Really Why I Hate eBay

From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis_at_mcmanis.com>
Date: Wed May 10 18:17:22 2000

I think Sellam hit it right on the head. However this is true in other
areas as well when you recognize it. I remember the great MIDI-scurge
that happened in the early 80's. Here musicians who worked hard at
practicing their craft could be replaced by a guy plinking down one note
at a time in some studio. Of course being a muscian myself I came to
realize that the music doesn't come from the tools, it comes from
inside.

These latter day collectors (I met one on Ebay just recently who decided
he wanted a collection so he bought about 100 pieces of stuff related to
the particular computer (no since giving him away if he's senstive about
it) and what does he have? 100 pieces of stuff. Not a collection with an
understanding about the significance (or lack thereof) of various
pieces, who went out of business producing this product only to be
reborn in the PC industry as some future magnate. Etc.

When they put an escalator up to the top of Mt. Everest then anyone can
"climb the tallest mountain." Trust me though, it won't be the same.

--Chuck

foo wrote:
>
> 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 - 18:17:22 BST