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PROBATION DISCUSSIONS
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Started by alwaysbronze,

36,203 posts in this topic

jimjum12

jimjum12

Posted
Posted
this is what this whole Chip story reminds me of...

 

 

The saddest part of those stories is that because of that person_without_empathy someone who actually is homeless and actually needs help won't get it because people will think that they are scamming. I pass by a guy by my office everyday who is quite similar (set up with his dog to scam tourists, but only from 10-6, goes home after that)

 

He is putting in his eight hours a day... There is something to be said for that. meh

 

....follow him home one day and then hit him up for a pluck the next day on a corner near his crib..... hm GOD BLESS...

 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u

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Buzzetta

Buzzetta

Posted
Posted
Poll at the bottom

 

:news: Chip Cataldo is hereby nominated for the Hall of Shame :news:

 

From his time here, as well as on other forums, Chip has shown a long history of preying on the sympathies of good-hearted people to either obtain something he wants or to avoid being called out and criticized for not fulfilling his obligations. He repeatedly posts statements of despair and all hope being lost to garner support and encouragement from people, while his actions show that in actuality his motive is purely for personal gain.

 

The following list are several examples that each go to basic honesty or trust issues and that, although some may seem irrelevant on their own, each is a layer to the tapestry of shame that is Chip Cataldo.

 

  • Chip has had almost identical issues in the past on other forums.
    http://megomuseum.com/community/archive/index.php/t-2791.html
    http://forum.rebelscum.com/showthread.php?t=1040006
    http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60460
    In this specific discussion specific discussion on the Mego Forum, it is discussed that this similar behavior has occurred over the past decade in Google Groups
    Google Groups Discussion revealing that Chip has had issues in online transactions dating as far back as 1998.
  • Chip claimed an offering in the Giving Tree thread. He offered up a follow up offer which wasn't up to par. Several members objected and Chip defiantly changed up the offer and claimed "I'm not changing it up again. This is good enough." It was brought up that in another thread he was boasting about a 2,300 book collection he had just acquired. Chip explained that those books were for financial gain and what he was offering was for the Boards. Chip was clearly looking out for his own personal gain while declaring he didn't have much to offer. Secretly, he had a lot more to offer than he let on. This is one small example of Chip's pattern of dishonesty and deception.
  • Chip then started a GoFundMe page eliciting donations for $15,000 originally claiming that this amount was needed to keep from being evicted. Additionally, he was able to get a Board Charity Thread created based on the sympathy he created. In reality, it was revealed that only approximately $3,000 was being used to pay off debts and the other $12,000 was going to be used to support him for several months and pay off a PayPal loan which he accrued by purchasing comics.
  • Recently, Chip was nominated for the Probation List after running a sales thread, obtaining the funds from several Board members, and then either declaring items would be shipped soon or ignoring request from buyers altogether. There were at least six individuals who paid and hadn't received anything. Upon his nomination, only then did Chip respond to buyers and attempt to avoid being added to the Probation List while ignoring the public nomination.
  • In that response he offered to be placed on the PL and / or HOS list. claiming he understood why.
  • Finally, when Chip publicly responded, he declared that he lost his job, suggesting that he had neither the money nor the time to ship items. However, he was simultaneously responding to a fake Craigslist ad attempting to purchase a Star Wars toy collection.
     
    It occurred to me that no matter what transpires in the Chip Cataldo fiasco, there would always be those who would defend him. He has this issue or that issue and that's ok because we have to be kind and caring and exhibit all the political correctness one can handle.
     
    It also occurred to me that his behavior isn't going to stop: a pattern that has emerged over many years and many internet forums. A pattern of someone, through their own poor choices, consistently find themselves in dire straits only to seek out the assistance from others. But the interesting part of this is that the pattern continues: wash, rinse, repeat. No knowledge that would benefit said party is used when he finds himself in the same situation. It's like "Hey...you guys bailed me out the last 15 times, what's another time, right?"
     
    Knowing this and also realizing that the truth would never come out, I decided to conduct an experiment with the following hypothesis:
     
    Chip's situation isn't nearly as bad as he lets on. He knows exactly what he's doing; he's actively on the boards/Facebook, etc and he's going to continue to bilk money and sympathy from anyone who's willing to enable him.
     
    After consulting Buzzetta (for the record, we are good friends), I decided to dangle a carrot:
     
    http://myrtlebeach.craigslist.org/tag/5939743811.html
     
    Some may say its deceitful; others that it was wrong. But I know how much he loves Star Wars toys. BUT...and here's the kicker: if his situation is so bad (no job, getting evicted for the second time, no way to support his dependents), then there's no way he would possibly be buying collections. If you take him at his word, he shouldn't have ANY extra money, right?
     
