I'm not sure if people are referring to me or not about the anonymity issue. I'd like to chime in, if I may. I've been involved in the baseball memorabilia hobby since the late 1970's but haven't bought or sold a card for over 20 years. Because of this, I really don't have anything of value to add to 99.8% of the threads in this forum. I lurk and absorb as much information as I can because I love baseball, its history and have an interest in the broader hobby's progression. Since about 1989, I've almost strictly collected vintage baseball gloves. It's what I've gravitated towards and enjoy the most. I have a few other select pieces of memorabilia, but my focus has predominantly been on gloves and glove related ephemera. This is why I had knowledge enough to question the S&D Cobb glove advertisement. Until another glove related issue arises, you'll probably not hear from me, though I will be reading frequently.
Like everyone, my full contact information is on file with Leon. I signed my initial post with my first name and my email address is attached to each post I've made. Furthermore, I can be contacted via this forum's private messaging function. If anyone wanted, or still wants, to know my full name or anything else about me, there are outlets to get in touch with me (though it seems no one sends private emails
). Interestingly, only two people have clicked my username and viewed my "about me page" even though there have been over 3,000 views of this thread. It's not mandatory for us to reveal our full names when posting. That was the forum owner's decision, not mine. My decision was to not disclose my last name. I stand by that choice because I simply don't want to intertwine my hobby and my profession when someone searches my name on the web.
Sure, there are abusive, anonymous posters here. They upset me as much as they upset you. Until the rules of the forum change and full name signatures are mandatory, there really isn't much we can do. I simply wanted to provide my point of view as to why I don't want my full name attached to each and every post I write. I'm sure I'm not alone in this line of thinking.
Jerry