Paul Baker

[Skihawx]

I think it is time to turn the fund raising program off. This is a phonograph forum after all. I don't need to be told I need to contribute again.

[JohnM]

As I said, this is not the time or place.

Please don’t try to throw cold water on my fund raising efforts.

Raphael

[Django]

I really didn’t want to weigh in because this seems to be a real Pandora’s box, but a few comments have nagged at me and I wanted to express my opinion rather than suppress it.

I feel that this is more than just a forum. It often seems to be more of a community. We often help each other out. We cheer each other on. We share our love of these wonderful machines. We meet up at events and build relationships, (some positive and some not so good).

I have never dealt with Paul, and I do not know him, but I made a modest contribution and wish him a full recovery. Some members have been more generous and very vocal in their support. I think that is great and I applaud their caring and generosity.

If someone doesn’t want to feel obligated to contribute, or contribute more, they shouldn’t. They can also simply avoid the topic, but as far as I can see, there is no harm in trying to rally support. To be clear, I am happy to see the support and caring for one of our group, and I think that we should keep this effort going.

If someone has a axe to grind, they would probably be better served by taking care of it face to face and not in public. Any attempt to use this space to attack a man that has been fighting for his life and health, not to mention the financial and emotional hardships that he and his wife are having to endure, only make themselves look small and petty.

I hope that we as a community can be kinder in the future. Peace and good health to all.

[JohnM]

I really didn’t want to weigh in because this seems to be a real Pandora’s box, but a few comments have nagged at me and I wanted to express my opinion rather than suppress it.

I feel that this is more than just a forum. It often seems to be more of a community. We often help each other out. We cheer each other on. We share our love of these wonderful machines. We meet up at events and build relationships, (some positive and some not so good).

I have never dealt with Paul, and I do not know him, but I made a modest contribution and wish him a full recovery. Some members have been more generous and very vocal in their support. I think that is great and I applaud their caring and generosity.

If someone doesn’t want to feel obligated to contribute, or contribute more, they shouldn’t. They can also simply avoid the topic, but as far as I can see, there is no harm in trying to rally support. To be clear, I am happy to see the support and caring for one of our group, and I think that we should keep this effort going.

If someone has a axe to grind, they would probably be better served by taking care of it face to face and not in public. Any attempt to use this space to attack a man that has been fighting for his life and health, not to mention the financial and emotional hardships that he and his wife are having to endure, only make themselves look small and petty.

I hope that we as a community can be kinder in the future. Peace and good health to all.

[JohnM]

I really didn’t want to weigh in because this seems to be a real Pandora’s box, but a few comments have nagged at me and I wanted to express my opinion rather than suppress it.

I feel that this is more than just a forum. It often seems to be more of a community. We often help each other out. We cheer each other on. We share our love of these wonderful machines. We meet up at events and build relationships, (some positive and some not so good).

I have never dealt with Paul, and I do not know him, but I made a modest contribution and wish him a full recovery. Some members have been more generous and very vocal in their support. I think that is great and I applaud their caring and generosity.

If someone doesn’t want to feel obligated to contribute, or contribute more, they shouldn’t. They can also simply avoid the topic, but as far as I can see, there is no harm in trying to rally support. To be clear, I am happy to see the support and caring for one of our group, and I think that we should keep this effort going.

If someone has a axe to grind, they would probably be better served by taking care of it face to face and not in public. Any attempt to use this space to attack a man that has been fighting for his life and health, not to mention the financial and emotional hardships that he and his wife are having to endure, only make themselves look small and petty.

I hope that we as a community can be kinder in the future. Peace and good health to all.

Yeah. I’m the bad guy.

[Django]

I really didn’t want to weigh in because this seems to be a real Pandora’s box, but a few comments have nagged at me and I wanted to express my opinion rather than suppress it.

I feel that this is more than just a forum. It often seems to be more of a community. We often help each other out. We cheer each other on. We share our love of these wonderful machines. We meet up at events and build relationships, (some positive and some not so good).

I have never dealt with Paul, and I do not know him, but I made a modest contribution and wish him a full recovery. Some members have been more generous and very vocal in their support. I think that is great and I applaud their caring and generosity.

If someone doesn’t want to feel obligated to contribute, or contribute more, they shouldn’t. They can also simply avoid the topic, but as far as I can see, there is no harm in trying to rally support. To be clear, I am happy to see the support and caring for one of our group, and I think that we should keep this effort going.

If someone has a axe to grind, they would probably be better served by taking care of it face to face and not in public. Any attempt to use this space to attack a man that has been fighting for his life and health, not to mention the financial and emotional hardships that he and his wife are having to endure, only make themselves look small and petty.

I hope that we as a community can be kinder in the future. Peace and good health to all.

Yeah. I’m the bad guy.

I’m not saying that anyone is a bad guy. I’m saying that the optics are bad and whether Paul is a decent person or not, this awful disease is not one that I would wish on anyone.

[JerryVan]

I really didn’t want to weigh in because this seems to be a real Pandora’s box, but a few comments have nagged at me and I wanted to express my opinion rather than suppress it.

I feel that this is more than just a forum. It often seems to be more of a community. We often help each other out. We cheer each other on. We share our love of these wonderful machines. We meet up at events and build relationships, (some positive and some not so good).

I have never dealt with Paul, and I do not know him, but I made a modest contribution and wish him a full recovery. Some members have been more generous and very vocal in their support. I think that is great and I applaud their caring and generosity.

If someone doesn’t want to feel obligated to contribute, or contribute more, they shouldn’t. They can also simply avoid the topic, but as far as I can see, there is no harm in trying to rally support. To be clear, I am happy to see the support and caring for one of our group, and I think that we should keep this effort going.

If someone has a axe to grind, they would probably be better served by taking care of it face to face and not in public. Any attempt to use this space to attack a man that has been fighting for his life and health, not to mention the financial and emotional hardships that he and his wife are having to endure, only make themselves look small and petty.

I hope that we as a community can be kinder in the future. Peace and good health to all.

Yeah. I’m the bad guy.

The problem with this sort of thing, is that nobody knows what the he!! you're talking about. So, yes, the outward appearance that you present is not a good one. Please, I do not want to know what your grievance is. It's none of my/our business. This isn't the time or place for it. Take it up with personally with Paul, if it needs discussion at all. It appears to be a personal matter and should be handled as such.

[PeterF]

We get so sanctimonious on here at times.

Somebody thinks they got cheated on eBay and they post about it, all butt-hurt. PayPal changes its policy, oh woe is me. I tried to buy something on the Yankee Trader but my PM was missed, outrageous. Some guy didn’t repair my stuff “right” - let’s boycott him!

But complain about racist records, and you’re deleting “history.” Wonder why a bigoted member got 86’d by the moderator, oh why o why: but he contributes so much to our glorious hobby. Rabid antivaxxer takes up scarce hospital resources for several months…for he’s a jolly good fellow!

Donate or don’t donate. But never try to tell someone that their personal reasons for deciding are invalid. Most of the folks just want to help a fellow hobbyist and never mind the details of the individual. But the reaction of some, to what should appear to anyone as entirely plausible reasons to decline, kinda feels like this…

[ChesterCheetah18]

Whether to donate or not is everyone's personal choice, for any number of reasons. Up to this point, 112 people have contributed, out of how many members of this forum? Yet, only one has chosen to publish their petty, juvenile reasons why they won't contribute. Sometimes one's opinions are best kept to oneself.

Steve

[Skihawx]

Whether to donate or not is everyone's personal choice, for any number of reasons.
Steve

But I'd like to understand the cause to which I am donating. Many probably did not.