Eventing Nation booted from covering Event in Unionville, PA

[DownYonder]

@Horsegirl's Mom

If we want the equestrian community (and our country) to survive, we need to find a way to navigate these issues that does not demand ideological purity and shunning of people and places that aren’t deemed 100% politically correct. Otherwise I suspect many more venues will be lost, and the wounds inflicted by eventers on each other may never heal.

I thought this article was quite accurate as to what happened here:

https://theconversation.com/history-…nd-well-140888

From the article: [INDENT]
Nobody is more dangerous than he who imagines himself pure in heart, for his purity, by definition, is unassailable.[/INDENT]

Author James Baldwin’s words, written in the America of the late 1950s, captures perfectly a feeling in the air that is currently troubling public discourse in many Western countries. Increasingly, questions once treated as complicated inquiries requiring scrutiny and nuance are being reduced to moral absolutes. Just look at Trumpism.

This follows a now dismally familiar pattern: two camps are identified, the acceptable “for” and the demonised “against”. The latter are cast beyond the pale, cancelled and trolled. Identity politics has become a secular religion and, like any strict sect, apostates are severely punished.

This can lead to a “purity spiral”, with the more extreme opinion the more rewarded in a pattern of increasing escalation. Nuance and debate are the casualties, and a kind of moral feeding frenzy results.
…
As polarisation intensifies, people are increasingly loath to consider opinions that don’t reinforce their own. Quite literally the road to hell can be paved with good intentions.

Excellent post and very insightful. I would respectfully submit however that both sides of the political spectrum seem fully committed to the increasing escalation of socio-political warfare.

[Jealoushe]

@Virginia Horse Mom

Thanks for further explaining the business side of this, and how every click and share actually is tied to revenue.

I also concur 100% about the market analysis… targeting the younger, “woke” segment of their audience is a smart thing in terms of long term revenue streams and a sustained audience. Which they need.

I wonder how this applies to the growing of the sport too. With the pushing to go mainstream, be on TV etc. It seems Eventing will have to embrace this mindset if they want to entice the younger generation?

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@DownYonder - a big ditto on the both sides issue.

[DownYonder]

@atl_hunter

From a strategic perspective, polarizing content is a known way to drive revenue as it also drives site traffic. Site visitors will share, repost, comment across multiple channels, all while driving traffic to the article, and therefore, the site. As the site is monetized, the publisher will benefit from the multiple clicks on digital banners surrounding the content.

EN stood to benefit more than anyone from all of this. As influencers, it appears they have gained a following from their move, which may result in a near term bump in their monetized digital performance. It would be interesting to see the long term revenue gain/loss. But…what share of wallet does EN get from the mid-to-late career equestrian vs the young woke up and comer? At the end of the day, EN is a business. It’s always interesting to follow the money trail.

Thanks for pointing this out. EN was either stupid, stupid, stupid to go down the path it did, or they intentionally created this controversy to pad their own bottom line. If the latter, they are following the business model of NYT, WaPo and most media outlets in this “new age of outrage.” It’s quite diabolical when you think about it.

[flyingchange]

@Gardenhorse

Or we lost an event because the organizer decided their “First Amendment rights” to name their event whatever they wanted was more important than even considering a compromise. Everyone keeps going on about how EN approached this, but few people have discussed what the organizer’s role in blowing this up into a circus was. From the one email I saw, it’s pretty clear he wasn’t employing any diplomacy. I haven’t seen that anyone else on the PFEE board attempted to play a diplomatic role either. Maybe they did, but we haven’t seen any evidence of it. Did anyone on the board ever say, “Of course we know that’s not what Plantation refers to, but maybe we should consider this concern if that’s what people are thinking about our event.”

