[meteorite-list] A Letter change title to "a shut in's life"

From: Tom aka James Knudson <knudson911_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:28:28 2004
Message-ID: <00ad01c392cf$c2e85f00$86cc43d8_at_malcolm>

David, They say Americans do not get enough fiber in their diets, That
could be it, I am going to eat a bowl of Cheerios right now! : )
Thanks, Tom
Peregrineflier <><
The proudest member of the IMCA 6168
----- Original Message -----
From: David Freeman <dfreeman_at_fascination.com>
To: Tom aka James Knudson <knudson911_at_frontiernet.net>
Cc: <mmorgan_at_mhmeteorites.com>; almitt <almitt@kconline.com>;
<meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 8:23 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] A Letter change title to "a shut in's life"


> Dear Tom, and List;
> It must be Mars proximity, the war, season's change, the world series.
> All crabby-appleton's, don't be such a bunch of shut in's and give the
> list and your emotions a break. Go for a walk even. Try more fiber in
> your diet, geese, what ever works for you, works for me.
> Encouragement to carry on "as is"! Hell, the stock market is basically
> good, be happy.
> It MUST be five o'clock somewhere!
> Dave F. :-) :-) :-) ...hell, I just joined the AARP, I should be
> sad! Let's eat more oatmeal, every day.
>
> Tom aka James Knudson wrote:
>
> >Hello List, I happen to love the list, but I have noticed something. If I
> >post something about ebay, I get A LOT of responses, some agreeing, but
> >most telling me to stop posting things not pertaining to meteorites. I
> >happen to think Ebay is a huge part of our hobby, but I will no longer
post
> >anything about ebay for the good of the list.
> > But what I find funny, is when I do post something meteorite related,
such
> >as a question, I am lucky to get a few responses, if any! So, what is it
> >the list members want? I would bet all of the longest treads are about
non
> >meteorite related subjects!
> >
> >Thanks, Tom
> >Peregrineflier <><
> >The proudest member of the IMCA 6168
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Matt Morgan <mmorgan_at_mhmeteorites.com>
> >To: almitt <almitt_at_kconline.com>; <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
> >Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 5:51 PM
> >Subject: RE: [meteorite-list] A Letter From Blaine Reed
> >
> >
> >>There it is. Blaine said it for me.
> >>matt
> >>
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: meteorite-list-admin_at_meteoritecentral.com
> >>[mailto:meteorite-list-admin_at_meteoritecentral.com]On Behalf Of almitt
> >>Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 6:39 PM
> >>To: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> >>Subject: [meteorite-list] A Letter From Blaine Reed
> >>
> >>
> >>Hi list,
> >>
> >>Blaine has asked me to post a message he has been trying to get to the
> >>
> >list
> >
> >>for two
> >>days in regards to the recent fighting. Since he has no internet access
I
> >>have agreed
> >>to post his remarks. I am simply putting this on for him and responses
can
> >>go to the
> >>list but I hope all this will die down now. Blaine in my opinion is a
> >>
> >super
> >
> >>sharp guy
> >>and has a better feeling for the meteorite market than most people. I
> >>
> >think
> >
> >>listening
> >>to his good advise is wise. All my best to everyone.
> >>
> >>--AL Mitterling
> >>
> >>From Blaine:
> >>
> >>ENOUGH ALREADY,
> >>
> >> All of these ridiculous threats, accusations and ego battles must stop.
> >>They are
> >>destroying the hobby! Every time there is some kind of flare up on the
> >>
> >list,
> >
> >>I get
> >>phone calls from collectors asking to be dropped from my customer list
> >>
> >(and
> >
> >>from the
> >>number of long term collectors I no longer hear from I suspect many more
> >>
> >are
> >
> >>taking a
> >>more passive route to the same ends). When I ask why, they have all said
> >>
> >the
> >
> >>same
> >>thing; "I am no longer collecting meteorites". They tend to say that it
is
> >>no longer
> >>fun or enjoyable. When pressed further, they have pointed to the list
for
> >>their new
> >>found distaste of meteorites. While this may be well and fine for some
of
> >>us, as often
> >>these people also want to liquidate their collections, it bodes the
> >>
> >decline
> >
> >>of the
> >>hobby. Let's look at this "hobby" thing. Some of you may find it
> >>distasteful that I'm
> >>putting meteorites in this realm. But, what is a hobby really about? It
> >>generally is
> >>something (almost anything - mountain climbing and flying ultra-lights
are
> >>
> >a
> >
> >>couple of
> >>mine) that brings relaxation or expands your mind to consider other
things
> >>(meteorites
> >>fit more into this aspect). Generally it is something that takes your
mind
> >>off of the
> >>day to day troubles of the real world.
> >>
> >> Let us now consider how "the list" might be affecting this. The average
> >>person has
> >>plenty to worry about; politics and headaches at work (or more common
> >>lately, whether
> >>they'll even have a job next month), car troubles, problems with some
> >>neighbors, their
