Where’s Hendrik?

[Richard Scruggs]

Re Miguel saying: "There is is [sic] tendency for the Americans here (I'm not going to get into my background again) to gang up on anyone or any topic that is not American, a lot of it quite derogatory and condescending."

Condemning "the Americans here" seems just a bit indiscriminate. Maybe?

[Miguel Arboleda]

.

[Richard Scruggs]

Re Miguel saying, "how else am I supposed to address this concern?"

Well, it might be good to focus on the issue you raise — lack of civility — rather than lumping folks into buckets according to nationality (or gender, or race, or eye color, or height, or whatever other class that's facile but unfair).

Also, the qualifying term "tendency" that you applied to "the Americans here" didn't in any way limit the population under attack — "the Americans here" — but instead merely afforded them — "the Americans here" — the "redemptive" quality of having only a "tendency" rather than a calculated design to engage in arrogant disdain for other nationalities.

Sorry to drag this distasteful mess out further, and do agree that you made some good points about forums at BPL having gone downhill compared to the past. Just don't see that the blame lies with a particular nationality.

Might be worth considering that your good points are diluted, overwhelmed even, by an ironic measure of incivility toward Americans (for some reason) that indiscriminately attacks an entire nationality ("the Americans here") as the culprit for the coarse discourse at BPL lately.

It's a shame that folks (like yourself) are so frustrated by the tenor of many posts these days that those folks (like you) have become not only unwilling/unable to engage in positive postings as in the good old days, but even resort to the same tactic and tenor that is being condemned.

Like you, my following of BPL goes back a long ways, even before the forums became a part of BPL's website. And like you, I regret the loss of postings by the many folks who contributed to making the forums special in the past.

And I detest postings that appear directed at nothing but stirring up controversy for the sake of confrontation.

Enough preaching. To boil it down: individuals post; not nationalities.

How about something important, like a trip report? Summer's running out quick, and there must be a lot of 'em to post.

PS — Hope to be exiting the Winds about this time next month. Don't expect a trip report, though, since it's not gonna be a monumental event. Just a good time.

[Ken Thompson]

Since Miguel admits to not reading short replies, probably won't read this. I'm so tired of people saying they don't post here anymore because we are all too mean. That's your fault as much as anyone else's. Good can outweigh the bad easily. But you need to add it in.

Simple fact about foreigners. Many are uncomfortable or unable to have a written discussion in English. I think that is the main reason. I don't go to any non English sites on a regular basis. Why should it be any different.

Challenge. Can Miguel reply to this in less than 150 words?

As far as Hendrik. He's got himself a mess that he, himself needs to deal with. End of story.

[Dave T]

"Hendrik is a friend, and I hate to see him, or anyone, get flogged like this."

Well, I'd say when you take money from people in exchange for a product, and then you don't deliver in a (remotely) timely manner, I think folks would be rightly upset about it. I don't think that's "flogging" – I think it is people asking for proper follow-through on money given and promises made. If he's not delivering and not communicating, then he is creating his own problem. (And it sure looks like it's all bordering on what might be characterized as fraud right now.)

[Martin Rye]

Dave and Ken agree 100%.

I also point out to Hendrik's friends here on this debate that he insults and creates ridicule, and when challenged on it we see nothing from you. But when we challenge him on the issues on the A-Z, we are wrong and it's poor old Hendrik. Sorry, not poor old Hendrik.

Hendrik did a crowd source fund by the back door, as it's not allowed in Finland. Then he broke promise after promise. He won't give an account as to where the money has gone to date publicly, nor has he managed to explain why he is so far behind with a believable reason.

One other key point on Hendrik, apart form his anti-American tweets that he conveniently deletes, is the small fact that his last update showed us a still photo from the next episode to come. Please point to the scene where that photo appeared in the episode on wood stoves? I seem to have missed it. Then I also note the poor sound, editing and focus of the filming for the promised better-than-YouTube quality which he said he would deliver and was part of the funding drive.

Also, he has the big filming schedule. So why still photos of the Alpine mountains as part of the film? After all, if he had this claimed plan, would he not have filmed scenes for the episodes as he went? Makes us question if he shot out Monday morning and banged a few scenes together, added in some still photos and called it episode W and says it's better than YouTube. Dream on if you think it is.

Shame, as the subject is of interest and his reasoning on wood stoves is sound.

[Martin Rye]

Hendrik,

With all your effort in pushing your Advent Calendar give-away on your blog we remind you it's coming up to December, and therefore 2 years since your first claimed finish date for the A-Z videos (you had over $10,000 to make them, funded by the kind online backpacking community).

