There is alot right with this hobby. Through trades and emails and experience, I have met and traded with both people that arent in it to squeeze every penny they can get...and some that are. Some that enjoy the chips as a hobby, and some hobbiests that take it a bit too seriously. And of course there are a few trying to take advantage of unsuspecting newcomers..and prey on the uninformed newbee. I'm not talking about dealers; they need to make a buck, and provide a much needed service. And I don't mean anything bad about people that do some Ebay on the side to offset a bit of their chips spending...no, I do that myself. myself. And fortunately there are only a few the bad ones.

I'm speaking of the good people here. The ones that are willing to just cover their costs of the chip and postage and mailer...and pick up chips and spread them around. I'm speaking about the people that answer stupid questions and are quick to give responses to ID requests, and question about a thousand different casino related things.

Look at all of us that send free chips to new people. That is the kindness that we need to remember. And the people that have gone out of their way to share chips that are in demand at nothing more then face value in trade. These are good things.

Sometimes just the patience that people have shown during some trades that have gone back and forth for days coming to a mutually gratifying trade.

I for one remember all the kindnesses shown to me. My mother taught me a long long time ago...kindness should always be repaid with interest. Although she has been gone quite some time those words (as well as many other words of wisdom) still remain a part of me.

I'll give you a couple of examples of kindness and genereosity shown to me.

1. I had a chipper who sent me a bunch of chips for free when i first came here. He emailed me, and then send them too me after I gave him my address. That was a kindness I have never forgoten.

2. I had another chipper who responded to my inquiry post when i was asking which book to get (TCR or Official Guide). I had said i was only going to buy one book and i wanted to know which to get. He emailed me and told me i needed to have both. He told me he would make it easy for me to decide which to buy....by sending me a free copy of the most recent edition of the chip rack. That was a kindness i have never forgotten.

3. Another chipper who I had traded with only once sent me the whole set of grand openning Palms chips as well as the regular rack. This is when everyone was scrambling for them, and Ebaby sales on these were robust. His price: face value. And he insisted that even though there wasnt anything on my traderlist at the time...just write it down and we'll make it right sooner or later. This is a kindness that i have never forgotten.

What these people didnt know was that I am the type of person that doesnt forget. I think they are surprised sometimes when I return the kindness and generosity sometimes. When these people went out of their way to do a generous or kind thing...they didnt do it with the intent of gaining anything in return. And that is why i dont forget.

So getting back to the point. There is an awful lot of great things about the hobby. Sure...the chips are great. But lets remember the people. There are some damn fine ones here.

I watch CNN and see the sh*t going on in the middle east. In Israel, in Afganastan, in the Philipines etc., and I see the evil that abounds. The hatred...the violence...the sensless murder. Then I come here and check my emails...and i enjoy. I play with my silly little pieces of clay and plastic and for some crazy reason...I enjoy. There is ALOT of good with this hobby.

I just think sometimes we just cant see the trees for the forest.