Have you ever owned/do you own a large tract of land in a place like Unionville? That you pay taxes on and spend $$$$$$$, time, sweat, tears, your life, to keep up? And that you open up to let absolute strangers come onto, opening yourself up to the possibility of lawsuits - even when you are insured to the gills, they happen? To allowing all these people to tear up your fields - with their vehicles, trailers, and horses? Fields you work and worry over - to keep beautiful and productive? You allow this for 20 years and one day some group of self-righteous dingbats, backed by the so-called governing bodies that oversee this sport that you tolerate on your land - start making demands on you about your land, including the name of it? And then they laughably expect you to comply, but are completely aghast when you tell them to kindly go &*^% themselves and shut your land off to not only them, but to the sport itself?

If this is so very hard for you to understand, then following how and why diplomacy is viewed and utilized as a skill and art - it must be just way over your head. Three-year-old child temper tantrum tactics, employed to force the change you want - they don’t tend to work so well. Especially when you have ZERO leverage in the affair. Do us all a favor and do not get involved in any land-dependent horse sports (fox hunting, chasing, eventing) that require getting landowners to agree to use of their land.

I was for one all for the removal of the confederate monuments in Virginia - and had been for a LONG time before it actually happened. I consider myself pretty damn “woke.” But what EN did here was absolutely stupid. Completely short-sighted… ^&cking idiots. They owe the entire eventing community an apology and really would doing us all a favor to close shop completely.

[Ghazzu]

@DownYonder

Thanks for pointing this out. EN was either stupid, stupid, stupid to go down the path it did, or they intentionally created this controversy to pad their own bottom line. If the latter, they are following the business model of NYT, WaPo and most media outlets in this “new age of outrage.” It’s quite diabolical when you think about it.

I’m likely getting cynical in my old age, but my feeling from the getgo was that EN had definitely factored a revenue increase into their decision making process on this issue.

[DownYonder]

@MorganSercu

They may be younger than some or perhaps most of the people posting on this thread, but they aren’t young adults either (which I define as 18-21). Ms. Wylie and Mr. Thier are in or near their 30’s or thereabouts - yes? Plus business owners. So at this point, any lapses in manners that could be ascribed to their parents are years in the past. We’re not talking about chewing with your mouth open, or elbowing someone aside to get the last seat on the subway.

Ha, I am now 70, so to me, the great majority of the horsey set is “the younger generation.” :lol:

[DownYonder]

@Virginia Horse Mom

I mostly concur with your quote - I just edited it some to make a discussion point.

I think there are some generational dynamics in play, but it’s more a matter of a general societal dysfunction. Maybe part of the intense political cycle, maybe part of Covid isolation and restrictions making many people unbalanced mentally to a degree, and in addition… maybe the general amplifying effect social media has on drama of all kinds. Add to it, the fact that no one seems to value the importance of critical thinking about subjects from multiple points of view anymore, and the fact that everyone is looking to win an argument in 280 characters or less.

All of it has led to a loss of respect and manners when talking about any number of topics… large and small. I have peers (I’m in my 40’s) that I used to be good friends with, but who have gone bonkers this last year in particular, and I just have to cut my losses and walk away from the relationships. I’ve had an easier time recently conversing thoughtfully and maintaining friendships with some “horse friends” who are in their 20’s than some who are in their 60’s. It’s been overwhelmingly because of folks getting belligerent about politics or Covid.

However, outside of horses, I do seem to have a much easier time maintaining rewarding respectful friendships with folks who are a decade or two older than myself.

Just some food for thought on the generational aspect.

As for booting EN from venues… I wholeheartedly agree. I think leadership with the governing bodies should have stepped in before this blew up though, and communicated clearly that it was NOT ok for EN to harass organizers or the land owner. Not if they want to continue being treated as a media outlet with press credentials, and given access to recognized competitions.

Good points. I also have had to walk away from friends and acquaintances I have had for many years because they have gone totally around the bend politically. They can no more think strategically or see “the big picture” than an 11 y./o. And have about the same level of intolerance toward those they disagree with.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Jealoushe

I wonder how this applies to the growing of the sport too. With the pushing to go mainstream, be on TV etc. It seems Eventing will have to embrace this mindset if they want to entice the younger generation?

