A former Wizards of the Coast employee from Burien, Washington stands to lose a lot more than his job as King County prosecutors file felony theft charges over the theft of $45,000 worth of rare Magic: The Gathering cards. Twenty-six-year-old Donald J. Henry has been accused of the massive theft after a fellow employee observed a vendor trying to sell the rare cards at a Magic tournament in Portland, Oregon this past September. The employee determined that the vendor and Henry were acquainted and reported the incident to the company.
Except this is technically a more appropriate forum for discussion on this topic. That being said, I've locked up the old thread, so I hope those who wish to continue discussing this will do so here.
Does any one know what his job was? I am also a little skeptical that the promo cards were worth on average $25.
That being said PLEASE can no one say "but it only takes wizards X cents to print them." The point is not how much the stolen TV costs to make, but how much the criminal STANDS to make.
I'm actually wondering what source they're using to determine secondary market value. The price aggregators I've found don't generally agree with each other, and prices can vary wildly depending on region and which format is being run at the time in the tournament season. Hell, more than a couple aggregators I've found don't even include promotional cards and FTV releases in their listings. A comprehensive, up-to-date price listing used by a recognized legal authority would be a handy thing to have bookmarked, so I'm really hoping that the dollar value is more well-researched than "Detective Johnson is totally a Magic player, he'll know what these are worth".
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
Does any one know what his job was? I am also a little skeptical that the promo cards were worth on average $25.
That being said PLEASE can no one say "but it only takes wizards X cents to print them." The point is not how much the stolen TV costs to make, but how much the criminal STANDS to make.
I actually have met the guy. even remember when he got his job there. He worked as a tester. hes also been leakin info on sets since zendikar. the shop owner who he is friends with knows they were stolen hes just denying the fact so he doesnt go down with him. name of the store is Monster Gaming.
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Baneslayer Angel Says" Game Over!! do not pass GO do not collect 200 dollars!"]
Do you know what the cards were? Judge promos? VtF? I don't know why a tester would have access to those cards anyway. Poor planing on wizards part I guess.
"The captains" are one person who WOTC gives spoiler information to every season, most likely an employee. It's not related to this or any other illegal stuff.
Very unfortunate, theft is theft though. If this is the reason I won't be getting my last MPR, I'm gonna be pretty pissed.
This is exactly the reason. Because people in general are greedy. Between this guy and the guy who started a fake store with fake tournaments to get promo cards, etc. All of those eat into the benefit for people who actually play the game for fun and enjoy the rewards of said game.
It bothers me that most of the discussion around this is "wow, he was dumb for taking that much" as if stealing a few cards every now and then would have been perfectly ok. Unfortunately, the socio-economic status of the vast majority of magic players lends itself to this kind of behavior. While there is a significant percentage of us who play by the rules, I've been witness to far too many instances of lying, cheating and stealing in my 16 years of being involved in the game. Very sad.
I actually have met the guy. even remember when he got his job there. He worked as a tester. hes also been leakin info on sets since zendikar. the shop owner who he is friends with knows they were stolen hes just denying the fact so he doesnt go down with him. name of the store is Monster Gaming.
HAHA. Woooooooow. I've been to Magic events run by Monster Gaming at Sakura Con and they were pretty terrible.
The funny part is that Wizards does that to people, greed is another thing that does it to you but when you think about it, wizards has actually kind of controlled prices over certain rares over the past few sets, pretty much when mythics started coming out.
I have known people that just go into Wal-Mart or Target and grab a bunch of packs of cards, open them and put the rares in their pockets and just walk out. I personally think that's not the way to get cards but that doesnt mean that people dont do it. They do! If you dont believe me, ask wal-mart or target on how much money they lose each year because of opened merchandise.
The funny part is that in the end, those people stealing eventually get the cards they need for decks and actually win tournaments before the others that actually pay for cards and work for them do. Is that fair? Not to me it isnt.
The funny part is that Wizards does that to people, greed is another thing that does it to you but when you think about it, wizards has actually kind of controlled prices over certain rares over the past few sets, pretty much when mythics started coming out.
So your point is similar to a watch maker charging 20k for a watch that costs 500 dollars to make, they would be encouraging an employee to steal them?
It bothers me that most of the discussion around this is "wow, he was dumb for taking that much" as if stealing a few cards every now and then would have been perfectly ok. Unfortunately, the socio-economic status of the vast majority of magic players lends itself to this kind of behavior. While there is a significant percentage of us who play by the rules, I've been witness to far too many instances of lying, cheating and stealing in my 16 years of being involved in the game. Very sad.
I don't think everyone is saying that. For me it's more of a "wow, stealing that much at once attracts too much attention" type of thing. No matter how many card he took, 1 or 1000, he was wrong. Some people are just saying he's an idiot for increasing the risk factor.
