OT- Have we become a too exclusive club?

SYRACUSIAN

Do you really believe that the Darkside still represents the average pure collector, or does it look a bit weird, with the internet, encapsulated coins that look scary to family and friends and eccentric behaviour?

You can comment on the above, or on the game:Text


We don't get to beat you that often in basketball to let it pass.

worldcoinguy

Hats off to Greece. I think there is a fairly large number of Americans who quietly enjoy seeing the uber-wealthy, ego obsessed, overgrown kids lose from time to time. You would only hope it pull their egos back in check, but I would doubt it.

SYRACUSIAN

Hmmm, interesting point wcg. For a minute I misread overfed or something, and this all star NBA team is full of talent and far from overfed, but they didn't have team spirit of the same caliber as their opponents.


Anyway, some will always prefer the underdogs, I do it all the time.

coinpictures

They've been discussing this all day long on ESPN radio.

NBA and international basketball are completely different sports. NBA is all about the superstar, individual statistics, and "ME FIRST!" whereas the international game builds on teamwork. The U.S. game has become an in-your-face game of thuggery and trash talking, compared to the finesse exterior game that I grew up with, watching Dr. J and Larry Bird. To be politically correct, I'll simply say that it's become more "urban."

Also, I think that while the raw talent of the NBA players is better, when you pull scattered players together a few weeks before the start of the tournament and expect them to "gel" in in order to compete with teams that play together and live together year round, it's not going to work.

Then there's the fact that the true top echelon of players refuses to participate in the World Championships or Olympics for fear of injury or just selfishness, it's really not a true all-star team of the best the U.S. has to offer. An excuse, I know, but it's true.

There's a growing sentiment to send the previous year's NBA champions as a team to both the Olympics and World Championships. At least then there would be some sense of teamwork...

WhiteTornado

I'm part Greek, so congrats to the Motherland. That being said, USA Basketball has become a complete embarassment. They should just go back to using college players at this point. At least the best and brightest would join in.

shirohniichan

I think the darkside represents the pure collector better than the liteside. There are so many threads on the liteside about the gold buffalo, American Eagle 20th anniversary sets, and other coins that focus on their potential as speculation material that I get the feeling profit trumps collector interest. I don't see too many threads here about which coins will bring the quickest profits.

Clankeye

<< <i>Do you really believe that the Darkside still represents the average pure collector >>



I would think so, Dimitri. I keep coming back to it, and the draw has nothing to do with profit or investment. Some of the people here seem to be the most "purely" motivated collectors I find on these forums. They love what they collect, they don't do it for the buck, and they don't do it for some imaginary kind of status.

coinkat

If we have, Can we change the name?

I don't think so... alittle courtesy, discussions about coins or perhaps grading... what folks collect or would like to collect...

Stork

I heard about the game and thought about you . There are quite a few people I know here who rather enjoy the arrogant guys getting their comeupance (?sp).

"...the Darkside still represents the average pure collector, or does it look a bit weird, with the internet, encapsulated coins that look scary to family and friends and eccentric behaviour?"

Yes. To all of the above. Pure collector plus eccentric would describe quite a few. There is a dollop of plastics, grades and value interest but nearly all of us are collectors at heart, even when we talk about those other things. The darkside is where we get to express the collector part the most as far as I'm concerned.

As for scary, well we have our in jokes I suppose, but I find this is much more collegial than the other side. Even our SSPs and weekend swaps keep most of the commercialism relatively separate, so we can enjoy or avoid at will, without being swamped by them.




Cathy

kuhli

<< <i>Do you really believe that the Darkside still represents the average pure collector, or does it look a bit weird, with the internet, encapsulated coins that look scary to family and friends and eccentric behaviour? >>



For a period of time, over the last few years, I started to think that the darkside was "selling out." I was seeing more and more high grade, high dollar (out of my budget) coins showing up, and (in my eyes) it was looking like it was becoming the new "Wall Street", with the "investments of the future." I felt like it had reached the point that I would have to have a registry set just to prove myself worthy. My cheap coins were no comparison for all the beauties showing up, and I was becoming dis-heartened with the hobby.


It took a boring, rainy afternoon for me to sit down in front of my collection and realize that I really wasn't even a collector, but more of a hoarder. I had thousands of coins, but there wasn't any cohesiveness, just coins.

I have since then really narrowed down my collecting interest, renewed my passion for the hobby, and have found a lot of new joy in filling in the occasional hole as well as up-grading the quality of what I have.

I now see that a lot of the high grade, high dollar coins I had been seeing were not meant to be shown as trophies or smart investments, but rather as rewards for dilligence and perseverance in staying true to the hobby. Now it is time for me to start earning some of those rewards.

Financial restraints aside, I am beginning to really want the "best" of what I collect, and will no longer settle for anything less. I have become more content with holding out for a single high-quality coin per month, rather than dozens of mediocre ones. I still have not become a champion of TPG slabbing, but I can now accept their place in the hobby, and will undoubtedly start using their services (eventually - that financial restraints thing again).

