I'm Sick And Tired

[Fred]

Those that don't understand the OPs frustration might consider the following:

Many "collectors" started in this "hobby" decades ago when it was actually fun to find some nice cardboard at a reasonable price and to continue to add to a "collection". I think in most cases, these older "collectors" never considered this "hobby" as an investment or an inflationary hedge, they collected for the love of collecting.

Enter "grading". Misrepresentation, coin doctors and poor subjectivity of coins screwed up that "hobby".

Now the grading of cardboard has brought in an element of "gotta have the best in the world". Population reports and investors start to get into the "hobby" and turn it upside down by leading it into an era where there's a focus on $$$/value rather than just collecting cardboard.

Now go back to that collector who had a passion to continually add to a true collection of cardboard because it was a fun, affordable past time. Now it's a true shit show of card manipulators, thieves and greed. That last statement doesn't mean that EVERYONE is like that, quite to the contrary, especially most people on this board. It's just unfortunate for "collectors" that liked to collect for the fund of "collecting".

Older "collectors" on limited budgets may find it very challenging to continue to add to their collections because it's not economically possible or the collector has just had enough and is saying "no mas, I give up".

I continue to collect because it's something that's been part of my life for a very long time. Is it enjoyable? I think it still is, but if you used to collect a long time ago, then you find hobby dollars don't go near as far as they used to.

With the increase in "value" for cardboard, there's a larger increase in the amount of fraud and butt heads that want to "influence" collectors and end up making it worse for the pure collector.

Yes, this is just a hobby, but for some it's been a part of their life for a LONG time and now it's just not fun anymore for many of those old time "collectors".

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by Fred

Those that don't understand the OPs frustration might consider the following:

Many "collectors" started in this "hobby" decades ago when it was actually fun to find some nice cardboard at a reasonable price and to continue to add to a "collection". I think in most cases, these older "collectors" never considered this "hobby" as an investment or an inflationary hedge, they collected for the love of collecting.

Enter "grading". Misrepresentation, coin doctors and poor subjectivity of coins screwed up that "hobby".

Now the grading of cardboard has brought in an element of "gotta have the best in the world". Population reports and investors start to get into the "hobby" and turn it upside down by leading it into an era where there's a focus on $$$/value rather than just collecting cardboard.

Now go back to that collector who had a passion to continually add to a true collection of cardboard because it was a fun, affordable past time. Now it's a true shit show of card manipulators, thieves and greed. That last statement doesn't mean that EVERYONE is like that, quite to the contrary, especially most people on this board. It's just unfortunate for "collectors" that liked to collect for the fund of "collecting".

Older "collectors" on limited budgets may find it very challenging to continue to add to their collections because it's not economically possible or the collector has just had enough and is saying "no mas, I give up".

I continue to collect because it's something that's been part of my life for a very long time. Is it enjoyable? I think it still is, but if you used to collect a long time ago, then you find hobby dollars don't go near as far as they used to.

With the increase in "value" for cardboard, there's a larger increase in the amount of fraud and butt heads that want to "influence" collectors and end up making it worse for the pure collector.

Yes, this is just a hobby, but for some it's been a part of their life for a LONG time and now it's just not fun anymore for many of those old time "collectors".

Great post!

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Fred

Those that don't understand the OPs frustration might consider the following:

Many "collectors" started in this "hobby" decades ago when it was actually fun to find some nice cardboard at a reasonable price and to continue to add to a "collection". I think in most cases, these older "collectors" never considered this "hobby" as an investment or an inflationary hedge, they collected for the love of collecting.

Enter "grading". Misrepresentation, coin doctors and poor subjectivity of coins screwed up that "hobby".

Now the grading of cardboard has brought in an element of "gotta have the best in the world". Population reports and investors start to get into the "hobby" and turn it upside down by leading it into an era where there's a focus on $$$/value rather than just collecting cardboard.

Now go back to that collector who had a passion to continually add to a true collection of cardboard because it was a fun, affordable past time. Now it's a true shit show of card manipulators, thieves and greed. That last statement doesn't mean that EVERYONE is like that, quite to the contrary, especially most people on this board. It's just unfortunate for "collectors" that liked to collect for the fund of "collecting".

