Our entire society runs and is based on trust. You trust that the person at the drive-thru will give you your food after you give them your money. You trust that the bus you just paid $1.65 to go on will indeed go to it's designated destination. You trust that your teacher will mark you fairly on your report card. You trust that if you leave something unattended for five minutes, it will indeed be there when you return for it.

Humans are considered the smartest beings on the planet because of our ability to not only think so much more advanced than any other species, but also because of the bonds that we make with each other in our lives. Trust should be one of the most sacred things in those lives. Trust means that someone else thinks highly enough of you to put into your hands some aspect of their life. Trust means that you are respected by that person, that they believe you will do the right thing if something bad comes up. Real, true, pure trust means blind faith in the competency of the person you place your trust.

If trust is the gasoline that runs the car of society, then why is it not only given out so easily and is taken advantage of so much? Every day, people around the world are victims of thefts, robberies, muggings, and countless other crimes. A lot of the time this happens because one party trusts another, but that trust is not reciprocated, but instead is taken advantage of. The end result is someone who no longer trusts in other people. And that is perhaps the bigger of the tragedies.

Earlier today, as some of you may know, I was one of those people whose trust was taken advantage of. I was sitting down playing a few games of Magic, I got up and walked over to enter into a booster draft, and the next thing I know my backback, containing my binder and my decks (all my rares and foils) was gone. And so was my trust in the people I used to call my friends or peers.

I used to think that the place I played at every Saturday afternoon was a friendly, trustworthy environment. Out of the twenty-five-to-thirty people there at the time, I have known/talked to all but one or two. That means that if someone from there took the backback, it was most likely someone I knew and trusted. It makes me sick to my stomach how someone who had trust placed upon them took advantage of that, and profits from it greatly.

As for actions taken, I have currently filed a report with the Police and campus security (I was in the Student Union Building of a University). I've also asked the local card dealer to ask around with dealers at a flea market, to see if they've seen someone with a rather large collection (and specific card highlights I know nobody else has). I also plan to call card stores all around the city.

Of course, it's possible that someone walked off with it by accident, thinking it was their bag. If so, they will hopefully turn it in to Dal (the University) security and I will be notified. It's also possible that someone just decided to take a bag, any bag, and hopefully it would contain a CD player or wallet. If so, they'd be in for a shock. Let's hope that if that's the case, it's returned to the police or campus security. However, neither of those possibilities are very likely.

My sob story is not the only one of its kind. MOTL's own dear Valmtg had her cards stolen, as did MAGIC is CARDBOARD crack. Weezerdog had his CDs stolen right from his car. That leads me to this question.

"What is wrong with the world today?"

The quick answer to that question is that people as a race are scum. You heard me - the human race is a race of lying, cheating, selfish, murdering thieves who have no conscience or feeling for others.

Before you protest, let me elaborate. That saying is true, but only to a certain extent. Some people are just like that, while some others show their selfishness in more subtle, even sub-conscious ways. Someone who butts in front of you in line for concert tickets is perpetuating the stereotype that the human race is scum just as someone who kills another for their wallet is.

Of course, there is always an exception for any rule. Not all people are bad, and that's very true. I know people who wouldn't hurt a fly, and are always thinking of others. I respect and trust those people greatly. It cannot be easy in this day and age, this greed-based society, to be like that. Those are now the only people I will trust.

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MOTL Moderator for:

For your sake, I can only hope that your sudden awakening to the real world doesn't fade away after some time or if you get your cards back.

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MOTL Moderator for:

Hope you get the cards back.

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By the people, for the people, people who make slurpies, or people who have herpies! People who get rid of household pests, or people with enormous breasts!- The Rock

Warrior208@hotmail.com
AIM- WarriorSpirit200
ICQ- 126030157

quote:

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Originally posted by Warrior:
Yes, there have been alot of dissapearences here lately too, and I really feel your pain, because Ive gotten 4 undermines and 4 absorbs stolen before but nothing to the magnituds of this.

Hope you get the cards back.

