Am I allowed to whine about those who complain about those who whine? I was told by eBay top management, "Don't complain, love eBay or leave it", so I did!
Bruce On Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 1:26 PM, CK MacLeod <[email protected]> wrote: > Count me out. I've had problems with eBay over the years, sometimes big > problems, but I find all of this complaining about it tiresome. > > > > I suppose a few of you wish it didn't exist at all, but I think it's > overall been a boon to the hobby. It's still a great place for a dealer > to reach customers who aren't part of the "in crowd" of collectors, and who > rightly or wrongly feel more secure making a purchase on eBay than they > would through other on- and off-line venues. It's also brought out a lot > of "supply" that otherwise would still be rotting in basements and > cubbyholes somewhere, and it's good for making contact with new consignors, > too. > > > > eBay also happens to be great place to get deals on the whole universe of > things you might ever want to get a deal on, and of which collectible "movie > paper" occupies a very tiny spot. > > > > *CK MacLeod Collectibles at ckmac.com* <http://ckmac.com/> > > *Kymar's on eBay <http://stores.ebay.com/Kymars-Stuff>* > > > > -----Original Message----- > *From:* MoPo List [mailto:[email protected]]*on Behalf Of *Bruce > Hershenson > *Sent:* Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:54 AM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [MOPO] When do YOU think was the moment when eBay "jumped the > shark"? > > > > I think almost all of us can agree that eBay has clearly "jumped the > shark"*. But exactly *WHEN* do you think this happened? When did eBay make > the move that changed it from a company with a bright future, and started it > on its current downhill path? Of course, there is no one "right" answer, but > I have my own opinion, which I will gladly share once some of you voice your > opinions. > > > > When do *YOU* think was the moment when eBay "jumped the shark"? > > > > Bruce > > > > *N.B. According to Wikipedia, the phrase "jump the shark" refers to a scene > in a three-part episode of the American TV series, *Happy > Days<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Days> > *, first broadcast on September 20<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_20>, > 1977 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977>. In the third of the three parts > of the "Hollywood" episode, Fonzie (Henry > Winkler<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Winkler>), > wearing swim trunks and his trademark leather jacket, jumps over a penned-in > shark <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark> while water > skiing<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_skiing>. > > > > > Even before "jumping the shark" was employed as a pop culture term, the > episode in question was cited many times as an example of what can happen to > otherwise high-quality shows when they stay on the air too long in the face > of waning interest—or when they simply cease to maintain quality standards > for writing or acting, resorting to cheap sensationalism etc. The infamous > scene was seen by many as betraying *Happy Days'* 1950s setting (as well > as reversing its earlier character-developments, as noted above) by cashing > in on the 1970s fads of Evel > Knievel<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evel_Knievel> > [1] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark#cite_note-0> and > *Jaws<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaws_(film)> > *. Producer Garry Marshall <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry_Marshall>later > admitted that he knew the show had lost something as the crew prepared > to shoot the scene. As Marshall pointed out in the reunion special that > aired on February 3 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_3>, > 2005<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005>, > however, *Happy Days* went on to produce approximately 100 more episodes > after the "jumping the shark" episode. During the same special, in response > to an audience member's question, Marshall introduced the notorious clip and > noted how the show had inspired the term. > > The first public > use[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark#cite_note-1>of the > phrase as a direct metaphor is reported to have been on December > 24 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_24>, > 1997<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997>, > when the *jumptheshark.com <http://www.jumptheshark.com/>* website was > launched by Jonathan M. Hein <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Hein>. > According to the site, the phrase was first coined by Hein's college > roommate, Sean J. Connolly, in 1985. The term first appeared in print in the > April 9 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_9>, > 1998<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998>, > *Los Angeles Times <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times>*Calendar > Weekend section. > > The phrase has been used more recently outside the realm of popular > culture, representing anything that has reached its peak and has declined in > quality. If one thinks a stock or a sports team or a subcultural phenomenon > has reached its peak, for example, one can say that it has "jumped the > shark." The phrase can also be specifically, the phrase also refers to a > particular *event* that *demonstrates* this decline beyond all doubt, such > as whenever an entertainment company or business makes a grave mistake, and > therefore rapidly loses ratings or fans, becomes bankrupt or is sold. > > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List > > Send a message addressed to: [email protected] > > In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L > > The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com > ___________________________________________________________________ How to > UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: > [email protected] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF > MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. > > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [email protected] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
