This ongoing thread on MoPo really is a one sided discussion. Obviously, Geraldine feels that her consignments were mishandled but there has been no comment at all from anyone at Heritage so who knows how they feel about this. There are always two sides to any story and I don't see how anyone can comment on the dispute between Geraldine and Heritage before without hearing both sides. Regards John
----- Original Message ----- From: David Kusumoto To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2012 6:52 PM Subject: Re: [MOPO] Bruce vs Heritage inventory & auciton services "As to how this has unfolded at MoPo - it is my personal view that Geraldine should just post and people who are truly Heritage's friends should shut up." ABOVE is my quote from Tuesday, which was "cherry-picked" by Rich in his most recent rambling post. BELOW is my quote in its full context: "As to how this has unfolded at MoPo - it is my personal view that Geraldine should just post and people who are truly Heritage's friends should shut up. If you're not Heritage's friend - or if you don't know its people in person - post away. There are tactical reasons why Heritage hasn't posted much about this at MoPo. I've personally talked to Heritage about this. Quite candidly, public rebuttals from third parties to Geraldine's posts aren't doing the people in Dallas (Heritage) any favors." * With the above, I'm NOT saying people should stop commenting "in toto." I'm saying that if you're pals with Grey or Rudy - you're not helping them by continuing to respond to Geraldine's posts - which have the effect of keeping this topic alive ad nauseam. Geraldine's posts may continue, but you can't have an argument when just one person is talking. You can plead with her to stop posting her grievances, but that just invites her to do the opposite. That's my take. Meanwhile, I have to say that Rich's post has a mildly disingenuous feeling woven into it, e.g., sort of like debating with good manners, dishing out phrases steeped in blood, slicing and dicing along the way, while reassuring readers with a semi-Shakespearean flavor that his intentions are good and respectful, e.g., like when Brutus says before the final act, "But Caesar is a good friend of mine." He begins with a headline that declares he's "neither for Heritage nor for Geraldine," but then the rest of his note undermines his declaration and his true leanings are revealed. He infers that if it was him, facing Geraldine's circumstances - he would graciously accept Heritage's settlement offer to donate the proceeds of HIS missing posters - to charity. * Look, everyone has an opinion and we're free to voice it - or not. I repeat, I've discussed this issue with Heritage and with Geraldine. And in my view, there's no value in dissecting Geraldine's posts like others have - with point-by-point rebuttals. But you guys can go right ahead, even though I bet Grey and his pals would prefer you resist. As I wrote previously, the public posts on MoPo about Geraldine's troubles feel like they're running 10-1 against her anyway. But I don't believe they're making a bit of difference in her determination to keep posting. I also believe - that she believes - that she's truly writing for the 350 of the 376 members of MoPo - who are lurkers and mostly silent collectors - who are getting some value watching this train wreck - while simultaneously taking notes about which dealers they think are more "customer friendly," who in turn they'll buy or consign posters with in the future. One of the things I DO like about Rich is he doesn't give a damn what people think in relation to its impact on his business; the guy has been a success at everything he's done and it explains why "attitudinally," he tends to go his own way, e.g., he's no one's "puppet." * Finally, people who've seen my writings at MCW and/or on MoPo during the past 15 years know the manner and style of my arguments. The "truth" as I see it isn't always "truth" to you - nor "ethically correct" to you. Everyone has their own "truth," even when laced with "facts." Public debaters like myself know - that it's how "facts" are presented - which can shape an audience's perception of neutrality or bias. We tend to like people whose views already match our own. Politicians, celebrities and other public figures complain about being "impugned" all the time - constantly threatening detractors with libel or slander lawsuits. It's the American way to parody public figures and even insult them. But you only hear about the lawsuits which succeed. Most of them fail. In sum, again, you guys can do whatever you want. I just get the impression that Geraldine is emboldened - and not discouraged at all - by the resistance she feels here. -d. