> To offer another side to an otherwise one-sided scandal I will go
> against my better intuitions and offer my voice here. Truly I feel that
> gossip and rumors say more about the one doing the gossiping than the
> one they discuss, but in this instance some of what is discussed is
> based on fact, though exaggerated, and my own faults should be made
> public.
>
> Yes I did start an online review and tea website called "Aroma
> Serene." In the beginning, I think my intentions were very good. I
> didn't really need the money, as I am already a successful school
> teacher. (*Gasp* a school teacher of little children, yes. And contrary
> to the rumors, I also don't have horns either) I sold tea to ONLY two
> individuals, Mike Petro and a man named Gerald. Both orders were just a
> few samples and totaled around 30$, including the 13 dollars or so for
> air-shipping from Taiwan. The teas were authentic and vintage 60's
> teas, though they had indeed spent time in wet storage. However, that
> kind of tea is misunderstood in the West, I have since learned, and not
> appreciated the way it is here. Anyway, neither of them liked the tea
> and they are definitely entitled to their personal opinions. I also
> don't wish to dispute the teas again, please.
>
> I then closed shop for two reasons: One reason was that I saw that they
> had not appreciated the tea I had access to. The second was that I
> noticed in myself that my good intentions to share tea culture had
> indeed been affected by Greed. I did begin thinking about selling the
> teas, and the cakes were approximately 300 dollars (though I never sold
> one) and I would have had about 50 dollars profit from each one. I
> planned to spend the money on more tea for myself. When I recognized
> that emotion in myself, I decided the endeavor wasn't healthy. It was
> wrong to let money pollute one of the great passions of my life.
>
> I had indeed asked a friend to send a "schill" to Mr. Mike Petro to
> come to the website and it was dishonest and wrong. I also did in fact
> publish a few of Gerald's emails to me on my site, but it was more
> out of ignorance to the mores of internet culture than a desire to
> deceive anyone. When he mentioned it, I immediately removed them. For
> both of these wrongs I here publicly apologize. I am sorry.
>
> And if you are thinking that this public apology is too little too
> late, I should like to tell you that some months ago I already
> apologized to both of these individuals privately. I sent both of them
> boxes containing a heartfelt apology, hand painted calligraphy I did
> myself, some nice porcelain cups and over 20 bags with 10-15 gram
> samples of some vintage Puerhs and aged oolongs each. It cost me quite
> a bit, but obviously wasn't enough?
>
> Then, some months later someone was posting information on a forum and
> Mike Petro accused me of doing this and of having lots of email
> addresses, etc. His evidence for accusing me was that his team of
> "PhD linguists" had analyzed the blog posts and discovered that it
> matched my prose. The other evidence was that some photos were used
> that had also been used on my website Aroma Serene. I am a part of a
> group of hundreds of tea-lovers that share tea and meditation together
> and the pictures came from that group. They are public property.
> Nevertheless, I understand that I will be faulted for this too and
> regardless of my involvement or not, will indeed be blamed. I can
> accept that. After all, I am here admitting to guilt that Mike Petro
> never has, and his word is of greater weight in this environment. It is
> foolish, immature and downright silly to speak on it anymore. None of
> these people that slander me have ever met me or even spoken to me. I
> exchanged a total of 2-3 emails with Gerald and about 5-10 with Mike.
> That's it. I have never had any contact with any others here (I
> think).
>
> If your world is so black and white that you think mistakes turn
> people into sleazy and dastardly devils whose only intention in life is
> to hurt others, you've been watching too many cartoons. I'll spare
> you the suspense and tell you now publicly and without shame that I am
> a sinner. I have done wrong in my life. Sometimes I am angry, sometimes
> naughty, I have lied; but I have also done good, sometimes I'm a good
> friend, husband and/or father, sometimes I do well by my students. If
> you wish to hate me, you may; but I don't hate any of you, even Mike
> or Gerald who are only expressing that they felt wronged.
>
> Finally, I would say at last that judging a magazine based on one of
> its editors is equally driven by a love for tabloidish scandal and
> immaturity. I am but one of a huge staff of people here, and also but
> one of hundreds of authors that will be represented. The first issue
> has 25 or so articles and only 1 was written by me. Feel free not to
> read it or to criticize it to shreds. When you buy a new computer you
> choose a brand based on what's in the computer and how it runs, not
> whether you like the CEO of HP or Apple better! Diversity makes any
> publication good, newspaper or magazine. I am not The Art of Tea
> Magazine and it is not me. The magazine will speak for itself, and it
> is. We already have had thousands of pre-orders in Asia and have had
> more than 200 positive emails about subscription and distribution from
> many Western countries, including two major bookstore chains that are
> considering it for retail on their shelves. Judging the magazine based
> on me personally or my past mistakes is silly, and only prevents you
> from sharing in on all the hundreds of Chinese authors that will now be
> translated for you, and who have never done anything to you.
>
> As for the financial backing, my bosses, knowing me: of course they do.
> Unlike Mike Petro or Gerald, they have spent considerable time working
> with me and enjoying tea in our free time. These guys have been in this
> business for twenty years. They are very smart and wouldn't hire
> someone that was lying to them, nor would they be fooled culturally as
> communication isn't a problem between us. And that is the sad thing
> about all this silliness, if Mike, Gerald and I met randomly and
> anonymously in person, I'm sure we'd get along great and be good
> friends.
>
> Whether you want to check the magazine out or not is up to. We will
> have avenues for you to criticize it and voice your opinions too. But I
> wish you well in tea and ask forgiveness for my part in any
> misunderstanding with any individuals anywhere. I honestly wish no hard
> feelings, even all business aside. If you cannot forgive me, there is
> nothing else I can offer beyond my apology and admittance of the guilty
> part I played in any of this.
>
> Aaron Fisher