Craig, we’ve met a few times at various shows and I’ve sat in some of your seminars. I won’t bother to describe myself or these meetings because I’m quite sure you won’t remember me given the number of visitors that you talk to. I mention this because like most of the members of this forum, I am part of the silent majority of hunters that has benefited greatly from your writing and to a lesser degree your video work. Along with Capstick and a few others, your work has helped motivate me to the point where this year I’ll be on my first elephant hunt, something no one in my extended family of hunters has ever done. I just wanted you to know this before you give up on this forum completely after the recent round of negative posts in your name. I read your responses and it doesn’t take a psychologist to see that you are on your last straw. From one hunter to another, I’m asking you to overlook the negative and to try to remember all of us that gain immensely by having you respond here. The same goes for Ivan, Buzz and the other professionals that visit from time to time. Where else can an inexperienced hunter go on the web to get a specific question answered by that level of expertise?

Anyway, you have every right to cross us off your list, but speaking for the silent majority I sincerely hope that you don’t. Good hunting.

GL
I am sure Craig is not disappearing anywhere. He knows the price of fame and suffers the same scrutiny that any other personality would. Hell, if I was going to be disappointed about anything it would be him taking this all seriously

I have not bothered to read all of the 13 pages on the original thread, but I think that most guys were simply speaking out in the hope that Conrad and his poor behavior were not linked to the person they have come to admire.

Craig has no doubt done the right thing by supporting Conrad no matter how bad it gets, and my hat is off to him for doing so.
I do however think that Craig would never support such an act were it not irrevocably tied to him, as in this instance.

As has been said, we take ourselves far too seriously.
I think its time everybody just shuts up and goes hunting again as that's what we are here for in the first place; and it is quite plain to see there is nothing new to be had from flogging this dead horse.

Now, lets go burn some powder rather than each other

quote:

Originally posted by samir:

+1

"Unconsciously we all have a standard by which we measure other men, and if we examine closely we find that this standard is a very simple one and is this: we admire them, we envy them, for great qualities which we ourselves lack. Hero worship consists in just that. Our heroes are the men who do things which we recognize with regret and sometimes with a secret shame that we cannot do. We find not much in ourselves to admire, we are always privately wanting to be like somebody else. If everybody was satisfied with himself there would be no heroes."

~ Mark Twain's Autobiography

quote:

Originally posted by G L Krause:
Craig, we’ve met a few times at various shows and I’ve sat in some of your seminars. I won’t bother to describe myself or these meetings because I’m quite sure you won’t remember me given the number of visitors that you talk to. I mention this because like most of the members of this forum, I am part of the silent majority of hunters that has benefited greatly from your writing and to a lesser degree your video work. Along with Capstick and a few others, your work has helped motivate me to the point where this year I’ll be on my first elephant hunt, something no one in my extended family of hunters has ever done. I just wanted you to know this before you give up on this forum completely after the recent round of negative posts in your name. I read your responses and it doesn’t take a psychologist to see that you are on your last straw. From one hunter to another, I’m asking you to overlook the negative and to try to remember all of us that gain immensely by having you respond here. The same goes for Ivan, Buzz and the other professionals that visit from time to time. Where else can an inexperienced hunter go on the web to get a specific question answered by that level of expertise?

Anyway, you have every right to cross us off your list, but speaking for the silent majority I sincerely hope that you don’t. Good hunting.

Craig I and many others who did not participate in the Kangaroo Court here second what GI Krause just wrote above.

Like many of the older guys here I have followed your career from your earliest efforts of writing professionally to all films, and books, as well as attending many of your seminars over the years, and though I'm quite a bit older than you, I learned a lot from your writings and films. Though I had it in my soul from and early age, if any writer inspired me to actually hunt Africa it was you! I very much appreciate your "Bottle being half full, rather than being half empty" attitude.

So I guess what I'm trying poorly to get across is, don't let the few decenters break through your battle line, because your friends are here to re-enforce the line, so hang in!

...................................................................

