Pounding

 

There is a thin line between what one might call a fine collection of curious objects and a pile of rubbish. Often, I find myself on the other side. A perfect example: a 1950s British Morse key, manufactured by Walters Electrical. A bit crude in execution, but very solid - built to be pounded on for decades. This particular example was used by a Post Office Morse code operator. Numbered and signed! Unfortunately, with so many ongoing projects, the decision was made to let it go. The price was set at a mere $50 which is probably less than what I paid for it twenty years ago. A post on a Facebook ham radio group late Sunday generated plenty of likes and one potential buyer. “Hey, is the key still available? Can I come and collect it? I live close by.” It was already past 7pm, cold and wet, and the last thing I wanted was a stranger knocking on my door. Radio amateurs are notoriously nosey. I know them well. He simply wanted to be invited in, to see what else might be of interest. And that is precisely what I wanted to avoid. “Happy to ship it. Alternatively, you can collect it from my city office.” “What time?” “Any time during business hours.” That was it. Yesterday, he texted again, asking - Would I be able to stay open until 6pm? "No, we close at five." He was persistent. “Then I can come to your home after 8?” At that point, I’d had enough. “Bloody hell, no. I hate people. Sorry.” I’ll spare you the details, but my fellow amateur quickly went from passive-aggressive to full-blown mental. He was brutally offended by my refusal to give in; by my right to privacy; by a basic human urge to keep lunatic strangers away, to set a boundary. But what offended him the most was my right to express such feelings boldly. “Hate” may be a strong word, but sometimes, it’s the only word idiots understand. Like me, you probably have a watch or two you'd be happy to part with. A watch collection is like a bonsai tree, trimming and pruning is what makes it beautiful. But if you’re tempted to sell privately, just one tip: do not communicate outside business hours. Texting late makes you vulnerable. You're simply signalling that you have no boundaries. And people with no boundaries are easily manipulated. Groomers and psychopaths are professionals. You'll stand no chance. Yes, the key is still for sale. Dah di dah.