Honest, unbiased thoughts from a member, i.e. current boards situation

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

LOLOL I hate that thread too but it's just one thread. I would disagree with the OP's premise, I don't really see much difference between now and a year or two ago. For me the biggest change over time has been that many very knowledgeable people (both about cards and the hobby itself) aren't here any more or barely post, whether because they are banned, or lost interest, or whatever.

Some, unfortunately, have passed away. While others, like myself, are just not as intelligent as they used to be.

Brian

[bnorth]

I have been a member for almost 4 years and it seem s about the same to me overall. I really like the BST section as I buy most of my cards off it and have for a while. We have not had anybody commit to buying stuff and not paying for a while now.

[kailes2872]

I have been enthralled with the history of card collecting posts. I really enjoyed the ones that showed the evolution through the 50's and 60's and how the cards increased in cost and the superstars started costing more due to the increased demand. The posts about Carter, Wagner, Burdick, etc. are really awesome and I feel like I really learn something and have a better understanding of how we got here today. I really like Ted Z's post where he talks about the history of a set, how they were laid out on a sheet and therefore, the relative scarcity and condition of certain cards. I feel like I am sitting in a college class earning a high level degree from a professor.

Do I love every rare back T206 thread and those like it? Not really, but then again, I am currently a post-war set collector and I try to learn as much as I can so that when I enter the pre-war foray, I will know as much as possible in order to avoid counterfeits, know proper value and the like. I am sure that there are a lot of electronic eye rolls when I post an obvious question on that board and it probably could have been answered by proper use of the search function.

Is everything awesome all the time? I am sure it could be better in spots. But in the few years that I have been here, I have made several wonderful acquaintances and dare I say, friends (although they might beg to differ...)

I think if you allow the forum to be what is intended to be 1.) a great place to learn from very advanced collectors and 2.) a safe place to buy and sell stuff where we can take out the middle man and get better deals on both sides, then you will be happy. If you expect it to be a place where we all get along all of the time, you will be disappointed - but I am not sure that you will find that place this side of heaven.

[rdixon1208]

Stick around a little longer and things will change again. And again. There's always a couple of new members who come to the board and post thousands of times in a year or two. Those guys tend to inevitably stir up all kinds of resentment and bickering. But soon enough they get bored and move on to something else. I've found that if I can avoid/ignore the really needy new guy then I can still have lots of fun with this site.