Silvereagle82

Well said Kuhli

I share many of your thoughts!!!

worldcoinguy

Great post Kuhli! Your sentiments sound very familiar. I have sold the bulk of my US collection the past 3 years to refocus on European coins. I didn't have alot of high values coins, just too much bulk. I have found the new direction has brought much more enjoyment than the hoarding approach in the past.

1960NYGiants

<< <i>Well said Kuhli

I share many of your thoughts!!! >>

ajaan

DPOTD goes to Kuhli.

Aethelred

<< <i>DPOTD goes to Kuhli. >>



I second that!

theboz11

"Have we become a too exclusive club"



Hardly,,,,,,,,, You let me in.

ajaan

<< <i>I second that! >>


No need to do that. I have self appointed me head dictator of the Exclusive Club.

500Bay

I find Kuhli's comments resonating with me as well.
I have upgraded and focused my US collection, and have been entering the ancient market. I find those coins (especially ancient Rome) to be both fascinating from a numismatic and historical point of view.
I think Kuhli's point could be applicable to any type or collector many of us go through: the movement from quantity to quality.

JZrarities

Kuhli's post also echoes for me as well.

Well said.

Silvereagle82

<< <i>I think Kuhli's point could be applicable to any type or collector many of us go through: the movement from quantity to quality. >>



Although I have been collector for a only little more than two years, I was fortunate to have had some good initial advice from a senior collector, before I starting accumulating a great many coins. One bit of advice was try to collect the highest quality grade of the type coin I was interested in and could afford and that would require patience but ultimely provide the highest satisfaction.
Another bit of advice was if I liked gold coins that I should really look to the "world" and not just USA.
I feel both of these bits of advice have given me a headstart on the average new collector and maybe has kept me from "hoarding" too many coins at the start.

Also I use my registery set at NGC "not to prove myself worthy" but as a tool to showcase and share my world gold set with others.

coinkat

I agree that this post is worthy of a DPOTD Award which, thankfully and rightfully has been awarded.

more later...

Clankeye

<< <i>I now see that a lot of the high grade, high dollar coins I had been seeing were not meant to be shown as trophies or smart investments, but rather as rewards for dilligence and perseverance in staying true to the hobby. Now it is time for me to start earning some of those rewards. >>



A very good post, Kuhli. As a litesider who brought some of his liteside ways with me when I discovered the darkside, I sometimes felt a little self-conscious over here talking in terms of TPG plastic, grades or populations. But, the intent has never been a "my coins nicer than your coin" thing. I've never envied other people's coins. If anything I've kind of envied their joy and emersion in the hobby. Whatever form that takes--high grade, slabbed, raw, ancient. modern or medals.

Dimitri, I'm glad you started this discussion.


Clankeye

coinkat

The more later is now...

Good post and I think you summarized many thoughts and feelings in less space than I could... under the circumstances...

Collecting has several components... collecting what you like, collecting what you can afford and collecting quality for the grade which, in the final analysis, enters into the investment arena.

I like collecting... I have never enjoyed being told what to do, but I try to listen to those whom I respect. If money/budget is not an issue, it still should be out of principle if nothing else. I am not saying be cheap, just be informed and understand the consequences of your decisions.

I don't see this crowd within the Wall Street crowd. As for Registry sets, I have not been pursuaded in the past, but I have come around to accept them and even participate, but not to the degree of competition... I would rather play golf.

The reality is the World coin market is changing

bidask

<< <i>The more later is now...

Good post and I think you summarized many thoughts and feelings in less space than I could... under the circumstances...

Collecting has several components... collecting what you like, collecting what you can afford and collecting quality for the grade which, in the final analysis, enters into the investment arena.

I like collecting... I have never enjoyed being told what to do, but I try to listen to those whom I respect. If money/budget is not an issue, it still should be out of principle if nothing else. I am not saying be cheap, just be informed and understand the consequences of your decisions.

I don't see this crowd within the Wall Street crowd. As for Registry sets, I have not been pursuaded in the past, but I have come around to accept them and even participate, but not to the degree of competition... I would rather play golf.

The reality is the World coin market is changing >>

The Wall Street crowd is here. I have been collecting choice and intersting World Coins for 20 years. Love em!

SYRACUSIAN

Dimitri, I'm glad you started this discussion.




Honestly, it was only a disguise to share the link about the game, I thought that nobody would have taken this thread seriously and that it would have already been in page 2 or 3 by now. Instead, I see and read one great post after another, apparently it was a touchy subject. Even more touchy than the game.


Thanks.

Clankeye

<< <i>Honestly, it was only a disguise to share the link about the game >>



I knew that.

I just didn't know anything about the game.

For that matter I might not know much about coins.


Also, I wanted to say good post, coinkat.