I am UMI
I am an unleased mineral interest owner. I can't help but notice the derisive comments slung my way and towards others like me. Seems industry types hurl slurs at us, particularly when business is slow, i.e., when natural gas prices tumble a bit. Yeah, no one likes them; at least, not those of us who stand to profit immensely from higher prices. In any event, back to the point. Exemplary of the childish name-calling include "parasites, goats, and freeloaders." Hmmm. Bullying is distasteful not only in school yards, but also when it arises in my adult world. It assails my sensibilities, as a hard-working landowner.
Bullying always masks what's really going on. Insecurity. On the playground, that large seemingly over-indulged fat kid who always found someone smaller to pick on seemed tough; seemed to have it all together. BUt we always learned; he did not. An overbearing father or mother. But always the child of someone whom he desperately wanted to impress, but never ever could. Usually the product of a very unhappy marriage. Sometimes divorce. Often alcoholism, whether in the open or hidden in a proverbial brown paper bag, resulted in a very unhappy childhood and produced a miserable bully of a child. There's an extraordinary book on bullies. When I remember the name, I'll post it. But, it is a scientific, psychological look into the childhood of the bullies. Put simply, it ain't pretty.
Lesson number one from the playground bully is this: never ever explain anything to a bully; never justify yourself. Waste of time. You're not dealing with a secure rational grown-up. You're dealing with an insecure child who makes no sense and is incapable of rational thought.
Bullies get older; they never grow up. They're everywhere in our adult lives. And, now, it seems, many of them are in the industry; often as middle men or hanging onto the fringes of the boy's club. But, just as they never ever saw the gleam of pride in their father's eyes; they really aren't "in" the club. They tag along. Starting out as not much more than errand boys, doing dirtier and dirtier deeds over time for their "masters," they may acquire some minor working interests. They may amass a minor leasehold area, not after diligent research, geology and thought; but simply upon direction to do so. And, they do. And, are paid with a minor working interest. They grovel at their masters' feet. And lash out at everyone else.
The simple response to a bully is to ignore him. Don't feed the troubled insecurities of the bully who just wants attention, even if negative. The same that worked on the playground; works in business, as well. In this scenario, the bully is not a co-worker or a boss. So, you don't have to finesse things to keep your life happy. It's simple. You just don't deal with a bully. You don't have to. And, you never should.
E&P is a business. Being unleased is a business decision. It has nothing to do with the hysterical whinings and accusations bantered about by the bullies. My property has been force pooled-- I cannot drill my own well; that right has been taken from me with the blessing of the Office of Conservation. So, when the bully says: go drill your own well, my response is two-fold. No thanks. I'm not a driller and in any event, I can't. When the bully says I'm freeloading or calls me some other name: my response is simple: That's nice; it's just business.
The fact of the matter is I am not a parasite or a freeloader. My land will pay its fair share of the costs of production plus a "supervision fee" to the operator. The fact of the matter is I was not offered a fair lease deal. It is my choice to lease or not to lease. That I make a choice either way does not render me a parasite or any other guttural term. That the operator made its choice to force pool my land is his choice. The office of Conservation is the operator's whipping boy: operator wants unit, operator gets it.
The nature of the business has changed in this particular play, the Haynesville Shale. The value of natural gas that this play holds is enormous. I know it. The bully knows it. The operator knows it. It would be an act of utter irresponsibility to my family, present and future, to let the bully browbeat me through half-truths and insults, to enter into a lease that simply is not fair in light of facts.
So, in the end; remember your playground lessons: the Bully is insecure; he is not an adult. This is business. It has nothing to do with biological and animal world references. The response is always: it's just business. Then, move along. Find an adult to do business with.
Bullying always masks what's really going on. Insecurity. On the playground, that large seemingly over-indulged fat kid who always found someone smaller to pick on seemed tough; seemed to have it all together. BUt we always learned; he did not. An overbearing father or mother. But always the child of someone whom he desperately wanted to impress, but never ever could. Usually the product of a very unhappy marriage. Sometimes divorce. Often alcoholism, whether in the open or hidden in a proverbial brown paper bag, resulted in a very unhappy childhood and produced a miserable bully of a child. There's an extraordinary book on bullies. When I remember the name, I'll post it. But, it is a scientific, psychological look into the childhood of the bullies. Put simply, it ain't pretty.
