Net54baseball- Game Used Forum? all sports?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Forever Young

I vote YES too.... I would love an original photography subcategory as well. A rather large percentage of monthly pickups are indeed photos.

I hope (but maybe not) that would fall under this memorabilia section. Pretty soon there won't be anything so general as "memorabilia" for this section .

[baseball tourist]

A yes from me as well!

[Bpm0014]

Yes!

[Nashvol]

Yes, there is a need!

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by Leon

I hope (but maybe not) that would fall under this memorabilia section. Pretty soon there won't be anything so general as "memorabilia" for this section .

I was suggesting a sub cat within the memorabilia section much like the autographs.

[Mark]

I suppose that I am in the minority, since I would prefer that Net54Baseball have one memorabilia forum devoted to baseball memorabilia. If there were to be an all sports, game used memorabilia forum, it would mean that those of us who collect game used baseball material would have to rub elbows with the rakes and hooligans who collect modern college football jerseys rather than the fine people who collect vintage baseball pennants and photos.

[Copa7]

Originally Posted by Mark

I suppose that I am in the minority, since I would prefer that Net54Baseball have one memorabilia forum devoted to baseball memorabilia. If there were to be an all sports, game used memorabilia forum, it would mean that those of us who collect game used baseball material would have to rub elbows with the rakes and hooligans who collect modern college football jerseys rather than the fine people who collect vintage baseball pennants and photos.

What makes one assume that "other" means new or college items ? I have over 100 years of soccer memorabilia. I have shared it with a few forums that enjoyed it.

Just to be clear, I collected all the stuff that I see here in the baseball world and then sold it off because i "had already done it."

I sold off a super NFL football collection too. If no one is interested, I respect that. But ignrance should not be the prohibitive reason. I like all sports history. As far as I am concerned, no one is forced to look at any thread if its not in their interest.

I vote yes.

PS - there is a good reason that Game Used Universe has lost so many members, but I will leave that for others to comment.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Copa7

What makes one assume that "other" means new or college items ? I have over 100 years of soccer memorabilia. I have shared it with a few forums that enjoyed it.

Just to be clear, I collected all the stuff that I see here in the baseball world and then sold it off because i "had already done it."

I sold off a super NFL football collection too. If no one is interested, I respect that. But ignrance should not be the prohibitive reason. I like all sports history. As far as I am concerned, no one is forced to look at any thread if its not in their interest.

I vote yes.

PS - there is a good reason that Game Used Universe has lost so many members, but I will leave that for others to comment.

I am sure that you love soccer, football, and many other things. But I don't, and always found it tedious to wade through the many non-baseball threads over at Game Used Universe. If Leon wants to add a forum or a couple dozen, that's fine with me. I am just afraid that adding a new game used forum would mean that people like me who enjoy game used baseball material feel would be unwelcome in this good, old baseball memorabilia forum.

[bobbvc]

I'd like to see (1) A game used forum for bats.
(2) A game used forum for other Baseball (Jerseys, Gloves, etc.)
(3) Other sports

Can be divided into Vintage/ Non Vintage or not.

Would prefer keeping the Baseball items separate.

Thanks

[keithsky]

I think it would be great. Even with the game used forum have a classified and wanted section so guys can buy and sell there stuff. The problem with Game Used Universe website there classified section is limited to selling up to 500.00 which I could never understand and questioned them about it and eventually my post was removed and never got a straight answer. With the prices of GU stuff it's hard to sell anything for under 500.00. Just think of the high end items guys would want to sell they can't over there so collectors are missing out on some nice high end items and have to resort to Ebay or auction houses with there 20% BP. Just a thought.

[sayhey24]

I too think it's a great idea, but would like to see it be for vintage items, say pre-1980. Game Used Universe is primarily for people collecting new shiny game used stuff.

Greg

[sforaker]

Yes, agree there is a need.

