Barry Meyers-Rice is evil

Barry Meyers-Rice (barry@as.arizona.edu)
Mon, 17 Jun 1996 10:43:46 -0700

Wow,

Many of you know on this list that I am getting rid of my Sarracenia
collection. I've had now about 30 requests for plants (sorry, I'm not
taking any more orders) and everyone wanted so many plants I had no
way of filling all the orders.

In fact, I had to inform nearly 1/3 of the people I couldn't send them
any plants at all. This was because their orders came a little too
late and perhaps they asked for commonly requested plants.

Fortunately, nearly everyone has been very understanding about this
entire ordeal (and I can tell you, getting rid of my beloved collection
is in some ways an ordeal).

However, today I got a bit of flame mail from a person who was angry
I couldn't set aside some plants for him.

I don't know why these sorts of letters hurt and anger me so much.
Remember, when you send flame-mail, a *human* is getting your mail.
Don't be nasty. Fortunately, most CPers are kind and I'm glad to say
I've been getting understanding mail from everyone regarding this
plant distribution thing, even those who I couldn't send plants.

In a few days I guess I'll be able to chuckle about this.

Barry

----------------

***Le message***

>I fell that you were very chicken the way you took so long in letting people
>know where they stand. I feel that your friends came fisrt and rest of us
>suffered because you waited to long to make your decision. I will never do
>business with you regarding plant sales from you again and will tell all my
>friends what a rotten deal this was.

----------------

*** My response***

Wow. Not a very pleasant bit of email today.

XXXXX, I have a lot of associates out there in email land and I posted
this note and gave everyone a little time to respond. There were a
great many people who responded. I saved the requests in chronological
order. I got your message on 12:51 June 10. Eighteen, yes, eighteen
people emailed to me before you did. Your mail was therefore near the
bottom of the stack.

I did not wait around arbitrarily. Once I got so many mail messages in
I trashed my other weekend plans and collated the information. It took
several hours to accumulate and edit the information and distribute
the plants fairly among the people who asked me, in the approximate
order they arrived. By the time it came to your request I was unable to
distribute any plants to you because you had asked for some of the most
popular plants that were gone by the 5th or 6th email.

Sending plants to friends had nothing to do with this. I already sent
to my friends whatever they wanted from my list (free of charge) before
I posted this note. I barely know most of the people on the request list.

I am flabbergasted and taken aback by the hostile nature of your email.
You consider this a rotten deal? I am selling off extremely good plants
for pennies. I received a huge number of orders for a small number of
plants. You were near the end of the line of requests. I don't see
how you can be so irritated with me.

I read your mail again and can only shake my head in offense and sadness
at your response. I am not ashamed at my behavior, and will do you a
favour. I will post your angry note myself to the CP list. I will not
identify your name, but will let eveyone know what a bad person you
think I am.

Perplexed and offended,

Barry