Lesson number one from the playground bully is this: never ever explain anything to a bully; never justify yourself. Waste of time. You're not dealing with a secure rational grown-up. You're dealing with an insecure child who makes no sense and is incapable of rational thought.
Bullies get older; they never grow up. They're everywhere in our adult lives. And, now, it seems, many of them are in the industry; often as middle men or hanging onto the fringes of the boy's club. But, just as they never ever saw the gleam of pride in their father's eyes; they really aren't "in" the club. They tag along. Starting out as not much more than errand boys, doing dirtier and dirtier deeds over time for their "masters," they may acquire some minor working interests. They may amass a minor leasehold area, not after diligent research, geology and thought; but simply upon direction to do so. And, they do. And, are paid with a minor working interest. They grovel at their masters' feet. And lash out at everyone else.
The simple response to a bully is to ignore him. Don't feed the troubled insecurities of the bully who just wants attention, even if negative. The same that worked on the playground; works in business, as well. In this scenario, the bully is not a co-worker or a boss. So, you don't have to finesse things to keep your life happy. It's simple. You just don't deal with a bully. You don't have to. And, you never should.
E&P is a business. Being unleased is a business decision. It has nothing to do with the hysterical whinings and accusations bantered about by the bullies. My property has been force pooled-- I cannot drill my own well; that right has been taken from me with the blessing of the Office of Conservation. So, when the bully says: go drill your own well, my response is two-fold. No thanks. I'm not a driller and in any event, I can't. When the bully says I'm freeloading or calls me some other name: my response is simple: That's nice; it's just business.
The fact of the matter is I am not a parasite or a freeloader. My land will pay its fair share of the costs of production plus a "supervision fee" to the operator. The fact of the matter is I was not offered a fair lease deal. It is my choice to lease or not to lease. That I make a choice either way does not render me a parasite or any other guttural term. That the operator made its choice to force pool my land is his choice. The office of Conservation is the operator's whipping boy: operator wants unit, operator gets it.
The nature of the business has changed in this particular play, the Haynesville Shale. The value of natural gas that this play holds is enormous. I know it. The bully knows it. The operator knows it. It would be an act of utter irresponsibility to my family, present and future, to let the bully browbeat me through half-truths and insults, to enter into a lease that simply is not fair in light of facts.
So, in the end; remember your playground lessons: the Bully is insecure; he is not an adult. This is business. It has nothing to do with biological and animal world references. The response is always: it's just business. Then, move along. Find an adult to do business with.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Snake Stewart on March 16, 2009 at 13:30
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Comment by danny meyers 19 hours ago
We cannot use collective bargaining like our greatgrandfathers in1920 or the neighboorhood shale groups in 2008, but we can unite and compile what information we have as individuals into a larger body of knowledge ...
Why not ? Because they said so ?
"They had a problem with groups in the past, thats why they dont want to deal with them anymore."
Well whoopi! Why do you think that groups formed in the first place ? Because mineral/land owners have had hundreds of years worth of "Bad Dealings" with the O&G's!
If the cut off number for being financially viable for a company to drill is , lets just say for discussion purposes, 86% leased. That leaves roughly 14% unleased if my math is any good. Now lets say that they already have 75% leased and need that additional 11% to put them in profit overdrive and commence drilling.
But alas.......... Every other mineral owner in the section is in one of those stinkin' greedy L/M/O groups. Are we to believe that the O&G's will surrender to loss, all of the lease holds that they have in this section because they , on a matter of principle (HA!HA!HA!), refuse to deal with groups any longer ?
Or will it just become yet another out right lie, being spooned to those that will take the time to swallow yet another helping of "fibby pudding" ? If I were a gambling man, a dare say the "fibby pudding" route , would pay more money then all the gas in the HS.
