Really Why I Hate eBay

From: foo <foo_at_siconic.com>
Date: Wed May 10 12:11:26 2000

Well, upon thinking about it some more it finally struck me why I really
hate eBay.

Before eBay I was able to build a fairly significantly collection through
a lot of hard work. This included a lot of searching, a lot of walking, a
lot of driving, a lot of bargaining, lot of hauling, some sweat, some
blood, perhaps a few tears, etc. Through all this hard work I was able to
amass a very nice collection of historical computer artifacts. It took
some money as well, but the journey was the reward as they say.

After eBay came it along, anybody with a little money (or rather a
considerable amount of money in most cases) could amass a collection to
perhaps rival mine without any of the hard work: without the journey.

I guess it's typical human resentment. I resent the fact that my hard
work could be equaled by a large number of dollars. I feel that a
collection that can be bought so easily can not really be a collection in
the sense that mine is, but something else entirely.

But what really do I have to be resentful about? I've had the journey,
which is something money can't buy. I have the harrowing stories to tell
and the stories of those whom I've acquired the artifacts from. You can't
get that from eBay (unless you can somehow dramatically depict the act of
picking up a package from your porch).

So behind all my anti-eBay rants, what I'm saying is, this hobby is much
more rewarding when there has been work involved in creating your
collection. It's kinda like the difference between actually going
out and hunting for your meat as opposed to just picking it off atop your
horse after having it herded towards you.

Remember, you're not just creating a collection, you're recording a story.

So there you have it. My true feelings on the matter. It's like Being
Sellam Ismail (only better because you get to go back being you now ;)
Received on Wed May 10 2000 - 12:11:26 BST