If you could sum up Walter Breen in a single word what would it be?
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If you could sum up Walter Breen in a single word what would it be?
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Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.
Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
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when someone does that stuff......that's all they can ever be in my book.
and as my dear sweet departed grandmother would say...
Grudge not one against another, lest ye be condemned - behold, the judge standeth before the door...
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No question his work in numismatics is great. How do you balance that with the reprehensible stuff he did in his personal life? Does it mean we shouldn't still see him as a great numismatist although a disturbed one. Whenever I see someone in the news that falls from grace I think of Walter Breen and how his work still has value though as a human he was quite disturbed. I admit I own several of his books but rarely open them. It just gives me the creeps.
<< <i>pedophile
when someone does that stuff......that's all they can ever be in my book. >>
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Brilliant, but warped. He wrote "Greek Love" under the pseudonym J.Z. Eglinton. This book attempts to justify sexual relationships between adult men and young boys.
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<< <i>Stupid question. It's impossible to "sum up" any person with just a single word. >>
True, especially someone as obviously complex as Walter Breen was. TRAGIC does kind of handle it in a tombstone inscription sort of way. (BTW, I did look for his on findagrave.com.)
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every treasure on Earth
to be young at heart?
And as rich as you are,
it's much better by far,
to be young at heart!
He was always very nice to me when I was a little boy!
(yes, that counts as one word.)
<< <i>Is there a point to this thread? >>
Another excuse for an examination of his sordid personal life?
I'll use two words to describe him: "flawed genius".
<< <i>pedophile
when someone does that stuff......that's all they can ever be in my book. >>
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How many young numismatists did he lead into the fold?
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Anyone who could do that to young children, and then write books justifying it, is obviously completely lacking in empathy.
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<< <i>Encyclopediophilic >>
<< <i>
<< <i>pedophile
when someone does that stuff......that's all they can ever be in my book. >>
So, what do you do with his books...toss them?
The picture of him in the "half cents" book is great photography but why is he wearing Vietnamese thongs (shoes)?
<< <i>Stupid question. It's impossible to "sum up" any person with just a single word. >>
Agree
<< <i>Stupid question. It's impossible to "sum up" any person with just a single word >>
Oh I don't know, I think Ksteelheader did it pretty well, human. We all have our faults and the skeletons in our closets. Impulses we can't control and actions that we can. Who here has never done anything he shouldn't have? Or conversely done something he shouldn't even though he knew he shouldn't? We all fail to live up to the standards of perfection. Yes, Walter was a pediphile, but I don't hold that against him. Just as I wouldn't hold someone being homosexual against them. I don't believe those things which turn us on sexually are a matter of choice. We are either born with our choices hardwired into us, or they are programmed into us so early there is no chance of being able to undo it. So all someone who has impulses that society frowns on can do is try and control them. Sometimes they fail. If you are heterosexual and fail and feel up an adult member of the opposite sex you might get a reprimand, maybe lose a job, or at worst face a sexual assault charge, which I believe is a mistimeanor. If you are a pediphile and fail and feel up a child, your a sexual predator, may quite possible face jail time and be on the federal sexual predator list for life. Your movements monitored, and no matter how well you control yourself after that the stigma will follow you forever. Move and all your new neighbors may be told all about your crime and you have to face it all over again.
What worry me is that society has a history of slowly changing what it considers acceptable. Sixty years ago you could go to jail or even be killed for dating someone of another race. Today it is accepted. Not that long ago homosexuals could be beaten, jailed, lose their jobs etc if it was learned that they were attracted to members of the same sex. Even if they never acted upon those impulses. Today it is not yet accepted, but it is tolerated and they can live out a fairly normal life even raising families. I believe in the near future they will finally be allowed to marry.
So far society has shown no tendency to soften it's stance on pediphillia though. Probably because the victims of it are not able to make informed decisions for themselves. And I think it is good that we do protect children in this way, but I also think that the condemnation for all eternaty is a bit excessive.
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That’s what I’d call any more solicitations about Walter Breen. He was a wonderful numismatic researcher and writer, and I grew up as a collector enjoying his works. As a human he was flawed, as we all are, except some are more flawed than others.
The usual suspects are going to focus his flaws and condemn his entire life for them. They have a point, but I think that the blanket condemnations are unfair.
But not murderers?
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<< <i>pedophile
when someone does that stuff......that's all they can ever be in my book. >>
Unfortunately, that's the first word that came to my mind as well. Despite his genius, his immorality is a signifcant portion of his legacy.
Looking for alot of crap.
A cross between an enema and an enigma?
<< <i>I was going to list murderers but it depends on the context in which the murder was committed. Self defense, certain types of revenge (like against someone who killed or raped your child), would be excusable morally in my eyes. Any type of rape of pedophilia is inexcusable under any and all circumstances. >>
But in legal terms, if the slaying was justifiable it would not be murder, but "justifiable homicide."
<< <i>
<< <i>I was going to list murderers but it depends on the context in which the murder was committed. Self defense, certain types of revenge (like against someone who killed or raped your child), would be excusable morally in my eyes. Any type of rape of pedophilia is inexcusable under any and all circumstances. >>
But in legal terms, if the slaying was justifiable it would not be murder, but "justifiable homicide." >>
I think this is technically murder but excusable. Consider the case where you are trained to kill, perhaps military or paramilitary training. Someone wants to take out a rival drug lord but it is too dangerous. So they kidnap your kid and threaten to kill the child unless you kill their rival. Your choice to take the contract hit is murder. The subject should be brought to justice anyway and won't be missed by civilized society.
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<< <i>Could we please, once and for all, let this issue go, and let Walter rest in peace. The man is dead, for heaven's sake. What's done is done. There is no form of justice that this forum can deliver that compares with what Walter is now facing. No one's opinion will be changed by anything that can or will be said here. Everyone's mind is made up. Walter Breen made significant contributions to the numismatic hobby; that simply cannot be denied. He also committed crimes against humanity, was convicted and sentenced, and was paying his debt to society when he died. It is time that we all let him rest in peace, and move on to more constructive discussions. Please do not dig up his bones and kick them around every month or so. There truly is no point to this thread. >>
Thank you for a very well thought out post--let it go. Every time someone stumbles on his past they feel that they have to talk about it--redundant and boring for everyone who knows the sordid details.
<< <i>Redundant
That’s what I’d call any more solicitations about Walter Breen. He was a wonderful numismatic researcher and writer, and I grew up as a collector enjoying his works. As a human he was flawed, as we all are, except some are more flawed than others.
The usual suspects are going to focus his flaws and condemn his entire life for them. They have a point, but I think that the blanket condemnations are unfair. >>
Well put Bill.
Ray
<< <i>Odd
He was always very nice to me when I was a little boy! >>
I met him as a boy, read his books growing up. I learned more about coins from his books than any other source except maybe the Redbook (although I must admit I learned more on Seated Dimes from Gerry Fortin's website and Brian Greers' book)
If did have to choose a single word it would be - waste
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A man of incredible knowledge and genius, who destroyed that by falling to his own ego and his most darkest, sickest, and most evil desires.
Tragic, for sure