AUTOGRAPHING may become EXTINCT ONE DAY

I have mentioned it on other occasions that there is a close circle of people who autograph and they share their success or failures in ones adventures in trying to get an autograph of a special personality. When the stories are good ones we all listen and remember in our memory banks that he or she was a good signer and usually is a pleasant experience. When they are bad ones , the stories are shared with all and makes one wonder why we do it it in the first place. Two friends who are serious graphers drove 2 1/2 hours to meet and see a presentation by Crispin Glover whose claim to fame was the original George McFly in the Back to the Future first film. I had met him a few years back and the moment was as strange as could be . I shared it with the friends who went up but had heard from someone else that he was signing many things after the show. I personally will not go into deep details as everything that I was told came directly from them . First the film was so disturbing per one friend who I respect as tough as I am and was so upset with the content that it took everything he had to sit through it. After the show he sat down to sign for about 15 people * There was maybe 30 total in the theatre) and was told he would only sign 2 even after he told them before the show that he would sign what they had, Glover was nasty and basically belligerent to him and so they decided to wait outside it hopes that he would sign then. He basically went off on 2 other graphers lecturing and belittling them as one of the other graphers filmed it on his camera, Glover followed him for 2 blocks yelling at him trying to get his camera from him which the grapher refused and was in the right not to give it up. Glover even called 911 complaining that he was being harassed by this grapher but in reality the grapher was the one who truly was being stalked and harassed. On demands by Glover that he delete it, the grapher went through the motions to delete it and had to prove it to Glover that he did. But as technology goes everything can be restored so he still has it on file. So today I get a rundown of another incident from 2 different friends that were hoping to get a couple of photos of a certain football player that was putting on a camp for kids. They did not interfere with any of the activities and patiently waited for the opportunity to approach him. Now the Player had no problem signing but someone who was apparently one of the organizers had some resentment for them being there and gave them the 3rd degree what, why and that they were selling it. These 2 are just collectors and they tried to plead their case to this person but fell on deaf ears. The person called the cops and said that this one grapher was taking pictures of the little kids which was so far off the truth and a serious defamation of this persons character. He showed the Policeman that he had a mini Helmut signed by others and was told to leave and if seen again would be charged with trespassing. Thank Goodness calmer heads prevailed and he left though he he was looked at being guilty and was only innocent of trying just to get an autograph of a star that he liked and had been a fan of for years. Many autographers are looked as if we could be criminals and only crime is that we are hoping to meet a celebrity we have admired and respected and the fun of adding them to our collection. Yes some do sell but they do only ask and never force anyone to do anything we would not do if we were being the one asked. I have said it before, autographing is becoming a dying activity that may disappear one day not my failure but when it truly loses all its fun. I have said this to many and is being accepted by some that if a celebrity is at an event Why Not sit at a table charge 5 dollars an item and donate all the money to a respected charity. It would be organized and I believe well recieved by everyone who collects and it goes to a worthy cause that will help others paying it forward..