[HAM] Scott Hawthorn

[Don Erickson]

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006, Steven Hayes wrote:

> Is it Time for a Advertisement Yet........

I guess that this is as good a time as any to weigh in on this subject. 
Obviously nobody wants to subscribe to a mailing list full of spam. 
However, everyone who owns a Hammond/Leslie spends time and/or money 
maintaining and rebuilding them.  For better or worse, we all need parts 
and know-how to keep these antique organs running, and that means 
business.

Here's my personal view: Generally, a vendor of parts that answers a list 
member's question about a specific problem with a suggestion of parts 
availability and prices is not necessarily abusing or exploiting the list, 
even if he might benefit financially from a potential sale.  He is 
contributing to the knowledge pool and fomenting further discussion.  In 
fact, due to the experience and expertise of most of the members, the 
vendor contributes this "advertising" at no small risk, as anti-vendor 
flames are, ah, not entirely unheard of on the online Hammond community.

We all make a living somehow.  I think that a vendor who sends private 
email to get a sale when somebody posts a problem is exploiting the list 
MORE than the same vendor who posts the same information publicly.  The 
first guy solicits a sale but gives nothing back to the mailing list that 
made it possible.  At least in the latter case, there is a contribution to 
the online knowledge base.  Troubleshooting expertise, prices and 
availability really ARE contributions to any list that professes to serve 
a community dedicated to the preservation of antique electronic 
instruments.

This list exists to serve its members, and persons with knowlege are 
critical to its continued existence.  I believe that more information 
serves the members better than less information does.

I realize that this goes against the prevailing rules on another list, 
with whom I have _many_ core philosophical disagreements.  Or at least I 
used to until the previous administration banned me for life.

Hey, I just realized something-- This list, Hamster/Hammond at zeni.net is 
the longest surviving Hammond list on the internet under the same 
continuous administration.  Wow.  Party!  Accept no substitues!


Regards,

-Don, Bass Pale Ale, 1 bottle (yeah that's it)