What personality traits cause some to be happy for those who have cool coins...

ANACONDA

and what personality traits cause others to be jealous of people who have cool coins that they want but can't have?

(Let's keep this a non-persoan specific thread; in other words please let's not offend people by naming names for any purpose - I just wanted to discuss personality characteristics that cause some people to be happy for others who own cool coins while some people are just palpably jealous of others because they own coins that the jealous person can't have.)

ldhair

I feel many true collectors are happy just seeing a really nice coin. No matter who owns it.
And many of these same folks are thankful to those that take the time to share them.

As for the second part-I ain't going to touch that

CalGold

While not exactly a personality trait, poverty comes to mind. If you're not in the running to own something its easy not to begrude someone esle for owning it. Take a Class I 1804 dollar. Not too many peopel have the dough to buy one of those. But someone has to own them. So its easy to say "cool" when you see one since its not like the current owner outbid you and stole your dream coin.

CG

ziggy29

I tend not to be jealous. I appreciate it when those who have coins I'm not likely to be able to afford share them with us. Someone's going to have them even if it's beyond my means, so why not someone who likes to share their pride and joy with us?

I also try to remember that it's all relative. While I may lust after a $50,000 coin beyond my means, there are plenty of people who may look at one of my (say) $500 coins and feel the same lust. When I keep that in mind, believe me, I don't feel deprived. When I look at the world, I feel pretty damn lucky that I can spend $500 and occasionally over $1,000 on a coin. Anyone who pities themselves in that position needs a kick in the butt so they can see the *real* world.

Every now and then I hear from someone who appreciates it when I share my three- and very low four-figure coins with them, feeling like it's the closest they can come to having one in their hands without opening their wallet beyond their means. It's the same way I feel about some of the wonderful coins I see here.

ColonialCoinUnion

I'm not a medical doctor, but I think it may be the same trait that causes some people to key the door of an expensive sports car parked at the mall.

rgwill

I love to look at coins, no mattter who owns them. I know my coins aren't the best, but for my income there the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

morgannut2

The only time I've been jealous is after Ive burned my eyes out going through 800 lots of dipped-out wholesale garbage and found those one or two hidden undergraded jewels. Then a couple of dealer's go to war in the bidding and somehow I can't get the coin at a price of one 2 grades higher. I'm certainly not happy they got the cool coin because its not for their personal collection, and can't figure out how they think they will make money. Sometimes I guess they're representing a collector, but I'd feel better if the collector had bothered to see the coin and price it.

islemangu

its probably not a trait but just more on how some dealers compete in the coin business...as agreed with one poster, a true collector would be happy seeing anyones PQ stuff

KentuckyJ

A person who is centered can smile, or laugh, at the relativity of it all. He who is rich in coins today may not have those coins tomorrow. Even the best number one collection is only a temporary learning experience, in the greater reality of life. Those of us who don't have the cosmic perspective sometimes react to someone rich in coins based on how that person/persons present themselves to us. We're all getting smarter, every day, but it's likely self importance will be around several more years. The trick is to know it's a game and not over play our part. This pertains to the person temporarily rich with coins as well as the person carrying any jealousy or rage in not having those same coins.

Good topic, Anaconda!


KJ

Purple73

For me, I'm glad other people Have the means to get the top of the tier coins and post them on here otherwise I would never get to see them!

Collect what ya can I say! In the end, aren't we all just renting coins?( I think I read that smoewhere before )


Chris

fountainheadgold

This is a cool tread, it points out that no matter how good your coins, house, wife, there is always better

ccr

For me at least, I don`t have that kind of money to sink $5000 or $10,000 or more on a coin. $500 to $1000 yeah. I`ve set an arbitrary ceiling of my choosing no matter what coin it is and won`t cross unless something really strikes me and has an awful lot of " pop " in my eyes to cross that ceiling. For me, I consider it a means self-control and financial responsibility not to go overboard on expense. Coin collecting isn`t my main hobby. It`s a sideline hobby. Music is my main hobby though I`m not a musician and don`t consider myself a " Walking Encyclopedia ". I do both because I like coins and I love music. That`s putting it as simply as possible on my approach to the coin hobby.

Myqqy

I think I'm reading into this thread more than some other people......

kryptonitecomics

<< <i>I think I'm reading into this thread more than some other people...... >>




I'm with you on this one..........seems like most of Anaconda's posts have a hidden message lately, only not so hidden. Doesn't seem like it would be worth it to stir the pot, but I'm not in the kettle so what ever folks want to do to pass the time is their business.

SarasotaFrank

<< <i>I think I'm reading into this thread more than some other people...... >>



awful lot of hook, line, sinker stuff above though . . .

ccr

Anacondas threads are almost always a loaded question. Thing is to give him as little information as possible while technically giving him what he asks for. He`s a lawyer by trade and functioning on a level that`s comfortible for him. Just massage him and he`ll go away. Works everytime.

ldhair

<< <i>I think I'm reading into this thread more than some other people...... >>


Oh no. Just more than some will say. Adrian's point well taken.
Some folks were reading more into some of the events of the past than were really there.

ANACONDA

Thanks for the interesting answers and responses. I think just about all of them were all insightful in one way or another. I liked CalGold's comment on "poverty". I also liked the insight found in the "keying of cars" as indicating jealousy. Happens all the time.

