Hoax?? (long)

[John D.]

I find it absolutely amazing that there are those who would portray Marvinâ??s post as anything other then what it clearly was - an honest attempt to share â??informationâ?� among this group of enthusiasts and collectors. To stigmatize it as a â??charadeâ?� or an â??intentional misrepresentationâ?� by some is not only an unconscionable oversight â?? but goes against every aspect that is the foundation of not only this Forum â?? but on a larger scale â?? conflicts with the principles within the collecting world itself.


In todayâ??s world of collecting Lugers â?? there are few â??factsâ?�, as those who have first-hand knowledge of the â??factsâ?� are typically dead and buried. Therefore â?? our "knowledge" is predicated on our capability to share and develop a thesis about those â??unknownâ?� issues to only get closer to â??the factsâ?�. During those discussions, thesesâ?? are developed from various sources, references, compilations of documents, and most importantly, level-headed and mature discussions about those same aspects of the point in question. That is what I *thought* this Forum was all about â?? simply a technology to facilitate the discussion those same â??thesisâ?� so we could all come closer to the truth on any open topic.


However â?? grossly self-serving statements such as anyoneâ??s post â??is a jokeâ?�, or â??I got taken inâ?�, etc. â?? amounts to little more then an intentional character assassination about someone who is honestly trying to share information that they believe is plausible. That it is directed towards Marvin specifically, I find distasteful at best. Simply look at the time, effort and information he has taken the time to unselfishly assemble and share within this Forum alone. And if it were another who was attacked â?? I would have a similar reaction, admittedly perhaps not as vehement, for I have met Marvin and know him to be more then forthright and the embodiment of what â??collectingâ?� is all about.


What a shame that people take it upon themselves to attack the person and their credibility - rather then simply presenting a counter argument to the thesis itself. Even more of a shame is the fact, that should someone have their own findings to present on an aspect of Luger collecting â?? they will certainly think twice about sharing it within this â??communityâ?�. In that case â?? we all lose.


To the question poised as to whether Marvinâ??s post was intentional to â??expose the credulity of the Luger Boardâ?� â?? I would say it is how specificially his post is responded to - rather then attacking the person himself. So far, I do not hold out much hope on either point.


And yes â?? I am primarily of German descent. And yes â?? I do have a sense of humor when the situation warrants one. In this case â?? it does not - nor do I.


- RANT OFF