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And how can Wednesday be "way too late" when for decades Bonfire burned on Wednesday and even as late as Thursday?

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Bonfire burned on Wednesday for home games (the night before)
Tuesdays were for away games...for the reasons stated above, and to give those who wanted to attend both time to travel to that town across the river.

I believe you were just shown up SquareOne. There have been a number of Bonfires burned on tuesdays whether you choose to admit it or not

That there have been Bonfires on Tuesday in the past does not legitimize the decision to burn Bonfire on Tuesday this year. You can refer to the number of problems in earlier posts. Bonfire was on campus, where people were, where people could come to College Station, see campus and the town. The drive through Hearne leaves much to be desired.

1) People going home.
2) Inconvenience for former students.
3) The need for SB to have a substantial turnout to continue operations and not have too rely on too much donations.
4) School/Work night
5) Bonfire is what...45 minutes away this year? Transportation hasn't been great in the past, 30-45 minutes is a long way.
6) Lack of familiarity in the first place with Bonfire, getting people to go do anything is easier on Saturdays than Tuesdays.
7) Off Campus Bonfire is a pretty sizeable commitment for a weeknight even for those who do decide to attend. For studnets it would involve leaving around 5 and getting home around...1? For anybody from as close as Houston it would involve leaving at about 3-4 and getting home around 230. Weeknight vs. Weekend.

I was wrong about the fact that there have been some Bonfires on a Tuesday night, but there's never been a Bonfire off Campus on a Tuesday. Somebody refute some of those other points, then I'll consider having been shown up.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Let the attendence show.

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For anybody from as close as Houston it would involve...getting home around 230.

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You don't have to stay until midnight.

November 24, 2002 was a Sunday night...a work night/school night.



[This message has been edited by TexasRebel (edited 10/19/2006 1:42a).]

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November 24, 2002 was a Sunday night...a work night/school night.

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But that was just a before-work night. Tuesday is a before-work night and an after-work night.

Well, we'll just chalk this one up to more growing pains. This is one of many bad decisions that have been made, but hey, there have many GREAT decisions that have been made to build this thing up quickly. I was hoping that these kinks would be worked out quicker, but this isn't the expertise of the current and former leadership.

When you've got this thing down, it's okay to do what you do and that's it. But when you're trying to build something and learn something, it's probably not a good idea to leave people in the dark (hell, where is burn this year?). Just because you were chosen by some red, grey, brown, green, yellow, or whatever to succeed them doesn't mean you are an expert on THIS Bonfire (because, IMO, nobody is yet), running a construction project, running an event, running a business, or making good, well thought out business decisions. They have worked hard and shown dedication. That's why they were chosen. In this way, ASB is NOT a business.

Tuesday is not a good day. Period. It probably wasn't a good day pre-'99 either, but back then Bonfire meant more to more people, and people were willing to make more sacrifices. Case and point, how many people sacrifice an entire weekend to attend a football game? Tens of thousands. How many do the same for, say, volleyball? Very few.

The bottom line is that Bonfire should burn on one of 2 days. Either the day that is most convenient to the most number of people, or the traditional day (two days before an away game).

No, the bottom line is, these two guys are anti-SB and will find anything to complain about, especially Square. When one of his arguements that he has been defending for a week got proven wrong, he immediately said that that point didn't matter. Then went on to a argue another point.

So, after enough people give reasons why you're wrong, whether you are or not, what things about Bonfire will you complain about next?

You're a backset driver, a nagging complainer, a person unable to overcome their hate of something to debate it. You've already said you can't support their organization because of an event that involved none of those currently in charge. You've said you won't build it. You've said you won't watch it burn.

So, not a supporter, not a builder, not a viewer. You're nothing. F'off.

How did I know this conversation would eventually come down to this? I could be wrong, but this is probably one of the reasons they keep leadership from talking on here, for fear they might say things like you. Yeah, there’s no doubt in my mind now that this Bonfire isn’t Aggie Bonfire. A personal attack on me because I don’t agree with some decisions that have been made? And because I’m not a “builder, supporter, or viewer,” I can “F off.” News for ya champ, I was, all three of those actually. You can certainly count on me not coming out this year though, I’m pretty disappointed that this is your attitude regarding the matter. Just more evidence that this fire is so much more about those who build it then those whom it is for. It seems to me that you’ve lost touch of the entire thing, I just hope the rest of the organization does not share the same mindset as you. I WANT the organization to succeed, I WANT this to be the best fire off campus yet, I WANT to see these guys and my friends be a part of something awesome…what do you want?

All I’ve done, and grimm as well, is express our concerns regarding decisions that have been made regarding the most important night for SB since it’s existence. I never made personal attacks or told any of you to F off for not agreeing with me. That’s how you make progress. You take the thoughts of others into consideration in order to reach the best possible solution. “Might is right” won’t cut it, consider changing your attitude.

