I wonder if we could be missing some great information

stman

I have been thinking of this for a while and some recent threads have given me the desire to write this. I've noticed great emphasis is put on how intelligent a person may be or how credible their information they share is put on how they write it. Which in a way that is all there is to go by. But I wonder if there are many members that have great numismatic knowledge that feel intimidated to post because they feel they can't put in writing, in what will be perceived by others as well thought out and credible knowledge.

As for myself there have been times I felt like I could not express myself through a keyboard and held back on some knowledge I could have shared. But then decided I would just be myself and do it anyway. I for one never have spent much time on a computer or typewriter with the exception of years ago being a Digital Service Tech.
but mainly bench work in computer repair, and programming with DOS.

So I feel maybe too much emphasis should not be put on how intelligent and how many big words a person uses as they just might have more Numismatic knowledge than they are perceived to have and could help many people in this great hobby.

Just a little food for thought I felt I would share.

dorkkarl

great thoughts, stman. terrific insight.

K S

BlueCole

one thing i've learned here is you can't judge a person's knowledge by the way they write/type. Just like you can't ignore someone who has 10 or fewer posts beacuse they might have been collecting for 35-40 years. Just because they might be a "newbie" here doesn't mean they are a "newbie" to collecting.

B.

nwcs

I agree. I would love to read more insight (so long as it isn't a page of rambling insight ) from lurkers and others who are interested in coins. The problem happens when the trolls come out or when someone's feelings are hurt.

I also would like to read more stories from people who found good deals and cool coin surprises. Like that 1880 S VAM 8 I found which is a PL MS64. Got it for $60, but sure worth more! It was a surprise because I didn't know any VAMs before I bought it.

ccr

I started collecting again last year after a long absence of not collecting ( about a 20+ year absence ). So I knew a little about coins when I started collecting again and started posting here. I still consider myself very much a newbie.

When I post, most of the time when I do, I ask "newbie" questions in order to get a better understanding of what this or that is. I try to do the same for other people here on the forum because I want to help. I like the social aspect of these forums and most of the time it goes well here. There isn`t any coin clubs where I live at because I live in a pretty small town. The closest clubs are about 40 miles away and it`s more convenent to post here then to travel 80 or so miles round trip for the coin clubs.

So I`m definitely not the most knowledgable one here But, I try to put my two cents in if I think it would help someone.

lordmarcovan

Here's a classic example. Let us take one of our most respected forum members: michael.

Michael types in all lowercase, with little or no punctuation and rather frightening spelling. I made the mistake of judging him by this at first. (One of my flaws is that I can be an intellectual snob at times. At least I can admit my fault there, and try to work on it, right?)

When I realized that the guy knew what he was talking about and has probably forgotten more about coins than I have learned in 26 years of collecting, I changed my tune. I might be a bookish snob sometimes (unintentionally, I assure you), but I know when I am totally outclassed in numismatic knowledge.

We all have our prejudices and judge people wrongly on first impressions. When the mode of communication is electronic rather than personal, it's all too easy to prejudge people from they way they type and the language they use. But the Internet also has its advantages: nobody can prejudge you because you're fat or ugly or have bad breath or whatever. It's kind of nice to be free of prejudices based on physical appearance.

dorkkarl

<< <i>But the Internet also has its advantages: nobody can prejudge you because you're fat or ugly or have bad breath >>

... or look exactly like alan hager....

K S

Clankeye

We all have our prejudices and judge people wrongly on first impressions. When the mode of communication is electronic rather than personal, it's all too easy to prejudge people from they way they type and the language they use.

Lord M--
This is a huge lesson I feel I have learned since landing here. I quickly took an assessment of some of the posters... and the longer I have stayed, and read, and taken part in the ebb and flow... the more I have discovered about how wrong I was about some people. That can work in both directions. But, as a whole, I have learned a lot of the people here are far more dimensional and interesting than I thought in the begining. And that is a good and humbling lesson to learn.
Stman, yes I am sure you are right. There are voices we miss hearing from because they are either intimidated by the process, or feel inadequate to express their views... but to all those out there who wish to partake, I absolutely recommend that you do it.

TRADERBOBZ

when you need your car fixed,do you have the mechanic do a 2 page essay?do you think? well i dress better than him,i drive a nicer car,i am most certainly cleaner than he is...maybe i will just go buy a chiltons book for this type car,read it,study it, and do it myself,im smart enough!
i didnt think so...........in the real world we all seem to judge people,in order for our self-centered selves to look just a little better.
it is a flaw,something i have been working on for years,yet!i will add i still sometimes catch myself doing it.
it always is easier to look at someone elses flaws,rather than our own..............because when we see our flaws,we would have to fix them or try to and thats just not something we like to admit.