Recently, Chairman Russ sent the following regarding AML’s financial situation to the LocSecs and other interested members:
"…Legal fees have been paid out of returns on these investments and the principle of our life dues fund remains intact…"
Shortly afterwards, Ralph, speaking as one who has inside information about AML finances, published:
“I am unsure whether AMC reviewed Russ' claims beforehand, as they are smoke and mirrors. Why Russ and the AMC don't want to tell the truth says a lot about our leadership....THERE WAS NO TALK ABOUT SOME MYSTERIOUS RESERVE because there is none.”
Now this certainly looks as if one man or the other is lying. Having been on the Finance Committee for a few years and having seen the investment reports and other figures, I am quite confident that Russ is telling the truth.
I brought up the issue to my colleagues, asking at what point in the publishing of such lies do we consider it to be an act inimical?
I have been advised to just ignore it. No one puts any stock in what Ralph and his cronies say. If we respond or take action, we’ll just be giving him the attention he wants and creating a martyr. Only a few people read those lists…
But I disagreed.
Several hundred do read those lists, and many editors pick it up and publish it as gospel in newsletters. Others repost it to the Online Community. What we have here is Ralph speaking to a potentially large audience as the lone voice of truth about AML and the AMC.
By doing nothing, we are giving public credence to what he and others like him say. Are we serving Mensa best by letting such people spread lies and discontent? Will ignoring really make the controversy fade-- or will it fester and live on? It may have worked in the days before such ubiquitous communication, but in 2009, does ignoring really make the buttheads' lies go away?
People will believe whatever they read the most. 62,400 repetitions make a truth. What I have observed is the AMC putting out truth out there once, then retiring to our tower and ignoring the doo-doo heads repeating their lies from every street corner, elist, forum, and newsletter.
Reflect on the current atmosphere of Mensa. How's this tactic of ignoring working out?
Oh wait, the election results are in….
My bad. Turns out the voting membership isn’t so gullible after all.
My apologies to my colleagues on the AMC.
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