[meteorite-list] A Letter From Blaine Reed
From: Randy Mils <acculabs_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:28:28 2004 Message-ID: <BAY2-F64BnOw8IqLZxL0000f62e_at_hotmail.com> <html><div style='background-color:'><DIV> <P>Do you really not have a clue as to why this happens? Think about it a while.</P> <P>Randy<BR></P></DIV> <DIV></DIV>>From: "Tom aka James Knudson" <KNUDSON911_at_FRONTIERNET.NET> <DIV></DIV>>To: <MMORGAN_at_MHMETEORITES.COM>, "almitt" <ALMITT@KCONLINE.COM>,<METEORITE-LIST@METEORITECENTRAL.COM> <DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] A Letter From Blaine Reed <DIV></DIV>>Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 19:43:28 -0700 <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Hello List, I happen to love the list, but I have noticed something. If I <DIV></DIV>>post something about ebay, I get A LOT of responses, some agreeing, but <DIV></DIV>>most telling me to stop posting things not pertaining to meteorites. I <DIV></DIV>>happen to think Ebay is a huge part of our hobby, but I will no longer post <DIV></DIV>>anything about ebay for the good of the list. <DIV></DIV>> But what I find funny, is when I do post something meteorite related, such <DIV></DIV>>as a question, I am lucky to get a few responses, if any! So, what is it <DIV></DIV>>the list members want? I would bet all of the longest treads are about non <DIV></DIV>>meteorite related subjects! <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Thanks, Tom <DIV></DIV>>Peregrineflier <>< <DIV></DIV>>The proudest member of the IMCA 6168 <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>----- Original Message ----- <DIV></DIV>>From: Matt Morgan <MMORGAN_at_MHMETEORITES.COM> <DIV></DIV>>To: almitt <ALMITT_at_KCONLINE.COM>; <METEORITE-LIST@METEORITECENTRAL.COM> <DIV></DIV>>Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 5:51 PM <DIV></DIV>>Subject: RE: [meteorite-list] A Letter From Blaine Reed <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> > There it is. Blaine said it for me. <DIV></DIV>> > matt <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > -----Original Message----- <DIV></DIV>> > From: meteorite-list-admin_at_meteoritecentral.com <DIV></DIV>> > [mailto:meteorite-list-admin_at_meteoritecentral.com]On Behalf Of almitt <DIV></DIV>> > Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 6:39 PM <DIV></DIV>> > To: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com <DIV></DIV>> > Subject: [meteorite-list] A Letter From Blaine Reed <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > Hi list, <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > Blaine has asked me to post a message he has been trying to get to the <DIV></DIV>>list <DIV></DIV>> > for two <DIV></DIV>> > days in regards to the recent fighting. Since he has no internet access I <DIV></DIV>> > have agreed <DIV></DIV>> > to post his remarks. I am simply putting this on for him and responses can <DIV></DIV>> > go to the <DIV></DIV>> > list but I hope all this will die down now. Blaine in my opinion is a <DIV></DIV>>super <DIV></DIV>> > sharp guy <DIV></DIV>> > and has a better feeling for the meteorite market than most people. I <DIV></DIV>>think <DIV></DIV>> > listening <DIV></DIV>> > to his good advise is wise. All my best to everyone. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > --AL Mitterling <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > From Blaine: <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > ENOUGH ALREADY, <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > All of these ridiculous threats, accusations and ego battles must stop. <DIV></DIV>> > They are <DIV></DIV>> > destroying the hobby! Every time there is some kind of flare up on the <DIV></DIV>>list, <DIV></DIV>> > I get <DIV></DIV>> > phone calls from collectors asking to be dropped from my customer list <DIV></DIV>>(and <DIV></DIV>> > from the <DIV></DIV>> > number of long term collectors I no longer hear from I suspect many more <DIV></DIV>>are <DIV></DIV>> > taking a <DIV></DIV>> > more passive route to the same ends). When I ask why, they have all said <DIV></DIV>>the <DIV></DIV>> > same <DIV></DIV>> > thing; "I am no longer collecting meteorites". They tend to say that it is <DIV></DIV>> > no longer <DIV></DIV>> > fun or enjoyable. When pressed further, they have pointed to the list for <DIV></DIV>> > their new <DIV></DIV>> > found distaste of meteorites. While this may be well and fine for some of <DIV></DIV>> > us, as often <DIV></DIV>> > these people also want to liquidate their collections, it bodes the <DIV></DIV>>decline <DIV></DIV>> > of the <DIV></DIV>> > hobby. Let's look at this "hobby" thing. Some of you may find it <DIV></DIV>> > distasteful that I'm <DIV></DIV>> > putting meteorites in this realm. But, what is a hobby really about? It <DIV></DIV>> > generally is <DIV></DIV>> > something (almost anything - mountain climbing and flying ultra-lights are <DIV></DIV>>a <DIV></DIV>> > couple of <DIV></DIV>> > mine) that brings relaxation or expands your mind to consider other things <DIV></DIV>> > (meteorites <DIV></DIV>> > fit more into this aspect). Generally it is something that takes your mind <DIV></DIV>> > off of the <DIV></DIV>> > day to day troubles of the real world. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > Let us now consider how "the list" might be affecting this. The average <DIV></DIV>> > person has <DIV></DIV>> > plenty to worry about; politics and headaches at work (or more common <DIV></DIV>> > lately, whether <DIV></DIV>> > they'll even have a job next month), car troubles, problems with some <DIV></DIV>> > neighbors, their <DIV></DIV>> > kids, schools, etc. Life these days is often fast paced and difficult. Now <DIV></DIV>> > suppose our <DIV></DIV>> > "average collector" comes home from a long difficult day at work and finds <DIV></DIV>> > plenty <DIV></DIV>> > headaches (the car is damaged, junior is failing math, etc.) waiting <DIV></DIV>>there. <DIV></DIV>> > After <DIV></DIV>> > awhile our collector goes off to the computer for a little escape to feel <DIV></DIV>> > more in <DIV></DIV>> > contact with their hobby (and less with the real world). How long do you <DIV></DIV>> > suppose this <DIV></DIV>> > person will last as a collector if, when he turns on his computer, all he <DIV></DIV>> > gets is the <DIV></DIV>> > evils of the real world dumped in his lap, and often in a more magnified <DIV></DIV>> > form then <DIV></DIV>> > they would likely ever experience in the real world (it's strange, but <DIV></DIV>>I've <DIV></DIV>> > observed <DIV></DIV>> > some of the most vicious people behind a computer a computer key board are <DIV></DIV>> > some of the <DIV></DIV>> > funniest, nicest people you could meet in person)? Chances are, at the <DIV></DIV>>point <DIV></DIV>> > they find <DIV></DIV>> > that their hobby seems to be adding to their stress instead of reducing <DIV></DIV>>it, <DIV></DIV>> > they will <DIV></DIV>> > move onto greener pastures. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > I know, many of you are thinking right now B.S.. Anybody who is on the <DIV></DIV>>list <DIV></DIV>> > is a grown <DIV></DIV>> > person and likely a seasoned collector, so they can handle these mental <DIV></DIV>> > assaults. My <DIV></DIV>> > response is Wrong! Though the people who regularly post to the list may be <DIV></DIV>> > so, a fair <DIV></DIV>> > number of the observers are likely new to the hobby (in today's world, it <DIV></DIV>> > seems the <DIV></DIV>> > first thing someone does when they get interested in a new hobby is sign <DIV></DIV>>up <DIV></DIV>> > for a <DIV></DIV>> > related chat room to learn more). I even suspect there are many beginning <DIV></DIV>> > (and a fair <DIV></DIV>> > number of non beginning) collectors who would like to post questions to <DIV></DIV>>the <DIV></DIV>> > list but <DIV></DIV>> > dare not for fear of being shouted down as a moron or just plain made to <DIV></DIV>> > look foolish <DIV></DIV>> > for exposing their ignorance. <DIV></DIV>> > So what can be done? At this point it is an extremely difficult problem. <DIV></DIV>> > There are <DIV></DIV>> > many possible answers. The people involved could be drafted to help, as it <DIV></DIV>> > takes