[meteorite-list] Rocks from Space Picture of the Day - March 22, 2010

From: Adam Hupe <raremeteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:05:08 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <185980.40206.qm_at_web30705.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Dear List,

I guess I am a realist. I saw my last passion, Treasure Hunting destroyed by a few feeding the pigeons (the press.) At first, the news they reported was exciting. Later the press seemed to focus on the uglier side of the avocation with time realizing better ratings. They seemed to only report on those breaking the law instead of what good was coming from it. They would report people midnight gardening (illegally digging) on heritage sites instead of the amateur treasure hunter who helped somebody locate their lost and treasured wedding ring or a hobbyist helping the police department locate metallic evidence. They seemed to only focus on how valuable other finds were and that the public was being ripped off. A mostly positive hobby was nearly destroyed in a single decade. City, state and federal parks became off limits almost over night. Laws were twisted, become unclear and most hung up their metal detectors for good.

Others joined clubs, came up with a universal code of ethics and chose professional spokespeople to deal with the press when not avoiding it. It took decades to partially restore the reputation of this activity as a family type pursuit. Still, there are very few areas that are not off-limits like the heydays of the 70s when they were free to roam about. Thier number one unspoken but clear rule "Do not feed the pigeons, good or bad."

Here is a hypothetical scenario:

Somebody digs a hole looking for meteorites that are far more valuable than gold or even diamonds according to what they heard on TV and leaves it uncovered. Then some poor unsuspecting victim breaks their ankle in that uncovered hole and and then the word gets out. The press reports it and now this area is off-limits permanently to others. Then all meteorite hunters will be judged as disrespectful filthy treasure hunters who could care less about other people's rights even though the vast majority are good law abiding citizens. The motivation for digging was due to this unsavory person believing the monetary reward was worth the risks. It only takes one person who has little regard for other people to cause a lot of damage.

This has already happened at Meteor Crater but was cattle breaking their legs, not a human victim.

I see this hobby going the same way. The only reason I am engaging in this thread is that I really care.


Best Regards,

Adam

----- Original Message ----

From: Meteorites USA <eric at meteoritesusa.com>
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Sent: Mon, March 22, 2010 10:51:09 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Rocks from Space Picture of the Day - March 22, 2010

Hi Adam, List,

You really have to take the bad with the good when talking about anything... Most of this can all be summed up in one word. Ratings. It's an unfortunate truth that most people don't like to be "educated". People want to be entertained.

When you concentrate on the education you lose a large portion of the viewing audience. For the Meteorite Men show to work they had to make some sacrifices for the benefit of the probable success of the show. The show, which most people I know really enjoyed, was a BIG hit in both the meteorite world and the main stream, was a good mix of adventure and science, but the network HAD to throw in the money thing. The ratings, the popularity, and the next season of the show depended on it. This of course is from a business stand point.

>From my perspective, I was a bit disappointed in the amount of "cha-ching" moments there were versus the hard science or even the adventure. I would have personally liked to see more science but realistically speaking most people will tune it out. We, as meteorite people, are interested in it because it's what we do, we love it! We could watch a full hour on the "Science of Meteorites". Hell, I could watch a mini-series of 6, 2 hour long shows dedicated to the science or meteorites. But that's freaking BORING to most people!

The short of it is, the Science channel had to make a business decision. I think the Meteorite Men is a good show "for the masses". It works, people love it, and it's probably going to result in a second season. Here's hoping!

I believe you can have a good balance of science, adventure, and treasure hunting in the world of meteorites. It's all related, to exclude one from the other would not be fair nor realistic.

Realistically speaking, how many people are going to drop what they are doing and become meteorite hunters? They may get all pumped up after watching the show and go buy a detector and meteorite cane, but once they get in the field and wander the desert or farm fields for a few days with no finds, they'll realize how hard it really is. The difficulty will weed out those who are serious about it. As for the scammers, they're everywhere. You can't make something that reaches millions and promotes "$" without scammers jumping in to take advantage. It happens, and they will also weed themselves out.

The Meteorite Men show has also grown the collector base! Lest we forget. More collectors divided by same amount of material for collecting, creates higher demand equals market growth. Some people don't want to see this growth as the believe it will undermine the science, but I believe it will be an ultimate boon to science by interesting more people about meteorites, and the knowledge one can learn. It's hard to say how many people will be motivated to become next generation scientists, but the simple fact is MILLIONS of people now have a chance to own a meteorite and they are becoming more interested in the science.

Regardless of how you feel about the Meteorite Men show, I think this will be a positive thing in the future. People are becoming more aware of their world, the science, and the adventure. If people can make a living doing it too, then I say go for it! Keep in mind there are lots of kids and young adults that watch too, they are in school and will be motivated to become meteoriticists, astronomers, astrobiologists, or even astronauts. They could become the next generation engineers which launch toward a manned asteroid discovery team which may land a human being on an asteroid! Manned space flights to a nearby comet anyone?

I say yell it from the rooftops! Stream live video around the world. Let everyone know about meteorites, and the wonders they bring to human kind!

Oh yeah, meteorites are cool... ;)

Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorites USA




On 3/22/2010 9:59 AM, Adam Hupe wrote:
> A lot of viewers are clinging to the hope they will become overnight millionaires. Most of them will not listen when you tell them their prized new "Moon rock" is a piece of quartz or their new "Pallasite" is nothing more then slag. They will become increasingly angry when you try to explain why. They know it is real because it looks just like the one they saw on TV and will not be told otherwise.
>
> I do not even respond any more as I do not like to be put in a position as the bay guy who has to break the news that their worthless rock will not make them the latest millionaire. This is what happens when the media focuses too much on the monetary aspect of meteorite collecting. It out weighs any educational benefit this type of show may have provided. The state Washington and Oregon suddenly announced their no collecting policy on federal land; the timing is uncanny. A lot of scam artists will also attach themselves if the smell of easy money is present. One just has to look at the most expensive "meteorites" on eBay to see this effect. Now, there is always a few fakes listed in the top dollar page.
>
> I would hate to see meteorite hunting/collecting go the way treasure hunting did 25 years ago when the avocation almost went extinct, mainly due to the press. Professional treasure hunters now avoid the press when values are put up. Just look at the Mel Fisher group who had to fight for a decade to keep a good portion of their major find due to the fact the press attached a billion dollar price tag to it. Everybody seemed to have a claim on it when they didn't lift a finger to find it. The press made it look easy when in fact Mel suffered many hardships including the loss of his sons life.
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Adam
>
>
>
>
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> ----- Original Message ----
> From: "michael at rocksfromspace.org"<michael at rocksfromspace.org>
> To: "meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com"<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Mon, March 22, 2010 6:20:26 AM
> Subject: [meteorite-list] Rocks from Space Picture of the Day - March 22, 2010
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> http:www.rocksfromspace.org/March_22_2010.html
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Received on Mon 22 Mar 2010 03:05:08 PM PDT