The reality, as many have pointed out, is that the primary barrier to growing the sport is an economic one. Sooo… the young people who seem to be involved in eventing, Hunter jumpers and Dressage in general these days and the future of these sports…

the “wealthy enough” to even participate enough to develop an interest factor has to be met… before anything else such as diversity related issues come into play.

I thought the fact that the NYT quoted Sophie Gochman in their article on the Plantation Field controversy was also a really ironic choice. I mean… REALLY?!? Tying her voice and thought process to the Plantation Field debacle - yeah. Not a good look for the whole sport. And she’s not even an eventer. :sigh:

But on a slightly amusing different note regarding social media, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s article o. this topic actually first popped in my Facebook feed. And the first thing that I saw in the comment section was a gif of a tiny violin being played. lol. The commenter seemed to be poking fun at the whole notion that a few “woke” people had decided to take on the role of “white savior” in relation to a racial controversy going on with what I believe the article called “the horsey set” in Chester County. And seriously… this whole controversy is so absurdly over the top… I sort of wish I had thought of posting a tiny violin gif in response to John Thier’s “Change is Hard“ essay…

[KellyS]

This was quite a while ago, if I remember correctly, but wasn’t Leslie Wylie involved in another controversy via EN? The controversy revolved around another editorial/article Leslie had written but I can’t remember what it was. I’m sure someone else can, though.

[Jealoushe]

@KellyS

This was quite a while ago, if I remember correctly, but wasn’t Leslie Wylie involved in another controversy via EN? The controversy revolved around another editorial/article Leslie had written but I can’t remember what it was. I’m sure someone else can, though.

It was the #metoo letter.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@DownYonder

Good points. I also have had to walk away from friends and acquaintances I have had for many years because they have gone totally around the bend politically. They can no more think strategically or see “the big picture” than an 11 y./o. And have about the same level of intolerance toward those they disagree with.

Yup yup yup. It’s like a bizarre Alice in Wonderland type experience talking to some people these days… or even just trying to listen politely… they start going on and on about whatever they think is rude and awful and intolerant about how the other side of issues talks and thinks and conducts themselves on social media, and all I can think is that we don’t just have a Covid pandemic going on right now… nope… if the maladaptive psychological phenomenon known as “PROJECTION” was a contagious illness… it obviously should be classified as an epidemic at the very least right now.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Jealoushe

It was the #metoo letter.

Oh wow. I must have missed that. What was the controversy about it though?

[Gardenhorse]

@flyingchange

Have you ever owned/do you own a large tract of land in a place like Unionville? That you pay taxes on and spend $$$$$$$, time, sweat, tears, your life, to keep up? And that you open up to let absolute strangers come onto, opening yourself up to the possibility of lawsuits - even when you are insured to the gills, they happen? To allowing all these people to tear up your fields - with their vehicles, trailers, and horses? Fields you work and worry over - to keep beautiful and productive? You allow this for 20 years and one day some group of self-righteous dingbats, backed by the so-called governing bodies that oversee this sport that you tolerate on your land - start making demands on you about your land, including the name of it? And then they laughably expect you to comply, but are completely aghast when you tell them to kindly go &*^% themselves and shut your land off to not only them, but to the sport itself?

If this is so very hard for you to understand, then following how and why diplomacy is viewed and utilized as a skill and art - it must be just way over your head. Three-year-old child temper tantrum tactics, employed to force the change you want - they don’t tend to work so well. Especially when you have ZERO leverage in the affair. Do us all a favor and do not get involved in any land-dependent horse sports (fox hunting, chasing, eventing) that require getting landowners to agree to use of their land.

I was for one all for the removal of the confederate monuments in Virginia - and had been for a LONG time before it actually happened. I consider myself pretty damn “woke.” But what EN did here was absolutely stupid. Completely short-sighted. Now they will have to go after other events in the country - and in England - since they are so offended by the history of the venues that our current eventing system is dependent on. ^&cking idiots - they owe the entire eventing community an apology and really would doing us all a favor to close shop completely.
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All I’m saying is that I don’t think the event organizer is blameless in this debacle.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Gardenhorse

All I’m saying is that I don’t think the event organizer is blameless in this debacle.

