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Posted By: JK

Jim,

I very much support what you are attempting to do and have enjoyed the threads and resulting discussions. Most if not all of us bid on cards sold by the major auctioneers - as mentioned above, I certainly want to hear their responses before deciding where to spend my money.

What I really do not enjoy reading is the continual posts from certain forum members who hate grading and see this as nothing more than a graded vs. non-graded issue. It most assuredly is not. It particularly galls me that those members somehow see those of us who do like graded cards as less informed and knowlegeable. I certainly have no problem judging a card on its merits (assuming its an issue Im familiar with) and in most instances, can spot fakes, trims, etc. given a good scan or if looking at a card in person. I am also knowlegeable about the issues I collect (and will learn about those I dont before I do). Regardless, I like slabs, particularly SGC slabs. I like how my cards stand out against the black border, I like the protection they afford, I like that I can display a slabbed card on a bookshelf (low light conditions only ) without having to worry about my two year old deciding it would make a fine picture to color. As Peter mentioned, it is really is obnoxious to assume that I get less enjoyment out of my cards or that I am less interested in learning about the hobby simply because I prefer graded cards (for what its worth, Ive bought plenty of unslabbed cards - I of course proceeded to get them slabbed ).

Further, in response to the opinion stated above (and others of similar nature) that the purpose of this board is "to share and gain some meaningful knowledge regarding BB cards and at times....personal stories or experiences of Net 54 members" - isnt that exactly what most of us feel is being accomplished by these threads (ie gaining meaningful knowledge)? If gaining such knowledge must be related only to the cards themselves, well, then I would like to know why it is that many topics seeking such knowledge (such as those referenced by Al C.) get very tepid responses. I will have to go back and see if any of the anti-graded card contingent even bothered to respond to Al's thread [edited to add that of those commenting in this thread, none responded in Al's post]. I know I have often encounted the same problem when Ive started threads asking for others to contribute their knowledge to help me learn more about the hobby. Finally, to those who dont like grading - we get that and I respect your view as well. All I ask is that you dont keep repeating it on every thread that involves grading - its not like I go to the threads that you do profess to enjoy reading (ie those about cards and the purity of the collecting experience itself) and seek to impose my view that the thread if of no interest because it doesnt involve graded cards or bash some grading company.

There, done, sorry for the rant. [Edited for spelling, missing words, etc].