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Thomas Whiteley -> That neighborhood bar down the street (Oct. 18 2003 16:46:42)
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The FT has inspired me to write the following. The FT is like going to a bar in a bad neighborhood, late at night. There is not much light and the place is full of people that are unstable.
Perhaps the patrons had too much to drink, drugs, or just mentally unstable. You realize you do not belong there when suddenly a fight breaks out. Bottles and pool ques are flying in all directions in one corner of the bar while the pool game continues. One guy is talking about all the pool ques he owns but he does not play pool. Another guy is asking, “which is the best pool que”? Others are fighting over who the greatest pool player is or was or should be. Then another fight breaks out because of the position and attitude of one of the patrons.
Attitude? Yes, there is attitude in that bar! It is not a good place to go even in the daytime when there is lots of light. The owner and previous owner state and stated clearly that you should behave and there are strict rules to abide by if you are to be allowed in the bar. The previous owner participated in and caused problems with patrons but that is alright – he owned the bar.
The new owner is strict and has stated there can be nothing off topic, so you can only talk about pool and drinking. However, whenever he turns his back, which seems often, all hell breaks loose! People were kicked out of the bar by the previous owner but allowed back by the new owner. The previous owner did not get along with these individuals, nor did many of the patrons. The people that were allowed back have not changed and continue to engage in their drunken or drug induced behavior.
There is a health club down the street where people get along fine and engage in activities that are fun and help each other. This club began one day when the previous owner of the bar closed the doors of his establishment. Everyone was locked out because the owner decided he had had enough.
On occasion someone from the health club considers the possibility of allowing members from the bar to join the health club. After asking other health club members, some of the events that caused the bar to shut down are remembered and the people who were involved. Can a leopard change its spots? Perhaps, but then the health club members should be prepared to find another place to spend his/her time. You see, even the health club can be destroyed by the actions of a few people.
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