Money in the Hobby

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by packs

... I'll venture to say that most people collect baseball cards because they collected them as children...

People who collect Ming vases didn't collect them as a kid. People who collect rare pieces of art didn't collect that as a kid. Not so sure there is a correlation any more.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Stampsfan

People who collect Ming vases didn't collect them as a kid. People who collect rare pieces of art didn't collect that as a kid. Not so sure there is a correlation any more.

I don't think you're seeing the connection the right way. I collect all types of baseball memorabilia. I didn't collect RPPCs as a kid, but I do now because of my appreciation that grew out of collecting baseball cards. Saying something like "they didn't collect Ming vases as a child" totally ignores any previous appreciation of a related interest, like art, history, or heritage.

[joshuanip]

I have to agree with packs here, I think we all collected "twice" in our lives...

That said, I get the other side of the coin, (perceived) value begets value...

[orly57]

I feel like pigeonholing people under the rubric of "gen x" or "millennial" does not take into account individual tastes. The year I was born is not what defines me as an individual or a collector; my collecting gene, my love of history, and my love of baseball is what makes me collect baseball cards. We, the members of this great forum, are collectors by nature, not by choice. To say that "millenials" will not collect baseball cards seems silly. All it takes is a few thousand millenials with money to keep the hobby thriving. And being a millennial will not remove in certain individuals that innate need to collect cool stuff (which I refer to as the "collecting gene"). Nor will all millenials hate baseball or History. Human beings are too complex to box into groups by era of birth.

[ronniehatesjazz]

Originally Posted by orly57

I feel like pigeonholing people under the rubric of "gen x" or "millennial" does not take into account individual tastes. The year I was born is not what defines me as an individual or a collector; my collecting gene, my love of history, and my love of baseball is what makes me collect baseball cards. We, the members of this great forum, are collectors by nature, not by choice. To say that "millenials" will not collect baseball cards seems silly. All it takes is a few thousand millenials with money to keep the hobby thriving. And being a millennial will not remove in certain individuals that innate need to collect cool stuff that I refer to as the collecting gene. Nor will all millenials hate baseball or History. Human beings are too complex to box into groups by era of birth.

Spot on Orlando

[LincolnVT]

All signs are pointing to a major dry up in the card market for the unforseeable future. I am willing to try to help as many people as I am able by freeing them of any Red Sox related Ruth items that may be weighing them down financially. Please send me an email to discuss.

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by orly57

I feel like pigeonholing people under the rubric of "gen x" or "millennial" does not take into account individual tastes. The year I was born is not what defines me as an individual or a collector; my collecting gene, my love of history, and my love of baseball is what makes me collect baseball cards. We, the members of this great forum, are collectors by nature, not by choice. To say that "millenials" will not collect baseball cards seems silly. All it takes is a few thousand millenials with money to keep the hobby thriving. And being a millennial will not remove in certain individuals that innate need to collect cool stuff that I refer to as the collecting gene. Nor will all millenials hate baseball or History. Human beings are too complex to box into groups by era of birth.

+1 (as usual, it seems)

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't think you're seeing the connection the right way. I collect all types of baseball memorabilia. I didn't collect RPPCs as a kid, but I do now because of my appreciation that grew out of collecting baseball cards. Saying something like "they didn't collect Ming vases as a child" totally ignores any previous appreciation of a related interest, like art, history, or heritage.

... or an interest in baseball. You can have an interest in baseball, without having collected baseball cards as a kid. Once that interest is cultivated, it's OK to then collect cards as an extension.
You can have an interest in college football without collecting college football as a kid (was there such a thing?).

I am always amused when someone doesn't agree with another, and the first leap they make is "you don't understand...", or "I don't think you're seeing the connection the right way...", like there is an obvious mental block.
For me, I just don't agree with you on the point. I think one can develop an interest later in life, without having that interest as a nine year old child. I'd hope people have evolved somewhat since they were nine.

At nine years old, I didn't like girls. I like girls now.