[meteorite-list] Fwd: Out in Left Field

From: Darryl Pitt <darryl_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:15:47 -0400
Message-ID: <08862BA3-925A-46EE-B2F5-AC744109F0F9_at_dof3.com>

Greetings Bill,

It's unfair to point to an accusatory finger at Geoff for having
instigated the most recent negative publicity simply because he has
developed relationships with the media. There is also the matter of
when one party says something that's really negative, there is not
mandatory for the other party to also go south. Sometimes it's best
to let petty stuff remain petty and not conflate the importance of
such matters.

I feel a need to clarify that an effort to provide assistance to the
people of Greensburg is extremely laudable. I've known Geoff for
some time and I believe his heart is pretty-much always in the right
place---and that a consensus of among those that know Geoff would
concur.

============



On Jul 13, 2007, at 1:48 AM, Bill wrote:

> Darryl,
>
> I noticed and I'm sure most people that are concerned did as well.
> Notkin is the media guy who has in my opinion gotten carried away.
> Their chest beating over Brenham meteorites was fun when Steve
> found the big one. It's old news now. I wish him, Steve, nothing
> but success in the future. I hope he finds that elusive piece of
> the rarest of the rare we all dream about. In the mean time I'll
> puke if I hear more hype.
>
> Bill
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: darryl at dof3.com
> Sent: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 21:38:42 -0400
> To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Subject: [meteorite-list] Fwd: Out in Left Field
>
>
>
> folks,
>
> i hope you noticed the email below was posted to the list two days
> ago.
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: Darryl Pitt <darryl at dof3.com>
>> Date: July 7, 2007 11:39:48 AM EDT
>> To: cynapse at charter.net
>> Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Grandstanding?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> this is terribly offensive.
>>
>> as i previously wrote, one does not have to be a benefactor to a
>> charity to be critical of the manner in which the charity's
>> mission is conducted.
>>
>> darren has eloquently addressed the problems here. and i still
>> can't wrap my brain around why the media was invited to this
>> internal fracas.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jul 7, 2007, at 9:56 AM, Darren Garrison wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 03:11:47 EDT, you wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Darren!
>>>> Did you contribute anything?
>>>> No, you don't need to respond.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> And I wouldn't. That would be hypocritical of me, one way or the
>>> other.
>>>
>>>
>>>> .
>>>> The people of Greensburg need a lot more help, and using a large
>>>> check is a
>>>> way to get some attention to this cause.
>>>> It worked! You are all talking about it!
>>>>
>>>
>>> And you have the leadership of the town (and probably a part of
>>> the citizenry)
>>> offended, and a negative newspaper article about the squabble
>>> going out for all
>>> the world to see showing backbiting amongst various meteorite
>>> collectors that is
>>> par for course for the list. Now, no matter what, there is going
>>> to be some
>>> bitterness remembered for an act of charity. Not all publicity
>>> is good
>>> publicity.
>>>
>>> I mentioned before (and some will choose to ignore that and only
>>> pay attention
>>> to the critical part) that "All the time, effort, and donations
>>> put into
>>> collecting that money was nobile and admirable." And the thought
>>> behind the
>>> large cardboard check are pure, too, I'm sure. But how people
>>> would react to it
>>> wasn't as well thought out, I would think (and sorry if that
>>> offends those who
>>> worked hard on this).
>>>
>>> Thesis 1: Being able to give to charity makes you feel good.
>>>
>>> Thesis 2: Having been reduced to needing charity makes you feel bad.
>>>
>>> Thesis 3: A public presenting of a large check to a town official
>>> implies a need
>>> for a public reaction-- applause, a heartfelt thank you,
>>> acknowledgement of your
>>> being able to help and their needing it.
>>>
>>> I imagine that, being in a small, non-rich community in the
>>> middle of nowhere in
>>> the middle of nowhere, the people of Haviland are pretty proud
>>> and independant
>>> minded. I imagine that they are humuliated to be reduced to
>>> having to accept
>>> handouts from strangers just to keep rooves over their heads,
>>> food in their
>>> stomachs, and clothes on their backs. Helping them is good.
>>> Helping them makes
>>> you feel good. Having some sort of ceremonial closure to the
>>> long hours and the
>>> money you spent collecting money makes you feel good. But being
>>> explicitly and
>>> publicly reminded that they NEED the charity of strangers does
>>> NOT make the
>>> people being donated to feel good. Sure, they are happy that
>>> people do look out
>>> for each other, and that they are getting help. But they feel
>>> horrible that
>>> they NEED help.
>>>
>>> I just think that large cardboard checks are an item for HAPPY
>>> occasion--
>>> lottery and contest winners, mostly. A charitable donation to
>>> the survivors of
>>> a destroyed is NOT a happy occasion. It is a solemn,
>>> embarrassing, and sad one
>>> for those who were actually affected by the tornado. And those
>>> always blessed
>>> enough to be the ones GIVING charity instead of having to ever be
>>> the ones
>>> accepting charity Just Don't Get It.
>>> ______________________________________________
>>> Meteorite-list mailing list
>>> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________
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>>
>

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Received on Fri 13 Jul 2007 10:15:47 AM PDT