You need to answer the substantive issues on the handling of the A-Z of Ultralight project, and your complete failure to deliver, let alone manage public relationships.

[Matt Brown]

Good luck getting a response from him Martin.
Sad thing is there seems to be many people here who have provided funding and lost the money yet don't seem to be taking Hendrick to task over it. Why?

[Ian]

"yet don't seem to be taking Hendrick to task over it. Why?"

I've never dealt with Hendrick or sent him money. I did help fund a Death Valley trek for someone else who was supposed to produce a movie. The guy never delivered the goods and hasn't responded to a couple polite emails that I've sent him asking how the project was going.

Don't know the guy (Death Valley trek) or have any reason to believe that he was planning on scamming those who donated. I think that his ambition was greater than his abilities, came up short, and is too embarrassed to come clean.

As far as the Hendrick goes, what else can be said at this point and is it worth the energy drain when it's pretty clear that the series is in suspended animation until further notice?

Sometimes you just have to accept the fact that you got screwed, that there's nothing you can do about it, and move on.

[Dave T]

I forgot about the Death Valley guy.

Funny how you hear a whole lot from folks when they are looking for money, much less when they are spending the money, and usually nothing after the money is gone.

[Nick Gatel]

"As far as the Hendrick goes, what else can be said at this point and is it worth the energy drain when it's pretty clear that the series is in suspended animation until further notice?"

No reflection on the good folks who lost their money. But there is a saying that goes something like this: a fool and his money are soon parted. Lesson learned?

On another Kickstarter note, it seems the people who invested in the movie "The Cairngorms In Winter" got more than their monies worth. So there is a silver lining.

[Anonymous]

Good point Ian. Just would point out that sometimes people need to vent a little first. Im gratedul that folks are doing that civilily here.

Its also good to warn newbies about a particular person, in case they try it again.

But yeah, at the end of the day, for one own peace of mind, acceptance and moving on is very helpful.

[spelt with a t]

There's a saying about not rubbing salt in a wound, too, Nick.

[Jerry Adams]

"a fool and his money are soon parted"

Or maybe the lesson is, if you give to someone on kickstarter, don't expect any return. Consider it more charity or a gamble.

[Matt Brown]

Yes my friend Terry made the Cairngorms film and we got a treat to one of the most beautiful and wild places in the British Isles. Terry is a thoroughly decent guy who actually put himself through some severe hardships to make the film. In his words "it is a labour of love". He wanted to make an epic debut film for others to enjoy. There lies the difference between him and Hendrick who so obviously is a liar and a thief. FACT, people gave him money for a promise and he robbed them.
Kickstarter helped Terry produce a great film for us to enjoy and Hendrick used the money for his pockets. Why don't the site owners of BPL ban him permanently? Have they taken any action or attempted to make contact with him?

[Ian]

Hi Justin,

I have no problem with venting. Lord knows after the fauxdini thread I'm good for at least a year.

I was trying to offer an explanation as to why more people might not have added their $.02 here than criticizing people for complaining. I think it's good to have a record of these events for future reference.

I agree with Jerry that it's probably best to consider these as charity and to be surprised if they deliver. I'm personally not jaded from my experience to a point that I wouldn't back a future product or film. Whether that donation be $0, $5 or $100 would obviously depend on the reputation of the developer and the proposed product.

[Ryan Smith]

"Why don't the site owners of BPL ban him permanently? Have they taken any action or attempted to make contact with him?"

Didn't the BPL Facebook page direct you to Hendrik's page just this week? Some Advent calendar reviews or something? There is some action for you!

Ryan

[Dave T]

I can see how someone who has committed fraud should have more of a repercussion towards them besides everyone just thinking "well shucks" and getting over it.

Any action, BPL?

(I realize the several levels of irony in that question.)

[Martin Rye]

Today, out of the blue, Hendrik emailed me saying he has refunded me. I never asked him to, and have not accepted this – I just want the finished A-Z of UL. He was paid to make the A-Z and his actions are in breach of the terms of KickStarter. Who I have complained to, as without a clear end-date Hendrik is breaking the rules they set.

He's trying to silence me, and others who raise questions on his conduct and failing to account for the monies funded him. It just shouts that he is hiding something.

But in his action of refunding me without asking, he has in fact opened the door to have to refund everyone, as he cannot treat anyone else differently.

So, Hendrik: either refund all and walk away, or go film and get it finished and stop messing the online backpacking community about and treating their kindness with contempt.

[Ken Thompson]

I took the refund. I asked for it. That does not however change my opinion on this whole mess of his. After seeing the episodes already produced I was left underwhelmed by their depth and quality of content. Let alone the amount of editing that makes them hard to watch.

[Author]

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