Is anyone else alone in collecting cards?

[majordanby]

just think about how the hobby has changed with the advent of the internet - a lot fewer local shows, a lot fewer local hobby shops. with the internet, we can purchase cards through ebay and other auctions without any personal connection - bid, win auction, pay through paypal. there's less of a personal medium. however, for those seeking some kind of connection to the broader collecting community, the internet has broadened our virtual networks - we can share our ideas through places like net54.

I'm actually enrolled in a local card collecting support group. we meet every Wed at a local church. i remember walking in on the first meeting - i was very embarrassed and sat in the back. once i summoned enough courage, i stood in front of the group and announced that i too am a card collector.

once i get through their 12 step program, i'll be a free man.

[zljones]

Originally Posted by majordanby

just think about how the hobby has changed with the advent of the internet - a lot fewer local shows, a lot fewer local hobby shops. with the internet, we can purchase cards through ebay and other auctions without any personal connection - bid, win auction, pay through paypal. there's less of a personal medium. however, for those seeking some kind of connection to the broader collecting community, the internet has broadened our virtual networks - we can share our ideas through places like net54.

I'm actually enrolled in a local card collecting support group. we meet every Wed at a local church. i remember walking in on the first meeting - i was very embarrassed and sat in the back. once i summoned enough courage, i stood in front of the group and announced that i too am a card collector.

once i get through their 12 step program, i'll be a free man.

Are you joking?

[ethicsprof]

I understand your luck with the 1900-19 assertion.
In a similar vein, I will say proudly that I collect 1900-1939 and they get a bit interested. Then by the time I do some name dropping and say 4 ty cobbs,
4 babe ruths, a couple of wagners and a couple of dimaggios, at least a few really want to chat about them a bit. Granted, I probably have that desperate look, as i'm doing it.
all the best,
barry

[campyfan39]

I miss my Dad who died too young, he was my collecting partner.
My uncle is the only local person I know who collects and he literally thinks spending 20 bucks for a single card is steep.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by ethicsprof

I understand your luck with the 1900-19 assertion.
In a similar vein, I will say proudly that I collect 1900-1939 and they get a bit interested. Then by the time I do some name dropping and say 4 ty cobbs,
4 babe ruths, a couple of wagners and a couple of dimaggios, at least a few really want to chat about them a bit. Granted, I probably have that desperate look, as i'm doing it.
all the best,
barry

Barry, in a similar vein, I tell folks that I collect bb cards that are 100 to 125 years old. This usually gets their attention for a few minutes, as they are surprised to learn that bb cards were in existence so long ago. But, it doesn't take very long before they look to change the conversation to something that interests them. I assume that stamp collectors, coin collectors, etc. have the same sort of experiences.
Val

[tbob]

The big difference is that prewar card collectors are cool and coin and stamp collectors are nerds, we all know that.

[ethicsprof]

val,
when they do shift their interest back to themselves, I look for any opportunity to see if there's any possible congruence between what they're talking about and these fabulous cards. Kinda like doing scratch offs.

bob m,
my university students tell me that the word 'cool' ---when I use it---ages me. Being cool may not be much better than being a nerd nowadays.
I'm guessing that you and I are about the same age---vintage.
all the best,
barry

[tonyo]

Pre-war card collectors are "beast"

I had one friend in KC (hey chris). Met many times for lunch and always had a show and tell. Loved it. Moved to Iowa and notta. Now in MN and haven't meet anyone here that collects. I know Peter and several others are here but work kinda makes it hard to meet up. Anyone in the twin cities area want to get together and BS cards I am always here. I do talk to Turner quite often and it's great to have a friend like him especially since he is a 205 guy.

[marktheshark83]

in the past few weeks i was showing my dad some of the t206 cards that i have and he thought they were pretty cool. So now he has got a few now, so its nice to have something in common with my dad again.

even better my dad and i both invested 50/50 on a red back cobb i just sent in to sgc that gets to stay in my collection lol

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by majordanby

I'm actually enrolled in a local card collecting support group. we meet every Wed at a local church. i remember walking in on the first meeting - i was very embarrassed and sat in the back. once i summoned enough courage, i stood in front of the group and announced that i too am a card collector.

once i get through their 12 step program, i'll be a free man.

C.A. is for quitters.

[Deertick]

I have no one. The only interest shown is when I mention I sell stuff through the interwebs. My wife does enjoy going to auctions though.

Back in the day, had a major bromance going with a fellow Schmidty collector. All the time helping each other out, actually carrying each others wantlists to shows the other couldn't make. As our checklists got more filled, the competition caused a straining.

The breaking point was when I told him about a mint 1972 PR rookie I had located at a great price (he already had a lower grade). I asked him if he wanted to come with me, I could pick him up since he was on the way. Nah, he was busy. Turns out he beat me to the store by an hour. Then he offered to sell me his lower grade for about the same price. Never spoke to him again.

[dabigyankeeman]

I have 1 single friend who has moved away from here and now lives in the middle of the country while i am on the coast. Nobody else in my personal life has any interest in the least in my collection, its really frustrating at times. I suppose this is why i love so much showing off my collection on the net, its the only way i can get intelligent comments from people who can enjoy what i am showing.

All i get are idiots asking me if all my cards are MINT. Geez, when you collect old cards if all my cards were MINT i would have to be a billionaire, and when you try to explain to these people why my cards are not all mint, they look at you with this blank stare. I could tell every person i know that i just got a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth, and they wouldnt give a crap. Frustrating as hell sometimes.

I have a ton of friends on the computer obviously who are into collecting, and i treasure my computer friends so much, but damn i wish i had someone in my private life with my interest in collecting!!

[tbob]

Thank God for the internet. I now have tons of friends, mostly 54ers, a lot of whom I have never met but whom I have conversations with through emails. The best reason to go to Nationals is to actually meet your card collecting compadres

[joetinkerfan]

I too am in the same situation as most of you. I have one person at work that I will sometimes talk cards with and I also have my Dad. They both think my collection is nice and are amazed how old they are, but that's about it. I always try to "Seek" out people to see if they collect, but feel that I must be careful, because of how most people react. Most of the time the people I run into "can't understand how I could spend that type of money on a piece of cardboard!" As with most of you, I feel that this madness that I call collecting is something that only us collectors can fully understand. For me it's not at all about the money I spend on a card, but more about the history that I have obtained. Only a few people can understand that!

[Chris D.]

I only have one friend that collects cards and he lives in England. It would be great if he could visit so we could go to a card show while there are still a few around.