O man...I never knew him, but feel sadness nonetheless,
My wife always reminds me that nothing is promised.
RIP
cornfedboy, signing off
a few months ago, i received an email from audiogon’s management with the intriguing subject line "got a minute?" in it, i was asked whether i had any interest in helping to develop a dispute resolution system for transactions emanating from audiogon’s website. hours of telephone conversations and countless emails followed. and, eventually, a dispute resolution system was developed, which is now an integral part of this site.
in working through various dispute resolution issues, i became more and more involved as a lawyer to his client. additional legal issues arose that i was asked to review and resolve. all during this time, i continued to post to discussion forums as a "member" of the audiogon community. i tried my best to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, avoiding conflicts in my roles as legal counsel and "member."
over the past few weeks, it has become apparent to me and that i can no longer wear two hats. so i’ve had to chose how i might best serve this community and those who allowed it to begin and to evolve. i’ve chosen to continue and expand my legal services to audiogon. my long-term goals as legal counsel are many but two are of greatest importance: to assure that audiogon remain the fairest, safest and most dependable online market for audio and video gear; and to help construct bridges over that chasm that now exists between the manufacturing and distributing sector and those who use the internet as a marketing and informational tool.
the decision to end my participation in the audiogon discussion forums was not an easy one. i’ve loved being a participant in these threads. and i truly treasure the many friends i’ve gotten to know here. i invite your private emails, whether you seek advice, a shoulder to lean on or just want to vent.
as my favorite band sang, "what a long, strange trip it’s been." so, my fellow denizens of this cyberspace pub, i bid you a fond farewell.
-F. Kelly Smith (a/k/a cornfedboy)
in working through various dispute resolution issues, i became more and more involved as a lawyer to his client. additional legal issues arose that i was asked to review and resolve. all during this time, i continued to post to discussion forums as a "member" of the audiogon community. i tried my best to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, avoiding conflicts in my roles as legal counsel and "member."
over the past few weeks, it has become apparent to me and that i can no longer wear two hats. so i’ve had to chose how i might best serve this community and those who allowed it to begin and to evolve. i’ve chosen to continue and expand my legal services to audiogon. my long-term goals as legal counsel are many but two are of greatest importance: to assure that audiogon remain the fairest, safest and most dependable online market for audio and video gear; and to help construct bridges over that chasm that now exists between the manufacturing and distributing sector and those who use the internet as a marketing and informational tool.
the decision to end my participation in the audiogon discussion forums was not an easy one. i’ve loved being a participant in these threads. and i truly treasure the many friends i’ve gotten to know here. i invite your private emails, whether you seek advice, a shoulder to lean on or just want to vent.
as my favorite band sang, "what a long, strange trip it’s been." so, my fellow denizens of this cyberspace pub, i bid you a fond farewell.
-F. Kelly Smith (a/k/a cornfedboy)
70 responses Add your response
Aw, so sorry to hear this. When I was very new in this hobby and had no idea what break-in was, much less had enough experience to determine whether I believed in it or not. I was experiencing some problems with my system and came here looking for help. Following is his response: "walter: take some advice, please, from someone who's no doubt older than you and probably been into audio longer. stop listening to your main rig 'til sunday. just keep it goin' non-stop on "repeat all" at the highest volume you can stand until, say, noon on 02/17/02. then listen. and have someone ready with a camera to catch the grin. trust me, i'm a lawyer. -cfb" I did exactly that and the problem vanished. RIP, cornfedboy.
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RIP....his response to a thread I posted way back in 2000: cornfedboy1,645 posts kinda late to be asking, isn't it? stupid post. if you need someone to validate your expenditures, go ask your mommy. she may give you an unconditional ok. |
CFB - I just want to wish you the very best with your new situation here at Audiogon. I have both enjoyed and increased my audio knowledge from your various posts over the past few months. Your thoughts will be missed on this message board - but your efforts will deffinately be appreciated by many of us. Dave |
Ugh, that stinks. Kelly, the community hereabouts will certainly be less for your absence. That said, having spent some time attempting to devise ADR schemes for dumbfoundingly complicated multinational ventures and looking into what claimed to be state of the art on-line dispute resolution projects about a year ago, I can't wait to see what you come up with -- and I remain hopefully confident that we will all continue to benefit from your wisdom and insight, even if you'll be wearing a different hat for the time being. Best of luck. Peter |
When I came to this forum about a year ago, the first poster I consistently noticed was the cryptic "cfb". Was it his deflating sense of humor, or just his ubiquitousness? At first I thought, "Wiseacre". Later on I came to understand I could drop the "-acre" part. Fast foward several months, I was pleasantly surprised to receive an e-mail from Kelly. He was making sure I hadn't taken his comments in a thread duel the wrong way. We had a complimentary message exchange, but I felt the gesture possibly betrayed a little over-sensitivity put in context. Some of what is alluded to above may help explain this. IMHO, Kelly might be needlessly concerned in a similar way now. As long as he recuses himself from participating in threads having to do with disputes or the subject of disputes, and maybe legal and transaction issues generally, and sticks to audio (and humor), I frankly don't see a conflict of interest here. But whichever way he goes, I'm certain of one thing: Based on my own limited dealings so far here on the 'Gon, and the obvious character of all you members that is on display in this thread, I am confident I will never require Kelly's services in his new capacity! |
