Jeremy -- you don't owe anything back to the person who bought your speakers. Caveats were posted in the auction and they don't have any good recourse. Also, glad news that you'll soon get vaccinated! Hope it goes well!
John
A couple things on my mind. One was a very recent discussion about this site and the FB site. I am a member of both sites and see the positives from both. To be honest, I personally use FB very, very little. Because of my professional position and my security clearance, I do not trust that anything I write there could not be used against me, my family, or my employer. So I've never been an active FB user.
I feel comfortable here when I see a thread that I'll know with high degree of confidence what it will be about. Discussions can last a day/week/month or longer but it's always in the same thread. On FB, I find it hard to pick up where I left off the day before because dynamic has changed. Something new has happened and yesterday's news has been forgotten. FB was never designed to be easy-to-navigate -- just a moneymaker for Zuckerberg. So I like the navigability of tdt.org -- and if questions arise, there's always someone to help.
But the conversations, and new tdt.org members have decreased in the past 5 years and while that is understandable, it is also lamentable. The FB page keeps growing and that is great. But is it a red herring? How many of the 3.6K FB members are a Charlie Fried, Bob Jackson, Chris Cavaliere, Dave Hutcheson, Alec Smith -- even a Gerald Winters (or his best friend)? I just haven't seen it yet. Some of that growth will eventually migrate here but I see it going the other way right now.
The "library" aspects and access to them here is without peer IMO. The work that people have completed regarding 1st editions, collectable editions, proofs and manuscripts, etc. is without peer. The ability to showcase your collections is a wonderful attribute. I just don't think that the FB page has evolved that far yet. And I'm not sure if the FB technology permits the kind of attributes that tdt.org retains.
The FB page is a welcome part of the SK community because it has brought hundreds of people into the world of book collecting. It has educated so many new people in so many ways. And that is always a good thing. It will be interesting to see how many of the 3.6K FB members put the effort into being a serious collector. And without the serious Stephen King collector, this great party will fall quickly.
So I want to acknowledge Jerome and his current and past admins and the tdt.org members who helped to grow this site to what it is. And to Kris for starting the SK FB page to share his SK enthusiasm to many new and far places while working with his admins and members to continue to improve upon its current state.
John
Although I haven't done so yet, I plan to be a bidder in the Heritage Auctions Rare Books offering on 9-10 June. I haven't decided if I want to take a trip and visit Dallas to participate in person (90% no) but I'm excited to take another shot at some HA SK auction lots! Last time was live on my computer and I won! Maybe lightning strikes again.
John
I've been participating in Heritage auctions for many years and have never had to be there in person, have only ever done it by internet. I think the only reason I'd go in-person is to see a high-value item with my own eyes to verify that I actually want it. They stopped in-person attendance for the duration of Covid, not sure if they've opened up yet.Although I haven't done so yet, I plan to be a bidder in the Heritage Auctions Rare Books offering on 9-10 June. I haven't decided if I want to take a trip and visit Dallas to participate in person (90% no) but I'm excited to take another shot at some HA SK auction lots! Last time was live on my computer and I won! Maybe lightning strikes again.
John
WANT LIST: Any SK #186; Dark Man Unbound 1st Proof; FDNS Unbound 1st Proof; FDNS Black Tape Spine Proof; FDNS Unbound Color Proof
The only FB group I follow religiously anymore is Paul Michael Kane's 19 Edition page. For the most part, it's about great people doing great things for each. I haven't seen the level of generosity that I see there anywhere else. And it's 99% drama free. TDT will always be my primary source of King information as long as it's around.
You don't know my kind.....You don't my mind.....Dark necessities are part of my design.....
Thanks for the kind words John. I'm not much of a FB person myself, but I understand the rapid pace appeals to may. The greatest pride I have in our site, are our members, and our incredibly comprehensive Catalogs.
Both platforms can exist and thrive in the presence of one another.
FB = BAD
TDT.ORG = GOOD
That about sum it up, Boss?? LOL
Seriously, like I believe it was mentioned above Lord, knows who is looking at FB and taking notice what goes on there and what is stated/posted. It can adversely affect your life in so many non-specific ways. Here, all you have to worry about are 50-100 wacky, nerdy and crazed Horror book fans!! lol
28 in 23 (?)!!!!
63 in '23!!!!!!!!!!
