or some thing like that but someone would have to Give it to me, Just Knowing what a Fiero is and How Good they might have Become is special . the number of Unmolested Fiero's IS dropping Fast, But The Number of them getting Back on the Road is Increasing . Count ME IN.
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If you find a Fiero that can be made perfect for under $3,500, purchase price included, let me know. I've seen some nice Fieros, but never a perfect Fiero, and never a nice Fiero for under $3,500
There are currently several Fieros on ebay for $15,xxx and up. None perfect. The $21,xxx Fiero on ebay is supposed to be a complete stock, rotisserie restoration. It's a nice car, but I'd undo a lot that's been done to it (interior), and it has a lot of rust (bolts, axles, exhaust, dogbone, rear brakes, etc.) for 400 miles since the rebuild. And the wheels are the wrong color.
It doesn't matter if someone drives a $2 million car. They should still treat other people like human beings.
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Well yea I totally agree, Heck a good paint job goes for 10.grand nowday's, But like a 69 428 Cobra jet mustang starts at 30 and needs 20 to 30 more invested, My Boss has 65 or 70 in his but it looks new, So you may get an Indy for 500 but it is going To need 20 put in it. But it is rare so worth it. Guess I was saying they are Inexpensive Buy In COMPARED to lots of Cars But didn't mean they were Cheap.
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Our Paint Job On The 88 Coup Cost $ 1,300.00.
But It Took Them Forever To Get It Right.
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Driving down the highway, I thought I saw a Fiero heading the other way, but couldn't really tell (divided highway, tractor-trailers, different levels, and other traffic). A while later, there was a Fiero behind me. Same guy. He has fixed headlights, on a yellow Fiero. Some body mods. I think he has a supercharger, but could have been mistaken.