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I'm still waiting for you to fly back here and give me back my binder, lol

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its crack...its crack, magic is crack

~Ahhh, freedom is good, but i miss being a slave for the goddess~

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ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS WANT MORE MORPHLINGS

Number of People Schooled By Me Morphligns in Magic: 48

" You better get ready to bust out your birth certificate, cause I'm about to show you who your real daddy is."

I hope you catch the heartless (insert) that stole your stuff.

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"A music box is nice, but kinda depressing. No matter how cheerful the music is in the beginning, you know that it will eventually wind down and stop playing."

I can only hope that you get your cards back. BTW, you still have 4 dual lands and a mystic snake coming to you, so at least you have SOME good rares...

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"If Valmtg would be the next president, America would be called 'United Slaves'"
-Me

I'm very sorry to hear that your stuff was stolen, especially from perhaps someone you knew! I hope that person does something honorable and returns your collection... even it is just partial. My box with my decks, sleeves, foils, and counters were taken right from my room after Worlds!! Greatest deduction is my ex since we broke up around that time. No matter how much you may interrogate someone, they'll deny it. Perhaps try putting up a reward for anyone returning your stuff... finder's fee or some small prize for any clues leading to the person that stole them?

This just further proves that as much as we advance, we get stoopider and stoopider. Parent's don't raise the children right, society as a whole condones certain acts and practices at which (to me at least) seems unwholesome for the individual, children have no sense of identity, individalism, uniqueness to themselves at which they fall prey to the masses. There is no one to teach people morals, philosophy, and the 10 Acts of Man (my version that lumps many ideas into simple 10 rules) without any form of persection.

And you people wonder why we see so many acts of terrorism, wars, raping, murdering, theft, arson, etc etc. It sickens me to believe that a mere 100 years ago we were totally differant and a 100 years before that is even more incomprehensible.

Growing up... how can I say this the right way... there comes a time when people find out truths for themselves, at which point it doesn't matter what people try to tell you since you already have your own formulated opinions and beliefs. This to me is the Age of Reason. Some people have this come to them at an early age, way late, or never reach it. Of course it is distorted by the current environment you are in. Therefore, whoever stole your cards thought it was ok, that it was his for the taking, not realizing consequences that might follow, that he wouldn't expect it to happen to him, that he wouldn't think ahead as to what if it was him in your shoes.

People like that are scum. They are right down with liars to me (and I hate liars! ) If we would have a perfect society this wouldn't have ever happened. Justice will be sweet though. One day there will be an occurrence in his life that will torture him so much. You can bet on it. For every action, there is a reaction equal to that person's bidding. Not to mention that his subconscious will be eating away at him slowly, like a weak acid. One day he will get what he deserves.

As to the cards, I bet it took you way too much time and money to get you to where you were. For that I'm very sad and sorry that it was whisked away in a matter of minutes. One thing I can say is that it is mere paper and ink, but something you worked hard for. If I can be of some help, can you send me your address? I'd like to help you out with what I can.

May you get what you deserve!

In my opinion, there are 4 kinds of people in this world:

1) The Good.
Yes, this small part of the population exists. They care as much for anyone else as they do for themselves and there is nothing that can stop them from helping a friend in need. If they do wrong, such as your binder, their guilt consumes them and they wind up giving all back.

2) The Mediocre.
This one is where I, and most if not all of my friends fit. These people are easygoing, not out looking for a fight or trouble. However, they do often need selfish motivation to do some of the things that were described in 1). If these people do bad, it is often kept secret or kept singular from other activities or events in their lives... a good philosophy for them: 'Crap' happens.

3) The Bad.
These people still aren't that uncommon. You'll see them doing petty crune, such as stealing a bag of chips or a bottle of drink here and there, or a little vandalism. They're not dog evil, but they are the kind of people your parents tell you not to hang out with when you're a kid. I guess you could say troublemakers.

