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Rob D.Frank, I know I'm wasting energy trying to explain this, and I'll probably regret it. How was Bobby's plug self-serving? Bruce butchered Bobby's Web address and Bobby corrected it. It seems simple to me, but maybe my view is blinded by the glare of all these plastic holders stacked on the table beside my computer. How could you expect Bobby not to simply set the record straight? For all you know, he never would have posted about his site had not Bruce provided incorrect information. (OK, that's a reach.)
My guess is that it galls you to no end that Bobby -- gasp -- has made a business based on what you deem should strictly be a not-for-profit hobby. I understand. Sometimes I, too, pine for the day when a T206 Cobb could be swapped for a plug of chewing tobbaco and a tub of pig fat. But sadly, those days are gone. I don't expect you to like that fact or even accept it, but could you at least cut some slack to the folks who have gotten over it and moved on?
If you want to point fingers at what causes folks to lurk or simply go away, consider that maybe some of them also grow weary of being chastised for how they collect. Do the words "Buy raw cards so you'll have more money to spend on the cards and not the plastic" ring a bell? Heck, I didn't even have to go to the archive, I could have just looked at your most recent post. "Me, I'm more interested in what's inside the slab."
Yes, you're right, Frank. You're one of the few who cares about the actual cards. The majority of folks who happen to have some or all of their cards graded (or subscribe to online price guides) care only about the grade or the price. We're simply not worthy of sharing your hobby. Your arrogance at times amazes me, because as Leon so often says, and I'm paraphrasing, We're talking about old cardboard.
I truly am glad that you seem to take some pleasure from folks who e-mail you off the board, and I hope that your replies to them reflect some kind of joy you get from collecting. Because 90 percent of the posts I read from you paint the picture of a bitter man who has no tolerance for anyone who doesn't subscribe to the same values that he holds for our hobby.
I'm sure this will do little than provoke another condescending reply. That's fine. You could just save time by cutting and pasting one of the hundreds of yours that already are on the record. Take solace in the fact that you will have the last word, because I'll be busy searching for an avatar of a guitar-playing monkey.
(Sean, my apologies that your post got taken in this direction.)