Still time to bid:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Number...&hash=item41737d483f

http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-of...&hash=item4173835a38

Just an observation on this, nothing more. Can someone realistically explain why, a person that becomes a Public figure cannot still have a private side.

What gives the regular people the right to hold the Public people to a higher standard than we hold ourselves too.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Just an observation on this, nothing more. Can someone realistically explain why, a person that becomes a Public figure cannot still have a private side.

What gives the regular people the right to hold the Public people to a higher standard than we hold ourselves too.

My thoughts exactly.

But, "public figures" do things in public, and the rest of the public see it.

THEN they have the right to comment on it.

Whether in a positive or negative way.

Or they have a cameraman/wanabee/promoter that decides to attempt to pick up some easy money from his fans. If want public money, get ready for scrutiny. No get privacy when you shill a host of products, produce books and videos making yourself an icon and a target.
Sorry. Fame and money bring scrutiny.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Still time to bid:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Number...&hash=item41737d483f

http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-of...&hash=item4173835a38

that's strange- there are no bids for either photo.i guess Conrad isn't the marketing genius he thought he was...

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Just an observation on this, nothing more. Can someone realistically explain why, a person that becomes a Public figure cannot still have a private side.

What gives the regular people the right to hold the Public people to a higher standard than we hold ourselves too.

My thoughts exactly.

But, "public figures" do things in public, and the rest of the public see it.

THEN they have the right to comment on it.

Whether in a positive or negative way.

Not only that, but I don't think any of these comments concerning Col. Boddington lately have been about his personal / private activities. The comments have been about the things he, or his emissary in the form of Conrad Everts, have done in the public eye. Such as offering momentos from his hunts for public sale to fund his own store front to sell more of his momentos and wares. With all the hero worship going on, why have no bids been placed on the Ebay items? Come on guys! Put your money where your mouth is!! Bid up the signed pictures of the man looking at a sunset!

A guy who inspires others to do more than they thought they ever could.
There must be a name for such a man.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Just an observation on this, nothing more. Can someone realistically explain why, a person that becomes a Public figure cannot still have a private side.

If I am not mistaken, public=public? If someone wants to stay out of the public light, then they should. Leveraging the public to create a lifestyle puts you in the public light. No one is twisting CBs arm to create his public view. If he wants a private life, maybe he should keep it private? Just an observation.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Beutler:

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Just an observation on this, nothing more. Can someone realistically explain why, a person that becomes a Public figure cannot still have a private side.

If I am not mistaken, public=public? If someone wants to stay out of the public light, then they should. Leveraging the public to create a lifestyle puts you in the public light. No one is twisting CBs arm to create his public view. If he wants a private life, maybe he should keep it private? Just an observation.

And so we descend down the same rathole...

I would probably be able to spend more time enjoying this forum and occasionally contributing if I didn't have to spend time defending myself against stuff that is mostly silly (the allegation of illegal hunting is not silly). But, as said above, I do understand that it goes with the territory. But, honestly, I really don't think of myself as a "public figure." I'm just a gunwriter, and I have been very fortunate to make a reasonable living at it and do a lot of what we all love to do. I cannot even imagine what "real celebrities" must deal with. It is mostly time constraints that keep off this and ALL OTHER forums...and also time constraints that allow friends who are only trying to help to do "helpful" things that I probably wouldn't have allowed if I'd known and/or taken time to evaluate. But it is not my way to throw people--especially friends--under the bus. Although not all my bosses in the Marines followed this credo, it's always good advice to praise in public and punish in private. Enough said on that. There are a number of threads going now that I would love to chime in on, so hopefully we lay this stuff to rest and get back to African hunting!
Oh, and to all the guys who have provided wonderful support...and also warnings in the way of Private Messages...thanks ever so much.
Regards, Craigf

16 pages of unsubstantiated BS.. this is ridiculous. it looks like a lot of people on here really need to get a life.

P.S. Craig thank you for your service to our country and fro your writing which i have enjoyed. I know your to much of a gentleman to say it so I will. the whole bunch of you self righteous d#@%*&HEADS should just go F@&$K YOUR SELVES.

