I hardly think that RE-POSTING A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE on GETBIG would be something that you would have any moral problem, whatsoever, with doing. After all, when I got arrested, no one had a problem posting that article on here... Let's face facts; your ego was bruised because Steve didn't think your videos were worth $2000. When he tried to give you additional work to do (whether it be posting articles on GETBIG or defending MD when your buddies took pot shots), you declined. Steve believes that in order to get paid to do work, you have to show him value-- Your perceived value was not $2000. $500 was more than fair for what you were doing at the NEW YORK PRO. If BBING.com offered you more, then I take my hat off to them and I congratulate you on securing the position you've been searching for. This isn't personal. You made it personal. And if you think that by using your wit, sarcasm, and band of merry followers on here, you're making some kind of valid point, you've greatly missed the point of all this. You had the opportunity to have a real job reporting on serious bodybuilding events. Steve wanted you to go to ALBANY; you refused. He wanted to fly you to VEGAS to interview Craig Titus, you refused. You can take all the shots you want at me because I'm no one........but, don't try to lay the blame where it doesnt belong. I have no anger toward you. I actually like you and I wanted to help you to lose weight and achieve all your fitness goals. You should examine why you take everything so personally and why your first instinct is to ATTACK? I get bashed on this message board more than anyone. The difference is that I don't let it bother me because I KNOW that no one can say anything that can make me doubt, for a single moment, who I am!
David,
There is a vast difference between how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others. For example, you seem to think that you come across as a guy who is positive and well-meaning. But your first instinct when I legitimately questioned the efficacy of your diet was to LIE and say that I BLACKMAILED MD.
Your first instinct was to attack. My first instinct was to DEFEND MYSELF. Because unlike you, I value my reputation as someone who is honest with people, in friendship and in business. And I believe that reputation is worth defending. Because although they may not post here, there are many people who read what is said here and although you may consider Getbig to be a meaningless group of "minions", I know otherwise. I count several people who I have met through this site to be among my friends, and several others with whom I have developed business relationships with. Were it not for Blockhead imploring me to send my stuff to Steve, I would never have had the opportunity to work with MD. Were it not for Lift, I wouldn't have a clue about anything relating to photography and videography. Were it not for Garraeth, I wouldn't have a SpecialEdTV.com website. Were it not for 240, I wouldn't have been featured on the front page of the New York Times and been on Good Morning America and CNN. So while you purport to be all about "positivity", you mock everyone who disagrees with you, including my "band of merry followers" without realizing that is what differentiates Getbig from MD. Getbig is a community of real people who don't have to worry about kissing each other's asses for fear of banishment. I have no power here and these people have no reason to believe me over you or Steve except for one thing: Reputation.
As for egos, the only ego bruised was Steve's when I refused to do his bidding. Offering me 1/4 of my previous fee
was an insult, but I recognized that was in retaliation for not being a "Team" player. And it made me realize that I wanted no part of that team anymore.
Finally, you are right about one thing: I do take things personally. But only because I set high standards for my personal relationships. I expected a co-worker and colleague such as yourself or Steve to call me and let me know I'm no longer needed for the radio show rather than cowardly exploiting and insulting me on the air in my absence. I expected gratitude or a kind farewell for the 26 weeks of unpaid radio appearances I provided. I expected Steve to return phone calls and emails. I expected to be treated fairly. I expected respect from those who I have shown goodwill to. So, yes, I took things personally, but only because yours and Steve's behavior were so far below my expectations.
That is my final word on this.
As for Spicy and MattC's comments about being overpaid, let me just say that each one of us has an internal value (call it self-worth) and that if you consider yourself valuable, you expect to be compensated for that value. I spent 10 hours shooting video at the Arnold and spent about 25 hours editing it. Then it took me about 5 more hours to upload the video. That's about 40 hours for $2000 or $50/hour. Not great, but not bad. A fair price in my opinion. Remember, if you don't value your time, no one else will!