> >>kids, schools, etc. Life these days is often fast paced and difficult.
Now
> >>suppose our
> >>"average collector" comes home from a long difficult day at work and
finds
> >>plenty
> >>headaches (the car is damaged, junior is failing math, etc.) waiting
> >>
> >there.
> >
> >>After
> >>awhile our collector goes off to the computer for a little escape to
feel
> >>more in
> >>contact with their hobby (and less with the real world). How long do you
> >>suppose this
> >>person will last as a collector if, when he turns on his computer, all
he
> >>gets is the
> >>evils of the real world dumped in his lap, and often in a more magnified
> >>form then
> >>they would likely ever experience in the real world (it's strange, but
> >>
> >I've
> >
> >>observed
> >>some of the most vicious people behind a computer a computer key board
are
> >>some of the
> >>funniest, nicest people you could meet in person)? Chances are, at the
> >>
> >point
> >
> >>they find
> >>that their hobby seems to be adding to their stress instead of reducing
> >>
> >it,
> >
> >>they will
> >>move onto greener pastures.
> >>
> >>I know, many of you are thinking right now B.S.. Anybody who is on the
> >>
> >list
> >
> >>is a grown
> >>person and likely a seasoned collector, so they can handle these mental
> >>assaults. My
> >>response is Wrong! Though the people who regularly post to the list may
be
> >>so, a fair
> >>number of the observers are likely new to the hobby (in today's world,
it
> >>seems the
> >>first thing someone does when they get interested in a new hobby is sign
> >>
> >up
> >
> >>for a
> >>related chat room to learn more). I even suspect there are many
beginning
> >>(and a fair
> >>number of non beginning) collectors who would like to post questions to
> >>
> >the
> >
> >>list but
> >>dare not for fear of being shouted down as a moron or just plain made to
> >>look foolish
> >>for exposing their ignorance.
> >> So what can be done? At this point it is an extremely difficult
problem.
> >>There are
> >>many possible answers. The people involved could be drafted to help, as
it
> >>takes both
> >>an instigator and a responder to have a full-fledged fight. I realize it
> >>
> >is
> >
> >>not very
> >>realistic to expect someone to be silent after someone has slammed them,
> >>
> >but
> >
> >>there
> >>would be no battles if they did. Asking people about other lists (in
other
> >>fields and
> >>hobbies) has indicated to me that lists that have no or very limited
> >>oversight tend to
> >>rapidly breakdown into an ugly battle-zone. So, the most obvious answer
to
> >>the problem
> >>is to have a dedicated moderator. If there is no such person now, then
one
> >>needs to be
> >>found (and if one cannot be found then it is my opinion that it would be
> >>best for
> >>everyone to simply shut the list down, a measure I truly hope doesn't
have
> >>to come to
> >>any real consideration). Their job would be to make certain that
anything
> >>that even
> >>whiffs of being a threat, attack or slanderous statement never makes it
to
> >>the public
> >>eye. To make their job easier in the long run, they may find it
beneficial
> >>to remove
> >>those people that seem determined to regularly attempt to post such
> >>
> >things.
> >
> >>I realize
> >>that many may see this as the evil CENSORSHIP, but for the long-term
good
> >>
> >of
> >
> >>the hobby
> >>it is necessary (and on a personal note, I don't believe "freedom of
> >>
> >speech"
> >
> >>is a
> >>valid excuse to ignore this job). The list should be a place for honest
> >>questions,
> >>answers and information about meteorites, not a forum for flagrant
> >>self-promotion and
> >>damaging personal attacks.
> >>
> >>I know I am likely just digging my own grave that much quicker having
this
> >>posted. The
> >>rare times in the past I have had to post something I have lost
customers
> >>
> >in
> >
> >>droves
> >>(likely those that may have considered my arguments to be against their
> >>views). But,
> >>if nothing is said, nothing can be considered or, better yet, changed.
If
> >>nothing is
> >>done, there likely won't be much left of the hobby and I'll be out of
> >>business anyway.
> >>My hope is that some of the many of you that have expressed these same
> >>opinions to me
> >>in private (but wouldn't post them) will now come out of hiding. Oh,
> >>
> >that's
> >
> >>right,
> >>that is not likely. These are the people that have pretty much quit the
> >>hobby, dropped
> >>from or ignore the list and will not see this.
> >>
> >>Blaine Reed
> >>
> >>
> >>______________________________________________
> >>Meteorite-list mailing list
> >>Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> >>http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>______________________________________________
> >>Meteorite-list mailing list
> >>Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> >>http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >______________________________________________
> >Meteorite-list mailing list
> >Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> >http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> >
> >
>
>
>
Received on Tue 14 Oct 2003 11:52:29 PM PDT