Re: Celestron and Int Star Registry

David,

David Knisely wrote:
A personal attack? What did you do to *me*? The problem right now isn't star naming or any such thing. The problem I have is with *you*.

I have burned into my mind a picture of someone I once knew. He worked with the public at an observatory. He was a loud, obnoxious, insensitive buffoon. When people would come to him, the mere mention of buying stars would send him off on a tirade. And if someone brought him their star he'd puff out his chest and haughtily tell them they had been scammed, with no regard to their feelings. I would watch those people. They would look a little disappointed and then smile make a feeble joke about it. But afterward I'd watch their drawn faces, with all the joy they had walked into the room with gone, and I started to despise what this person was doing to them.

When I read your response you appeared to be drawing a picture of yourself in that very same role. It made me angry. I said some very harsh things--I lashed out at you as I had never had the chance to at that buffoon long ago.

Look--I am very sorry that I disrespected you here on this forum.

If you would never think of acting in the manner I have described then I am doubly sorry! Then we in fact agree that it is tactless and disrespectful to burst people's bubbles at public events, and you were simply relating your frustration in having to deal with the problem at all.

If you have in the past found yourself telling someone that they have been scammed and seen the hurt on their faces--a hurt it is very easy to blame on the ISR--then I would like to respectfully suggest that you reconsider doing so. I admit that I did this a few times myself before I realized that what I was doing was wrong. I truly believe that the ISR only takes the money from these people. It is we who take their dignity.

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://comets.skyhound.com

To reply take out your eye
.

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