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

From: joseph_town_at_att.net <joseph_town_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:28:28 2004
Message-ID: <101520030517.3892.287f_at_att.net>

Tom,

I've noticed that as well. I havn't graphed it yet but I'd say that at least
75% of all newbie questions, asked of the list, get blown off. But talk about
a muddy rock on ebay goes on for days! Where is the real concern? Genuine
sharing is not always forthcoming for many obvious reasons.

Bill Kieskowski


> 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
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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Received on Wed 15 Oct 2003 01:17:21 AM PDT