Shanus-REA suit

[mark evans]

Back to O'Keeffe. No problem with having an honest and civil disagreement but I honestly don't see how anyone can reliably determine his motives. If I had to speculate, I should think they are more along the lines of selling papers and advancing his career than an animus toward the hobby [Whatever would be his reason?]. In any event, it makes no difference to me inasmuch as, in my view, he owes the hobby only truthful reporting.

In other words, I don't think any journalist has an obligation of "balanced" reporting. One is free to write of the more positive features of our hobby, and I should hope some would. I suspect, though, that such reporting sells fewer papers.

[Bill Stone]

All I know is I am anxiously awaiting the REA catalog on or about April 12.

[mark evans]

A final (?) thought on the trade association, as the subject seems to continue to crop up on the Board. I'm obviously "odd man out" in assuming there exists sufficient integrity among the majority of auction houses (and dealers) to make such an association beneficial to collectors.

I will confess to being biased as, given the right circumstances, I wouldn't mind being considered for a position in the hobby. [As this has not developed, I have instead turned to teaching, and now a group of unfortunate students in Alexandria, Va, must suffer through my course in legal writing.]

Having said that, I fail to see the downside to such an association, although I recognize that others might argue that it would offer a patina of legitimacy to a corrupt enterprise. "Everyone" agrees that law enforcement, at both the federal and state level, has insufficient resources to police the hobby effectively. Just look at how long it's taking the FBI to conduct the Mastro investigation. And, civil litigation is too costly and cumbersome except to resolve high-dollar disputes.

While a system of self-policing would no doubt be imperfect, it seems to me that if it comprises honest people invested with sufficient authority, and if the costs are borne by the industry and not passed on to collectors, then collectors stand nothing to lose by offering their support.

[Peter_Spaeth]

And how would you insure that this group was made up of honest auction houses and dealers? Who would be the judge of that?

[Boomer]

I will stand with Rob on this one.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Boomer

I will stand with Rob on this one.

You can stand with whomever you want to, doesn't matter to me, but you need to have your full name here or edit your comment out. Nothing personal and I am not taking sides. Also, you are one of the few users that registered the first 2 days of our new software and I need your USER ID, First and Last Name and day time ph# that will be called to verify, sent to me as a PM or to leonl@flash.net. Otherwise you will not be able to post anymore. It's just the rules and nothing personal. thanks

[uniship]

I was in UT last week and it was so cold, I actually saw a lawyer with his hands in his own pockets.


now, back to your regular scheduled programming.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

And how would you insure that this group was made up of honest auction houses and dealers? Who would be the judge of that?

Well, I was thinking of changing my last name to Landis...