[TheForge] Re: theft at the tailgate sales

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

I can't speak for anyone else...but I'm not gong to let the incidents break 
down my trust.  In the past, at desperate times, I've found myself doing 
things I'm not that proud of.  Paid the price, and received forgiveness for 
them.  Then the greatest blessing...someone invested their trust in me again. 
 I now owe it to them to do so to the rest of everyone.  Which is why, on 
those rare occasions when I have something to sell in my tailgate, I'll still 
leave it unmanned -- with a cigar box for anyone who buys to throw their 
money in to.  Hope that, unless this problem continues to grow, that others 
will to.

<<  Well said, and right on the money.  Now, how does one manage to
 keep the sense of trustworthiness and not lock everything up, so as
 not to go broke replacing things that shouldn't have disappeared?  I
 never intended to become cynical, it sucks too, not sure how I got
 here, just know if I don't protect it, it disappears.  Any suggestions
 will be seriously well taken.
 
    Jeff   ><>
 
 
 > Destruction of trustworthiness really sucks and I have to say
 > that I resent it.  One of the best things about blacksmithing
 > events is that sense of trust and honor among people. This is
 > perfectly engendered in the ability of a person to cruise the
 > tailgate area when everyone else is off doing something else
 > and knowing that all those people trust YOU enough to not feel
 > a need to lock up their wares when they're gone.  In this day
 > and age when so many people seem to be trying their level best
 > to steal anything and everything they can, it has always been
 > a great source of satisfaction knowing that we, the blacksmiths
 > of this world, do not operate in this manner.
 >
 > What I hope is that we will not become cynical, as much of the
 > rest of the world has, and allow our fundamental spirit of
 > trust and community to be destroyed by such behavior.  If we do,
 > then we will have lost something very significant and I believe
 > that the community of blacksmiths will be altered in a way that
 > will diminish the quality and character of that community most
 > sadly.
 >
 > >>