4) The Ugly.
Here, my friends, is where the binder-stealers, grave-robbers and criminals who are spending their lives behind jail because they just don't care fit. They are still good people and can make excellent friends, but if it means gain for themselves, they will lie, cheat, steal or do just about anything to get it. Unfortunately, there are as many people like this as there are mediocre... it's just that this scale can be big or small. Take a binder or a couple rares here and there? That's peanuts compared to some of the evil that goes on here. (Note: Don't mean to downplay your loss Ted, I know you lost alot...)

So, in conclusion I would like to say that I agree, so many selfish people in this world make it a hard place to live. But, at the end of every day, if you can sit down and assess yourself as a better person than you were the day before, that's all that matters. Well not all... but what I'm saying is that life goes on, and myself I try not to get caught up in the tides of the people who don't want it to go on.

But, in any case, good luck with your situation dude, and from the post in GD, I can see that some people who would fall under the catergory of 'The Good' are here on MOTL to help.

I'm very sorry that something like this has happened to you or anyone else for that matter.

I feel the pain, IF my binder ever went I'd be pulling a wrath of god in the store.

IF there's anything you need email or post on my h/w list and I'll try to accomodate you my treat.

For all the bad in the world, there is an equal amount of good.

I'm sure that the person who took Tedman's stuff has friends who think he's nice and fun to hang out with, and I'm sure his parents love him etc. etc.. I'm sure that he does NOT cackle evilly in some dark, damp lair, looming over Tedman's cards while plotting more evil deeds that would bring misery to everyone.

quote:

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Originally posted by Trnothr:
Why couldn't *Tedman* call everyone scum because of some, certain individuals? I mean, we all ARE scum, it's just that we haven't really yet done anything particular that our western society would see as evil... Meaning that it's just the matter of time until we momentarily dip on the low side, to get back to "normality" again.

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MOTL Moderator for:

And iakae, I think you have causality there reversed. It's depression and loneliness that create such a philosophy (not vice versa) and frankly, I'm happier the way I am now. I do realise that it's paradoxical, but I don't care.

quote:

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Originally posted by Trnothr:
Wouldn't third-world countries not exist? Genocide isn't really that bad a thing ya know, life is an overvalued attribute nowadays when there's plenty of it (supply exceeding demand).

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Right, if there's no debt and people there are well nourished and healthy, they wouldn't be third-world countries any more.

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MOTL Moderator for:

If your cards were in fact stolen, the culprit would most likely be someone that you know, seeing that they probably knew what was in your bag. That person would probably lay low for a while, 'coz as a general rule criminals don't usually return to the scene of their crime, right? Notice anybody missing from the group that plays in your area recently? That person might just be the guilty party.

Anyways, I hope you get your cards back.

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"Nothin' beat surprise - 'cept rock."

"If there is such a thing as too much power, I have not discovered it."

"I am confined by sleep and defined by nightmare."

You can argue with me on that one all you want, because what I said is fact, not opinion.

quote:

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Originally posted by *Tedman*:
I've also asked the local card dealer to ask around with dealers at a flea market, to see if they've seen someone with a rather large collection (and specific card highlights I know nobody else has).

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I sympathize with your loss, however I'm puzzled about the above statement. I looked at your list of cards and I don't see any cards that "nobody else has". Your signed mongers or the Italian Abyss or UD come to mind as the ones you are referring to.

I'm sure that in your area your statement may be true, but how are you going to prevent the thief from selling these cards on eBay? If I were you, I'd expand my actions to monitor eBay for some of these highlight cards of your collection. You may find some newly listed cards being sold by someone in your area, and make a conclusion that way!

Good luck!

Magic Players used to be a nice bunch of people, but now they are all turning into self centered pieces of crap.

Either they are full of them selves on how good they are, or they are stealing cards.

Even people I dislike have had there cards stolen (Mike Long) and people i like (Tedman and Val) but i don't know what to do.

I've had cards stolen before but i didn't notice till like 4 months later, because this is when i just began to play, and didn't ply white at all...

Then i went to try and play white... No white cards. =)

I just remeber i had a wrath of god, which was a crappy crappy card to me.

But anyways, the next person i catch stealing magic cards i'm going to punch in the face and <further explotives deleted>

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