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2012 21:09:43 -0700 From: [email protected] Subject: Re: Bruce vs Heritage inventory & auciton services To: [email protected] Bruce you mischaracterize some of our positions (those of us who have made comments). I am neither for Heritage nor for Geraldine I am for seeing things in a realistic and fair way and honestly, Geraldine is piling on. and piling on and piling on If you look at my initial posts in this thread, I am clearly neutral, and I only finally created this thread after weeks of not commenting on Geraldine's claims at all. I am not a "Heritage supporter" as you characterize. I am all for right and wrong. It's easy to understand that she is pissed off and she feels she's been ripped off. Whatever the reality - if she did or did not send these posters - the problem I see is that she has no inventory of what she sent, there is a dispute of an inventory Heritage provided, and she disagrees with that inventory Grey Smith as agent of Heritage has offered to donate a negotiated amount to the charity of Geraldine's choice, even though he does not believe he received the posters that Geraldine claims. I'm not sure what else you would expect someone to do, although it's obvious that Geraldine feels Heritage should pay her directly, even though she has no inventory to back up her claim. If I was in Grey's position, I wouldn't do anything different. If I was in her position, as the realist that you know I am, I would accept the charitable offer, choose a charity, and move on. However, Geraldine has repeatedly impugned Heritage, even though she has no absolute inventory of what she sent Heritage. Don't you see a problem here?? Geraldine wants to say, in different words of course, that she isn't trying to disparage Heritage. I dispute her characterization in that regard completely and as concerns my good friend David, for whom I have lots of respect, when he says no one should be commenting other than Geraldine or Heritage, I think he is completely wrong. Geraldine, by virtue of posting her claims into a public forum engenders commentary by all of those who are members of this forum, otherwise she should be speaking either directly to Heritage via whatever other form of communication she choose, or seeing as she has an attorney apparently working on this situation and Heritage equally no doubt has an opposing attorney, then she probably should have discontinued posting to any forum as long as the legal eagles are dealing with the issue, she shouldn't probably be saying anything to anyone so as not to present herself in a position where Heritage could counter-sue her on grounds of disparagement and interference as well as whatever other civil tenets she might be offending. That does not mean I am saying Geraldine should not post to the group if she so chooses. Similarly, she should not be insulted by anyone else who chooses to respond. To further delve into what David said: "As to how this has unfolded at MoPo - it is my personal view that Geraldine should just post and people who are truly Heritage's friends should shut up." by that measure, David must equally feel then that Bruce should not comment on any issue that involves, Heritage, Movie Poster Exchange, MoviePosterBid, eBay, Sotheby's, Christie's or any similar entity because, well golly, we're all competitors. But before you ask do I really think that should be the case? Absolutely not. There is no reason why anyone here, yourself and myself included, should not be able post our feelings or to comment on anything posted to MoPo - a p u b l i c f o r u m - by other members. Anything else would not only be against the rules of the forum, it would be against the first amendment rights we are all supposed to share. If Geraldine wishes to continuously post her whine, she shouldn't be offended when people respond to it, no matter what position pro or con that anyone takes. The same goes for you, or myself. You continually attack Heritage in your posts and in your marketing approach. I've told you personally my opinion on this and it isn't something we have to agree on. I find no purpose in attacking my business rivals personally. But again, this is not something you need to agree with me and that doesn't mean I do not respect you regardless. I do indeed respect you for the things you do, what have done in the past and also based on our 44 years of knowing each other. I just means I disagree with you, which last I looked is not a serious personal divide. If it was, you probably wouldn't be talking to your own children over some issues as I am positive that few children agree with their parents on a whole lot after they reach the teenage years, and that goes for wives, parents, girlfriends, best friends and employees. I don't know anyone who I agree with 100% of the time - not even my best bud Sean or my best buds John Knight, Redbeard or even my pal Dan here in Vegas. So I don't think I have to agree with Geraldine either, who isn't even on my best buds list, whether I were to support Heritage or not. But it is disturbing when my friend wants to paint me as something I am not and I am not a Heritage supporter as you characterize. I disagree with Geraldine's approach, and I have commented. If Heritage truly screwed up their consignment, there should be a solution, but Geraldine has to have more than "I know I sent them, even though I have absolutely no darned proof". At some point you just become a whiner.. Take what you can get and move on and forget about it. Otherwise, get a bottle of Pepto Bismol Rich 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.
