Advice for Angel813 from an unlikely source....

its4real

Hi Angel813,

I have been reading through your recent interactions with the people on the coin forum and B/S/T board.

Reading this now reminds me of only a month ago.... Except it was me and not you.
I was the one getting all of the criticism because I was trying to sell things here to probably the most knowledgeable group of coin collectors - in the world maybe? Could be....

I have made you offers on your coins too and probably offered too much now that I am wiser and older - but that doesn't matter - you turned my offers down as well. No big deal - we all get turned down from time to time.

Sure some of the people here poke at you and jab at you but let me give you a scenario - please just a few minutes of your time:

Pretend this: YOU are the best "rib smoker" in your neck of the woods (Michigan or Georgia - wherever). You spend a lot of time with other rib smokers and you and your friends also talk to rib smokers from around the world - always trying the best things, new variations on rib smoking, etc. You and your rib smoking friends have been around a long time and you joke about the stupid, dumb "pre-cooked" crap at the grocery store and the "pre-seasoned" junk, too. Can you believe people actually are fooled into buying that junk? AND - it even costs them more money than the world's best - smoked ribs that WE produce.

Occasionally, someone will wander into your little group seeking to learn all there is to know about the finer craft of "rib-smoking" and you and your friends welcome them in and try to teach them the ropes, offer advice and tips to get them going, and generally are happy that your ranks have swollen by one more "rib-smoker".

Then - as will happen sometimes - someone wanders into your little group and all they want to do is sell ribs to make money. They want a quick recipe so they can make some money and they have no interest in the finer points of "rib-smoking". At first, your group is nice and helpful to them - but then it seems that all they want is your recipes, your knowledge, and WOW - maybe even your money! Why - this person is as bad as those super-market meat people! Trying to hawk "pre-packaged and preseasoned" ribs! Almost as bad as those MASS production restaurant people!

"Look" - you tell them -" if you don't want to REALLY know about rib-smoking - then get the he11 out of here! We don't want you around - okay! Go buy your ribs at the (har-har -har) GROCERY store (ha-ha-ha) or better yet - why don't you go to McDonalds? They have that McRib thing don't they? Go get THEIR recipe LOLOLOL... Don't let the smoker door hit you in the rear!"

Now - maybe this little scenario isn't an exact match - but, Angel813, maybe it will help you see why you are getting some of the reactions from people here that you are getting. None, well almost none, of the people here are mean, rude, nasty, or any of the other things you think they are. They are REAL "rib-smokers" and detect that you only have a passing superficial interest in cooking....let alone the finer art of rib-smoking. You don't care what goes into the ribs to make them so good - you just want the final taste. I know because I was once like this - I just wanted the final result - the high dollar sale.

The folks here are almost (and some are) reverent about coins and coin collecting and when you treat the skills they have learned as worthless and valueless (skills that take years to learn) - how do you expect them to react? Like childhood buddies? Sorry - they won't.

Believe me - THIS is THE PLACE for information on any kind of coin, values of coins, grades of coins, aromas and flavors of coins....woops - got off track there....but the bottom line is - BELIEVE these people for they will freely speak the truth. You will have to PAY for the truth elsewhere.

That's about as good an insight as I can give you - you should treat this forum as an assett - not a liability.

Believe me - Its4Real

andy007

Wow, that was a great post its4real. Never would have thought how you could have pulled rib smokers into the same similar circumstances that happen here, but that was very accurate and a good way to put things in perspective.

Outhaul

Mmmmmm...ribs

RELLA

its4real,

Great post...I was actually going to start a thread with a link to the thread on the BST board where you (I think) originally posted this. Its good to see you sticking around. I'll admit that I wasn't completely happy about some of your early contributions to this board, but I also understand that this hobby/business can be hard on a newcomer and also that many members of these boards can on occasion be caustic. I've been collecting coins quite seriously for many years yet I still have found that some of my early posts to these boards were met with a less than warm response...where it seemed to me at the time that everything short of my lineage was called into question (well, maybe just my knowledge of coins and grading skills but it sure felt personal). I've found that before I decide to be offended by anything here I usually need to relax and pop a cold brew and reread what many times turns out to be sage advice.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that anyone, no matter how much they know about coins (or think they know) can do well by approaching these forums with an open mind and a willingness to learn and to reassess previously accepted ideas about this hobby. There is an incredible wealth of information to be gained here and its a pity (not anyone's fault but just a pity) that this information is often lost on new people who come here for it. Now if most newbies would just realize that finding some old box full of coins or inheriting a "collection" does not mean that one has won the lottery.

RELLA

mongoose

Never handle your coins after eating ribs! Wash your hands first.

Nice analogy i4r.

cointagious

so, how do i go about getting your rib recipe? i can't smoke ribs - can't keep 'em lit.

izzy452

Great post !

Walt

nwcs

Ribs are good, but I don't eat them that often. Still, this was a great post and a good explanation of human behavior. Doesn't matter whether it is coins or duck hunting or astronomy. We all act the same way. What I hope, though, is that we try to avoid unnecessary clique-dom and continue to be open to new people regardless of their newbie-ness.

Neil

ritchiewan

Pretend this: YOU are the best "rib smoker" in your neck of the woods (Michigan or Georgia - wherever).

ahem... that would be Missouri.

Cya at the American Royal Barbeque October 4-5 Booth 702

ritchie

darktone

its4real-welcome to the forumn mike

jmp81

Great post and one that should be kept near the top!

a2labmom

That was one awesome analogy, its4real. Made me stop and think!

UncleJoe

IDENTITY THEFT !!!!!!! Someone must have stolen its4real's password.

I am impressed with both the analogy and the shortness of time for its4real's transformation.

However, don't smoke ribs (bad for your health) BBQ them instead.

Joe.

MartyF

Great analogy its4real....very impressive.....now, if you'll just share that smoked rib recipe (got my chef's hat on, spatula and fork in hand, box of matches in my pocket, smacking lips profusely, eagerly awaiting the recipe for those tasty morsels.....oh, maybe it was an 1877 MS-69 Indian Head Cent I was thinking of

TommyB

I prefer brisket, smoked about 16 to 18 hours, nice and slow. dip it in some Gates sauce from Kansas City - brisket and gates sauce were made for each other. best meal around

prooflike

"but then it seems that all they want is your recipes, your knowledge, and WOW - maybe even your money! Why - this person is as bad as those super-market meat people! "

KICK HIS A55!

good story..

Endocrinologist

Yes, I would like a "slab" of ribs.

I don't like my ribs raw

Endo

airplanenut

<< <i>Never handle your coins after eating ribs! Wash your hands first. Nice analogy i4r. >>


Mongoose- gotta tell PCGS about that one!

Spooly

Well if this isn't the Pot calling the Kettle Black!

dorkkarl

oh for chrissake, NOW i'm going to kc-masterpiece for lunch!!!

K S

cacheman

Well if this isn't the Pot calling the Kettle Black!

That's what I was thinking......also, doesn't he mean sausage smoker?