I've been witness to theft, I've resigned as a tournament organizer / judge at a location because of the facility manager allowing his cousin to steal cards from a locked office, I've been the victim of theft (Ancestral, Time Walk, Timetwister, playset of duals), and have been accused of stealing (long story short, guy beat up his girlfriend, she took the opportunity to return stuff he had stolen while he was being held by the cops. She sold his magic cards, then took him back and to avoid another beating told him I and a few others stole the cards while we were there). Believe me when I say I would in no way condone any sort of theft.
Granted, there are others who probably do believe that stealing a few cards at a time is perfectly OK and that he was stupid for getting greedy. They're usually from the "entitlement" generation that also justifies stealing music, movies, books etc online.
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L1 MtG judge (L2 coming soon) and Dominion tournament coordinator serving Flint MI and its surrounding cities.
It bothers me that most of the discussion around this is "wow, he was dumb for taking that much" as if stealing a few cards every now and then would have been perfectly ok. Unfortunately, the socio-economic status of the vast majority of magic players lends itself to this kind of behavior. While there is a significant percentage of us who play by the rules, I've been witness to far too many instances of lying, cheating and stealing in my 16 years of being involved in the game. Very sad.
Quite a high horse you have there.
Anyway, I can only speak for myself, and I don't and would not steal. However, if I were to steal, I'd do it RIGHT.
I think that is all that's being said. People are just saying if he was going to do a dumb thing like steal, he should have at least done it in an intelligent matter.
Anyway, I can only speak for myself, and I don't and would not steal. However, if I were to steal, I'd do it RIGHT.
I think that is all that's being said. People are just saying if he was going to do a dumb thing like steal, he should have at least done it in an intelligent matter.
I fail to see how anyone morally against this act of dishonesty or "theft" is truly "standing on their high horse." They are sitting on higher moral ground than the argument that, although said employee was a suspect for stealing from the company he should have done it more intelligently. So, if anyone is to commit theft in the manner described vis a vis Ocean's 11-style they would have gained more respect from the community of interest advocating for doing it with more brains and panache?
This guy, ostensibly, was not "stealing from the rich to give to the poor." The story paints a gainfully employed WotC employee probably serving himself. I don't see anything indicating that he was doing what he allegedly did other than to profit for himself, i.e. because his family was starving or his mom was dying of cancer and he needed the money that badly. Think about the ethics behind this scenario and the impact acts like this have on the workplace that lead to corporate policies that effectively require heavy surveillance and monitoring of employees, which just serves in the end to create more "Big Brother" on the job. It does not matter what WotC intended with their property in the end. Dishonesty is what it is.
I hope for this fella in the aftermath of the charges, if indeed guilty because we don't have a conclusion on his guilt, that he learns his lesson and goes on to become a productive member of society.
I hope for this fella in the aftermath of the charges, if indeed guilty because we don't have a conclusion on his guilt, that he learns his lesson and goes on to become a productive member of society.
Very well put.
To put a long story short, people who make 500 dollar watches that get sold for 20k later on are conceived by greed, we are humans and we all get greed at a point in our lives. Heck its one of the seven deadly sins, wonder why, this is a perfect example of it.
I fail to see how anyone morally against this act of dishonesty or "theft" is truly "standing on their high horse." They are sitting on higher moral ground than the argument that, although said employee was a suspect for stealing from the company he should have done it more intelligently.
Wow... you either really don't get it, or you are going way out of your way just to be a jerk. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you just don't get it.
Let's try this one more time for the slow kids - WE ARE NOT CONDONING WHAT HE DID. I know, I used a word with more than one syllable in there, so it might throw some people off.
What is being said is that there are different ways to steal and that this guy was obviously an idiot for stealing around 200 cards a month from an area that he wasn't supposed to regularly be in. What is being said is that he could possibly have avoided detection had he not been so greedy.
What is NOT being said is that it's alright for him to steal (no matter how much he took), nor is it being said that had he avoided detection longer he would have more "respect." Please, stop putting your words in the mouth of the rest of the community.
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L1 MtG judge (L2 coming soon) and Dominion tournament coordinator serving Flint MI and its surrounding cities.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=290648
Looking for a casual playgroup in the Greater Vancouver area? Send me a PM. Our playgroup is always looking for more people to terrorize
Except this is technically a more appropriate forum for discussion on this topic. That being said, I've locked up the old thread, so I hope those who wish to continue discussing this will do so here.
[GTC] Gatecrash Patch for MWS (249/249)
That being said PLEASE can no one say "but it only takes wizards X cents to print them." The point is not how much the stolen TV costs to make, but how much the criminal STANDS to make.
well, better than it's first location anyway
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=290544
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
I actually have met the guy. even remember when he got his job there. He worked as a tester. hes also been leakin info on sets since zendikar. the shop owner who he is friends with knows they were stolen hes just denying the fact so he doesnt go down with him. name of the store is Monster Gaming.
captains..? im a little lost on that one.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/member.php?u=33298
They've been doing cool spoilers since Eveningtide.
