Slipknot1, Zeneith et. al. Interesting thread. Just to throw a little gasoline on the discussion:
1. I am also guilty (very recently). I just sold a piece here using the pics that the guy who sold it to me posted a month ago. It was a photographic challenge issue and the pieces hadn't changed. The buyer actually came across the item out of another forum so he only saw the pics after already having made up his mind so my conscious only pangs me just a twinge and only when I smile. I would not consider using pics of equipment OTHER THAN those that are in my possession. This instance was one of "better than close enough" and, for me at least, a very isolated incident.
2. The commentary about litigious society is correct. We have gone too far. However, when consumers are wronged (as may be the case with E-bay) there is little for the consumer to do beyond this at this time in our history. Class actions have a wonderful ability to pre-empt governmental intervention while providing appropriate punishment when it is due. And, by their nature, they are not expensive for the plaintiff. The payoff for the plantiffs is usually small considering that whatever is gathered is first carved up by the attorneys who take on the case and then by X number (where X is usually a pretty big number) of plantiffs in the "class." If done well and with an appropriate cause, governmental action can occur with greater haste than waiting for such action. That is where the more "altruistic" payoff is. Getting the inappropriate behaviour corrected under threat of government intervention.
3. As for he FTC letter head idea . . . sure, if you can. the FTC operates in a rather structured approach, however, and it is likely that regardless of family ties any letter on official letterhead will not be forthcoming.
If you have a grievance and there is evidence that a large group of people (a class) are negatively affected by the actions of an entity (say E-bay), there may be a case in waiting. Maybe not. At the least the folks at E-bay should be more attentive to the input of their customers and users in order to maintain their reputation.
As for me -- plagirism is the lifeblood of journalism today and another disturbing trend. Thankfully, I have sufficient command of the English language to avoid most of the temptations of the stolen word.
Finally, as I plan on listening to some wonderful music tomorrow and being thankful for the opportunity to do so, thanks in no small measure to the people who populate AudiogoN, I hope all of you have at least as pleasant an opportunity whether with friends, family or just by yourselves. Happy Thanksgiving.
F7
1. I am also guilty (very recently). I just sold a piece here using the pics that the guy who sold it to me posted a month ago. It was a photographic challenge issue and the pieces hadn't changed. The buyer actually came across the item out of another forum so he only saw the pics after already having made up his mind so my conscious only pangs me just a twinge and only when I smile. I would not consider using pics of equipment OTHER THAN those that are in my possession. This instance was one of "better than close enough" and, for me at least, a very isolated incident.
2. The commentary about litigious society is correct. We have gone too far. However, when consumers are wronged (as may be the case with E-bay) there is little for the consumer to do beyond this at this time in our history. Class actions have a wonderful ability to pre-empt governmental intervention while providing appropriate punishment when it is due. And, by their nature, they are not expensive for the plaintiff. The payoff for the plantiffs is usually small considering that whatever is gathered is first carved up by the attorneys who take on the case and then by X number (where X is usually a pretty big number) of plantiffs in the "class." If done well and with an appropriate cause, governmental action can occur with greater haste than waiting for such action. That is where the more "altruistic" payoff is. Getting the inappropriate behaviour corrected under threat of government intervention.
3. As for he FTC letter head idea . . . sure, if you can. the FTC operates in a rather structured approach, however, and it is likely that regardless of family ties any letter on official letterhead will not be forthcoming.
If you have a grievance and there is evidence that a large group of people (a class) are negatively affected by the actions of an entity (say E-bay), there may be a case in waiting. Maybe not. At the least the folks at E-bay should be more attentive to the input of their customers and users in order to maintain their reputation.
As for me -- plagirism is the lifeblood of journalism today and another disturbing trend. Thankfully, I have sufficient command of the English language to avoid most of the temptations of the stolen word.
Finally, as I plan on listening to some wonderful music tomorrow and being thankful for the opportunity to do so, thanks in no small measure to the people who populate AudiogoN, I hope all of you have at least as pleasant an opportunity whether with friends, family or just by yourselves. Happy Thanksgiving.
F7