Peter, thanks for the reasoned response.

If you've observed me breaking an eBay rule, please email me privately and let me know what it was. I am an eBay stockholder as well as a user, and would not knowingly be a "bad guy". Maybe it's just a misunderstanding on my part? If I am a rule breaker, you could start a new thread making me the target, which some of my new friends would probably enjoy very much. But let's discuss it privately first.

You said something very interesting: "I do encourage every person to disobey Ebay rules when obedience to the rule would result in promoting a fraud upon innocent people."

I've don't think I've ever seen a situation where I would have to break a rule to avoid "promoting" a fraud upon someone. To me, there's a big difference between "promoting a fraud" and suspecting that one might occur. Even in the case of the guy who sold Robert the trashed commemorative, he did have a few dozen happy customers, so he's not entirely a crook.

I also will point out that I am probably the biggest NetCop around when it comes to those darn Swastika chips. It turns my stomach to see them called Nazi chips, and the stories about them being captured from SS officers and the like may me laugh and cry at the same time. I've probably sent out over 20 pleasant but firm emails to sellers who put these chips in the Militaria category, and have gotten into some real battles with sellers who knew the truth, and seriously resented my pointing it out. Of course, lots of sellers have appreciated my input and have immediately changed or added to their auction descriptions as a result of my efforts.

But rather than emailing every bidder who bids on a "Nazi" chip auction, I handle it by putting the true story in my auctions (link below), and any astute bidder who searches for "Nazi", "Nazi Poker", "Nazi Chip" will easily find my auction and can learn the truth. Well within eBay rules, and effective in preventing a fraud upon a buyer who takes the time to do a little research before bidding.

I also have a similar informative email I send to people who offer Catalox chips as Catalin, and call Turn-It holders Bakelite. I've been invited to roll up that email and insert it in an uncomfortable place on more than one occasion, but in general, most misguided sellers appreciate my intervention.