    Well....as expected, I was wrong.
     
    At 8:31 pm, I received the following:
     
    iKIl9AM.png
     
    YES Chip has time AND money to buy Star Wars collections. Not only that, it's the money that people here sent him for items that HAVE NOT been delivered. Items that were purchased in November. I believe etanick said his check was cashed on 11/15 and his PM from 12/6 was just read. JUST READ! That's over 45 days.
     
    It's my opinion that Mr. Cataldo should be in the HoS. Like many, I was shocked that his gofundme attempt wasn't enough to push him into the Hall. I mean, he was literally asking the community to pay off his debts (which he accumulated) and pay his living expenses for a few months so he could "get his life together." Will someone do this for me?
     
    Between the gofundme, the more recent lack of shipping/responding/basically stealing others money, his history on various Star Wars forums, I believe a HoS vote is in order.
     
    If he has the means and ability to go out and buy toy collections, then he has the means and ability to settle all prior affairs.
     
    The difference is: he doesn't want to and has repeatedly shown his true self and true colors.
     
    We are the farmers. Chip is the snake. How many times must we be bitten to understand?!?!
     
     
     

 

Chip has proved the adage "actions speak louder than words" have rung true. While he declares one thing publicly to garner sympathy from kind-hearted people, his actual ulterior motive is solely for personal gain. At this time, Chip is being nominated to the Hall of Shame.

 

 

For those that have not voted.

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bababooey

bababooey

Posted
Posted (edited)
Well, FWIW, I got my books from Chip, today. I'm glad I got them, but that doesn't change my mind or vote.

 

Glad you got your books, getting your books does change your PL nomination though. 2c

 

From memory I think 1cool, paperheart, joey, srevan and maybe a couple others had PL business pending.

 

FWIW, the HOS polls being done at the same time as a PL process complicate the voting, I don't think there's any hard and fast rule but in my mind the HOS vote should be made presuming Chip was going to come through & clear up all of his pending PL business.

 

 

Edited by bababooey
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Gatchaman

Gatchaman

Posted
Posted
Well, FWIW, I got my books from Chip, today. I'm glad I got them, but that doesn't change my mind or vote.

 

Glad you got your books, getting your books does change your PL nomination though. 2c

 

From memory I think 1cool, paperheart, joey, srevan and maybe a couple others had PL business pending.

 

FWIW, the HOS polls being done at the same time as a PL process complicate the voting, I don't think there's any hard and fast rule but in my mind the HOS vote should be made presuming Chip was going to come through & clear up all of his pending PL business.

 

 

My getting my books doesn't change my mind about the situation. Even though, per rules, that may change the nomination I still support the HOS. Even though I may not have been very verbal, in this, I have read everything and read some of the offsite forums that he has done wrong to. There is a pattern that needs not be on these boards.

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Buzzetta

Buzzetta

Posted
Posted
Well, FWIW, I got my books from Chip, today. I'm glad I got them, but that doesn't change my mind or vote.

 

Glad you got your books, getting your books does change your PL nomination though. 2c

 

From memory I think 1cool, paperheart, joey, srevan and maybe a couple others had PL business pending.

 

FWIW, the HOS polls being done at the same time as a PL process complicate the voting, I don't think there's any hard and fast rule but in my mind the HOS vote should be made presuming Chip was going to come through & clear up all of his pending PL business.

 

 

If I recall correctly, Red Rocks went straight to the Hall of Shame. There might be another.

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Red84

Red84

Posted
Posted (edited)

I vote No for HOS. I think Chip is a very bad seller who takes way too long to ship and when he gets behind doesn't follow through unless threatened with consequences. He can be manipulative and I wouldn't personally deal with him without safeguards in place such as him shipping before payment. However, I don't think he is a thief and that is my criteria for a HOS vote.

 

A thief would cut and run. A thief would not ship out books during a losing HOS vote.

Edited by Red84
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Columbia Comics

Columbia Comics

Posted
Posted
I vote No for HOS. I think Chip is a very bad seller who takes way too long to ship and when he gets behind doesn't follow through unless threatened with consequences. He can be manipulative and I wouldn't personally deal with him without safeguards in place such as him shipping before payment. However, I don't think he is a thief and that is my criteria for a HOS vote.

 

A thief would cut and run. A thief would not ship out books during a losing HOS vote.

 

I feel that everyone would agree that you have the right to vote whichever way you feel you should vote.

 

While many will disagree with the vote cast, I fully support your right to vote against the HOS and state your reasons. It's a democracy after all...

 

I'll add one thing though: let's say that the vote was to NOT put him in the HOS and he ships out all the packages and avoids the PL. Under this scenario, how do uninformed buyers protect themselves going forward?

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