Over the last few days, numerous MTG players and store customers have contacted me stating they believe I should be more descriptive to why I have barred Terance Lee Hinson from DK’s Sierra Mountain Comics. My reasoning for not doing so was to avoid a pissing contest; a he said she said war of words; and prevent a situation of players/patrons taking sides. It is my position that Terance stole from me - plain and simple. This was done in my home after my wife, through her generosity and the charitable person she is, offered him a place to stay when he became homeless and without a job. It is also my position that he disrespected her kindness, leaving the bedroom in disarray and not cleaned. Even after she repeatedly asked him to wash his clothes, towels and to bath himself, all of which he ignored. After he left for the Magic Event in LA, this past weekend, we cleaned his room and washed his clothes. In doing so we discovered, underneath the piling of boxes, cards and trash, my binders completely empty of the higher priced rare/mythic cards. I specifically told him he was not to take those cards, as I wanted to keep the higher valued cards for the store. I did make an agreement with him that if he organized the numerous boxes of cards I have he could take the bulk cards, including bulk rares/mythics, to LA for trade or to sell. However, all those cards were to be recorded and data based. The remaining cards, mostly commons/uncommons were to be organized by sets into their own boxes. Other then tearing through the boxes and the binders, nothing was accomplished. From my perspective, I do not understand any person, who seems to have no real job prospects, would disrespect the room he was provided when homeless and ignores the wishes of basic cleanliness from the home owners. How does someone who is broke come into possession of higher valued cards that other players have never seen him with? How does someone, who has no real job, afford to go to LA, instead of pounding the pavement looking for work, which is the only real way to get back on one’s feet? I will not tell other players whether they should or should not associate with Terance; nor should I tell other store owners if they should or should not allow him at their places of business. I can only state that he is not allowed on the premises where my store is located or at my home. I do apologize to several players who attempted to alert me to missing cards from their binders and decks. Unfortunately, I downplayed their warnings and complaints, standing by the position that every player is responsible for their items. I was wrong and I have contacted several of those players in an effort to correct my “not wanting to get involved” attitude at the time of their concerns.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 03:34:56 +0000