Noted. Out of curiosity though… have you taken the time to read the piece Nancy Jaffer just wrote about Denis Glaccum, and the scope of his contributions to the sport? It’s a worthwhile read. If you haven’t read it yet, I’d be curious as to whether or not your opinion on the whole situation would change at all after taking in some of the information, stories and quotes in that piece about him.

[Equibrit]

@Virginia Horse Mom

Oh wow. I must have missed that. What was the controversy about it though?

https://www.horsenation.com/2017/12/15/metoo-a-letter-to-myself-as-a-young-rider/

Enjoy :winkgrin:

[Gardenhorse]

@Virginia Horse Mom

Noted. Out of curiosity though… have you taken the time to read the piece Nancy Jaffer just wrote about Denis Glaccum, and the scope of his contributions to the sport? It’s a worthwhile read. If you haven’t read it yet, I’d be curious as to whether or not your opinion on the whole situation would change at all after taking in some of the information, stories and quotes in that piece about him.

I’m not questioning his contribution to the sport. I am wondering whether his reactions to EN’s initial request (which from my understanding went to him and not the landowner) is part of what blew this up into a crazy drama and led to the landowner withdrawing his support. I’m just wondering about all the parts in between EN’s initial email and the landowner cancelling the lease. There is a lot that we don’t know. And we’ll probably never know all the details.

[Jealoushe]

@Virginia Horse Mom

Oh wow. I must have missed that. What was the controversy about it though?

I think because they didn’t name the sleaze ball in the article.

[Jealoushe]

@Gardenhorse

I’m not questioning his contribution to the sport. I am wondering whether his reactions to EN’s initial request (which from my understanding went to him and not the landowner) is part of what blew this up into a crazy drama and led to the landowner withdrawing his support. I’m just wondering about all the parts in between EN’s initial email and the landowner cancelling the lease. There is a lot that we don’t know. And we’ll probably never know all the details.

Yes I think a lot of details are up in the air and would help us all understand a bit better if we knew them.

[MorganSercu]

@flyingchange

Have you ever owned/do you own a large tract of land in a place like Unionville? That you pay taxes on and spend $$$$$$$, time, sweat, tears, your life, to keep up? And that you open up to let absolute strangers come onto, opening yourself up to the possibility of lawsuits - even when you are insured to the gills, they happen? To allowing all these people to tear up your fields - with their vehicles, trailers, and horses? Fields you work and worry over - to keep beautiful and productive? You allow this for 20 years and one day some group of self-righteous dingbats, backed by the so-called governing bodies that oversee this sport that you tolerate on your land - start making demands on you about your land, including the name of it? And then they laughably expect you to comply, but are completely aghast when you tell them to kindly go &*^% themselves and shut your land off to not only them, but to the sport itself?

If this is so very hard for you to understand, then following how and why diplomacy is viewed and utilized as a skill and art - it must be just way over your head. Three-year-old child temper tantrum tactics, employed to force the change you want - they don’t tend to work so well. Especially when you have ZERO leverage in the affair. Do us all a favor and do not get involved in any land-dependent horse sports (fox hunting, chasing, eventing) that require getting landowners to agree to use of their land.

I was for one all for the removal of the confederate monuments in Virginia - and had been for a LONG time before it actually happened. I consider myself pretty damn “woke.” But what EN did here was absolutely stupid. Completely short-sighted. Now they will have to go after other events in the country - and in England - since they are so offended by the history of the venues that our current eventing system is dependent on. ^&cking idiots - they owe the entire eventing community an apology and really would doing us all a favor to close shop completely.
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Please come sit by me!

shuffles to one side of the bench

Tea? Coffee? Soft-shell crab sandwich?