[travrosty]

Originally Posted by Leon

I hope (but maybe not) that would fall under this memorabilia section. Pretty soon there won't be anything so general as "memorabilia" for this section .

branching out the general memorabilia section more and more is risky, autographs branched out, fine. there is still enough in the general memorabilia section to keep some posts current and people posting, but if branching out to gu and photographs and left handed socks worn by hof'ers, you risk on gutting it too much, and if people see that the last post on a forum was from three days ago, then they stop clicking on that forum altogether.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by travrosty

branching out the general memorabilia section more and more is risky, autographs branched out, fine. there is still enough in the general memorabilia section to keep some posts current and people posting, but if branching out to gu and photographs and left handed socks worn by hof'ers, you risk on gutting it too much, and if people see that the last post on a forum was from three days ago, then they stop clicking on that forum altogether.

I agree with this general sentiment and even commented about it in my last post. I think each change has taken into account the dynamics of the board. The last one, separating the autographs, seems to have gone fine. The post-war side of the board is fine though some of the lesser forums don't get posts for a few days. Still, it's not too bad. I wouldn't want a main forum to be too inactive. I think consolidating to have more posts in "a" forum is better. That being said, when I look at the amount of game used discussion we have, it is negligible. As was said in the very first post, this discussion is exactly what was intended. Thanks to everyone who has given an opinion so far. Also, if this new forum (on here) does get done, we will also break out the autograph forum into a main header icon, as previously discussed.
Keeping the number of icons across the top of each page the same, this (below) is what I sent to our techy guy, Brian M., yesterday....to start discussion on some changes.....the icons/forums from left to right (on each page as they are now) would potentially be-

Net54 Form Homepage – Pre-WWII Baseball cards
Buy/Sell/Trade
Memorabilia
Game Used
Autographs
Post War/Watercooler
Vintage Links
Rules/Detection/Archives


Nothing is set in stone yet. Also, I could see potentially splitting up the Game Used into modern and vintage. Just like any board decision, there is 0 possibility of making everyone happy. The goal is to make the majority happy while still having a nice, safe place to discuss different parts of our hobby. An analogy might be asking folks what they like better, chocolate or vanilla. With that question you will not get a 100% agreement. Same idea for this proposed change. Thanks for everyone's thoughts so far.

[barrysloate]

It looks like the direction of the board, as it matures and gets larger, is to create more specific areas of discussion. I guess the key is to make sure there will be enough activity to justify a new forum. In the case of game used equipment, I'm sure there is. I love to discuss vintage baseball books, but if that had its own section it might get 2 or 3 threads a month, so I would not lobby for it.

[sylbry]

It would be great to have a place for the knowledgeable former members of GUU (or those who simply do not post any longer) to have a place to chat. But if it devolves into what GUU has become, a place for little discussion and lots of show and tell threads about modern equipment, then don't bother.

Be prepared for ego and conflict management though. As a whole game used collectors are without a doubt the most spiteful group of collectors out there.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by sylbry

It would be great to have a place for the knowledgeable former members of GUU (or those who simply do not post any longer) to have a place to chat. But if it devolves into what GUU has become, a place for little discussion and lots of show and tell threads about modern equipment, then don't bother.

Be prepared for ego and conflict management though. As a whole game used collectors are without a doubt the most spiteful group of collectors out there.

Yikes.....certainly some thoughts to consider....

[barrysloate]

Come on Leon- spiteful groups create some great train wrecks. And who doesn't like a good train wreck?

[John V]

I recommend shelving the Game Used category for now. I don't see the demand for a breakout. Less to click on too.

[Lordstan]

I say no to the change, especially if the format is as it is listed above. I think separating things out just fragments the board more without a specific need.

While I disagree with what happened to the autograph section for multiple reasons, I do understand why many wanted it. The constant fighting between a few members created a hostile atmosphere, which many wanted to avoid. I still think it's easier to not click on a thread that annoys you than it is to go to a new category, but that decision is already done. I will say that since the change, one of the things that I do notice, is that there seems to be less traffic from many people who I used to see post occasionally about autographs, as well as the other stuff.

