I was not aware this thread had been started, so thanks to Johnny for doing this. Also, thanks to those who emailed me to make me aware of it. I must apologies for (no doubt) being partly to blame for the closing of the WWS thread (which I was enjoying – up until the end anyway!).
So history has taught us that Lee has issues with a website which mentions his name, and carries (according to him) factually incorrect information about him – for understandable reasons he wants this information corrected or removed. Is this not the most ironic and hypocritical position that he now finds himself in? Surely he could not be in a better position to understand the calls of those few who have kindly asked to be removed from a website for which he is now responsible?
I sent Lee (as he suggested) a private email a few days ago, but as of this evening have had no response. I am, however, cautious of sending Lee private emails as once bitten twice shy. Many years ago I sent Lee some private comments about a certain record – he clearly disagreed with me (which, of course, he is untitled to do), but the first I knew of it was when he cut and pasted my comments and sent them to a public forum. This forum was also read by the observer being discussed, and whilst (luckily) it had no bearing on future relations between the observer and myself, it was a completely inappropriate, disloyal and petty move to make. I have moved on from that incident, and couldn’t care less now, but I vowed there and then that I would have no further dealings with him or the UK400 Club. Perhaps now he might understand why I never have had a wish to be included on the ‘list of lists’, and why I still request he removes me from his list. Further to this, the total he publishes for me is woefully inaccurate (both by BOU and UK400 Club rules). Lee may consider himself something like the ‘list police’ – but as I’m not in the manner of comparing my UK list (which certainly isn’t threatening to break the 500 mark anytime soon), it certainly doesn’t need policing. In-fact, if he ever asked me what it was on, I would be happy to provide a BOU figure – but I won’t submit an itemised list as these things really don’t matter to me.
I have to agree with Pariah here (something in itself rarer than a White-crowned Wheatear
that I find Lee to be a hypocrite and a liar. He also has a nasty habit of making insinuations about people in public, but when asked to explain or support his comments, he merely ignores the issue. It’s a cheap shot, and not one one would expect from someone trying to promote himself in a positive light. I agree too that the moderation of certain posts has been very inconsistent.
I want to make it clear that I have no personal gripe with Lee – on the few occasions I have birded with him, I have found him to be a very sharp and knowledgeable birder, and there is no denying the passion displayed for our hobby. That said, this (for me) has been out weighted by his destructive nature and belligerent attitude (sorry Lee, but I’m entitled to an opinion and I’m trying to keep it balanced).
As The Cumbrian has said – I have yet to hear any reason (let alone a good one), why it is such an issue to remove someone’s name when kindly requested to do so. This will only further alienate Lee and the UK400 Club. For the exact same (polite) reasons as listed in post #29 by Johnny, I again ask to be removed from this list.
. The same goes for all this pettiness with list removals - I won't be reading it - I shall just mark up people that don't want anything to do with me and believe their appearance is somehow aanctioning the UK400 Club will just get marked in red with an asterisk or removed after ten years of them leaving twitching..........
How do you know when someone has left twitching? Surely many people continue to twitch (to one degree or another) for many years after they stop turning up at major twitches. For instance, how many times have I twitched outside of my home county this year Lee? How many UK ticks have I had this year? Here’s another questions you should be able to answer if you know my list well enough to publish it – what is the commonest species I have yet to record in the UK (I’ll give you a clue – it breeds here).
Steve seems to have done his research (see post #37). So I’m interested to know what Lee’s response is to these facts. Or is this going to be another moment where his head is firmly stuck in the sand? I work for a company where we have to abide strictly to Data Protection rules, why should Lee be allowed (and even accepted) to work outside these rules. I’m sure that if someone was to publish personal information about his (say) bank account details he would use the DPA to its full effect (and who would blame him). Upstarts1979 asks why some are so bothered by it all. Well, its each to their own – some of us don’t want to be associated with the UK400 Club, and others are probably fed-up with their dealing with Lee – however, and above all, it’s their right to request these things, and there should be nothing wrong with that.