both <DIV></DIV>> > an instigator and a responder to have a full-fledged fight. I realize it <DIV></DIV>>is <DIV></DIV>> > not very <DIV></DIV>> > realistic to expect someone to be silent after someone has slammed them, <DIV></DIV>>but <DIV></DIV>> > there <DIV></DIV>> > would be no battles if they did. Asking people about other lists (in other <DIV></DIV>> > fields and <DIV></DIV>> > hobbies) has indicated to me that lists that have no or very limited <DIV></DIV>> > oversight tend to <DIV></DIV>> > rapidly breakdown into an ugly battle-zone. So, the most obvious answer to <DIV></DIV>> > the problem <DIV></DIV>> > is to have a dedicated moderator. If there is no such person now, then one <DIV></DIV>> > needs to be <DIV></DIV>> > found (and if one cannot be found then it is my opinion that it would be <DIV></DIV>> > best for <DIV></DIV>> > everyone to simply shut the list down, a measure I truly hope doesn't have <DIV></DIV>> > to come to <DIV></DIV>> > any real consideration). Their job would be to make certain that anything <DIV></DIV>> > that even <DIV></DIV>> > whiffs of being a threat, attack or slanderous statement never makes it to <DIV></DIV>> > the public <DIV></DIV>> > eye. To make their job easier in the long run, they may find it beneficial <DIV></DIV>> > to remove <DIV></DIV>> > those people that seem determined to regularly attempt to post such <DIV></DIV>>things. <DIV></DIV>> > I realize <DIV></DIV>> > that many may see this as the evil CENSORSHIP, but for the long-term good <DIV></DIV>>of <DIV></DIV>> > the hobby <DIV></DIV>> > it is necessary (and on a personal note, I don't believe "freedom of <DIV></DIV>>speech" <DIV></DIV>> > is a <DIV></DIV>> > valid excuse to ignore this job). The list should be a place for honest <DIV></DIV>> > questions, <DIV></DIV>> > answers and information about meteorites, not a forum for flagrant <DIV></DIV>> > self-promotion and <DIV></DIV>> > damaging personal attacks. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > I know I am likely just digging my own grave that much quicker having this <DIV></DIV>> > posted. The <DIV></DIV>> > rare times in the past I have had to post something I have lost customers <DIV></DIV>>in <DIV></DIV>> > droves <DIV></DIV>> > (likely those that may have considered my arguments to be against their <DIV></DIV>> > views). But, <DIV></DIV>> > if nothing is said, nothing can be considered or, better yet, changed. If <DIV></DIV>> > nothing is <DIV></DIV>> > done, there likely won't be much left of the hobby and I'll be out of <DIV></DIV>> > business anyway. <DIV></DIV>> > My hope is that some of the many of you that have expressed these same <DIV></DIV>> > opinions to me <DIV></DIV>> > in private (but wouldn't post them) will now come out of hiding. Oh, <DIV></DIV>>that's <DIV></DIV>> > right, <DIV></DIV>> > that is not likely. These are the people that have pretty much quit the <DIV></DIV>> > hobby, dropped <DIV></DIV>> > from or ignore the list and will not see this. <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > Blaine Reed <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > ______________________________________________ <DIV></DIV>> > Meteorite-list mailing list <DIV></DIV>> > Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com <DIV></DIV>> > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> > ______________________________________________ <DIV></DIV>> > Meteorite-list mailing list <DIV></DIV>> > Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com <DIV></DIV>> > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list <DIV></DIV>> > <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>______________________________________________ <DIV></DIV>>Meteorite-list mailing list <DIV></DIV>>Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com <DIV></DIV>>http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list <DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUS/2740??PS=">See when your friends are online with MSN Messenger 6.0. Download it now FREE! </a> </html> Received on Wed 15 Oct 2003 06:54:21 AM PDT |
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