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

From: Gary Fujihara <fujmon_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:11:50 -1000
Message-ID: <0FF6385E-5D23-4535-AE98-F88BC9AD45EF_at_mac.com>

I agree with you Adam. As much as the Meteorite Men show has provided better awareness to meteorites in the general population, it has also spurred the conmen and get-rich-quick schemers.

I think the show has been steered by producers to make it more appealing to viewers, but in doing so have placed far too much emphasis on monetary value and too little on scientific importance. This brings all the riffraff out of the woodwork and now we are beginning to see the negative effects this brings on our hobby/business/passion. My 2?

gary

On Mar 22, 2010, at 6:59 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
>
> http:www.rocksfromspace.org/March_22_2010.html
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Gary Fujihara
Big Kahuna Meteorites (IMCA#1693)
105 Puhili Place, Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
http://bigkahuna-meteorites.com/
http://shop.ebay.com/fujmon/m.html
(808) 640-9161
Received on Mon 22 Mar 2010 01:11:50 PM PDT