Dear Lister's:
It is interesting how someone maintains different names, addresses, etc.
for the purpose of scamming shells. One wonders if the same person put
such effort into study, obtaining and curating a collection in an
ethical manner, what a great contributor to our hobby the person could
have been. I was an officer in a large national shell association a
decade ago, and this ET character was the subject of considerable
discussion.  It prompted me to ask shellers to know who they are dealing
with before committing pricey shells.

But for the rotten apple, the wonderful aspect of our hobby, science and
passion is the number of fine people from extraordinarily diverse
backgrounds you can trust completely.  From academics to business people
to government employees to the retired, the diversity of the group
amazes me; yet we all have a similar interest; and with that a trust of
your fellow sheller.  I have been chastized for sending money first to a
dealer, to be advised the dealer would really prefer me to wait until
after the shells arrive, select what I want, and then send the check.
And I particularly love shell trips to foreign destinations- even if you
knew no one before the trip, they become good friends during and
following the trip- where you can meet, collect and talk shells with
folks such as Jean and Charlie Roe, Carol Boswell Simpson, John Wolff,
Homer and Ann Rhode, Phyllis Digel, Richard Deurr, Helen Madow and so
many, many others- what a great bond we share.  And that bond of
friendship is the blessing we share, and the lack of that bond is the
curse the few ET's must bear.  The ET's are really extra-terrestrials,
not of our world.  I feel sorry for them and the world they confine
themselves.

Alan Gettleman
Merritt Island, FL