Posted By:
Jeff OEvery generation has a tendency to look back to "the way it was" with a sense of nostalga... things seemed simpler, which of course they were because we were kids and didn't have things like jobs, relationships, mortgages, etc.
That being said, I think that the primary differences between the kids of today and when I was growing up in the '70's and early '80's is that the hobby has grown by leaps and bounds and has had a ton of media exposure. Kids have always been interested in which cards are worth the most... this was true when I set up at my first show in 1984, and it's still true today. The kids who are into the history of the game at a young age have likely always been the exception and not the rule.
I too have had similar experiences to those described in this thread, both with kids and adults who really only care about how much your collection is worth or what is your most valuable card. I think that it's just human nature. After all, if you didn't collect, you would have a hard time believing what people are willing to spend on cards too.
Jeff O
http://www.seattlehockey.net