Cornfed, your leaving without posting a review of the preamp you tantalized us about? I quote: "The Putrid Pus that Runs from Uncleaned Sores Preamp". Awesome sound if you can get past the smell. -cfb This has to be an unbelievably good sounding preamp to go by that name and still expect to gain market share. Perhaps you will visit us again after a brief rest, and post that review that only you can do justice to. |
Kelly, Kelly, Kelly.... I have a 45 pound dictionary in my lap when I on here because of you....not that my vocabulary has grown much, but my spelling is much improved! Knowing you and knowing Arnie, I am sure that when you get this latest project over with, you can come back in... You guys can put your brains together and solve this one, too. Geez, this is peanuts compared to some of the past year or so, eh? To be honest, some of my favorite posts of yours was in the "old days" when it was the wild, wild west and you would take those whippersnappers by the ear and out back to the verbal woodshed. You'd have me in tears from laughing. But since we have *refined* ourselves, we don't get much of that anymore anyway. Seriously, I have always admired your ability to stay above the fray and speak from experience and knowledge. I truly believe that you have helped to shape these forums and your *touch* is all throughout. I only hope that we can keep the standard and keep it going. But then again, I expect to see you back here when you finish that "thing". all the best, aj |
So your going to strike another match and start anew. Say it ain't so Cornfedblue. And though the line is cut, it ain't quite the end, We'll just bid farwell till we meet again. It won't be the same around here anymore. You will be missed. I hope only for a short while. I will miss your knowledge, witt, humor, and that big heart that comes out of hiding from time to time. I feel honored to have known you. I will miss you ALOT! a lot. |
Kelly, though I have only been posting at Audiogon for a short time, I quickly came to enjoy reading your posts on the myriad of topics that stem from the love of music that we all share. Like the many members before me have so eloquently stated, I too will miss your participation. Best regards, Chuck. |
CFB, If you must work for the 'gon, why not become it's voice out here in the forums. As long as we know your postition, who better to moderate the forums with wit, humor, anf grace. All of us infrequent posters will have to rally our meager abilities to make the 'gon a more humorous place. Now do any of us really want that? I didn't think so. So please come back in some capapcity. Best, Jon |
Will miss you Kelly! If possible, why not take part in your official capacity? I can understand your situation. As a C.P.A. I sometimes get caught in the middle of financial matters involving muliple parties that I know from wearing various hats; and then have to decided who my client is. Hope you will check back in and see us whenever you feel the ethics allow. |
Kelly, years ago on these forums, when I was a new kid on the block, you and I sparred and got off on the wrong foot. I admit (something that I know a lawyer could never do, except you of course) I was wrong, and you quickly whipped me into shape. Since then, i have found your posting as some of the most enjoyable. I have come to appreciate your techincal knowledge and sniffed out your evaluations of gear was done by the ear not the heart and always valued your opinion for that. In fact, I am now running Rowland amplfication based in part from your endoresement. You will be missed here... |
Hey CFB, Are you sure that there is a problem? If you were giving out advice regarding the members interactions with A'gon, well then I'd see your point, but I'm not quite sure why your advising me on the best phono cartridge would be a conflict of interest. What ever you choose we all wish you the best, I know that I would pay special attention to the threads that you posted in. We'll miss you. John |
frankly my darling, i don't give a damn... but i see no "impropriety" in posting in the forums while arbitrating disputes, nor do i remember anyone impugning you for doing so. to be honest, this seems more like a melodramatic retreat from the flame wars in which you were recently embroiled. whatever. regards and good luck. |
CFB, Although I am a "new" member of this community I will miss your input in the forums a great deal. It was you, Clueless, Albert Porter, Ben Campbell, Garfish, Tireguy and Sean that convinced me through your long standing here that this was a place worthy of my time. Since I live in the boondocks I rely heavily on the opinions of those who have been there and done that. Thank you. My hope is that your new position here will bring you closer to the music. Patrick |
I follow all of your threads. I have learned so much from your postings. It is my hope that your offer to accept messages requesting advice will be there once I try to reach the next level. I hope to get a system as prized as yours in a few years. Thank you for helping me spend thousands getting the "right" products in my home. Sincerely, duke |
Your role and responsibilities as Audiogon advisor has undoubtedly shifted your own paradigm; especially as it relates to being visibly dispute-conscious. This certainly does not bother me. As with other members, I tend to ignore things like this in favor of the benefits ... From my perspective, you are making a BIG mistake. We will lose one of our most colorful participants, but more importantly we will lose important breadth on Audiogon. We have lost the opportunity to hear about a reference level system by a passionate listener. How can any legal opinion measure up to the importance of that? |
Kelly, Thanks for all that you've contributed to this website in the past and will contribute to the entire audio field in the future. What was done in the past was done for all to see. Now it will be with but a few to see, yet we shall all reap the benefits. Hopefully, your efforts will bare fruit and be worth the blood, sweat and tears that you'll end up putting into this endeavor. Your actions in terms of "full disclosure" and how this was handled speaks highly of your ethics and assures us that you can do the job with our best interests at heart. Obviously, you'll be looking at contributions to the forums and the operation of this website from a slightly different perspective now. Hopefully, it will remain the perspective of an enthusiast and audiophile first and that of a "legal eagle" secondarily. Turning a hobby into work is typically a good way to loose interest in the hobby aspect of it. I'm sure that you've taken this into consideration before making any conclusions. After all, no lawyer rushes into his closing statement without at least reviewing the entire case and all of its' proceedings : ) Best wishes and hope to talk to you soon. Sean > PS... Out of respect for Kelly, please wait at least 48 hours before posting jokes about him that he won't be able to respond to now that he's officially "signed off" : ) |
