My observations of this forum
Gazes
Posts: 2,315 ✭✭✭✭✭
So here are some of my observations of our forum. A disclaimer---these are just my opinions and i acknowledge i may be wrong on some or all (if anyone agrees with everything let me know who my coin twin is).
1) we often hear advice to beginners that this forum has alot of knowledge and to follow it. The problem is for every statement on the forum there is at least another statement with contradictory advice (modern vs classic; ideal grade; cac/non cac; and on and on).
The most pessimistic views about our hobby are generally held by collectors who no longer collect US coins
I dont understand when someone responds ---"This". If someone else's post is the right answer shouldnt we just hit agree? (Im willing to bet i have said "this" atleast once)
Early on people thought Hansen would be held over a barrell by collectors who had a coin he needed. It seems that the opposite has proven true---many collectors want or need Hansen to buy their coins.
If someone post an inexpensive coin they generally get less negative comments than when an expensive coin is posted. The more expensive the coin the higher likelihood of criticism
Anothet Hansen observation. There was criticism that he didnt buy some mega trophy coins when offered. He has bought a ton of 6 figure coins but not many of the 7 figure coins. Often it was stated he would not have another opportunity. Again, Hansen appears right for the time being. Many of these coins are being offered and they have not done well.
Thats it. Thanks
Comments
I just enjoy the forum and learn something new every few days..... I just do not care or worry about who does what or why or when....I collect coins, it is a hobby, I enjoy my coins and the forum. Cheers, RickO
This.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
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Nice post that is thought provoking. What I found to be a most interesting aspect of this place is that I can see and participate in posts regarding actual parking lot finds all the way to objects worth millions of dollars. We as collectors recognize the common ground that all of us share and the positive members here do not accentuate the differences but appreciate those similar feelings that we all share.
Heck, thats a short list...
WS
There will always be contradictions on opinion, they are subjective after all.
I think that's fine. Even beginners need to make their own judgement and just not do what is told.
That makes sense. Their view was strong enough for them to leave.
You don't have to read/respond to everything.
This!
It's been a pleasure watching Hansen build his collection. Many thanks to @Currin, @JBatDavidLawrence and @DLHansen for participating here.
I'm guessing there's some tit for tat which is unfortunate. Some people with expensive coins will critique other expensive coins, and then the same starts to happen the other way.
Collecting is more fun when you don't have to have a major rarity. In my series, I've had the opportunity but chose to pass on some really nice, albeit expensive pieces. Will I have a chance again? Who knows.
That being said the level of interest tends to drop after set completion so I can be okay with keeping the set going longer.
I find the posts in the world coin forum to be, overall, much more positive than the ones in the US coin forum.
Oh i have more....
They are also much fewer. Imagine if we had enough interest to have a British, German, South Africa, China, Russia and other forums?
My observation is that there has been an increase in the number of "observation" threads.
Everybody has differing opinions.
I used “This” the other day for the first time, because the comment reflected my exact thoughts. Don’t know why something like that would bother anybody.
One thing that I do not like is when somebody asks for an opinion, you politely give one, and it is interpreted as “bashing”
Anywho, I don’t analyze everything that people do, or try to figure it out. We are all from different walks of life, and all communicate in different ways.
"This" is probably far more likely to be seen than an "agree", which might not be clicked on. So I think it makes sense to use the former over the latter.
If you're correct, that the more expensive the coin, the higher likelihood of criticism, I'm not surprised that such coins are subject to greater scrutiny.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
This ...
I would have "Agreed," but that doesn't add to my post count!
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
This
One observation I've noticed is the collectors with the real expensive coins that show them off here get huge responses of their coins being nice and great and what have you, but I rarely if ever see those same collectors say the same back for someone posting nice cheap coins. It seems to be a one sided congrats.
Later, Paul.
BINGO!
My observation is that this forum is imperfect, just like the people that post to it.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
My thoughts:
Be a big boy and form your own opinions based on all of the evidence, that is freely and generously offered, by all who participate. Opinions vary but I like to use them, as references points only, In my decision making.
Not always but sometimes. There are also US participants who are also pessimistic, while others are optimistic.
This ensures that people know your opinion, whereas ‘agrees’ are not always seen.
I’m not sure that I fully agree with this. Each seller is different and has different motives. Some just want to liquidate, while others are looking for top dollar.
I am impartial, regardless of the value of the coin, but again, not all critiques are the same. I guess it’s human nature to scrutinize something more valuable a bit more carefully.
If Hanson is, in fact, avoiding the mega rarities, I believe that he shouldn’t, as now is a very, very good time to buy them.
“I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~
My Full Walker Registry Set:
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
People with post counts of 5 and under are very proficient photographers. What's up with that?
They must be younger and more technologically advanced with better phones than us old geezers...
I agree with Mark. If you screw up on a $50 coin, you may be out $50. But if you spend five figures and reach on a pop 1 coin and it's one of the few that had a problem that the TPGs missed, upon reflection, is low end for the grade, or that pop 1 coin suddenly becomes a pop 2 coin, you're out a substantial sum of money.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
As someone who has been here for two very different phases of the forums life...