Bob,
You are 100% correct my fellow shaler/shalerette! (we must be cautious on this site anyway).
This whole thing early on , was touted as "Its just business" from many of the O&G's. Until we realized such and started making better business decissions by not taking their word on everything and accepting their lame, lowball leases. They have again had to change directions in mid stream.They seem to change their minds almost as much as my hottie wife changes shoes/blouses before we can leave the house.(That is an exorbitant amount of times, for those of you that do not know my wife)
I guess I may just have to adjust my strategy as well, in light of the current conditions. I may have to start telling all of the people in groups, "Dont sign a lease, no matter what! This is the only protection that you may have against being ripped off by the O&G's. They will take everything that you have.You and your families will be pennyless in the end, if you sign." Now that wouldnt be construed as very productive for our relationship, would it Mr/Ms O&G ? Survival of the fittest ? Thats how evolutionary models explain things.
Good post Bob. Have a good one.
P.S. If you havent read Cannies post about Lauren Shirley , read it. Life is too short. Even shorter for those that seem to want it and deserve it the most. We have made a donation to the family and are currently collecting an additional for anyone that would like to give as a group. If you would rather give via Paypal/other means , there is a link on her page.............
"Lauren is our Hero" @
www.laurenshirley.blogpost.com/
May we all be blessed enough to make a difference in this life.
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Comment by Bobi Carr ("parker") on March 16, 2009 at 5:38 -
Bob,
I only wish that I was as wise when I leased.
If I only knew what I thought I knew back then.
I wish you the best.
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Comment by Cathaus on March 16, 2009 at 4:53
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Bob: I think you are being a very wise and good steward of your land.
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Comment by Bob on March 16, 2009 at 1:48
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msfva: I am not opposed to leasing. It is just my business decision not to enter what I have determined to be an unfair lease proposition. When I say unfair, I mean in terms of my analysis of the numbers and options available to me: lease or stay unleased. I am even amenable to entering a lease with less than stellar up front bonus, but I insist on a back end, whether higher royalties upon payout or a straight up production payment due on payout. I also have decided that to lease, my business model requires mandatory drilling clauses (horizontal, that is, as it is the HS that I am interested in seeing produced) and access to geology and I want to see a drilling plan.
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Jim, you are correct; bureaucracies have no personalities. They also have no souls or hearts. This is business. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just as it's foolish to do business because you like the person the bureaucracy sends your way, it's foolish not to do business because you don't like 'em. This isn't social hour. But, I for one, will not be bullied into a business decision nor will I be cajoled into one, either. The mantra is simple: it's just business.
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Comment by msfva on March 16, 2009 at 1:27
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Bob,
You made the choice that is right for you. Stick with it and don't apologize. Many of us support you fully. You could help the rest of us if you would keep a blog of any difficulties you have in getting what you are owed, and how you solved any problems that may come up. Good luck.
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Comment by danny meyers on March 15, 2009 at 16:58
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Rallying cry from the year 1920 (workers of the world unite). Rallying shout for the year 2009 (haynesville shale unleased mineral owners unite). We cannot use collective bargaining like our greatgrandfathers in1920 or the neighboorhood shale groups in 2008, but we can unite and compile what information we have as individuals into a larger body of knowledge that collectively, perhaps we can piece together enough information to contend with the energy companies that want 75% of our minerals and the bar association members that want 33 and 1/3% of our mineral income. Let's utilize this forum to educate each other. The previous post contains a great deal of very important and very valuable information.Thanks KB you are like lighthouse helping guide ships at sea.
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Comment by lanadan Ds3 on March 14, 2009 at 0:39
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Your entry is spot on, Bob, but be ready, my friend. Those who consider an UMO to be a "bottom-feeder" (at best) may come at you with all sorts of ridiculous assertions (possibly with boo-koo's of jerrymandered data), and no doubt some less than courteous remarks.
I know, because I too am, -- and do I dare utter the words? -- (and maybe the children and faint-at-heart need to leave the room at this point), an UMO! That's right, an UNLEASED MINERAL/LAND OWNER!! There -- I've said it. But I promise you, I say this WITHOUT any apologies.
