Hi Mike,
I too am fairly new to the meteorite scene. I've been collecting for about 3
years. I second all that you wrote and say a hearty "Amen" to it.
I'm not in the same financial position that you apparently are or I would
also buy hundreds of thousands worth of meteorites. Must be nice.
Anyway, I hope that you stick to your guns and buy from the good guys. They
deserve it.
Welcome to the community.
Greg Lindh
> Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:51:05 -0400
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> CC: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Met List Flame Wars
>
> Amen brother.
>
>> 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)
>
> I can not agree more with this statement. As a new comer to this I was
> horrified and embarrassed by the content of a lot of the messages that
> came across it. Unfortunately, this list was my first impression of
> the meteorite community and while I have met some very amazing and
> brilliant people through this list, the conduct and arrogance from the
> bad apples has left a bad taste in my mouth regarding this community
> as a whole. The simple fact that the largest thread on this list since
> I've been on here was titled "Who is the best meteorite hunter in the
> world", speaks volumes.
>
> A problem I have witnessed in many industries over many years is that
> really smart people sometimes get a little full of themselves (because
> they are so smart). The first job I had out of college was for the
> Credit Card company Visa. There were 100s of brilliant software
> engineers that worked in my office. Sometimes they were too smart for
> anyone else, so smart they were often blind to things that were right
> in front of their face (like the internet becoming the power house of
> e-commerce (job was in 94). I remember my boss saying to these guys in
> a meeting once, when they were acting like arrogant fools: "we aren't
> curing cancer here guys. get a grip."
>
> I will be spending 10s of thousands of dollars on meteorites in the
> next year. 100s of thousands of dollars on meteorites over the next 5
> years (yes I'm totally hooked on these things). I will absolutely
> never buy anything from anyone who has acted out or been a prick on
> this list. Before I make a purchase I search the meteorite list
> archives for the seller, and if they are a jerk I look else where.
>
> Being nice is good for business.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Mike Hankey
> http://www.mikesastrophotos.com
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 2:24 PM, Richard Kowalski wrote:
>> 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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>>
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