I guess I would answer my own question by stating that I have been happy almost all of my life. I grew up pretty poor in a very wealthy town - Colts Neck - which is right next to Lincroft which is where Laura Sperber's place is. Most people who live there are quite simply very rich. It was tough going to town with $8 sneakers and high water pants when my friends had all of the best. Having a name like Adrian didn't help. I was jealous and in some ways humiliated during a very tough time in anyone's life. But overall, I was happy. My parents had it together - they wanted us to have a good education, something you get in a rich town and they spent all of their time with us.

I was one of four boys. When I was young, my parents gave me what I needed but not much more. Yes, I wanted what other kids had but resolved to take control over my life. When I was 12 or so I decided that I could start making money by cutting lawns, which I did. I never became bitter at my parents because compared to kids that I knew from church, we did pretty well. I ended up being pretty lucky. And very blessed. I don't credit myself with the good fortune I have. I could have ended up in major trouble because I certainly have gotton behind the wheel of a car when I shouldn't have and I've done other things like having stuff in my glove box that would have been shall we say, quite troublesome if found by the wrong authorities. Could have ended starting a family a little too early. That doesn't help you get an education.

So, in the end, I ended up really fortunate. Maybe if life would have dealt me a hand that was less than I felt I deserved (which I didn't feel was very much but hoped would be good), maybe I would have become bitter. Or angry. Maybe I would have thought that what others had they got by being dishonest or unethical.

I don't know. Maybe people who are jealous (and it is a trait that is found in humans and not seeminly not uncommonly) are that way because they have have gotton the short end of the stick through no fault of their own or maybe through some fault of their own. Maybe they made some bad decisions many years ago or "just got caught" when others didn't. Maybe they're suffering the consequences of no real opportunities. I don't know. But I think in some respects people who are jealous just have never given themselves the credit they are due because they compare themselves to the wrong people and always end up coming up short in their own minds. They can, if they choose to, re-evaluate the way they think, and change. it's probably good for them.

Of course, hatred can seem like jealousy. And some other people with other unfortunate personality traits can bring out hatred and jealousy - you know - some people bring out the worst in others. You know, like the person with the nice car who drives like they are more important than the rest of us - they're asking to get their car keyed. They can certainly try to change too. And it would be good for them. Anyway, maybe the question was a bad one- maybe the question should have been what circumstances can lead to jealously.

Anyway. Just my thoughts on the issue. Thanks for your contributions.

One last thing. "Coin collecting" is about coins. But it's almost more about people than it is about coins. Understanding ourselves and others certainly is a challenge, isn't it?

MrEureka

To answer the question: I think that the major personality trait behind jealousy is the inability to recognize one's place in the world. In other words, once you understand that the world has billions of people just as important as you are, it's easy to deal with the fact that you can't have all of the best toys for yourself, and jealousy seems just plain dumb.

UncleWiggly

Maybe they are just coin weenies.


Jerry

SarasotaFrank

Patches, I'm depending on you son
I tried to do my best
It's up to you to do the rest

Woodwind

I'll bite.

With rare exceptions, I'm genuinely happy for those who are able to spend more than oh, $2,000 for a coin.

I think it's mostly because have come to accept that I've made decisions in life that simply have not had financial rewards to the point where I can routinely purchase expensive coins. Becoming a Christian over 9 years ago was the biggest influence on this attitude. Besides, I'm 35, will be pursuing a masters degree soon, and am getting married to a wonderful woman who actually encourages my collecting hobby, so I realize I may someday be routinely trading $2,000+ coins.

Having said that, I can either be bitter and overly jealous towards those that are able to own high-valued coins, or I can be happy for them. Knowing how much hard work goes into becoming wealthy and studying coins and the dynamics of the rare coin market, I have decided to be happy for them.

ccr

My last post wasn`t meant as a personnal barb to you adrian as much as deflect any impression that I didn`t know where you where coming from. I was just looking for a fuller slant of where you where coming from.

With my money and spending habits, I try to be as practical as possible. Obviously, we need food, water, clothing, and shelter. Anything beyond that is " luxury " items strictly speaking. Anything beyond " Needs " are " Wants " and " Wants " don`t over ride " Needs ".

I come from a family that some members can buy a fleet of Jags or Porches` but, they don`t. They don`t feel compeled to do so as they see it as a waste of money. So, in a way, it isn`t an ego thing with them. It`s about respecting what you have and taking care of what you have and not being frivolous.

For some of the members here, it`s out of love, enyotment, and tring to preserve our American Heritage. Tradedollarnut comes to mind as one. Cardinal is another. For them and ones like them I respect because they have the means and desires to preserve them and the basic right for the average person to own part of our American Heritage.

Music for me is more important to me then coins though I like both. If I had to pick one and only one between coins and music, music will always win hands down.

Newmismatist

"personality traits cause some to be happy for those who have cool coins..." A passion for coins + confidence in one's own ability to determine the good, the bad & the ugly

"personality traits cause others to be jealous of people who have cool coins that they want but can't have" Envy

dorkkarl

<< <i>what personality traits cause others to be jealous of people who have cool coins that they want but can't have? >>

what's wrong w/ a little jealousy?

K S

cladking

<< <i>

<< <i>what personality traits cause others to be jealous of people who have cool coins that they want but can't have? >>

what's wrong w/ a little jealousy?

K S >>



Jealousy itself is a character defect usually caused by insecurity or low self esteem. Certainly none
of us is perfect and in sufficiently small amounts jealousy could actually be a sort of positive if it drives
one to do better.

ziggy29

<< <i>what's wrong w/ a little jealousy? >>

A *little* jealousy or envy? Probably nothing. I suppose it's human nature to see some things out of your reach and wish you could be able to obtain them.

But if it becomes obsessive, or if it leads to bitterness or resentment, well, who needs that?