Why would I have a hate for Bonfire? I’ve been a part of it, I have lots of friends doing it, my roommate holds a leadership position. And as for “proving me wrong” you’re right, I’ll admit, I was mistaken on that point, but if you choose only to focus on that point alone and neglect all the others, and far more valid meaningful points, than you’re the one hiding from the truth. I’ve said this before, maybe not in these words, but here it is. Just because I don’t actively go out and support Bonfire by cutting checks or by building it which I simply don’t have the time for this semester, that doesn’t mean I don’t support Bonfire. I want to see ASB make smart decisions based on the thoughts of many Aggies, such as you and myself, you however are obviously not interested in anything but yourself and the small group around you. If it hasn’t become a serious problem already, this mindset will become a serious problem.

I don’t support the organization because of one thing that happened, but that is one of the reasons I don’t go out and participate anymore. But if you can really just write me off because I don’t come out and participate then I’m sorry you’re missing the opportunity to gain some understanding from somebody that exists outside of your bubble.

As for the rest of you out there doing your part to make this one hell of an organization and not telling people you rely on to continue the success of the organization by resorting to name calling and telling them to “F off,” best of luck to you guys, I hope everything goes well this year, and I hope I’m wrong, it would be great to pull out 20-25K. To the one who believes “might is right” and that I obviously know nothing because I’m not you, well, I hope somebody muzzles you so you don’t give Bonfire anymore bad PR than it’s already been given.*

*Again, telling people to “F off” because they don’t participate or agree with you, yeah…that’s not gonna pull 10k out there on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Again, you're an idiot, you think you're talking to upper leadership. You're as random as me when it comes to SB. Me telling you to F'off (which I stand by) is me telling you to F'off. Thats it.

Internet arguements are a joke anyways. "I'm right, you're wrong." "No, I'm right, you're wrong."

I just think you're wrong if you think you're suggestions on TexAgs will change Bonfire if you oppose coming out the event you want to change.

So, F'off.

OK, I'll take a stab at this and hopefully we can put this to rest and move on...

Giving the timing, Tues was viewed as the best day out of the possible choices. Not everyone agreed, but after much discussion the decision was made. Is Tuesday perfect? Of course not, and the leadership knows full well that it may result in a lower attendance. However, even though the 18th is not sacred to you, there are many, many more who feel that day is and no one wants to be perceived as trying to compete with anything going on then. Like it or not, that's the way it is when talking about the 18th. Yes, 2:42AM is technically Friday night, but that ceremony is not an officially scheduled event. It's the REAL event for sure, but any other type of "official" event, if any, would be on Saturday.

Other days in that time period were discussed and thrown out for one reason or another. The way days fall this year just screws everything up. And in about 7 years, it'll happen again. Tuesday was the lesser of all evils and it is something that is just going to have to be dealt with on ALL sides.

It is unfortunate that some won't be able to attend due to work, family, school, etc. Rest assured, though, NEVER in the discussions for the date was it ever said, "Screw the former students let's do it during the week." or "Bah, REAL Aggies will make time. Do it whenever." Nor was it just a dart thrown at a calendar.

Most of the points on the list fall under the "you can't please everyone" classification to me. Again, it's unfortunate, but a fact that we all have to deal with and hopefully learn something from. That's all I'm going to say.

I'm sure these aren't sufficient enough answers but it does no good to go into the entire minutia of everything discussed regarding this decision. Not because it's some kind of super secret black box and decoder ring deal, but because it was merely a business decision.

I'm all for good dynamic debating on issues such as this, by the way, but this has moved beyond that. Neither side in this current discussion is open to being swayed or even understanding the other side so this has evolved into an argument and/or renal excretion contest.


Scott Coker '92

I'm gonna make a jump and say the renal (and anal) excretions began once somebody told me that I was nobody because I don't go out there anymore and to F off for it. That is where this conversation lost it's qualities of being a debate and went down from there...boo.

I agree Coke, well summed up, you seem to remain pretty indifferent, well I don't know either way about indifferent, but at least you seem to be fair and objective.

It's not that 11/18 isn't important or sacred to me or anything, for the rest of our generation and hopefully the ones that follow us, that day will ALWAYS be important. But we can't always stop our lives and stop classes and stop doing the things important to us because it's the 7th, the 20th, the 57th anniversary, besides, is that what those kids would have wanted? 9/11 was probably the darkest day in American history, we have football games and baseball games on that day now. We move on as a group.

I'm not suggesting that the date was maliciously chosen in order to exclude former students, my point is that not enough if any consideration was given to other Aggies...some of which give a good deal of money to ASB. And I was accused of not supporting Bonfire (aside from the "you're nothing" comment for not participating this year). My feelings aren't hurt, I could care less, you're a TexAg handle to me, the bigger point is is that I'm afraid that attitude manifests itself throughout the organization.

I got into this with the hopes of being convinced that Tuesday was the best decision for the business of Bonfire, which is very much a business these days, and I wasn't able to get that. I guess we'll just have to move on. If this turns out to be a mistake, then I hope ASB is able to objectively take a step back and evaluate it's business and it's priorities.