In this case, is there really a NEED for a new category? Are there so many posts about GU that they bother those who don't collect that stuff? No. Are the people who collect GU on this forum fighting all the time as to create a negative atmosphere? No. Is there something about current format that is preventing those who collect GU from posting? I don't think so.

For me, I like to see everything. I read most of the threads on the board, at least initially, to see if it interests me. Would I make the effort to go to a separate GU forum? Probably not. Especially if I had to wade through a lot of new stuff. I think this is similar to what I noted above about less different people posting about autographs.

I guess my point is that I see this board as a sort of family. Most families have good times and bad. Many many fights and reconciliations. IMHO, more separation leads to less interaction, less unity, and less enjoyment. If autos had been separate when I joined, I don't know if I would've been influenced by Jimmy(kingofclout), David Atkatz, Ben(Forever Young), and a host of others who spurred on my interest in vintage photography collecting. I learned, enjoyed, and met so many more nice people than I would've had it all been separate. That benefit far outweighs any negatives.

Sorry, Leon. One last point.
If you do decide to do this, I would suggest you keep autographs, GU, and any others that come up, as a sub-forum of the memorabilia section. All these things should be grouped together, as they are specific foci of memorabilia collecting.

(Cool. I got to use the word FOCI in a post. Sorry I am easily amused.)

Best,
Mark

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

I say no to the change, especially if the format is as it is listed above. I think separating things out just fragments the board more without a specific need.

While I disagree with what happened to the autograph section for multiple reasons, I do understand why many wanted it. The constant fighting between a few members created a hostile atmosphere, which many wanted to avoid. I still think it's easier to not click on a thread that annoys you than it is to go to a new category, but that decision is already done. I will say that since the change, one of the things that I do notice, is that there seems to be less traffic from many people who I used to see post occasionally about autographs, as well as the other stuff.

In this case, is there really a NEED for a new category? Are there so many posts about GU that they bother those who don't collect that stuff? No. Are the people who collect GU on this forum fighting all the time as to create a negative atmosphere? No. Is there something about current format that is preventing those who collect GU from posting? I don't think so.

For me, I like to see everything. I read most of the threads on the board, at least initially, to see if it interests me. Would I make the effort to go to a separate GU forum? Probably not. Especially if I had to wade through a lot of new stuff. I think this is similar to what I noted above about less different people posting about autographs.

I guess my point is that I see this board as a sort of family. Most families have good times and bad. Many many fights and reconciliations. IMHO, more separation leads to less interaction, less unity, and less enjoyment. If autos had been separate when I joined, I don't know if I would've been influenced by Jimmy(kingofclout), David Atkatz, Ben(Forever Young), and a host of others who spurred on my interest in vintage photography collecting. I learned, enjoyed, and met so many more nice people than I would've had it all been separate. That benefit far outweighs any negatives.

Sorry, Leon. One last point.
If you do decide to do this, I would suggest you keep autographs, GU, and any others that come up, as a sub-forum of the memorabilia section. All these things should be grouped together, as they are specific foci of memorabilia collecting.

(Cool. I got to use the word FOCI in a post. Sorry I am easily amused.)

Best,
Mark

Good thoughts Mark...and they are appreciated. The reason that the autograph section isn't as active as it was might be that a few of the folks left....because people were badmouthing what they were trying to do. It happens. I do agree, as I have said all along, I would prefer fewer sections with more threads than more sections with less threads. Still, nothing is set in stone and the debate continues. I do think there is somewhat of a need for a GU forum here but maybe a sub-forum, such as the autograph forum, would do the trick.

And whomever made the comment about advertising.. ....I honestly didn't think of that but if there were another advertiser or two, it wouldn't hurt my feelings.