OK...so the blogosphere is all in a tizzy about the Time-Warner shoot down of several charity auctions featuring Superman and his supporting cast.
The guy who ran the auction is saying he doesn't want to play the victim. Hmmm. Sounds like he's all about playing the victim in this, with the sole caveat being that he's nice enough to clarify DC Comics likely had nothing to do with the problem.
He's sitting there wallowing in this situation. He's saying all the "right things" about it being his fault, but then he's pointing out other peoples' artwork to suggest that the WB should pursue them, too. He's obviously at least a little bitter already.
But I don't see anything that demonstrates he has tried to reach out to someone at DC Comics or Time-Warner to help get clearance for the remaining auctions or any retroactive clearance for the auctions that have completed. Some guy doing his job by contacting eBay to pull down unauthorized use of IP doesn't mean that no one at the conglomerate would be willing to authorize it.
Why not try?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Of Lawyers, Victims & Superman
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Interesting. I guess if you wanted to slip this kind of thing under the radar eBay isn't the place for it.
ReplyDeleteOr keep it more vague. If people would have just offered a commission piece without specifying? No removal.
ReplyDeleteI really don't what to say to all this.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you completely missed the point of the the link to Ali Spagnola's site. I'm not taking any one down with me, and really, really resent the implication. She's a friend of mine. The joke about the WB going after her was her idea.
And I have talked to the WB. I mentioned that more than once. I've outright said repeatedly that this was likely just the result of someone stumbling across the auctions on a routine check and I hope to work things out.
I really gotta say I just don't see where I'm playing the victim. And I have no idea what you're trying to imply with "Oh, he's saying all the right things." You are a very cynical man, and I appreciate it if you stopped spreading disinformation concerning an already bad situation for me.
Thomas,
ReplyDeleteTo point to one of the many little things you say that makes it clear that, despite your protest, you're playing a victim is your little bit about closing down the blog over all of this (even that it was ENTIRELY YOUR MISTAKE, as you state when you're "saying all the right things"). You mention how you've had people tell you that you led them to purchase Superman product...as if trying to justify your error and act like they're attacking someone who has helped them greatly.
Seriously...you might go through bits of time where you're not playing the victim...but you at least keep vacillating between playing one and not playing one. Maybe your more natural state is to not be...but I'm just interpreting your own words.
No, you're misinterpreting them and misreading and giving partial bits of information. You're applying your own perspective to things I've said. You're inferring things that are not there.
ReplyDeleteShutting down the blog is not playing the victim. I don't want to promote their products any more because this has all been a huge headache for me. It's as simple as that.
And you didn't address the parts of your posts at all that were flat out wrong; you said I made no mention of trying to fix this or contact the WB, and you accused me of trying to harm an artist. There is absolutely no truth in those things.
And...just for personal edification...care to point out where you said in blog posts that you were contacting Warner? The blog you posted minutes before or after this blog you're replying to? C'mon...that was AFTER I e-mailed you a contact at DC to try to help you out (cynic ass that I am).
ReplyDeleteI'm supposed to know about your joke with a friend? After your own problem with Time-Warner, it would seem to be stupid and in bad taste to post something hoping they go after someone else. You know...while you're looking for empathy about the financial cost of your mistake. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd...just for personal edification...care to point out where you said in blog posts that you were contacting Warner?
ReplyDeleteSecond paragraph, posted yesterday afternoon-
http://sayitbackwards.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-ive-decided-to-do.html
Look, if you just want some scandal and traffic for your blog, just ask. I'll happily link here. You don't have go this route.
Not to seem like I'm being nitpicky, but that doesn't actually state that you're taking ANY ACTION WHATSOEVER to bring about a change in stance.
ReplyDeleteAnd trust me...I'm not covering your thing for the attention. I'm covering it because there's more than enough people boo-hoo-ing for you on the 'net. ;) Like on your own blog where people are telling you that you're incorrect when you say Time-Warner is right and you were wrong. That kind of led to this.
Oh, okay. That doesn't make sense to me. It really just seems unnecessary and mean spirited to me. Then, i really don't get how you've interpreted most of what I've said, because you really seems to have misunderstood my intentions on every front.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna call it a day on this conversation, cause really, we're just kind of an oil and water thing, you know? I don't think we think enough a like to get the other's POV.
Hey...agreeing to disagree ain't a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteBut as much as you think I'm thinking this way because I'm too cynical, I think you're failing to see my POV because it's about you.
Like the many times everyone has experienced where they're told they are making up excuses despite asserting they are not...only to eventually realize they have.
But if a bunch of people enjoy your blog and you've had friendly contact with more people because of it, I think it would be silly to stop sharing your appreciation of that character. Like some of your blog comments suggest, try to avoid pimping their wares directly.
How do you explain that I don't see your POV, either, and it's *not* about me?
ReplyDeleteI mean, Thomas tried to do the right thing... ran up against some harsh realities... made the best of it... came out the other side. The kids with cancer (which is all this has ever been about) still get... what? $1500 or so? More? That seems like a win for the point of it all, no matter what the pundits end up saying about the effort in general or about Thomas personally.
You thrashing at a horse that's not going to die makes you seem a little small man, Kevin, to those of us reading. Have you sent a little money over in the hopes to cure cancer, yourself?
I don't know why you can't see the POV, Dis. The temptation to snipe back at you is so strong, but I'll resist.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're bitter at a company (as evidenced by his stance on closing down his blog) that you SAY was completely in the right to shut down your auctions (that you didn't make a single effort to clear beforehand), it gives the appearance just trying to say the right thing while feeling wounded as only a victim should.
You don't get mad at someone for doing the right thing. If you resent someone for doing something, you don't truly believe it was the right thing.
I think it is natural for Thomas to resent Time-Warner and think they shouldn't have done this. It is, also, only human to feel like a bit of a victim when a corporation flexes their rights in a way that costs you hardship.
I'm not saying it makes him a bad person. I just think to suggest he's not playing a bit of the victim or for him to say T/W is right and he is wrong isn't a true representation of where his head is at currently.