My Collection: https://www.thedarktower.org/palaver...ion-Merlin1958
The Houston Astros cheated Major League Baseball from 2017-18!!!! Is that how we teach our kids to play the game now?????
Thanks Bill for the odd post. Thankfully it wasn't 500+ words.
Hearts are tough, she said, most times hearts don't break, and I'm sure that's right . . . but what about then? What about who we were then? What about hearts in Atlantis?
Got my first vaccine shot today !
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CLUB STEPHEN KING (french website about STEPHEN KING, since 1992) : on : Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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Congrats, J!
Wanted list:
Ubris
I got a notification from abebooks that a book I had created a want notification for had been listed. I opened that “want” over 11 years ago. Finally got a book I had long been looking for way cheaper then I thought I would.
Nothing fancy. The Secret of Excalibur by Andy McDermott. For whatever reason a hardcover copy of this book has been basically impossible to find. I think I saw one before I made the “want” for $300. And I’ve never seen one since. Now there are 2 but one is a library copy in good condition with no dust jacket.
In regards to the membership discussion of this site and the FB Rare King group, I am active in both. FB has the advantage of being where the people are and is drawing in King fans who previously did not know about the higher end collecting opportunities. This site has the advantage of age, wisdom, expertise, and for me, my longest friendships in the collecting world.
One key difference is that the Rare King group is a private group. People can see the group exists, but not what’s in it. Even lurkers must be a member in order to access the knowledge. Active participants know that generally everything they share is not accessible by the casual public and non-collecting friends. That’s why you don’t find the posts there on Google searches.
TheDarkTower is a public website (except for certain members-only general interest forums). All the collecting comments, discussions, catalogs, how-tos, and knowledge are free for everyone - member or not, search engine bots and collectors alike. I promote this site regularly on FB because both that group and this one together make for a stronger, well-rounded collector.
Other than perhaps the all-knowing RF, if the rest of us wanted to get a truer sense of how many people mine this site for information without ever joining, then Calvin’s Corner and all its vast knowledge, catalogs, and collections, would need to be a private sub-forum. Visible that it exists, but content available only to TDT members.
I wanted to clarify the misperception that the FB collecting group is more public when it’s the other way around and also perhaps why this site appears to grow slower in active membership numbers. I am not suggesting any course of action, just providing some food for thought.
"...that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little." ~ Ray Bradbury
I spend a lot of time on social network, mostly because I manage the Club Stephen King, because, otherwise, frankly I woudn't. As I dont share anything about my personal life.
The FB app made it easier to share pix and everything
But I stilll comes on that message boards at least 5 times a day
Facebook isn't comparable
FB has an algorythm that decides what to show you
They can decide whether my friend, who posted about his upcoming sugery, willl let me know about it. Or not.
On this message boards I can see about whomever post about it in this post.
It's more my choice than an algorythm
Do I want both? Yes
I have been on this mb since more than 10 years and will continue to do so.
I however think that whomever decides to fully rely on FB is not at the top of their game. I have been managing a SK related FB page since more than 10 years.
Yes, competition have come in. But even taking this into account, my visibily have significantly come down. FB page, group. Whatever. It's their game. They can tomorrow decide to take it down and in that case I willl just have my eyes to cry. Cause frankly, a 100 billion+ company won't give a flying f.ck
My website / message board? It's different. It's mine. it's my rule, and in theory, I can show you whatever I want
PS : I dont want to sound a James Bond villain
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CLUB STEPHEN KING (french website about STEPHEN KING, since 1992) : on : Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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I'm sure if there is intelligent life somewhere out there in the universe, they are wise enough to stay away from us.
And the people bowed and prayed, to the cell phone god they made...
Yeap, same happens with me. I've been managing the official Facebook Page for the publisher since 2010 (and the one of my bookstore since that year as well) along with a SK group and I quit as an admin for the group two years later because of the visibility issues. I grew tired of that. I understand forums became "outdated" with the social networks but it's the format I prefer.
Not to mention that the knowledge that has been shared here has been beyond amazing and I made some true friends. I know I'll keep visiting this place on a daily basis forever if I can.
Wanted list:
Ubris
I've been trying to contact Bill (Merlin1958) for 3 days with no success. Land line, Cell, PM....zero zip nada. Site shows a device registered to him logged on yesterday at 4am. Very unlike him.
Hoping for the best.
Were you able to get in touch with him, Jerome?
Wanted list:
Ubris
No.
I'm told he's not feeling well.