Vespadition is Over: Too Many Weird Stories

teacherquinn · Post by **teacherquinn** » Mon May 26, 2008 5:31 pm

Please see the thread on MV regarding Vespadition.

http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/topic26118.html

KRUSTYburger · Post by **KRUSTYburger** » Mon May 26, 2008 5:42 pm

Dang I read a little while ago... crazy and weird.

r0sa · Post by **r0sa** » Mon May 26, 2008 5:49 pm

wow that sucks!

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Mon May 26, 2008 9:15 pm

It would suck if it were true. All that is out there is someone posting info without any concrete evidence.

Dave

nissanman · Post by **nissanman** » Mon May 26, 2008 10:58 pm

Where's Dateline when you need em?

nissanman · Post by **nissanman** » Mon May 26, 2008 11:02 pm

True, False or a shade of grey... it makes for an interesting story

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Mon May 26, 2008 11:30 pm

For you folks who are new to scootering, this kind of thing happens from time to time. We're a small community, sort of like a virtual small town, and there is always some drama going on somewhere. That's why they call it "Scooter Drama." The best thing to do is the same as in any small town. Don't get caught up in somebody else's drama because you really don't want them to caught up in yours...

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Tue May 27, 2008 1:08 am

wow, what a drag.

Alix B · Post by **Alix B** » Tue May 27, 2008 2:36 am

I posted my reply on MV and will place it here also. It is long. My day has been long and most of it has gone into discussion about this situation. I am done with it now, and hoping with all my heart that the truth can be determined.

Welcome to the internet 2008.
All of those who had a good experience with Peter are trying to communicate it via the internet.
Those who had a bad experience are trying to communicate it via the internet.
Peter is trying to defend himself on his website, via the internet.
We are using the internet as a tool to call into question someone's character. Perhaps he turned a new leaf from these claims made against him. Awesome. It would have been nice for him to admit them then and illustrate how he learned enough from that path to walk (or scoot) this one.

I beg you to ask important questions. How would we REALLY know what is going on?
Of course some people had a good experience with him. That doesn't mean somebody didn't have a terrible one with him.
This isn't about just chasing women or how he enjoys his sex, be it missionary or BDSM. So what. You have to be a little twisted to ride this distance.
It is about how some women, around the globe, say he treated them. Whether or not you like to chase some ass, hey I do too, think about your little sister, if you have one. Would you be cool about her date if more than 10 people came forward with claims to their intentions?
Based on the information I've seen on a webserver-I don't think people just conjure up that crap. There is a pretty serious data out there on him. And there are sources who are terrified. Trust me, my head is reeling from it. Why would someone just invent stuff about some dude riding a Vespa 40,000 miles? To have an enemy who would randomly do that would indicate something rather dark.
Why are women coming forward to say these things?
I imagine if someone had been violated and taken for a lot of money that they might feel their safety is compromised.
I do know that women remain rather silent about their predators. Most women you know have been violated in some way, trust me. There is often a shame involved with not just being taken for a ride but also a fear in knowing that to tell someone could result in a violent reciprocation or mere scorn.

In fact most of us are remaining rather silent in general-those of us who have seen the links sent to us. I don't see those links posted here. There is a respect to him. People are asking him to come forward.

I personally feel a bit creeped out and unsafe. I do not want to say very much because I am riding alone and feel my safety is compromised.
I suppose some of the silence among us has to do with the fact that we feel a bit taken-very smart, generous people.
Peter contacted me back in February and I remember being so f*ng excited when I heard about his ride. As the months have gone on, several small things began to not add up. I never once thought them worth mentioning-I believed it was up to people to draw conclusions on their own.
People who know him well are saying " The more I review my own dealings with him against accounts of events from others the more I become aware that I was being conned"

There are things happening behind the scenes and thank you to those considering that.
I know this because I too had been sent an email yesterday. I responded to it by saying, "Hey, my interactions with this guy have been pretty decent and I believe in innocence until proven guilty." It was anonymous and so I asked the person to actually call me and discuss these things.

I have spent hours in various conversation with people today, who have been involved with Peter. For one, his website designer. Who has supported him on a daily basis; including tech, logistic and financial support. To a very grand total. I wish she would post here and i will encourage her to do so if it helps solve the debate. Although, there really doesn't need to be any. If he felt none of this was true, why walk away? Something was probably going on that most of us don't know.

There are strange things my friends. Strange enough to warrant a deep look and honest dialogue, maybe here, but probably not.

I really appreciate some of the comments that have come up here. Like inviting Peter to speak, numerous times. Or hoping that he seek help. There are people demonstrating compassion to him. This is what he hoped to promote. Those ideas kindness, compassion and volunteerism, are noble and just. Everyone responded to this because the message is pure. What is in question is the messenger. I do not know how someone couldn't speak of those things daily without being affected in some small way. Perhaps none of the claims are true. Either way he did open many peoples minds and they should stay open. Perhaps this was the kind of ride that he needed to make in order to have an awakening himself. It definitely isn't f*ng easy to do.

I would like to comment more, but I can't. I hope that these comments are helpful. Otherwise, I won't be able to check in and defend myself-I'm on a ride too. And it's legit. I do like to drink beer but you don't have to buy it for me. Although that would be nice. If it comes down to a choice, I would rather you donate it to the non profits I'm raising money for.
Peace!

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Tue May 27, 2008 7:27 am

Alix,
Be careful out there, sweetie. You're pretty important to a number of us.

--Keys

louie · Post by **louie** » Tue May 27, 2008 12:12 pm

Keys wrote:Alix,
Be careful out there, sweetie. You're pretty important to a number of us.

--Keys

second that Alix. we know you're real deal, the history with volunteering to those in need prove that and your words speak volumes. take care,

Janine

GaryEPSP · Post by **GaryEPSP** » Tue May 27, 2008 2:06 pm

Right on, Alix. Your track record is tried and true. I've donated to your cause and will do so again.

macgawd · Post by **macgawd** » Tue May 27, 2008 2:47 pm

I guess I don't understand what's going on here. What exactly did this Peter guy do (or not do)? Sounds like he told a bunch of people he wanted to ride a Vespa cross-country to raise awareness for something or other, and got these same people to donate a scooter and money to do it--what exactly did he promise in return?

No offense to those who donate to such things, but if someone approached me (stranger, family or friend) and hinted that they wanted me to give them money so that they could ride a scoot across country to raise "awareness" for some cause, I'd tell them to go get a job. I work hard for my money, so I donate only to registered charitable organizations who do tangible work, and are held accountable for the money donated to them--not to people who want to travel the country on someone else's dime.

I'm having trouble feeling sympathy for anyone who may have been conned by this guy.

=M=

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Tue May 27, 2008 3:36 pm

macgawd wrote:I'm having trouble feeling sympathy for anyone who may have been conned by this guy.

You're welcome to your opinions and you're welcome to philanthropize in any way you like, but I don't think there's any need to rub salt in the wounds of the people that feel cheated by Vespadition, or to imply that it's inconceivable that one person can't make some sort of difference without a huge, bloated charity behind them (I, for one, prefer NOT to give money to large organizations, because they spend more of it on fundraising than they do on activism).

Please be a little more considerate about others' feelings.

Thanks.

Bb.

GaryEPSP · Post by **GaryEPSP** » Tue May 27, 2008 3:42 pm

Die, damn thread, die!

Post by **ericalm** » Tue May 27, 2008 3:56 pm

I don't really want to rehash all the details of the Vespadition debacle because, well, I'm not familiar with all the charges, accusations and defenses. The whole thing's very convoluted and involved. The discussion is being played out elsewhere, and this just isn't the place because I don't want this forum getting dragged into the drama too.

BUT, in defense of anyone who donated to Vespadition, the whole thing appeared very legitimate and he had lined up a number of sponsors. Those who met him along the way often had favorable things to say about him. Even those who were careful and did a little digging could have come out thinking he was legit. If this whole thing was a scam on some level, people didn't get conned because they were gullible. They got conned because they're altruistic and if he is indeed a con man, he's a very good one.

So yeah, I feel bad for anyone who tries to do good with their money and gets ripped off, whether by Vespadition or someone else. That's quite a bit different than the people who get ripped off thanks to their own greed. That Nigerian prince will never deliver!

macgawd · Post by **macgawd** » Tue May 27, 2008 4:27 pm

illnoise wrote:Please be a little more considerate about others' feelings.

Thanks.

Bb.

It certainly wasn't my intention to single anyone out, or rub salt in anyone's wounds. But the fact remains that we're all adults here (presumably), and there's an inherent risk anytime you take it upon yourself to trust another human being with...well, anything.

Reading through all the drama, I still can't find what exactly this guy did that was wrong.

=M=

ERik3tb · Post by **ERik3tb** » Tue May 27, 2008 6:05 pm

macgawd wrote:
Reading through all the drama, I still can't find what exactly this guy did that was wrong.

=M=

That is something we average joe's may never know.

But I was able to find this on another forum.

Vespadition VTO Official statement
http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/topic26164.html

macgawd · Post by **macgawd** » Tue May 27, 2008 6:16 pm

Ride for "Kindness, Compassion and Volunteerism"? Seriously?

So essentially, people donated hard earned money, equipment, scooters, living space, and God knows what else, so some dude could bum across the country to "promote" these abstract philosophical concepts?

P.T. Barnum was right.

=M=

Post by **ericalm** » Tue May 27, 2008 7:34 pm

Sigh.

I'm locking this thread because it's neither informative, salient, or even entertaining. 99% of the people with an opinion on this matter have no idea what really happened and I'm tired of reading too many ill-informed takes on the debacle.

This is all being played out elsewhere on the 'Net, so if you feel a deep need to be involved in the shit stirring, mudslinging and so on, I'm sure you can find a more appropriate place to do so.