Regretably, however, I have been subjected to any number of less than kind words in reference to my CHOICE not to enter into a lease whose terms I consider utterly one-sided (in favor, or course, of the lessee), and because I have insisted on I what I consider to be REASONABLE provisions that protect my land's naural beauty (as much as possible). I have been called (jokingly I think) a "tree-hugger" because of this position, and, quite frankly, chuckle at this descriptive term as I DO like trees. Maybe 2G Oil (I think I got that handle right) and Jay M. need to go out and make today a "HUG A TREE" day. Go ahead, guys, get up close and personal with nature -- it'll make you feel better!!
Furthermore, I have been referred to, among other things, as a freeloader, goat (haven't figured that one out yet), and yes, a PARASITE!! Again, all because I have elected to remain an UMO at this stage of the "game". Parasite? Hmmmm. I wondered just exactly what the dictionary definition of a parasite was, so I consulted Mr. Webster.
PARASITE: ". . . something that exists by taking from or depending on another. . ."
Synonym: ". . . deadbeat, leech, sponge, hanger-on, BLOODSUCKER . . . "
Ah, that's it! There you have it folks, -- that's me all right -- a BLOODSUCKER! Oh for the shame of it all! The shame, I tell ya'! I can hardly stand it! (Yuk-Yuk!) My imagination starts to run wild at this point. If we were in colonial times, let's say, I would be branded with a hot iron on the cheek just to the right of the nose for all the world to see -- the dreaded "SCARLET LETTER"! Not an "A" (for you-know-what), but rather a "B"! And, after given a time in the "stocks", to repent I suppose, I would be forced to walk thru town with a sign hung around my neck saying, "BLOODSUKER -- BLOODSUCKER"!!
And all this time I thought I was only a litle ole' lady living out in the country hoping someday to have cat, puppy-dog and perhaps a few chickens for companionship. Not bothern' anybody, just a quiet genteel soul who really NEVER asked for all this Haynesville Shale hoopla to begin with!
But back to the point. I have found that when a person is engaged in an adversarial relationship with another (be it in a conversation, on a debating stage, or in a courtroom), and your adversary can't win on the MERITS of the argument, that party usually does one of two things (and sometime both). That is, they will either throw so much wordage and basically unsound information out that the issue is totally confused, or, at worst I think, they will attack the intelligence and/or the integrity of the person they are dealing with.
Take heart, however, as it is STILL true today what Ben Franklin once said, ". . . the person who starts slinging mud, starts to lose ground . . .!
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Comment by sesport on March 13, 2009 at 15:14
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Bob - Thank you for the POV from a UMI. I have read through many topics here on GHS and have seen some of the dialogue of which you speak. Whether it's directed at or fired from a RIm a UMI, a not yet leased or one with ties to the industry I never know though. I do not have personal knowledge of the members' status, nor of their intentions. Especially since this is a "virtual world" and anybody can be somebody, or not. At times when I have read hostile, demeaning language, I've asked, "What gives?" and attempted to tone it down.
As for who's truly associated with whom, that's a shot in the dark. But I agree that a perception, which may or may not be accurate, can spread like ants in an anthill. It's important to keep one's head, and own counsel, when forming impressions of the members here.
And, as has been said here many times, if you feel you have been targeted ask that person directly what their intent is. Sometimes it's word choice, sometimes it's the frame of mind we're in, sometimes it's influence. Without theatrical directions in comments, sometimes we just don't know another posters tone or intent.
Most certainly, do not tolerate it, though, if you feel targeted. And, yes, ignoring abusive posts/posters is an effective strategy for dealing with verbal bullies. We also now have more moderators than before ... go to one of them, make your case and ask their opinion. Hopefully they can view it through objective eyes, and we won't have to lose yet another member as everyone here is valued. Each person has come to this place for a reason and purpose, sometimes clear to others and sometimes not. Sometimes applauded by others, sometimes disdained. But as fellow human beings, we all deserve to be treated equitably and with respect.
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