GyroGo
06-10-2003, 12:31 PM
It is my goal to promote safe and responsible Segway use and to see the Segway succeed in the marketplace. As the owner of a website that posts Segway classified ads and links, I do have the ability to control its content and at some point may exercise that prerogative.
There has been some controversy recently over rentals in general (whether they serve the interest of owners) and the practices of some rental companies specifically. I have been asked to investigate some of these due to my role in SegCenter.com, and hopefully also as a valued advocate of responsible and safe Segway practices. I respect and value the rights and opinions of members of this Segway community, and desire to act in the best interest of all Segway users. My record stands for that.
While I am interested in collecting the necessary information to understand the issues, there are a few reasons why I am not inclined to pass editorial judgment, censor or exclude content.
First, my ability to collect all the facts and positions on all sides is very limited. There are often contradictory observations and opinions and it becomes difficult to sort out information with a politically charged spin from cold facts. It is difficult to measure the degree to which a bad business practice exists; was it an anomaly, occasional mistake, or policy? Has it been corrected or does it continue? What was the intent of the business owner? Was it a thoughtless oversight or motivated by financial greed?
Second, I appreciate the difficulties in starting up a new business, especially when acting as a pioneer in the uncharted and nascent Segway business, and empathize with the entrepreneur. While some startups are better thought out and prepared than others, and others make more mistakes, there will be errors by all. Some are better capitalized, and others forced to choose compromises while working with more limited resources. Some of these compromises may prove to be appropriate and reasonable, others bad judgment. There are different concepts of strategy and operation.
An entrepreneur either learns quickly, adapts, and recovers, or he/she will not be in business long. While there is no excuse for unsafe and irresponsible policies and practices, the failure to foresee certain problems does not necessarily indicate malicious intent or the desire to make just a “quick buck”. If laws are being broken, it is best for the proper agencies to enforce those laws. It would be premature and presumptuous of me to draw any conclusions on legality prior to that. If the local population does not favor the business, they will not patronize it or will otherwise address it in their own way. The marketplace will prevail.
. . SegCenter.com (www.SegCenter.com) . .
StirlingInfo (www.StirlingInfo.com) StirlingChat (www.StirlingChat.com)
There has been some controversy recently over rentals in general (whether they serve the interest of owners) and the practices of some rental companies specifically. I have been asked to investigate some of these due to my role in SegCenter.com, and hopefully also as a valued advocate of responsible and safe Segway practices. I respect and value the rights and opinions of members of this Segway community, and desire to act in the best interest of all Segway users. My record stands for that.
While I am interested in collecting the necessary information to understand the issues, there are a few reasons why I am not inclined to pass editorial judgment, censor or exclude content.
First, my ability to collect all the facts and positions on all sides is very limited. There are often contradictory observations and opinions and it becomes difficult to sort out information with a politically charged spin from cold facts. It is difficult to measure the degree to which a bad business practice exists; was it an anomaly, occasional mistake, or policy? Has it been corrected or does it continue? What was the intent of the business owner? Was it a thoughtless oversight or motivated by financial greed?
Second, I appreciate the difficulties in starting up a new business, especially when acting as a pioneer in the uncharted and nascent Segway business, and empathize with the entrepreneur. While some startups are better thought out and prepared than others, and others make more mistakes, there will be errors by all. Some are better capitalized, and others forced to choose compromises while working with more limited resources. Some of these compromises may prove to be appropriate and reasonable, others bad judgment. There are different concepts of strategy and operation.
An entrepreneur either learns quickly, adapts, and recovers, or he/she will not be in business long. While there is no excuse for unsafe and irresponsible policies and practices, the failure to foresee certain problems does not necessarily indicate malicious intent or the desire to make just a “quick buck”. If laws are being broken, it is best for the proper agencies to enforce those laws. It would be premature and presumptuous of me to draw any conclusions on legality prior to that. If the local population does not favor the business, they will not patronize it or will otherwise address it in their own way. The marketplace will prevail.
. . SegCenter.com (www.SegCenter.com) . .
StirlingInfo (www.StirlingInfo.com) StirlingChat (www.StirlingChat.com)