Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
"My message. Best not to be too kind/generous in this day and age."
That made me sad. Especially as we have lived through four years of increasing name-calling, shaming, threats, suspicion, paranoia, egotism, and a me-first/us-first/them-last attitude that has made the very words "kindness" and "generosity" dog-whistles for "weakness". And that is coming from our so-called leaders (and no - I'm not just picking on Americans).
Then to add on the (very real - not fake news) Covid pandemic - we are all going through a period where our selflessness and care for others (all others, not just those who live where we live or look like we look) is more important than ever. And those attitudes and behaviours should be considered a sign of strength IMHO - not weakness!
So whether you are lighting a Menorah candle, or turning on your Christmas lights, consider the significance of that very illumination driving away the cold and the darkness that is all around us. And use your own innate kindness and generosity to similarly drive away the social coldness and darkness that has increasingly spread throughout our shared planet.
Personally, I have found many kind and generous members here - and the only thing I feel bad about is that I'm not sure I've stepped up to the plate at the same level they have. So for the next week, I will try to be more kind and more generous to everyone I can - and I hope that will give me more strength to be a better husband, father, friend, SOR member, and citizen of the world.
Best Wishes to All, Dave.
P.S. In honour of the generosity other SOR members have shown me, I'm going to start tonight by sending the aforementioned member the $30 he feels he was deprived of, and then I will donate the stamps he hoped to sell to The Holocaust Stamps Project (Canada).
8 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Chatted by PM with the SOR member who was put off by the non-sale issue and glad to report it was not a money issue - it was just frustration with spending time and effort trying to do something nice for another member and then having it fall apart with no further conversation (most sellers would have had at least one or a few of those experiences!)
And despite his previous downbeat conclusion he in fact continues to be unwavering in his own kindness and generosity - sponsoring $600 of meals this year for people in need over Christmas. Now that's a true "mensch"!
So my offer to make good on that $30 of his missed opportunity was graciously declined - and instead we concluded that I will move that money from my personal PayPal account to the Holocaust Stamps Project (Canada) PayPal account - for the future purchase of Holocaust-related stamps.
So thanks Bob for "seeing the light" and kicking that ephemeral Grinch to the curb-side.
Dave.
6 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
One of our members recently expressed his frustration with another ("foreign") member inquiring about some of his stamps and then not buying them. His conclusion was:
"My message. Best not to be too kind/generous in this day and age."
That made me sad. Especially as we have lived through four years of increasing name-calling, shaming, threats, suspicion, paranoia, egotism, and a me-first/us-first/them-last attitude that has made the very words "kindness" and "generosity" dog-whistles for "weakness". And that is coming from our so-called leaders (and no - I'm not just picking on Americans).
Then to add on the (very real - not fake news) Covid pandemic - we are all going through a period where our selflessness and care for others (all others, not just those who live where we live or look like we look) is more important than ever. And those attitudes and behaviours should be considered a sign of strength IMHO - not weakness!
So whether you are lighting a Menorah candle, or turning on your Christmas lights, consider the significance of that very illumination driving away the cold and the darkness that is all around us. And use your own innate kindness and generosity to similarly drive away the social coldness and darkness that has increasingly spread throughout our shared planet.
Personally, I have found many kind and generous members here - and the only thing I feel bad about is that I'm not sure I've stepped up to the plate at the same level they have. So for the next week, I will try to be more kind and more generous to everyone I can - and I hope that will give me more strength to be a better husband, father, friend, SOR member, and citizen of the world.
Best Wishes to All, Dave.
P.S. In honour of the generosity other SOR members have shown me, I'm going to start tonight by sending the aforementioned member the $30 he feels he was deprived of, and then I will donate the stamps he hoped to sell to The Holocaust Stamps Project (Canada).
8 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Day 2 Update ... Happy Hanukkah ! A Holiday Message
Chatted by PM with the SOR member who was put off by the non-sale issue and glad to report it was not a money issue - it was just frustration with spending time and effort trying to do something nice for another member and then having it fall apart with no further conversation (most sellers would have had at least one or a few of those experiences!)
And despite his previous downbeat conclusion he in fact continues to be unwavering in his own kindness and generosity - sponsoring $600 of meals this year for people in need over Christmas. Now that's a true "mensch"!
So my offer to make good on that $30 of his missed opportunity was graciously declined - and instead we concluded that I will move that money from my personal PayPal account to the Holocaust Stamps Project (Canada) PayPal account - for the future purchase of Holocaust-related stamps.
So thanks Bob for "seeing the light" and kicking that ephemeral Grinch to the curb-side.
Dave.
6 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.