The heavy hatchet of censorship tried to get us...
From day one to the last day that AREA51HVAC.COM was alive, an air of positiveness coursed through our code. Although, due to various articles written about us, our names were publicly associated with the site, we never once mentioned our real names online nor did we ever mention the company that we worked for, until the very last day.
Large companies did not take the time to understand what we were all about. Fortunately, industry consultants, journalists and small company owners did. We worked for a very large company. When news reached upper levels of management that I would be attending a national trade association event, they approached me and said that I was not allowed to talk about AREA51HVAC because I was going on their dime.
Can you imagine?! I was only attending this event. I was not a speaker or involved in any other manner than that of trying to enhance my knowledge. Needless to say, I not only talked about A51, I passed out book markers with our information. And, in the largest attended seminar of the event the facilitator, unknowing to me, did a segment on our site!
The industry-wide corporate attitude towards Web sites like ours reflected a reluctance to entertain new ideas, to learn, develop and grow. It was very frustrating. Although there are progressive organizations like the Service Roundtable, that do push this industry forward, the backwoods mentality still persists.
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Tom and Steve on A51 and for the relationships that we developed and the doors that were opened. The Starship screams through space today, terrorizing the boundaries of status-quo, at least within my mind.
Interesting site you have here, wiz.....
Glad too see you're still well and floating in cyberspace.
The time spent at the lake with you, t51, and K is well remembered.
Keep the fire lit...
pfitter
Posted by: pfitter | May 28, 2009 at 08:14 PM