Options
Is this forum intimidating to newbies?
DHeath
Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
I got a note today from a person who collects coins and reads these boards, who in the note said something that concerned me. They said about their experience here, No posts yet. I am a little leary of posting since some of the folks are kind of rude to newbies on the board - and I don't know a whole lot.). Is that what it feels like from the outside? How many simply read here, but are hesitant to post?
Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
0
Comments
Russ, NCNE
Dragon
Seriously.... yes, it can be a bit intimidating............but informative for the most part. I think I have learned a few things in the past few weeks.
In God We Trust.... all others pay in Gold and Silver!
Since no one really *knows* anyone else, I try not to take anything personally, though sometimes it is hard, since there are real emotions behind these typing fingers. I know that it is easy for some to get carried away with the flaming, and easy for others to get easily burned. I try to stay away from either extreme.
So, between my attitude and the helpful folks I've encountered, I haven't had a problem being a newbie (and a non-collector at that!
Carry on! You won't get rid of me!
Thanks for asking this question. From my perspective, I watched the boards and tried to learn as much as possible for a few months before I dove in. Some folks are quite rough here - yet others are wonderful. The wonderful folks are by far the majority - I see mentors, teachers, and friends here amongst them.
The curmudgeons (sp?) do tend to be intimidating.
However, with all that said. Any group of people - even those in cyberspace - are comprised of lots of different types of folks. At work I have a similar mixture of folks. I just tend to gravitate towards the people that bring out the best in me.
It's FairlaneMan and Shiro.
BTW - I see that today Carol has decided your Bashful. How many more dwarfs do you have left?
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
know it all and even arrogant manner
it is highly likely you will be criticised and corrected.
However if you make your statement in a polite manner
and even disagree in a like manner, then you will be treated
with an abundance of kindness and friendship. Sure disagreement arise
and arguments may get heated, but a simple apology usually cures all.
the PM system is to wash your linen in private with the other party
and it works exceedingly well.
Be kind to all and in general , they will return that kindness and more. Bear
Camelot
I like my meat fresh.... not old and full of gristle!
I think I will jump on the band wagon..... and go kick Dog around.
In God We Trust.... all others pay in Gold and Silver!
There are two different and distinct venues here that tend to be intimidating for new collectors, IMO.
1st, There is a tremendous amount of knowledge here and it is usually freely shared. This is a very valueable commodity and is sought by everyone who visits. This is the good side of this forum.
2nd, there are the trolls, wiseguys, know-it-alls, etc. every place has them, everyone has some of them in their personal lives and we have them here. That is the bad side of this forum.
I read for about 4-6 months before I ventured into the conversations here. I do not know everything, so I must ask questions, which opens me to the trolls. so be it...I am very hard to intimidate.
This is my 2 cents worth and I encourage all newbies to come on board with the rest of us and endure the trolls...because the rest of it is well worth the trouble.
edited for spelling
I love coins, and I have been away from the sport for a long time. I have just gotten restarted in the past year after paying zero attention to coins for the last thirty years. I guess I stopped paying attention when silver coins left circulation - but I was young then - what did I know??
Even though my posts are mainstream and have to do with topics which are very common, I have found every poster here who has taken the time to offer advice to be very very gracious in doing so. I appreciate it greatly.
I haven't been intimidated, nor have I been hesitant to post. Perhaps this is a result of having way to much experience posting on message boards relating to my second favorite sport - NFL football.
Thanks for the kind advice all.
PS: Speaking of NFL football, if any here would enjoy some good football talk, try a forum I moderate at AthenaLink NFL Rivals Forum. The NFL Rivals forum has a good cross section of members who follow different NFL teams. The discussion is lively, humorous and always respectful.
PS: If posting a link to the NFL Forum is a breach of decorum, I apologize.
5 more!
In God We Trust.... all others pay in Gold and Silver!
Bite me.
Russ, NCNE
I think that a well thought out post by a newbie can be accepted quite well, but if they come on like gangbusters it's kind of annoying and they will get blasted.
It shouldn't cause them any trepidation as long as they have some manners.
Disclaimer: I have pretty thick skin and usually nothing bothers me. Perhaps many here have tried and I just didn't get it!
I don't care what anyone thinks about me... but I do understand that as someone new to the forum, I must respect the forum. Be a Newbie, ask questions, make comments and take it lightly when someone may say something you might figure to be a flame.
If you notice many people from the board are perturbed by your behavior... take a step back and think about why you might have perturbed a few people.
hmmm... I guess that's about it.
-David
Besides... I've had two marriages that make the disputes on these boards look like love letters.
Clark
<< <i>I may not know much, but I've got Proof JFKs! >>
Clark,
Just for you, I opened a Paypal-dedicated checking account this week. Soon it will be much easier.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>Clark,
Just for you, I opened a Paypal-dedicated checking account this week. Soon it will be much easier.
Russ, NCNE >>
Someone must have hijacked Russ' account. Paypal? Russ? Somebody pinch me.
Russ, did you know Lucky from board A just had $8,000 stolen from his Paypal account?
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
There are alot of friendly and helpful people on this forum.