I think the advice given to newbies has been good. There is a lot of good knowledge here but it’s up to the individual to sift it out. Whether they do or not tends to correlate with how interested they truly are.
I’ve not paid much attention to the “this” stuff or how many agrees, likes, etc. It’s not like you collect them to redeem for free grading submissions. It’s the forum equivalent to a head nod or finger point when someone makes a good suggestion/comment.
I have seen the oddities on commenting on different coins these days. I think a lot of it may start with how the person started a thread. A GTG will differ from parking lot find from the triumphant “I bought this, praise me” and so on. But just like on Flickr and Instagram, there is a bit of a mutual appreciation society here that you’ll comment nicely on mine if I comment nicely on yours.
In other words, just human nature.
TurtleCat Gold Dollars
I do not sell coins, so this observation does not effect or bother me at all.
At one time, it was frowned upon when somebody bumped a BST thread to the top by saying "nice coin!". And then, after the thread dropped down the page a little bit, the OP would say "thank you", and bump it back to the top again.
We went through a period awhile back where certain people felt that they had to comment on almost each and every coin sale on the BST. Repeatedly bumping the threads back to the top.
At one time it was not more than one bump per day on the BST. And, I know, there's nothing in the rules that says you can't do that. But is it proper forum etiquette?
Those of you who do sell coins on the BST. Do frivolous comments like these, that push your BST thread off the first page, bother you?
I was used to people always doing TTT on their BST threads once a day back in my first incarnation here. I think most people just instinctively want their stuff on the first page because they suspect a lot of people never get to the second page.
TurtleCat Gold Dollars
The information on the boards for the most part is very good. It’s up to the reader to decide what’s good and bad. Unfortunately for a newbie that can be challenging. I’m active on a poker forum and the same phenomenon exists; good and bad advice. Post counts and command of the English language are not necessarily a good criteria to decide who knows what they’re talking about.
A pessimist is just an optimist with experience....
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
My observations of THIS forum. 🤣
I’ll occasionally drop an oblique or even a smart ass remark. And half of the reason is to tag myself for following. The other half is hopefully seen as light hearted humor. I don’t take THIS too seriously.
Mostly agree with you but can’t speak to Hansen but love his taste.
THIS!
Lol & Agree
"4. Early on people thought Hansen would be held over a barrell by collectors who had a coin he needed. It seems that the opposite has proven true---many collectors want or need Hansen to buy their coins."
On two occasions I've seen very difficult varieties being offered for absolute obscene money, obscene even considering what the pieces were. Obscene to the point you'd be motivated to contact the seller and ask them what the hell do they think they're selling. One was for sale for many months until.... you guessed it, Hansen bought it. The other is about 4 months in and still waiting.
Just. My. Opinion.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Many new posters are a hit and run type. Like getting their merit badge in "coin collecting" and once obtained move on to other interests.
It is difficult to have a passion for cheap coins from these individuals as they more than not simply abandon this forum once answers are received from the collective majority here.
Whereas the 'expensive' and scarce coins showing up here are generally from knowledgable collectors who our time investment in is worth it as they are in it for the long haul.
That air force dude was relatively new and he had a metric butt ton of NICE coins! Could not believe with that collection he just discovered this forum
100% positive transactions with SurfinxHI, bigole, 1madman, collectorcoins, proofmorgan, Luke Marshall, silver pop, golden egg, point five zero,coin22lover, alohagary, blaircountycoin,joebb21
I am not sure. I posted my old Whitman sets and got great responses. I don’t get the feeling that this is a forum of coin snobs. Naturally great coins get a lot of attention, but good ones get love too. Parking lot finds, not so much.
Great bunch of people.
I'm just jazzed to be on the show! Guy Fleegman, AKA Me.
And That is That.
"If someone post an inexpensive coin they generally get less negative comments than when an expensive coin is posted. The more expensive the coin the higher likelihood of criticism"
This one surprises me. I don't know if it's true or not. I would find it easier to believe that the opposite is true...that inexpensive coins get more negative comments than expensive ones. It seems to me that most people respond positively...ooh-ing and ahhh-ing over an expensive coin. Plus I would think people would want to play nice and avoid hurting someone's feelings over a coin they knew cost a lot of money.
^ that
That this forum is some of the most honest and knowledgeable group of guys and gals that's around IMHO. Generally only here i can mail a check or money order and never ever have to worry about it!!
As always @Gazes , a wonderful THOUGHT PROVOKING post! Thanks.
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
We have This, That. Do I hear "The Other" to complete the phrase?
that ain't this!
If you can’t ignore one useless comment in twenty, you’ll miss out on the 19 good ones.
Examining one’s navel gets boring pretty quickly.
Is the assumption all the cheaper coins posted are from hit and run posters?
That is a hit and run comment.
Look, this forum does have great info and knowledge, the varied opinions exist as the varied motivations and goals exist.
This!!
Depends on how inexpensive
Parking lot finds don't get no respect!
Love the Forum. I've learned alot in the year+ I've been on. 2 quick observations of my own which are just human nature.
1 Seems like there are a few here that criticize on the majority of new OP's. ( remember, we were all new once )
2 There are some here who " do not like " each other. ( sorry, but get over it )
WHOOPS don't know why it's so big. Sorry