[meteorite-list] Met List Flame Wars

From: Peter Davidson <P.Davidson_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:58:36 +0100
Message-ID: <D7171847AEFC6A4893D80C75E547E27171249D_at_nmsmail02.nms2k.int>

Richard and Other

Like you, I am a relative newcomer to this list. Like you in the short
time I have been a member, I have been shocked at some of the language
and accusations being flung around. I can already hear some list members
saying, "Well! If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen".
Nevertheless, like the UK, I am sure that the laws of libel in the US
apply to e-mail as well as other forms of written communication. I know
that everyone on the list is passionate about meteorites, otherwise why
are we here, but some of us are allowing our passions to get in the way
of our reasoning. We are all grown-ups, so let's act like them.

Peter Davidson
Curator of Minerals
Department of Natural Sciences
National Museums Scotland
National Museums Collection Centre
242 West Granton Road
EDINBURGH
EH5 1JA
Scotland
Tel: 00 44 131 247 4283
E-mail: p.davidson at nms.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of
Richard Kowalski
Sent: 19 August 2009 19:25
To: meteorite list
Subject: [meteorite-list] Met List Flame Wars

I hope that this email doesn't offend anyone. I mention two particular
people who I won't name, but for the most part I am speaking in general.

I've been on this list for several months now. I joined for all the
reasons people usually join a mailing list; To make contacts with others
that have similar interests to learn from these other people, and
hopefully to eventually contribute something of substance to the group.

For the first week or so after I joined the list, I started learning the
players, and learning a bit more about meteorites. After about a week,
someone posted a message about some material they had to offer. Another
person asked what it was and whoo classified it. The first person
answered the questions. Simple, clear and exactly as one would expect.
Both were reasonable and courteous to the other. As a new collector who
knew only a few people in the field, this interaction was exactly what I
wanted to see.

Since the meteorite market is so "thin" and a lot of it is based on
"faith", faith that what is being offered is exactly what is being
represented. It is important to me that the people I interact with, and
purchase from, act professionally at all times. I have to have faith in
this person. I have to trust them. This goes for the full time dealer as
well as the "vest pocket" dealer who sells to improve his or her
personal collection...

I have purchased from both of these people, one of them has provided me
with a large percentage of my collection purchases since then. I won't
hesitate buying from either one...

Having a good reputation is important to me. Being professional is too.

What shocked me, as a new member was how many other people jumped in,
making wild accusations, going off on tangents, much of which was not
even remotely related to the original post, the question, or the reply.
It was an eye opening event for me. A number of people who sell lost any
chance to get my business.

Since then there have been multiple flare ups, which has further reduced
the pool of sellers I will do business with. Those I have lost faith in;
Those who I can't trust.

I wonder how many people lurk on this list and pay close attention to
who acts like a professional at all times and who does not. I have no
doubt there are others like me who will not do business with anyone who
does not present a professional demeanor most or all of the time. (We
all have our moments)

Of course people who don't sell don't really care about this, but that
shouldn't be an excuse. The Golden Rule should apply...

Some of the people on this list are also on the list I have run for over
a decade, the Minor Planet Mailing List. That list has over 1200
subscribers and has a great mix of both professional and amateur
astronomers with the common interest in asteroids and comets. I run the
list with a very light hand. Scientific discussion and debate are
welcome and encouraged, but one of the things that will get you
moderated or banned is personal attacks.

One of the worst things that can happen to any mailing list is unbridled
flames wars. I recently read here that this list was filled with
scientists in the field of meteoritics, but now most have gone.
Apparently previous flames caused them to leave. Thats a sad comment.

I am in no way telling this list's owner how to run the list, but we
have found that this policy works extremely well on MPML.

Those who do make personal attacks rarely contribute anything of
substance to the list, so losing them is not much of a loss...

Please keep the great information coming. It is what makes being a
member of this list worth while.

Please reconsider your posts before hitting the send button if there is
no useful information in your message...

Sorry for the length of this email.
Thanks for letting me comment.

--
Richard Kowalski
http://fullmoonphotography.net
IMCA #1081
      
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Received on Thu 20 Aug 2009 03:58:36 AM PDT