wasp said:
I haven't seen them do anything that is "hurting the hobby". Unless having fun and acting silly while detecting is harmful in some way? Or perhaps using a different vocabulary hurts the hobby?
If you want to know what kind of harm this show might already be doing for some...,
GeorgeinSC said:
Their silly antics and silly language make me want to stick my number 11 up their behind so far that we would have to go to the operating room to have it removed. Their STUPID antics cost me the opportunity to detect an area (one acre) where civil war (confederate) soldiers camped.
GeorgeinSC said:
A Gentlemans wife gave me permission to detect their one acre lot. She said that they had information that Rebels Soldiers camped on their property during the "Recent Unrest". The Gentleman came out and looked at me and asked "Do you act like those fools on Television" I reassured him that I did not act like that and did not condone anyone acting like that. I told him that I would give his property the utmost respect and that after the next rain he would not be able to see where I had lifted sod to retrieve an item. He thought for about five seconds and said " I Don't Think I want you detecting on my property". Thanks Diggers.
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?85,1847480,1848543#msg-1848543
And I fully expected this type of thing, and expect to probably hear more such stories in the future.
Yea, sure, American Diggers being confrontational is bad for the hobby, but so is running around without showing the subdued respect that should be shown to people and their property, or even when hunting public sites.
The "slang" doesn't help us look any more sane either in this hobby of ours. Enough people already think that this hobby and the people in it are a little "out there". Just look at the odd terminology used among circles involved in dungeons and dragons type games. Yea, sure...that's who you want at your next party.
Even though I'm into detecting, if a couple of guys started acting that way on my own land I'd kick them out, and I wouldn't want to take them along to my sites where "acting up" may blow my spots for me.
There is a difference between getting excited about a great find, and letting your emotions run so wild that others in private OR public venues might not take too kindly to that kind of behaviour.
On a public site for instance, what better way to draw attention to yourself and inspire the general public to call the cops telling them somebody is acting strangely. Often when cops show up, even if you have every right to be there, they end up kicking you out just to pacify the person who called. They don't want to get another call an hour later and then have to explain to their supervisor why they didn't pour cold water on the situation. The person who took the initiative to call almost always wins in situations, and ones not even related to metal detecting too.
On a brighter note, there should be plenty of used detectors on the market soon. Not only because people will find that it's hard work and many days you go home having been skunked, but also because they probably were expecting some kind of "rush beyond belief" when they find something to put an extra skip in their step.
We all get excited in this hobby, but there's a point of self restraint in private or public venues that should be shown. I compare running around screaming or such to those people who talk on cell phones loudly in elevators or while waiting in line at a store, or laugh about trivial shallow things in the midst of a funeral. Just isn't very "appropriate" IMO.
And think about this...Even if many of us on these forums, who can understand the enthusiasm in some ways due to our addiction to this hobby, are having "issues" with things, then imagine how the general public not indoctrinated into our addiction might view these things? Think long and hard on that one and I think you'll see where real potential for damage to access in this hobby might be done...