No. of Recommendations: 8
I don't post often but I have owned BRK stock since 1994 and lurk continuously. Over the years, we have developed "whipping boys" whose posts regularly receive very few, or no, recs, and are blocked by some altogether. The "whipped" poster usually finally disappears or tries to moderate his or her posts to become more accepted by the many. (One or two literally fight to the death. "Ghu" comes to mind.)
I think most would agree that hclasvegas could be categorized as one of those "whipped." I must confess that I, while I was lurking (but not "whipping") was among those who got angry over many of his posts and considered blocking him, and I actively did not rec him.
But I continued to lurk and to read his posts. To my pleasant surprise, during the past months I have discerned a notable change in their general tone. And when I reflect on the substance, not the style, of what he has said, more times than not, I find that I agree with the gist of his post and have begun to rec those posts. All this is to say that I am glad I didn't throw the baby out with the dishwater. I was too quick to judge and I apologize to hclasvegas.
To that end, I may not be alone. Four posts since midnight caught my attention today: 2 by rayvt (##15102 and 15106), and 2 by hclasvegas ("hclv") (##15105 and 15110). (I don't know either poster except on the BRK Boards.)
Raytv's Post #15102 discusses rechargeable batteries and pacemakers and has 2 recs until now. Hclv's Post #15105 discusses wealth and taxes and has no recs.
Less than 2 hours after hclv's Post #15105, raytv responded to #15105 with Post #15106: "This [Post #15105} should be on the U.S. Policy Board." As I write, raytv's Post #15106 has received 8 recs, all implictly agreeing that hclv's Post #15105 should not appear on the BRK Board.
REALLY??? Aren't the subjects of wealth and taxes both of vital importance to BRK corporately and to each of us individually? Or are we just trying to emphasize how much we dislike hclv? Don't each of these subjects, wealth and taxes, directly impact the reasons we are all here? Have I been missing something all these years (please don't answer this in writing)?
Finally, less than 45 minutes after raytv's Post #15106, hclv responded to it, kind of sharply, but very civilly (Post #15110): "This is your post and you suggest a post about wealth and taxes in America is off topic, lol. Google who Warren Buffett is. bye bye."
Now, over 6 hours after hclv's Post #15110, he has 1 rec, mine. While I know that BRK owns a battery manufacturer that may provide a direct link to BRK for board conversation, it's not a far reach, at least for me, to conclude that at least a portion of raytv's upvotes are submitted, not FOR the message, but AGAINST the person to whom the message is directed.
Today's target, hclv, doesn't need my defense. Nor should he feel alone. Several have been targeted through the years. But today's perceived injustice caught my lurking eye. I just think we are better than this and wanted to say so. My 2 cents.
