Sundance  | 05 Jul 2012 3:30 p.m. PST |
OK, so you see a book that is very enticing – goes well with a period that you not only game and read about avidly, but that you actually studied in grad school. Now you take a good look at the book and realize that it is coauthored (or authored or whatever) by an individual who firstly is not exactly recognized as an authority on the period, although some recognize him as an authority on a later period and secondly whose behavior on TMP and other boards is noticably lacking in…well…let's just say he doesn't play nice with others. Do you buy the book or not? On the one hand, the topic is one that most good researchers could do justice to, but on the other hand your personal repulsion for the author… |
| highlandcatfrog | 05 Jul 2012 3:45 p.m. PST |
No. If I find an author too repellant, here or on other online sites, I refuse to send any money their way. |
| 14Bore | 05 Jul 2012 3:53 p.m. PST |
Don't let feelings cloud your judgment,If it has what you need get it |
| Baddaski | 05 Jul 2012 4:40 p.m. PST |
Well, are you studying a period or friends with the author? Most of the authors you have met have never had the chance to offend you so you gave them the chance. When it comes to research you have to be more detached. |
| Sundance | 05 Jul 2012 4:42 p.m. PST |
OK, good point, Baddaski. |
 CPT Jake | 05 Jul 2012 4:49 p.m. PST |
It is a good point, but I have a list of folks I won't support (not only TMP/gaming related either). Some companies /individuals just are not going to get my support. |
 Cold Steel | 05 Jul 2012 4:53 p.m. PST |
Ditto what Jake said. And not just gaming related. There are some people I just won't do business with, period. |
| galvinm | 05 Jul 2012 5:31 p.m. PST |
I'm with Jake and Steel. Must be a military mindset. Loyalty, I guess. |
 Bob in Edmonton | 05 Jul 2012 5:46 p.m. PST |
THe basic question here is: is the book worth giving money to a jerk? My answer (in similar circumstances) has been no. Try the library or a second-hand site; if you an find it there, you just cost the gentleman a sale! |
| irishserb | 05 Jul 2012 5:48 p.m. PST |
Which will you regret more, buying it or not buying it? |
| religon | 05 Jul 2012 6:42 p.m. PST |
All hobby spending is discretionary. It is one of the few areas of life that you have total control over finding the moral high ground and planting your flag. You don't even have to spend a night in the pokey. If you find the author morally lacking, you should see that not a single dime of your money winds up in his hands. Tell others about his misdeeds. If "doesn't play nice with others" means he is just a jerk, the moral hazard for patronizing his works is decreased. If deep in your heart you think the author is a bad person and you buy from him anyway, you may sleep poorly. |
 ming31 | 05 Jul 2012 7:06 p.m. PST |
If you do not like the author you will not like the book , thus not enjoy reading it . |
| Terrement | 05 Jul 2012 7:34 p.m. PST |
What Jake said. Hard to believe the info isn't available from some other source. There are some people with whom I will not do business with as well. …not exactly recognized as an authority on the period, … answers your question regardless of personalities. Find a source who is. JJ |
| uruk hai | 05 Jul 2012 7:35 p.m. PST |
How many of us watch movies/read books/ listen to music produced by 'jerks'? |
 Sergeant Paper | 05 Jul 2012 7:49 p.m. PST |
Buy it used, so the jerk gets no money. |
 Rrobbyrobot | 05 Jul 2012 11:48 p.m. PST |
Back in the day I heard some disturbing stuff about the author of D&D. As I already had the rules on my shelf it really couldn't be helped. I've never known a rules author.
Or any other.
If I knew the book had info I really needed, I'd try to buy it second hand. If I dsiliked the author, that is. |
| cavcrazy | 06 Jul 2012 5:38 a.m. PST |
If it is a good book it is a good book. |
| Dynaman8789 | 06 Jul 2012 5:43 a.m. PST |
I've learned to seperate out the person from their work, so I would buy it if it has decent reviews on Amazon (not just lots of stars, decent as in someone who does not sound like a moron writes a positive review of it). |
| Terrement | 06 Jul 2012 6:28 a.m. PST |
If it is a good book it is a good book. From the initial post in the thread, it sounds like that had not been established. On the one hand, the topic is one that most good researchers could do justice to… seems to imply finding a "good book" from some other researcher wouldn't be a problem, and, we've already established the person in question is not an authority on the subject. JJ |
 richarDISNEY | 06 Jul 2012 7:58 a.m. PST |
secondly whose behavior on TMP and other boards is noticably lacking in…well…let's just say he doesn't play nice with others. No on this point alone. There is one on TMP that I WILL not buy from due to this person's attitude.  |
| Sundance | 06 Jul 2012 7:59 a.m. PST |
Yes, good thoughts all. I will try to get a look at it to see if it adds anything, but probably will not actually buy it unless it is spectacular. Some companies /individuals just are not going to get my support. Same here. My wife thinks I'm silly. For example, there are some movies I won't go see because of the people in them, no matter how good the movie or how big the hype, I refuse to give my money to them for various reasons. |
| Terrement | 06 Jul 2012 2:48 p.m. PST |
For example, there are some movies I won't go see because of the people in them, no matter how good the movie or how big the hype, I refuse to give my money to them for various reasons. You aren't alone – there are folks who refuse to watch certain flicks because of the actor in question, as well as those from both sides of the aisle who will refuse to go to what they consider "message" films from the other side. JJ |
| Griefbringer | 07 Jul 2012 3:31 a.m. PST |
whose behavior on TMP and other boards is noticably lacking in…well…let's just say he doesn't play nice with others. AFAIK the only place on TMP where we have such ill-behaved scholarly individuals tends to be on the Napoleonic boards… |
| Terrement | 07 Jul 2012 10:20 a.m. PST |
Fez as well. Poor behavior even by Fez standards. |
| sumerandaccad | 07 Jul 2012 3:10 p.m. PST |
Despite adverse comments about the author, many people buy WRG rules and army lists.
I met Phil in the 80's at SOA meetings and found him pleasant.
Buy and decide if it was worth it. |
| Dashetal | 08 Jul 2012 6:10 a.m. PST |
Its rare that someone in the hobby is so difficult and inflexible that I decide not to buy from him. I had that happen once and the guy lost a very large order for 20mm. It wasn't until years later that two guys created two 28mm figure lines giving me the opportunity to finally buy the period. |
| Terrement | 09 Jul 2012 6:51 a.m. PST |
Its rare that someone in the hobby is so difficult and inflexible that I decide not to buy from him. Rare? Absolutely. Unheard of? Nope. Buy and decide if it was worth it. Kinda defeats the whole point of the inquiry, doesn't it? If he can get a look at it from a fellow gamer, or from a vendor and he decides it is worth it, then if he's comfortable with the value vs personality equation, then by all means. But the author of the thread already stated the person in question lacks expertise in the period in question. Buying without seeing from a jerk, who may not know what he is writing to decide if it was a good buy? Sounds like bad advice to me. Just sayin' JJ |