Thanks, DDRHOOK, that was most eloquently stated. I would have said that myself if I was so gifted in language...

Hook in his own inimitable style has hit the nail right on the head! LOL!

Craig,

I have grown up reading your writings, and those of your forebears such as Elmer Keith, Capstick, Selous and Corbett. As young boy dragged kicking and screaming from the African bush to the leafy greenness of the English countryside such writings fed my imagination and a wish I had been born 50 years earlier and went to Africa as my grandfather had done in the 1930's. I was in the safari business for a short while in the early 1990's but politics got in the way, and now drive a desk and paying school fees. I love reading hunting adventures and will admit to a degree of jealousy (ok a high degree) that you and others have built a life that supports your passion. But I do know that you have had to work hard at getting where you are and it doesn't come easy.

Don't let all the crap that is being banded about get you down. I don't know why but it seems to be a human trait that there are those that can get out and build /do things and then there are those who just try to pull them down, but its there in all walks of life.

Keep smiling and keep writing - I am sure Safari Rifles needs a revision, and lets have a book on mountain rifles, which must include chapters on Scottish stalking rifles, Austrian bergstutzen and the exotic rifles used in the Himalayas built and used by the locals.

Craig,

I too am one of the ones that enjoy reading and learning from your experience and hope that you stay around this forum. I have pretty much stayed out of the other BS threads except for trying to figure out why what someone else does or does not do so personnally effects the ones who are crying the most. It just seems to me that the "haters" on this forum are just a bunch of jealous old women who want to chase off ones that can or have done things that they can't. I do my best to just ignore the jealous old women around here but they can be a real pain in the butt and tear threads apart where they are not enjoyable for anyone.

Craig, thanks for the gracious response and I’m glad to hear that you’ll continue to post here when you have time, silliness notwithstanding.

I’d like to quickly address the pervasive and ongoing accusations of “hero worship” both in this forum and in this thread specifically. Look, I’ve had two heroes in my life, my Dad and Charlton Heston, and both of them are gone, so let’s knock that @#%$ off! All I’m saying is that we have in Craig, and others that post here, a wealth of knowledge and practical experience that we can all benefit from, free of charge I might add. The same goes for other professionals in my life as well, such as my doctor, not free of charge BTW. I don’t always agree with him or take his advice (ask my wife), but I also don’t go out of my way to piss him off to the point where he doesn’t want to take my phone calls. I’m sure someone will respond with “We have every right since they “fill in the blank” (are a public figure, make money of this site as a booking agent, had the nerve to post a hunt report, or recommend a caliber I don’t like). So let me just head off the claim of the Boogeyman of “censorship”. I’m with Saeed on this, there should be none on this forum. But just because you can say something doesn’t mean that you must say something or even should. And yes, if Craig writes that you can always stop a buffalo charge by whistling Dixie then by all means disagree. But unless you grew up in a different America than I did, we all know the respectful way to do this.

Maybe I’m overreacting and no one will ever leave this forum regardless. But I’ve observed over the past couple of years things getting more and more derogatory and harsh, and as a result we have lost some valuable voices. Hell, just last week some knucklehead was berating Aaron Neilson because he only had 100 trail cam photos of a lion and couldn’t prove it wasn’t in a pride. I know Aaron is too tough to care, but how many other hunters just give up after reading negatively about their post, or worse, never post at all for fear of rejection? It just creates a dampening effect over the whole forum, not to mention it is just a plain old waste of every ones time.

Anyway, enough said about this. I’ve really benefited from this site and I just don’t want to log into this forum a few years from now and find the only posts are from Saeed and a couple of guys looking for their first Plains Game hunt. Now back to prepping for my elephant hunt…

Thanks GL for this thread and thanks Craig for your contributions to our sport on so many levels. I think we all know who are the hunters and who are the posers. Who we would like to share a campfire or a beer with and who is trying to get their 10,000th post of the year on AR.
Don't let the b*stards get you down.