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« on: September 15, 2014, 11:36:29 AM »
My reputation may take a hit for taking an unpopular stance on this debate, as is evident by Tomas' rating - but I can't just let it pass. Tomas opened the topic excited about his new design, based around a culture that he is extremely interested and knowledgable about, and was subjected to the third degree for several perceived microscopic discrepancies. I really don't think that was fair honestly. I think Don is an extremely intelligent guy, and I think Tomas is very knowledgable about this particular culture I really know nothing about. He's no more or less sensitive than anyone else would be about their politics, religion, culture, ethnics, etc. if they perceived to be insulted about them. I re-read the entire thread, and things really went south when Don replied "Kid, you've got a pretty good patter, but I've got fresh batteries in my BS detector and the needle's in the red."
I think Don, given his legendary status on this forum, and in card collecting in general, enjoys a certain level of insulation and protection from criticism or debate. Tomas, a fairly new member, is going to immediately be targeted for challenging Don in any way, even if Don instigates the friction - and I'm not saying he did. This is just an observation. I do think Tomas has been unfairly criticized, and his reputation has taken a disproportionate hit for merely defending a position really important to him, and I don't really see evidence of him being truly out of line. I know Don is popular, and I think that tips the scales. If the exact same debate were waged word for word on this forum, but the players were myself and Tomas instead of Don and Tomas, the outcome would be vastly different, and the support from the rest of the community for one side or the other would probably be more equitably distributed.
And contrary to conventional wisdom, reputation IS important within this community. Although it has no functional use other than with a reputation of 1 someone can post in the STISO forum; reputation is the first look community members get at an unknown or new member. Someone with a reputation deep in the negative is immediately branded as a troublemaker or some other such label. Don's reputation is through the roof, and thus he is correctly viewed as a board legend.
Although it may appear otherwise, I'm really not taking "sides" as it were. I think everyone needs to just drop it and move on. But I call it as I see it, and I do think Tomas has been treated disproportionately. And I have grown to really enjoy and respect Don on these forums. His insight and expertise has been priceless to a new collector like myself. I look forward to his every response on these forums, as I always come away learning something new.
My position on this matter may be an unpopular one, and if you feel the need to ding my reputation for saying so, feel free. I needed to say it, and now that I have, I'm over it. Thank you for reading this.