"The List"

John Darer is going to soon publish a list of brokers who for one reason or another did not participate in his initiative.  I have absolutely no issue with the brokers who joined; however, I find it absolutely outrageous to put those brokers that didn’t join on an alternate list just because they disagree with your idea, your tactics, or simply don’t want to be involved.  It reeks of intimidation.  Join me and my Holy Crusade, or suffer my wrath!  What is this, the Inquisition?  According to a recent letter, even NSSTA doesn’t endorse his initiative.  The simple truth is that non-participation indicates absolutely nothing about a broker except the fact that he exercised his right to not to be involved.  However, outsiders don’t know that.  They’re unaware of all the facts and arguments, let alone that many don’t want to be associated with the initiator of the list, even if they do agree with him.  Lists are inherently black and white, which makes them so dangerous to use without unbiased commentary.  I anticipate that Darer’s spin is going to be that the brokers on the signatory list are the pinnacle of ethics and integrity in the industry.  Therefore, to an uninformed outsider, the opposite must be true of members on the non-signatory list.  It’s a throwback to the McCarthy era - everyone running scared, not wanting to be labeled a pinko commie.  I believe it to be irresponsible and reprehensible to categorize your peers in such a manner.

John has his First Amendment rights but I ask you, would other professional associations (bar, accounting, engineering, medical, etc.) stand idly by and allow one of their members to publicly berate and ridicule other members, let alone put them on arbitrary lists?  Not likely!  These associations deal with issues and grievances internally, following specified protocols.  Everyone knows that one of the fundamental principles of professional conduct is to never disparage your peers in public.  It’s considered poor form.  I have met most that Darer chastises on his blog and all are professionals who do not merit public mockery, let alone for something as simple as a spelling mistake on a brochure.

It is truly a sad state of affairs when the structured settlement community and its vendors cower in fear of John Darer and his lists, not to mention the brutal reprisals that stem from the audacity of expressing an opinion, let alone a dissenting one.  I’ve talked to brokers who wanted to start a blog but didn’t out of fear that they’d be in my current position.  Others don’t write on certain topics or express an opinion for fear of being nuked in retaliation for having lobbed a firecracker. It’s fundamentally wrong!  He’s thwarting the free flow of ideas and civilized debate.  He is keenly aware that his targets (except Pat Hindert) don’t have the forum or site traffic to respond in kind to his articles and lists.  He even gloats every month about the number of hits his site gets.  I don’t know anyone who approves of his tactics but nobody wants to stand up and say anything, not that I blame them.  Who would want to be the next Bentzen, Hindert, Forge, Pressman, Upchurch, Meligan, Whitmore, etc.?  In essence, he is speaking for you without really having the mandate to do so.     

I welcome your feedback and would be pleased to publish your comments on this or any other topic.