Who you calling a negative nelly?
MidLifeCrisis
Posts: 10,553 ✭✭✭✭✭
When I first saw RYK's thread about people who despise the hobby, I thought he might have actually had me in mind. I asked and he confirmed he did not. But I know I sometimes come across a bit negative. In fact, about a year ago I posted a thread titled "Sometimes I wonder...why do we bother?" In it, I posted the following:
- Most collectors lose money when it comes time to sell.
- Hobby organizations don’t seem to have the collector’s best interest in mind.
- Arrogance is pervasive in the hobby.
- In many ways the hobby is actually just one big popularity contest.
- Coin doctoring can’t be stopped; frequently can’t be detected until it’s too late; and can’t even be universally defined.
- New collectors and young collectors are often treated poorly.
- Collectors are often made to feel bad because their coins aren’t perfect.
On and on and on...
I get frustrated with the things I posted above - just like we all do. But I posted the thread hoping to do a few things -
1. Cause you to think about why you participate in the hobby and realize, as I do, that the good far outweighs the bad.
I think it's important to go through this mental exercise occasionally to put things into perspective and to refocus on the many positive reasons why coin collecting is good.
2. Encourage some motivating responses that make us all feel good about why we devote so much time, effort and money to this hobby.
My thread got 90 responses from forum members telling me why they bother...it worked! People pointed out the benefits and the positive aspects of numismatics. Their list was much longer than my list of negatives!
And, by the way, most of you know I sold my collection recently. But if you ever wonder what I think of this hobby, just do a search for colonial coin related threads and you'll see that I truly love at least one segment of numismatics!
- Most collectors lose money when it comes time to sell.
- Hobby organizations don’t seem to have the collector’s best interest in mind.
- Arrogance is pervasive in the hobby.
- In many ways the hobby is actually just one big popularity contest.
- Coin doctoring can’t be stopped; frequently can’t be detected until it’s too late; and can’t even be universally defined.
- New collectors and young collectors are often treated poorly.
- Collectors are often made to feel bad because their coins aren’t perfect.
On and on and on...
I get frustrated with the things I posted above - just like we all do. But I posted the thread hoping to do a few things -
1. Cause you to think about why you participate in the hobby and realize, as I do, that the good far outweighs the bad.
I think it's important to go through this mental exercise occasionally to put things into perspective and to refocus on the many positive reasons why coin collecting is good.
2. Encourage some motivating responses that make us all feel good about why we devote so much time, effort and money to this hobby.
My thread got 90 responses from forum members telling me why they bother...it worked! People pointed out the benefits and the positive aspects of numismatics. Their list was much longer than my list of negatives!
And, by the way, most of you know I sold my collection recently. But if you ever wonder what I think of this hobby, just do a search for colonial coin related threads and you'll see that I truly love at least one segment of numismatics!
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Comments
<< <i>When I first saw RYK's thread about people who despise the hobby, I thought he might have actually had me in mind. >>
It never remotely crossed my mind that he was referring to you.
<< <i>
<< <i>When I first saw RYK's thread about people who despise the hobby, I thought he might have actually had me in mind. >>
It never remotely crossed my mind that he was referring to you. >>
ditto. MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>When I first saw RYK's thread about people who despise the hobby, I thought he might have actually had me in mind. >>
It never remotely crossed my mind that he was referring to you. >>
ditto. MJ >>
Exactly, we disparage you quite explicitly via the PM feature.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson