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Author
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Topic: 231129585966: Gene Kranz signed questionnaire
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Mission Control
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posted 01-06-2014 05:47 PM
   
I have a question and want to see if I am overreacting.A little background first: Back in November I sent a hand written letter to Gene Kranz letting him know how much I appreciated all he did for NASA. I humbly asked him to sign his autograph for me and to make it out to me "To Andy". Well, just before Christmas, I got his reply in the mail. I was so excited and he did exactly what I asked him to do. I was so thankful that he took the time to read my letter and sign his autograph for me. What a super nice guy! Okay, here is where I got upset. Yesterday, I found this on eBay. It appears that this person sent a letter to Gene with the only intention of using him for profit. Gene took the time to respond to this person's letter and answer all the questions, probably not knowing he was being used and that his responses would be auctioned off a couple of weeks later. If it was a simple autograph, no problem, I understand those kind of things but to ask Gene to fill out all this, take the time to do it, and then to be sold to the highest bidder on eBay... well, it makes up upset and I think it is disrespectful. Am I overreacting? |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 01-06-2014 05:49 PM
Isn't it because of the same type of practices that Neil Armstrong stop signing items?As for the seller why post five pictures of the same document? |
JBoe
Member Posts: 960
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 01-06-2014 05:49 PM
I got to admit, this is poor form. I know I would never do it only because I'm would be so excited just getting something back from them. I can honestly say that if I have an autograph already of the person then there's no need to keep getting their autograph. |
star51L
Member Posts: 340
From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-06-2014 05:50 PM
I guess when it comes to money, some people do things like this. I hope the $3.25 (current bid) spends well for the seller. |
Spacepsycho
Member Posts: 818
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 01-06-2014 08:05 PM
Yes... you're over reacting. Why do you care what someone else does? If they want to sell something they took the time and energy to obtain, so what? Is it bad form and taking advantage of an incredibly nice person like Gene, obviously. Is it the sign of someone whose only interested in making easy money, YEP! Is it the sign of someone who couldn't care about the history or person who signed their item? Duh! That said, I guarantee you that Gene and most of the others who sign for free through the mail don't really care. These are accomplished people who know there are lowlifes that only want a free autograph to make a quick buck. But they look beyond that and for every one who's looking to make money off of their autograph, there are 10, 20, 100 who truly appreciate, respect and honor the work these guys have done. Did Neil Armstrong and many other astronauts stop signing for free because of these people only do this for easy cash? Absolutely. Okay, now what? Are you able to control the world and make everyone do the right thing? Not likely. All you can do is worry about yourself and don't buy anything from these vultures, so they'll stop doing what they do so well. On the other side of the coin, this is also an excellent opportunity for someone who wants an authentic Gene Kranz autograph to add it to their collection. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 01-06-2014 11:34 PM
Agree with the previous poster. Gene Kranz (or whomever) are no doubt well aware of practices like this, and they recognize when they reply that they will inevitably be wasting some of their time on profiteers. I wouldn't lower myself to this practice, but it's legal and it is what it is.With respect to the previous comment on Neil Armstrong, though, it's my impression that he stopped signing because he realized that his autograph was on an entirely different level, and chose not to enable cottage industries with such. That's a little different. |
Spacepsycho
Member Posts: 818
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 01-07-2014 12:21 AM
I've spoken with a few people who were close to Neil and they said when he married his second wife, she was the one who convinced him to stop signing. That said, Neil signed hundreds of thousands of autographs through the mail for free. He was generous with his time signing and at some point he and his wife decided not to devote anymore time autographing through the mail or for the public. Having been to a few events where NA made appearances, I was shocked at how people never let the man relax or enjoy his meal. To his credit, Neil stood up to shake hands, take a photo and say a quick word before sitting back down to eat another bite before being approached again and again and again. | |
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