Frequently Asked Questions
Questions I am frequently asked.
General FAQ
Q: Will you post my original content?
A: Sure, as long as it is small, legal, and SFW. Send me the files and written permission to reproduce them and I will gladly host and post your stuff.
Q: Will you post this awesome file that I found on the internet?
A: No, not without direct explicit permission from the copyright holder. Some of you seem to have some funny ideas about internet laws and copyright. Yes, posting an image/mp3/blog/whatever from somebody else's site violates copyright. No, it is not fair use. It doesn't matter whether or not they have a notice saying not to reproduce it. It doesn't matter whether or not it is available freely on some forum or their website or even if they email it to me themselves. It doesn't matter whether or not I charge for it as actual damages is not the only factor of liability. I understand that my risk of getting caught is small but it is a matter of integrity.
Q: Do you have a Myspace/Facebook/Reunion social networking page?
A: No, and I do not plan on creating one in the near future. They only remind me that, when given nearly unlimited computing power, the cumulative knowlege of mankind, and speed-of-light communication, most people spend their time calling each other idiots and uploading pics of their cat to their aimless neurotic blogs. Oh and also when I had a Myspace and I said these things people either directed their angst at me, or quietly unfriended me, or said that they agreed with me between uploads of cat pics to their neurotic blog.
Q:
Questions about my collection of interesting stuff:
Q: Why do you keep that old broken junk?
A: It is true that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Some people look at my collection and see a pile of corroded broken refuse. I like it for various reasons. I enjoy the history behind some pieces. I like to imagine where it might have been and who might have held it. You put it in your hand and say "Wow. This is the real deal. This was there." Some have interesting stories behind them. I understand that collections like this aren't for everyone so if you don't like it, just hit the back button a few times and look at some different stuff. Also, I just like having treasure. Yo ho!
Q: How big is the collection?
A: The main body of it fits in a suitcase. I only post things here that have a story or have some quality that I think that one of my readers might find interesting. I have lots of coins from around the world spanning 3000 years but if I can't think of something interesting to say beyond the identification, it doesn't make the cut.
Q: Is that real? That can't be real.
A: Yes. Everything is authentic unless explicitely stated otherwise.
Q: How do you know it's real?
A: Most fakes are actually obvious if you know what to look for. I've done some research on what to look for. Most of my items are low-grade examples which not too many people would spend their time trying to fake (although it does happen sometimes). On top of that, the vast majority of my collection has been bought from respected international dealers who know a lot more than I do about authentication. A lot of my pieces are even papered by museums, auction houses, and other experts.
Q: Is it legal for you to have that?
A: Yes. I refuse to deal in illegal items. I also refuse to deal in items that are legal but were collected in an unethical manner.
Q: Why isn't that in a museum?
A: If I had something that was historically significant I would donate it to a museum although I would have no legal obligation to do so. I don't have anything historically significant. Nothing is in good enough condition to be used as a type example.
Gantopian by Ryan W. Rooks