On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Steve Robertson wrote:
Fourthly, I for one am willing to share my good
fortune with the other
members. I'd much rather see something from my collection go to someone in
this group that anywhere else. When I decide to get rid of something,
you'll (group) be the first to know.
Many of us feel the same, but that's not the same thing as advertising
something somebody else is auctioning using a vehicle other than this
list.
Also, I don't think this set any kinda precedent.
I've seen plenty of
similar messages.
Most of the messages came from Marvin, who seems to take a special pride
in this particular activity, and that's why my flamethrower was pointed at
him.
Finally, I really do appologize. If I had realized
that it would be taken
so personally, I would have never posted it.
No appology neeed; I just wanted to remind the good samaritans that these
specific actions "harm" as many list members as they help. Don't most
do-gooders take some oath that states "and above all, do no harm"?
Online auctions are special cases because the prize doesn't go to the
first person who finds it, it goes to the guy that pays the most at the
end. If you advertise something from Usenet, for example, you don't risk
pissing off somebody who was quietly hanging around hoping to grab the
thing.
-- Doug