Do you know what the cards were? Judge promos? VtF? I don't know why a tester would have access to those cards anyway. Poor planing on wizards part I guess.
This is exactly the reason. Because people in general are greedy. Between this guy and the guy who started a fake store with fake tournaments to get promo cards, etc. All of those eat into the benefit for people who actually play the game for fun and enjoy the rewards of said game.
HAHA. Woooooooow. I've been to Magic events run by Monster Gaming at Sakura Con and they were pretty terrible.
I have known people that just go into Wal-Mart or Target and grab a bunch of packs of cards, open them and put the rares in their pockets and just walk out. I personally think that's not the way to get cards but that doesnt mean that people dont do it. They do! If you dont believe me, ask wal-mart or target on how much money they lose each year because of opened merchandise.
The funny part is that in the end, those people stealing eventually get the cards they need for decks and actually win tournaments before the others that actually pay for cards and work for them do. Is that fair? Not to me it isnt.
Currently Playing:
T2 - Jund Wolf Ramp
T2 - Bant Pod
Legacy - Maverick
So your point is similar to a watch maker charging 20k for a watch that costs 500 dollars to make, they would be encouraging an employee to steal them?
I don't think everyone is saying that. For me it's more of a "wow, stealing that much at once attracts too much attention" type of thing. No matter how many card he took, 1 or 1000, he was wrong. Some people are just saying he's an idiot for increasing the risk factor.
I've been witness to theft, I've resigned as a tournament organizer / judge at a location because of the facility manager allowing his cousin to steal cards from a locked office, I've been the victim of theft (Ancestral, Time Walk, Timetwister, playset of duals), and have been accused of stealing (long story short, guy beat up his girlfriend, she took the opportunity to return stuff he had stolen while he was being held by the cops. She sold his magic cards, then took him back and to avoid another beating told him I and a few others stole the cards while we were there). Believe me when I say I would in no way condone any sort of theft.
Granted, there are others who probably do believe that stealing a few cards at a time is perfectly OK and that he was stupid for getting greedy. They're usually from the "entitlement" generation that also justifies stealing music, movies, books etc online.
Anyway, I can only speak for myself, and I don't and would not steal. However, if I were to steal, I'd do it RIGHT.
I think that is all that's being said. People are just saying if he was going to do a dumb thing like steal, he should have at least done it in an intelligent matter.
I fail to see how anyone morally against this act of dishonesty or "theft" is truly "standing on their high horse." They are sitting on higher moral ground than the argument that, although said employee was a suspect for stealing from the company he should have done it more intelligently. So, if anyone is to commit theft in the manner described vis a vis Ocean's 11-style they would have gained more respect from the community of interest advocating for doing it with more brains and panache?
This guy, ostensibly, was not "stealing from the rich to give to the poor." The story paints a gainfully employed WotC employee probably serving himself. I don't see anything indicating that he was doing what he allegedly did other than to profit for himself, i.e. because his family was starving or his mom was dying of cancer and he needed the money that badly. Think about the ethics behind this scenario and the impact acts like this have on the workplace that lead to corporate policies that effectively require heavy surveillance and monitoring of employees, which just serves in the end to create more "Big Brother" on the job. It does not matter what WotC intended with their property in the end. Dishonesty is what it is.
I hope for this fella in the aftermath of the charges, if indeed guilty because we don't have a conclusion on his guilt, that he learns his lesson and goes on to become a productive member of society.
Very well put.
To put a long story short, people who make 500 dollar watches that get sold for 20k later on are conceived by greed, we are humans and we all get greed at a point in our lives. Heck its one of the seven deadly sins, wonder why, this is a perfect example of it.
I do hope this guy gets what he deserves though.
Currently Playing:
T2 - Jund Wolf Ramp
T2 - Bant Pod
Legacy - Maverick
Wow... you either really don't get it, or you are going way out of your way just to be a jerk. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you just don't get it.
Let's try this one more time for the slow kids - WE ARE NOT CONDONING WHAT HE DID. I know, I used a word with more than one syllable in there, so it might throw some people off.
What is being said is that there are different ways to steal and that this guy was obviously an idiot for stealing around 200 cards a month from an area that he wasn't supposed to regularly be in. What is being said is that he could possibly have avoided detection had he not been so greedy.
What is NOT being said is that it's alright for him to steal (no matter how much he took), nor is it being said that had he avoided detection longer he would have more "respect." Please, stop putting your words in the mouth of the rest of the community.
so no dec mailer?can someone give me a link to that info?