Home > Blogs > Melinda (Mel) Peterson > @TheSavvyBroker

Coronavirus - He Did WHAT?!

By Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Grants Pass, OR 199909023

March 09, 2020 05:31 PM

Coronavirus - He Did What?! I received a text from one of my agents, who said one of our local mortgage brokers has coronavirus. His Facebook post said that he was "just diagnosed with the Coronavirus" and he was "stuck in quarantine."

Later in the day, I found out that it was a joke. The mortgage broker ended up deleting the FB post after alarm bells went off in our local Realtor community. But, there was no follow-up mention on FB that it was all a joke.

What do you think? Should a member of our Realtor community (or anyone for that matter) be joking about such things? Is simply deleting the post enough? Should he apologize and let everyone know it was a joke? Should he be forgiven for crying wolf, or hung by his toes in the town square until he calls Uncle? (wink-wink). This is a touchy subject for many... I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Re-Blog

Featured

Comments(32)

Comment

Show All Comments Sort:

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN

Retired and loving life

Now that is truly unprofessional and pretty ignorant on his part. Wouldn't want to do business with him.

Mar 10, 2020 07:24 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Hi Sharon! Your sentiments seem to be shared by others here in the rain. I was quite surprised that a so-called "professional" would do something like this.

Mar 11, 2020 10:21 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Mel My initial reaction: dumbstruck. And after a brief moment of reflection...I am sticking with that thought...

Mar 10, 2020 07:58 AM

Linda Piper

Ventura, CA
Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Lol Michael Jacobs! I was dumbstruck too when I heard it was "all a joke." What the fish?!

Mar 11, 2020 10:22 AM

Candice A. Donofrio

Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ

928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

MAN. That is the second time this week I've heard of someone 'playing sick as a joke/for attention' and I can't wrap my mind around that.

YUCK.

Mar 11, 2020 11:10 AM

Will Hamm

Aurora, CO
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

I hear ya Candice! It's pretty crazy, given the current climate out there!

Mar 11, 2020 11:31 AM

Mimi Foster

Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO

Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I have to admit, if that were a lender I use, I probably wouldn't use him again. Not only was it childish, it is also scary in a community that's already lost most of its collective mind. :)

Mar 11, 2020 03:44 PM

Will Hamm

Aurora, CO
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Karen Climer

I agree. Normally, I wouldn't cut off business because of one incident. But this is one of those unusual cases where one incident is egregious enough to move on. There are plenty of professional lenders who know what is appropriate to joke about and know what is not appropriate to joke about.

Apr 11, 2020 03:47 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

Totally agree Meems. It scared a few of my agents who had contact with him.

Mar 11, 2020 03:56 PM

Lise Howe

Washington, DC
Mimi Foster

Colorado Springs, CO

Jane Peters

Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I'm all for the toe-hanging option. There is funny and there is irresponsible.....

Mar 12, 2020 01:24 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR
Will Hamm

Aurora, CO

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

LOL Jane! I tend to agree. Very irresponsible and immature

Mar 15, 2020 02:36 PM

Will Hamm

Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO

"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hi Mel, Guess he wants to close shop for awhile by announcing this to the world on FB

Mar 14, 2020 07:49 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

I hear ya Will. The thought occured to me as well. Is he crazy?!

Mar 15, 2020 02:37 PM

Jeff Dowler, CRS

eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Mel:

That was completely irresponsible and not the least bit funny. This is not a joking matter.

Jeff

Mar 14, 2020 02:47 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

I couldn't agree more Jeff. Given the unpredictability of this virus, and the panic it has caused, this isn't a time for pranking people!

Mar 15, 2020 02:39 PM

Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR

Weichert Realtors, Welch and Company - Kansas City, MO

Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

That guy must feel pretty stupid right now. How can anyone think this is funny

Mar 17, 2020 09:12 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ

HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Unbelievable! No one should joke about something that serious that might have rippled effects on an industry!

Mar 23, 2020 01:03 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

Mel shaking my head on the stupidity of this lender. He would not be getting any business from me after that childish/foolish stunt. And.....I've heard a few other things lately that make me......wonder??? Why do these clueless adults tthink there will be no consequences after their stupid stunts. Many relationships can be ruined by stupid, thoughtless acts or words.

Apr 10, 2020 02:53 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

John Henry, Florida Architect

John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL

Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

My vote: NOT a joking matter

Apr 10, 2020 05:08 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA

Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Mel, that was not funny. Can you imagine what agents who had been in contact with that person went through, no matter how briefly? I've seen a lot of funny memes on FB relating to the virus, but that wasn't one of them. We definitely need to have the ability to laugh during this time, but whatever it is has to be funny and not scary.

Apr 10, 2020 07:25 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Debra Leisek

Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

Jokes are supposed to be funny not cause fear or panic. We have enough bad information 24/7 from the media about this virus we dont need more. Hopefully he learned a lesson from this.

Apr 11, 2020 12:06 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Lise Howe

Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC

Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

After a stunt like that I think that his business is definitely in quarantine and very possible dead - I think that what he did to agents who work with him was unforgiveable - the fear he created is unimaginable.

Apr 11, 2020 05:50 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Realty Pack

Realty Pack - Bel Air, CA

Real Estate Blog

Hello, Melinda Paterson. I can't believe that someone would joke about this. This is really unprofessional.

Apr 11, 2020 06:41 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Marney Kirk

Cummings & Co. Realtors - Towson, MD

Towson, Maryland Real Estate

Wow, I can't imagine why he thought that was a good idea. COVID-19 is no joke, there are many people seriously ill and dying from it. I would never use him again if I had in the past. That is very disturbing and not funny in any way.

Apr 11, 2020 07:08 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417

HomeSmart Stars - Addison, TX

Real Service. Real Results. Real Estate

He'd be doing everyone a big favor by finding another profession. Perhaps he should go to nursing school and actually then be able to help those who truly are sick.

Apr 11, 2020 08:04 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Adam Feinberg

Howard Hanna Elegran - Manhattan, NY

NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

A few neighbors of mine have already died from Covid and most people I know are at a miniumum of high risk of exposure to the virus. I have a great sense of humor, but this isn't funny.

I haven't left my apartment in 9 days- and 1 one time in the last 3 weeks I went out it was to fedex to address an urgent matter that I have been working on for nearly 11 years and I came straight home afterward.

Apr 11, 2020 03:44 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Bend, OR

Karen Climer

Demetree School of Real Estate - Orlando, FL

Teaching people to pass the real estate exam

What's his next joke - that someone died, oh just kidding. Or that he has cancer, oh just kidding.

There are ways to joke ABOUT this situation. For example, how we are all going crazy being trapped in our houses, or the toilet paper shortage. But it's not funny to joke that you have it when you don't.

Apr 11, 2020 03:51 PM