Then there is a minority presence that see a new forum member or one with a low post count as inexperienced and not capable of legitimate,meaningful, or intelligent posts.
Ask yourself.Are you in the majority, or the minority?
Didn't know that. But, you know he's always kept stupid amounts of money in his account. Sad to say, but it was not unpredictable.
The account I opened will have one use, and one use only - to receive Paypal payments, said payments being swept from the account upon receipt. My compulsive need to accomodate customers, even when it isn't my regular business, finally got the better of me.
Russ, NCNE
Now I'm slightly less ignorant (about coins). And I owe that largely to memebrs here. But, yes, it is intimidating. Encourage them to jump in. If they're serious, they'll survive.
Good post! Makes us reflect.
designset
Treasury Seals Type Set
Ken
Computer Services
What did the doe say when she came out of the woods?.....Last time I do THAT for a buck!
skinned or very curteous. Something about the venue seems to lead
to percieved insults that were not intended. I have no idea what the
solution is, but we could try to be a little more patient with newbies,
insults, and "stupid" questions.
actually less-than-friendly is a better description. Ask a simple question - get a basketful of reminders of how incredibly stupid others believe you are.
carumba!
Especially when a newbie asks a question that has been answered before! Some members jump at them!!!
Intimidating and edifying.
Those who don't know much do the intimidating, and those wise ones do the edifying??
Usually newbies either post too much or too little. Too much because they think it's a place for free lunch, and too little because they are intimidated.
It's kind of like a fraternity, or so some of them try to make it so, they paddle you till you learn.
________________
My Ebay Stuff
Rick II
Computer Services
What did the doe say when she came out of the woods?.....Last time I do THAT for a buck!
One way to avoid being eaten alive by Spooly is to not admit to collecting Mercury Dimes or Lincoln Cents!
Have fun on the boards.
My Barbers
"being eaten alive by Spooly" ????????
Are you kidding me???? I've got pets bigger than Spooly!
Dragon
<< <i>Intimidating to newbies? >>
Man, look at my user name. Anarchy is key in it. I get nervous posting. I have been here what??? A year and a half???
I don't post more replies than I do. I just rewrote a reply an another thread 3 times before I was sure there was nothing stated that would get me sued. Really.
To the newbies. Many have been here longer than I. A newbie, doesn't always have the intentions we think. I have seen a true to life scandle or two here. People helping another member get his "teeth fixed" found him bidding on ebay later that week,as an example. I personally have been burned for cash money in a swap. Newbie yep. Under 100 post. People come in here with thier hand out, expecting "samples." Not to long ago there were a few bold ones demanding free coins. Ya'know, over the time I have been here, there have ben atleast 6 people who have been robbed. Cyber stalkers??? The population of this little town has grown. People become more suspicous watching the crime rate go up. This isn't near an accusation, nor an excuse. Just a fact. The population has gone up 4-5000 people in the last year. Wow huh???
If your afraid to ask a "stupid question" use the search feature. The really only stupid question is the one that goes unasked. However, after answering the same question 200 times, it can get to be ... pick your word. I have been searching more lately, than posting myself.
There are many great minds here. Just hang it out there. Be yourself. Ask away. My PM is always on. I don't bite(on a first date
This has been a great learning experience for me. Today's lesson was how to quit when the going gets tough
I think most everyone who has posted to this point has hit the nail on the head. There is tons to learn, and hopefully share as well. I've been flamed as well. Bothered me. Not everyone shares the same view. There are cliques and niches here. Them fishing lure guys tend to be kid of odd. I leave them alone.
We are nearly all drawn here due to a commom interest. It's great. No one should sit on the sidelines...everyone plays.
BTW i tend to be long winded, and scatterbrianed.
dan
(Edited because Bears cant spell woth a darn)
Camelot
<---Newbie
Computer Services
What did the doe say when she came out of the woods?.....Last time I do THAT for a buck!
P.S. DOG 97 is the bomb.....he has always been nice to me
2nd DAMMIT GIRL!!!!! DEC.7,2003
Got another dammit girl but don't remember when.
1 Your a BRAVE soul AWARD from MRKELSO
reedleslie.com
i think the newcomers who run into trouble are the ones who want to come in and be top dog right away or who post in a pretentious manner. at least i know doing those things get me in trouble in the real world.
al h.
I think overall people seek acceptance into a group and that's what we should strive for. Sometimes newbies to the hobby ask questions that maybe have been asked a million times on here - but how do they know? they're newbies for pete's sake. I think one of the biggest gripes that people have on here is with respect to sales on the internet. You want to touch off a raw nerve, start hawking your wares on this board, intentionally or otherwise and you're likely to get your head taken off by someone or other.
For the most part my experience here has been extremely enjoyable and enlightening and I look forward to helping and being helped a lot. For the schmucks who troll the depths of these here parts at times, don't worry, all your coins will wind up sh*t brown some morning.
One last thought to the whole group, remember that newbies are the folks that keep our hobby going and the ones who buy coins from those of you who have been collecting for a lifetime and get an urge to spend some time on some nice caribbean beach when the cold winter nights get a little too unbearable!
With best regards,
Frank