Do you think the PCGS message boards is becoming an "indespensible research tool"?

Longacre

I was reading the most recent issue of Esylum. In writing about a particular topic, someone mentioned, "there is more discussion [of this topic] on the PCGS chat board (rapidly becoming an indespensible research tool)".

Do you have any comments on this statement? Is the PCGS message board becoming a research tool for the next generations of numismatists? Do any of the legacy numismatists use the boards for research? For example, does QDB log on in order to assist with the research for his books?

Steve27

I doubt that Bowers uses this as a research tool, but there is a huge amount of knowledge here (assuming you can filter out the trash).

Coxe

It is a source of information from highly focused and motivated experts. How can it not be an indispensible research tool? Getting a group of folks of high calibre together regularly for real time discussions of a wide variety of topics would have been very difficult prior to the Internet and outside of this specific forum. A better search capability and perhaps some autoindexing would be helpful as an augmentation. Not too much nonsense though at this point to make it hard to find what or who you need.

Tonedbuff

For someone a long time out of the hobby and coming back in, these boards are indespensible. No other single information source has been as useful in rapidly gaining knowledge. If only I had found the boards before buying from collectorsinternet I'd have saved thousands of dollars...

1921obsession

Although an invaluable research tool, this forum is rapidly becoming an unpalatable social arena.

Tonedbuff

<< <i>Although an invaluable research tool, this forum is rapidly becoming an unpalatable social arena. >>


I don't see that? The OF of course, but even the recent long threads on MOC serve a serious numismatic purpose. Yes, emotions get in there, as to useless posts, but between these is important information about the hobby, and how to protect yourself.
It is a chat board, not a reference library. The info is all here, but it is presented by people by way of conversational chat.

Mark

Longacre:

When I think of research (which I do often because as a professor, research is my job) I think of facts with enough citations that I can check them for myself. I don't think these boards qualify. In particular, I think many comments are basically pulled from the blue--take a look at some of the comments in the Manofcoins threads currently raging. There are way too many opinions stated as fact. In addition, I think that QDB is largely interested in historical issues. I don't think the PCGS board's strength lies in historical issues unless you are willing to consider last week's AT'ed coins as history.

Personally, I think the "research-strength" of these boards lies in tracking down current issues. For instance, I have collected coins for almost two decades, yet until a few weeks ago I did not know that MS70 can turn BN IHCs blue. This fact has strongly affected my demand for blue IHCs. In addition, I am literally shocked that it's possible to tone coins whilst in their 1st generation PCGS holders. This fact will affect my demand for toned 1st generation PCGS holdered coins. Demonstrating the before and after pictures that helped reveal these facts is a real strength of these boards and I greatly appreciate the boards for them. Are these facts "publishable" in some numismatic journal? I would hope so but I expect not.

Mark

rainbowroosie

More knowledge is better -- I do not always agree with what others say, but I don't dismiss it either -- in particular, when EVERYONE says you are wrong, that's the time to consider your position one more time!!

robertpr

Esylum

Never heard of it.

ColonialCoinUnion

I kind of see it as a place to shoot the bull and try out new material.

Longacre

<< <i>Esylum

Never heard of it. >>




It's the weekly electronic newsletter of the Numsimatic Bibliomania Society. The newsletter covers mainly numismatic literature, but there is also a ton of other information in it. The contributors include all of the hobby greats. It's free, too! Here is the link:



Esylum

UncleWiggly

Yes...not only for the expertise, but for the massive power behind the rally the troops scenario. Remember the frair traderz episode? I believe there is a lot of...check to see what the people on the PCGS boards are saying about it...



Jerry

ABC123

Indespensible to Whom ? Are Numismatic articles involving BS in great Demand ?

messydesk

If you can cut to the chase and ask questions pertaining to your research, chances are you'll get good, civil answers, as there are many people here with diverse interests, many with quite a bit of expertise. That makes it a pretty good research tool, if you ask me. Signal to noise ratio is still much better than on RCC.