Jack - This forum is frequented by the families of those we lost 6 years ago. It's long since morphed from its original purpose, but there's no call for language like that here.

[This message has been edited by NoACDamnit (edited 10/19/2006 1:34p).]

I agree with everything you're saying, but yeah, lets keep it clean.
You can't criticize something that you don't know all of the details of. And, well, some of those details aren't meant to be public knowledge. So deal with it.

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I got into this with the hopes of being convinced that Tuesday was the best decision for the business of Bonfire

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but you ignored the reasons that were given for a Tuesday Burn over a Saturday burn...

Recap:

1) No burn on the 18th. Go ahead and compare 11-18-1999 to 9-11-2001, but keep the comparison the same. 9-11 is now a national holiday. 11-18 is an accepted Aggie holiday...Stack will voluntarily be empty at 2:42 am on 11-18.

2) A complete extra weekend of Push, weekends are special, especially when getting close to Burn. Saturdays and Sundays can accomidate triple shifts, this allows crews to give everything they can to make stack as big as they can. It also allows leadership to smooth out the details that have never been right (parking, shuttles, crowd provisions, setting up the fire for a good light & good burn).

3) many people are going to have a problem with any day that Bonfire burns. Just like any other once a year event, people know it is comming around. It all depends on how important attending the event is to them as to how much effort they will put into going. By switching to a system of the night before a home game and Tuesday before away games, those that want to attend burn will know years in advance when the event will be.

4) (goes along with 3) Away game years will always be hard years. Putting a scheduled burn on the night before a home game will encourage those Aggies that come in town the day before to go out and see Student Bonfire's main event. Putting a scheduled burn the night before the last day of classes for the week, will encourage interested students to stay in town for one more night.

by getting into a planned schedule, SB will eliminate the "when is Bonfire?" question that always comes up. The next question to get rid of is "where is Bonfire?"

[This message has been edited by TexasRebel (edited 10/19/2006 2:46p).]

[This message has been edited by ChaseAg09 (edited 10/19/2006 3:11p).]

you guys are beating a dead horse now, don't you think? listen to coker.

Jack, I'm sorry I'm not a supporter of ASB in your eyes. Ask some of the older Reds/Greys, Browns, and Greens. They all know me and I think they will completely disagree with you. Many good decisions have been made with Bonfire, but many bad decisions have as well. If this truely was a business entity that didn't have much deeper meaning to so many people, rest assured it would have gone under by year two. And believe me, I haven't had a problem expressing these concerns to the leadership's face. Hell, one of them was a groomsmen in my wedding. I apologize, it's just that Bonfire's been such a big part of my life (didn't miss a cut since I started in '02 until this year) that it pains me that I won't be able to make it out as much as when I was a student (not ASB's fault obviously), and there's a good chance I will not be able to take part in the culmination of this years work that is burn night. Again I'll say, there was no day this year that was ideal for burn night (next year will be much better, as every year will be when there is a home game). The difference is on the weekend or the night before Thanksgiving, people have the choice not to attend for various reasons. On T-2, many people have NO choice. Convenience vs. Impossibility. As it stands, every other year I will be fighting tooth and nail to make it to burn. As ASB grows in popularity and importance to the student body as it should, students will be willing to make the CHOICE to stay an extra night. Out of town Aggies will not have this choice. Regardless, every other year will have a lower turnout no matter what decisions are made due to inconvenience. That's by no means anyone's fault.

[This message has been edited by bgrimm05 (edited 10/19/2006 4:22p).]

^
you forgot to mention where you proposed to your lovely wife!!


jackal, I appreciate your obvious love for the organization, but I do question some of your tactics. I am also not sure who you are calling anti-ASB, squareone that had a question and was annoid by the answers he was getting to his question(questions that none of us as everyday participants could answer directly), or my son(c/o 05 chief) who went to cut last weekend. Both of these "anti-ASB" have mentioned in this forum that they have participated, one this year(he didn't mention being a VERY active participant since 02), and one who participated last year.


But to offically close this thread, I'll see y'all in the woods saturday

[This message has been edited by preshy boy (edited 10/19/2006 4:40p).]

http://www.thepinelog.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/10/19/45372fbfa422c

thanks will...


thanks alot
I've got a broken heart
that's all I've got
you made me cry
and I cried a lot
I lost [the university's] love
honey thanks alot...

Well, whatever. Can someone help me out? Every year I have always shown up for burn around daylight and stayed all day (losing track of time). How long does it usually take to get parked, on the bus, and to the burn sight (although I have no idea where it is this year)? And I know it's supposed to burn at dark-thirty, but can someone refresh my memory as to exactly what time it has burned each year? I'm trying to see how early I would have to leave SA to get there on time to see if it's even worth trying. Asking off at 3:30 or so may not be too much to ask if I can make it on time. My lovely wife (thanks preshy) who also loves Bonfire will have to work a little harder because she's supposed to work until 7 on tuesdays. But she's hourly, so maybe it'll work.