[meteorite-list] Marching Hammers - Business and Marketing

[Michael Bross]

Thanks Mike !
Love that email

And as you say, common sense is not reserved to the seasoned ones
Being a newbie doesn't mean I will be fooled by Hammers :)
And being a newbie, I enjoyed the rich information laded website from 
Michael Blood.

Good evening everyone
Michael B, France


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Gilmer" <michael_w_gilmer at yahoo.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:35 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Marching Hammers - Business and Marketing


>
> Hi List,
>
> Another can of worms opened up here with the definition of a hammer.
>
> First, whoever emailed Michael Blood and bashed his business
> practices needs to have their head examined.  I've done trades
> and made purchases from Michael and can state that he is a first
> class guy.  Michael's only "crime" is his enthusiasm for collecting
> meteorites that have struck objects.
>
> And let's not discredit thinking people by claiming that some
> dealer using the word "hammer" is going to damage the hobby as
> a whole or devaluate all other "real hammers".  This is being a bit
> dramatic.  I think most people, including newbies, are perfectly
> capable of using a search engine, reading, and learning.
>
> I am going to say something that may get vegetables thrown at me,
> but the overall atmosphere of suspicion in this hobby is
> unfortunate.  I have never in my life seen a hobby where many
> newcomers are viewed with suspicion and people launch accusations
> against other's business practices based on semantics.  Sure,
> meteorites are a valuable commodity and any valuable commodity
> is going to the target/source of frauds.  But all of the suspicion,
> accusations, and general rivalry is unnecessary.  There are
> enough meteorites for everyone.  There are enough collectors
> for every dealer.  And fakes/frauds are much less common than the
> alarmists would have you believe.  I've done hundreds of meteorite
> deals in my short time in this hobby, and not once has a person
> tried to defraud me - if they were that type, I wouldn't have
> done business with them in the first place.
>
> I'm very thankful that visual astronomy doesn't have the same
> atmosphere as meteorite collecting - if it did, I would have
> quit the hobby long ago and never learned the wonders of the
> heavens above.  A handful of people have been very gracious to me
> in this hobby, but several have also been twofaced - ready to
> take my money when I buy their meteorites, but ready to talk
> smack behind my back because I don't buy into their particular
> clique.  When I got into astronomy and approached an observing
> club about joining, I was welcomed with open arms and brought
> into the hobby - which I now share with others in the same
> manner.  Unfortunately, meteorites have not been like that - I
> was viewed with suspicion by some from the minute I arrived on the
> scene.
>
> Why?  I don't know.  Probably for the same reason someone is now
> talking crap about Michael Blood.  Politics, cliques, gossip,
> and profiteering - much bigger issues in the meteorite world
> than the definition of a hammer.
>
> That's where I stand, even if it's not popular.
>
> Regards and clear skies,
>
> MikeG
>
> PS - despite all the politics, backbiting, and suspicion, I am
> still having a lot of fun collecting meteorites.  So NEENER NEENER! :P 
> .... LOL
>
> PSS - to the 5 or 6 people who have been "straight up" with me
> in our dealings, you have my sincerest thanks again.   You know
> who you are. ;) :)
>
>
> .........................................................
> Michael Gilmer (Louisiana, USA)
> Member of the Meteoritical Society.
> Member of the Bayou Region Stargazers Network.
> Websites - http://www.galactic-stone.com and http://www.glassthrower.com
> ..........................................................
>
>
>
>
>
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