Older "collectors" on limited budgets may find it very challenging to continue to add to their collections because it's not economically possible or the collector has just had enough and is saying "no mas, I give up".

I continue to collect because it's something that's been part of my life for a very long time. Is it enjoyable? I think it still is, but if you used to collect a long time ago, then you find hobby dollars don't go near as far as they used to.

With the increase in "value" for cardboard, there's a larger increase in the amount of fraud and butt heads that want to "influence" collectors and end up making it worse for the pure collector.

Yes, this is just a hobby, but for some it's been a part of their life for a LONG time and now it's just not fun anymore for many of those old time "collectors".

I have a friend who has lived in Austin, TX for the last 40 years. Every time I visit, the city has changed, grown, evolved. Whenever I mention it, he responds, "Everyone who moves to Austin wants it to stay exactly how it was when they moved here."

I guess our own little hobby isn't that different in many ways.

[Bpm0014]

No matter what happens from here on out Mr. Ingram........you still had a bunch of great R&B hits in the 80's!

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

No matter what happens from here on out Mr. Ingram........you still had a bunch of great R&B hits in the 80's!

Sadly that J@mes In.gram passed away in 2019. Heck of a singer he was.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by raulus

I have a friend who has lived in Austin, TX for the last 40 years. Every time I visit, the city has changed, grown, evolved. Whenever I mention it, he responds, "Everyone who moves to Austin wants it to stay exactly how it was when they moved here."

I guess our own little hobby isn't that different in many ways.

Every town I've ever lived in has totally gone to shit if you ask someone who has never moved. Never the idyllic way it used to be.

[Peter_Spaeth]

If Don Henley were here he would say to you

All this whinin' and cryin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it
Get over it

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

If Don Henley were here he would say to you

All this whinin' and cryin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it
Get over it

Don Henley also wrote:

They call it paradise
I don't know why
You call someplace paradise
Kiss it goodbye

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Well James, sorry you are not having a good day! Don't worry, its cool, we all vent sometimes. May I share a perspective?

Many might agree that this world creates and then fills many artificial needs. It's the foundation of most business and commerce today. Only a few of the things we buy are real "needs."

Example: My grandfather never needed a TV, he listened to the Sox on radio and that was fine for him. My father enjoyed limited TV, he watched Archie Bunker and not much else. Cable TV wasn't ever an option for him, not a necessity. I, however, watch more sports on more channels than I care to admit. My cable bill is far from a real need, its an artificial one created by people looking to part some of my hard earned wages from me each month. My choice, I'm good.

Likewise with collecting. Grade competition, investing, auctions, etc are likely not essential activities, but many find it enjoyable. PSA has created a need for many and that's fine, let them have their fun. Do what you enjoy, what you find valuable, walk to your own beat, and more power to you.

As an aside, I always recommend finding something truly of greater value in life and giving it proper attention; you decide what that is....

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Dead-Ball-Hitter

Well James, sorry you are not having a good day! Don't worry, its cool, we all vent sometimes. May I share a perspective?



Many might agree that this world creates and then fills many artificial needs. It's the foundation of most business and commerce today. Only a few of the things we buy are real "needs."



Example: My grandfather never needed a TV, he listened to the Sox on radio and that was fine for him. My father enjoyed limited TV, he watched Archie Bunker and not much else. Cable TV wasn't ever an option for him, not a necessity. I, however, watch more sports on more channels than I care to admit. My cable bill is far from a real need, its an artificial one created by people looking to part some of my hard earned wages from me each month. My choice, I'm good.



Likewise with collecting. Grade competition, investing, auctions, etc are likely not essential activities, but many find it enjoyable. PSA has created a need for many and that's fine, let them have their fun. Do what you enjoy, what you find valuable, walk to your own beat, and more power to you.



As an aside, I always recommend finding something truly of greater value in life and giving it proper attention; you decide what that is....

As my mother used to say, there's only so much a man really needs, and the rest is just for showing off.

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