I put a post on Facebook a day or two ago and the comments I received showed the many angles people are choosing to view this from, and also some rather telling and consistent lack of attention paid by a few "big wigs," to what was actually said.  I had some critical things to say, said what they did was hypocritical, that they should have released the information, even though I personally don't find it necessary, and said if they would actually provide some context to this named patterns monster they created, that people could actually learn something, bowling could move forward, and the tournament could grow instead of pissing off thousands of people for zero reason.

The most predictable responses I received were from industry "big shots," who number one read very little of what I actually said, and what little they read was interpreted wrong, so far as to somehow think that I was insinuating the exact opposite of what I was.  "They gave reasons for why they did what they did, negativity doesn't help, if you always look for negativity you'll find it, if you think the only way to learn bowling is from a lane graph, you're sadly mistaken, and if there's something you don't like, then you can just choose not to participate."

Then there were random excuses about why bowling is going downhill, and all of this adds up to the key critical flaws with USBC.  First, nobody listens.  They have decided how they think it should be, and are pushing in that direction.  They're selling what they want to sell rather than what the customer wants to buy.  Second, if you're not on board, you can just leave.  That's the attitude that will grow the sport, telling people to piss off if they aren't happy, not to mention insanely negative.  Third, what I said wasn't negative, it was critical, and finished with saying "if these issues are resolved, bowling can move forward."  Is that not a positive attitude?  Saying if these issues are resolved then things will get better? 

Most damning of all perhaps is the hypocrisy they created.  15 years now they've been beating these named patterns into our head, there are thousands and thousands who have been brainwashed into thinking that the pattern is the single most important and critical part of success at a tournament.  As soon as someone announces a tournament, what question do they get bombarded with?  What is the pattern . . but throughout all this nonsense, they've failed to provide context or the importance isn't give to what little context has been provided.  "Well there's a lot of stuff that affects ball reaction, but THE PATTERN . ."  They used to have videos on youtube specifically announcing and presenting the patterns for nationals and breaking them down.  It's been pushed and pushed and pushed that knowledge and information and preparation and the pattern most of all are the critical keys to success and then they WITHHELD THE INFORMATION.  What the hell did they expect would happen?  Not only that, they removed a major amount of exposure, namely the live streams.  Thousands of people were upset over what really amounts to nothing more than perception. 

I get what they were going for with patterns, but they executed it wrong.  Of course, if they'd executed it right, the marketing angle they were going for wouldn't have worked.  "Look, we have named patterns, but in all reality, there are so many factors that influence ball motion that paying too much attention to the numbers on the graph really doesn't tell the whole story, but look, named patterns!!!"  They absolutely shot themselves in the foot for no reason because they were more concerned with marketing and image than actual knowledge and information, and their answer to criticism is to not listen, not pay attention, turtle up, and say, "well if you don't like it, just go away," because they have convinced themselves that anything that isn't stroking their ego is negative, and people who are negative are holding back bowling, and for bowling to be successful, those people need to leave.  They truly and honestly think they're doing bowling a favor by running people off, or rather their vision for bowling I suppose.  They don't seem to understand that the people who are the most critical are often the people who care the most.  How do you make something better?  Find and address or resolve issues and weaknesses.  There are huge holes in the bottom of the boat and they're getting mad at the people pointing those out because they're too busy admiring how pretty the sails are. 

3 things for the future.  Information needs to be provided, context needs to be given, exposure needs to be increased.  You tell ANY ANY ANY business person, "hey, so our plan for success is to restrict as much information and visibility as possible, and the best way to get people of all ages and skill levels to attend our OPEN tournament is to have professionals leaving saying it's the hardest condition they've ever bowled on."  The sharks on Shark Tank would have a field day. 

Final question, is complaining about negativity or being negative about negativity actual negativity in and of itself? 

^^^^^