posted 03-24-2004 10:57 PM               

It looks like the greed factor is hitting already and the lecture isn't until next week. Man, I hate this. It sickens me. I just want to meet a childhood hero of mine and maybe receive the personal honor of having that hero sign a thing or two to me.... something I can share with my kids and grandkids as I teach them about the old days when Dad was a boy.

If anybody shows up with a stack of stuff, I sure hope they get nothing signed, because that's wrong. It's rude and taking advantage of Dr. Schmitt's willingness to do a good deed for those of us who are genuinely interested in him as a human being and explorer.

Autograph man is obviously a dealer- he states as much- and notes that this is his first astronaut signing. Guess you heard there's money in dealing in astronauts and now want to expand your business. C'mon man, simply because you want to get something for free that you can then cash in on, you're going to WRECK this for everybody who just wants a small touch with a truly historic figure.

A word to you, as you're new here (and most everyone here will likely vouch that I play the role of one of the peacemakers a good bit- I RARELY criticise ANYONE): The folks in this group respect these men as scientists and explorers first and foremost...99 percent of us have no desire WHATSOEVER to cash in on another person's kindness.

Guys like this are EXACTLY the reason that astronauts now either charge or flat out refuse to sign for those of us who are into this hobby because we love the history. If I meet you at the lecture, I'll be kind and nice because it's the right thing to do, but if you try to screw Dr. Schmitt by profiting from his good will, all I can say is, "Shame on you, sir." Karma is real.

In the entire five years this website has been around (and I've been here from nearly the beginning) I've never read a post on this website that rubbed me as wrong as this does. Now go ahead and tear me apart.

posted 03-25-2004 01:05 PM               

Dear Jason:

I'm glad you posted and I do recognize your point of view. In my post, I never referenced whether or not Schmitt would know how to handle such a situation, so I'm unclear as to from where you are coming on that one. Of course he's got experience with this sort of thing (encountering dealers). I'm not suggesting anyone tiptoe around anyone. Or that anyone baby astronauts. Please check my original post: I never suggested any of that at all.

My two central points are these:

1.) A dealer bringing multiples to a free signing (with an astronaut who's never charged) with the sole intention of reselling the free gifts is quite simply taking advantage of Schmitt's goodwill. I'm just asking that we call this behavior what it is. It's rude.

2.) Astronauts encountering dealers with multiples intended to be sold for profit only serves to discourage astronauts from doing free public signings. I think this one makes pretty sound sense. It hurts those of us who have only the good intentions of meeting a hero and having him sign something to us.

That’s all I’m saying, Jason. I'm not a guy who craves friction. Like others who have been looking forward to this event for months, I just want to meet Schmitt and have him willing to sign something to me, and a bunch of dealers showing up will only wreck it for those of us with the best intentions. That's all.

posted 03-25-2004 02:45 PM               

For a completely off-the-wall kind of comparison ( ), it reminds me of when I went to a Steely Dan concert not too long ago; all I wanted to do was hear them play their newer stuff, as I think their musicianship is top notch, and I wanted to hear some great contemporary jazz - - in other words, I thought I was there as a music "purist". I was disappointed, but not suprised, that most of the other people there were more interested in the show for nostalgic reasons, cheering wildly whenever the band would play their older stuff from the 70's. No doubt the nostalgia crowd thought they too were there for "purist" reasons!

And this seems to be related somewhat to the debate over who "cherishes" the space autograph hobby more - - the "purist" from days gone by who built the bulk of their collection by writing to the astronauts personally, or the relative newcomer that builds a collection mostly through purchase.

I don't think there's a "right" or "wrong" answer to any of the above.

-chet (with not much else better to do today)

posted 03-25-2004 03:24 PM               

I think that Robert Pearlman had adequately settled the discussion before it got too far along by pointing out that this is the difference between the hobby and the market.

Robert pointed out:

"The market dictates that profit is a good thing.

The hobby fosters a sense of community, wherein members have the interest of others in mind.

The market encourages competition.

The hobby inspires cooperation.

Where these two meet, you sometimes find conflict. Neither the market nor the hobby is wrong in their approach, but they do work at times to undermine the other."

The 'market' attitude, and I think Jason represented it very well at the time, is that if a guy can get a free autograph and sell it for $5,000, more power to him.

I am clearly on your side of this issue, Rob. When I got back into this hobby a couple of years ago, the market had already started to make its mark on it. And, in my opinion, it has continued to do so.

There have always been and always will be dealers. And I have no problem with dealers. I have purchased from dealers and collectors alike. And I think it's unfortunate that reputable, space memorabilia dealers (guys that are collectors as well) sometimes get painted into the same picture as dealers that don't care about this hobby, just looking for the quick buck.

The best illustration of my problem would be when a 'dealer' gets in a line, for Harrison Schmitt for example. He takes up a lot of time to get a bunch of stuff signed, while a 'collector' stands at the back of the line, patiently waiting his turn to meet a childhood hero and get an autograph.

The line closes before the collector gets to the front and he gets sent home with no autograph and not even an opportunity to meet the man.

Eventually, he ends up resorting to the guy that was at the head of the line and now wants his $5,000.00 for the autograph he got for free.

And yes, the 'collector' always has the option of not paying the $5,000.00. He just has to decide not to add a particular piece to his collection. But the reason that particular piece is not in his collection could be that a 'dealer' left the lecture early and got in line with an arm load of stuff for his inventory.

posted 03-25-2004 05:31 PM               

I'd just like to throw in something I've heard many times and which seems to ring so true here; many problems arise from a false sense of entitlement. Anyone who takes a step back from a situation to realize there is precious little in life to which we are entitled, will have a much easier time dealing with lifes frustrations and upsets.