ANACONDA

Do you think the PCGS message boards is becoming an "indespensible research tool"?

No. It's more or a social hang out and "what's going on today numismatically speaking" forum.

STONE

I'd give it about 50/50 between fun and knowledge, so I guess it's indespenisble.

Leiana

I wouldn't call it research, per se, but there are certainly a bunch of people ready and willing to answer my questions as they arise.

I would define research as seeking out and publishing previously "unknown" information.

-Amanda

coinkat

No... if it were, the numismatic community would be more accepting of reasonable change to make this a better hobby.

cladking

This is a great place to get a question answered and to gain insight into what questions you should be asking.

As a research tool it's far less useful but even here if you can ask the question there's a good chance you can get an answer.

JJM

yes.....

FatMan

"Indespensible Research tool?"

Maybe for social scientists to use for a good laugh. I see this forum as like the local bar where coin nerds hang out. We pretty much do the same thing here as folks do at the local bar after work. Talk shop, get into arguments, show off, and sometimes even get stupid (drunk that is). About the only thing that doesn't happen here is we don't break out in song. Let's not allow our big heads take over and believe that this forum is really a useful research tool. There are way too many agendas at work here to believe half of what is written. In fact much written is quite inaccurate. This post may be included.

dizzlecc

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a research tool. It does take some time and work to arrive at answers.

It is definitely a valuable resource to anyone collecting coins. I highly recommend it to anyone who has interest in coins. But you do have to warn them about some of the pit falls.

coinguy1

"Indespensible"? No.

That said, almost anyone can learn something worthwhile here, often, very quickly. The key is knowing how to ask your questions and being able to filter through the garbage to get to the gems of information that are here for the taking.

1921obsession

<< <i>

<< <i>Although an invaluable research tool, this forum is rapidly becoming an unpalatable social arena. >>


I don't see that? The OF of course, but even the recent long threads on MOC serve a serious numismatic purpose. Yes, emotions get in there, as to useless posts, but between these is important information about the hobby, and how to protect yourself.
It is a chat board, not a reference library. The info is all here, but it is presented by people by way of conversational chat. >>



I've been inhabiting forums for as long as there have been forums, and currently post regularly (post counts between the hundreds and thousands) at about fifteen. Many of these, like CU, tend to be populated by the (theoretical) upper-percentile demographic of the social/technical commonality which brought them together in the first place. A few are orders of magnitude larger than this group, with memberships well into six figures. I have spent years as a moderator at a forum which required 40 mods to operate, to give you an idea of scale.

I say this not to brag, but to help define my depth of experience and point of view when I say that this forum seems to have a disproportionate population of people whose behavior wouldn't be acceptable at my dinner table. It honestly bothers me to think that many of you, posessed of enormous knowledge and financial means which will forever be a fantasy for me, cannot or will not treat your fellow human beings with some basic modicum of decency. Like any other forum, CU has a majority of good apples - decent, honorable folk whom I'd have confidence doing business with, and the information to be gleaned here is invaluable. Your worst, though, wouldn't even be allowed to post at most other fora.

To readdress the original question: online communities like this one, populated by a wide cross-section of people with specific experience in certain areas of common interest, are far and away the most valuable source of accurate and reliable information on any topic imaginable. One must just learn to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Conder101

While there is a lot of knowledge here and it is a good place to ask questions, it is NOT really a good research source. Way to much opinion, speculation, misconception, and misinformation to make it an "indispensable research tool". It can be useful to get an idea of where to go to find good sources but in itself no. It also doesn't have any kind of usable index, and the search feature does not work well making it difficult to find information at a later date. It is usually easier to "reinvent the wheel" and just ask the question again.

Coinhog

<< <i>I doubt that Bowers uses this as a research tool, but there is a huge amount of knowledge here (assuming you can filter out the trash). >>