UK Astronomy Buy & Sell

Stephen Tonkin wrote in message ...
Chris.B wrote:
Had there been a grain of commercialism then by all means cry foul.
[...]
No advertising whatesoever except for the astro equipment ads
themselves.

What do you make of the commercial adverts that appeared on the root
page after the site had been up for a few months? (www.astrobuysell.com)

Best,
Stephen

Stephen,
I have never told anyone in the UK to go to the root address! Please
go only to www.astrobuysell.com/uk - there are no commercial adverts
there.

The site found in the root address is specifically for Canadian
amateur astronomers. It has been running since January 1998 (as a
simple text based web page) and in July 2001 it transition to its
current database format. The majority of the telescope shops that
advertise there are friends of mine whom I have known for many years.
These friends help me offset the cost of web hosting, software,
computer equipment, etc. Since I had one remaining database
available, I thought I'd put it to good use and set up the exact same
service for the UK. However, I don't feel very welcome, so perhaps I
should shut it down and set it up for another English speaking
country? So far this experience has been nothing but a headache
(because of this "witch hunt"), and I have enough headaches in my
daily work!

So I am wondering, what can I do to make amends?
I already sent you a private email apologizing for emailing you
directly, and admitting I should have been more careful. I already
apologized to the entire NG. And I said I would not email anyone else
about my web site.

I am quite sure if you met me in person you'd probably like me, but
unfortunately we got started on the wrong foot. And perhaps you'd
relate to me better if you knew that, like you, I enjoy writing about
astronomy. In fact I have written many articles on deep sky observing
and I am a contributing author to the [Royal Astronomical Society of
Canada] Observer's Handbook. My current project is a presentation at
my astronomy club this Wednesday where I will do a review of the
SkyWatcher 10-inch Dobsonian.

As you can see I really am a true amateur astronomer and not a
spammer. This whole buy & sell stuff is a labour of love... something
to keep me busy on cloudy nights.

I am not out to upset anyone and I really dislike having people hate
me. I hope your response will be more friendly and that the "witch
hunt" will stop.

Best Regards,
Paul.

"Stephen Tonkin" wrote in message
...
"Geoff Smith" wrote
Chris has done a great job over the years

to which Steve M. responded:
I disagree. I think Chris site is acceptable but far from "great"

Two points:

#1. You are misrepresenting what Geoff wrote.
#2. Whatever your personal feelings about the usability of Chris's site,
it *still* carries more adverts than any of the pretenders

Yes, like the Sha adverts (4/5 adverts per month)... most of those
telescopes he doesn't even own but they are just copied from ASTROMART!
....and Chris is supporting him!

probably still the place where you are most likely to sell your kit or
find what you want.


Best,
Stephen

--
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ Stephen Tonkin | ATM Resources; Astro-Tutorials; Astro Books +
+ (N51.162 E0.995) | http://www.astunit.com +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

"Stephen Tonkin" wrote in message
...
"Geoff Smith" wrote
Chris has done a great job over the years

to which Steve M. responded:
I disagree. I think Chris site is acceptable but far from "great"

Two points:

#1. You are misrepresenting what Geoff wrote.
#2. Whatever your personal feelings about the usability of Chris's site,
it *still* carries more adverts than any of the pretenders

Yes, like the Sha adverts (4/5 adverts per month)... most of those
telescopes he doesn't even own but they are just copied from ASTROMART!
....and Chris is supporting him!

probably still the place where you are most likely to sell your kit or
find what you want.


Best,
Stephen

--
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ Stephen Tonkin | ATM Resources; Astro-Tutorials; Astro Books +
+ (N51.162 E0.995) | http://www.astunit.com +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

In article , M13
writes

SNIP
service for the UK. However, I don't feel very welcome, so perhaps I
should shut it down and set it up for another English speaking
country? So far this experience has been nothing but a headache
(because of this "witch hunt"), and I have enough headaches in my
daily work!

Hi Paul,

Please don't give up because of Mr.Pendant (he's notorious for it!)

Good luck & Best Wishes,
--
J Taylor

In article , M13
writes

SNIP
service for the UK. However, I don't feel very welcome, so perhaps I
should shut it down and set it up for another English speaking
country? So far this experience has been nothing but a headache
(because of this "witch hunt"), and I have enough headaches in my
daily work!

Hi Paul,

Please don't give up because of Mr.Pendant (he's notorious for it!)

Good luck & Best Wishes,
--
J Taylor

Jeff Taylor wrote:

Please don't give up because of Mr.Pendant (he's notorious for it!)

Good luck & Best Wishes,

Hold on - I don't think he's ever hanged anyone - mind you he's a mean
hand with a barbecue at full Moon

Cheers

Martin

--------------
Martin Frey
N 51 02 E 0 47
--------------

Jeff Taylor wrote:

Please don't give up because of Mr.Pendant (he's notorious for it!)

Good luck & Best Wishes,

Hold on - I don't think he's ever hanged anyone - mind you he's a mean
hand with a barbecue at full Moon

Cheers

Martin

--------------
Martin Frey
N 51 02 E 0 47
--------------

In article , Martin Frey
writes

Hold on - I don't think he's ever hanged anyone - mind you he's a mean
hand with a barbecue at full Moon


Heh,heh - but I bet he would, given the chance ;-)

Cheers

Martin

--------------
Martin Frey
N 51 02 E 0 47
--------------

--
Jeff Taylor

In article , Martin Frey
writes

Hold on - I don't think he's ever hanged anyone - mind you he's a mean
hand with a barbecue at full Moon


Heh,heh - but I bet he would, given the chance ;-)

Cheers

Martin

--------------
Martin Frey
N 51 02 E 0 47
--------------

--
Jeff Taylor

Stephen Tonkin wrote in message ...
M13 wrote:
Stephen Tonkin wrote

As a matter of interest, is that merely a statement of the current
situation, or is it also an unconditional promise for the future?

That's a statement for the current situation and the near future. Who
knows, maybe no one will use the site and I'll have to shut it down
soon anyway!

You could perhaps try answering the following questions which have been
posed in this newsgroup:

* Why did you not merely post an ad for your services on UKAA?
* Did you ask Chris before you troffed addresses from his site?
* What gain did you expect from emailed spamming of people who would
read your announcement here?

1) It never occurred to me to do so as I'm not selling anything
tanglible.
2) No, I guess I should have!
3) I only found out about uk.sci.astronomy after I emailed you
Stephen.


[...]
I have a written a section for the RASC Observer's
Handbook.

[grabs current handbook] So you have. On Observing Logbooks. Useful
article.

Thanks! I have kept an observing logbook since 1982. That's what
inspired the article.


[...]
As you can see I really am a true amateur astronomer and not a
spammer.

The point that you seem to be missing is that the definition of spam/UBE
is entirely objective. It does not rely on content, intention,
relevance, targeting, the hobby of the sender, or any other subjective
criterion. UBE is UBE if it is unsolicited (it was), bulk (you have
tacitly admitted that it was), and email (it was). No judgement call is
required.

Ok, understood. I guess I was under the impression that between
budding amateur astronomers email exchanges (even unsolicited ones)
would be acceptable. My mistake.

There is no witch hunt.


Ok, good! Perhaps it's time to move on then, and talk about
astronomy.

Best Regards,
Paul.