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#21
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On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 04:05:25 GMT, Bob Ingraham
wrote: I just returned from a local stamp bourse. To be honest it looked more like a gathering of the AARP (Assoc. of Retired People). I feel safe to believe that the only person there under the age of 40 was a young girl who was obviously with her stamp dealer dad (wether she collects... only dad can know for sure). It seems to me to be a sad view of our hobby, but there it is. It becomes more and more obvious as time goes on that the young generations are not the least bit interested in spite of all the gimmics, childish stamp subjects and advertising. And I too have just returned from a bourse, at the last day of VANPEX 2003, sponsored by my stamp club, the British Columbia Philatelic Society. My experience was different than Dave's. While certainly the majority of collectors, exhibitors and dealers were older than me (I'm 60), it wasn't a great majority. We had several young exhibitors, the youngest about 12, the others in their mid-20s. Some dealers are certainly younger than me, and while I saw few young people browsing at the bourse, there were certainly people younger than me there. The best item I found was offered by a very knowledgeable dealer, Tom Watkins; I expect he's in his mid- to late 30s. I've written it before that new collectors are probably more likely to be recruited from the older generations (about 40 years old and up). We are getting at that age to be more sedate and a hobby that fits into that is good. We have more money to spend on hobbies since we find the fads, fashions, & such less appealing. Lots of reasons really... older people are more interested in learning, using their minds, etc. They are quite likely looking for things that don't demand any more time than they are willing to give, relaxing, doesn't take up room, can be shared with spouse, as cheap or expensive as you want, can easily tie in topically with other interests, is a quiet pasttime and many other things. Change the slogan to "Introduce a senior citizen to stamp collecting". Young people just aren't interested. I think you are mostly correct. I think that there's even room to consider youthful stamp collecting to be an utterly different hobby than adult stamp collecting. I don't think it's necessarily a given that knowledgeable and mature stamp collectors can only be grown from youthful stamp collectors. Typically, I collected stamps from about age 10 or 11 through 16 or 17, then gave it up until I was in my 40s. About 95% of what I know has come from my activities as an adult collector. Perhaps my enthusiasm for stamps was sparked in my youth, but I suspect it could also have been sparked in my 40's or 50's. In fact, my primary interest now is not stamps but commercially and privately used covers, which were only introduced to me shortly about 15 years ago. Cover collecting, at many levels, has little to do with stamps per se. In fact, many of my covers are free-franked, or were franked with stamps of minimal interest. Anyway, I'd like to revise Dave's revised slogan to, "Introduce an adult to stamp collecting". -OR- Reintroduce an adult to collecting. :^) Tracy Barber |
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#22
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Well... at least I got a discussion going without insulting remarks
about politicians, references to SNA, etc. True, one bourse does not show the whole picture, but on a rainy day with not much else to do (least of all outside), it does cast a bit of an impression. In these bourses every 3 months or so I seldom ever see a child. I can see in my own house my son's interests in any of my hobbies and interests. When I'm gone here's what I expect some of my interests to be done with by him: Stamps: sell Model trains: sell Transportation photos: sell or dump in trash (wouldn't put it past him) Genealogy: trash Music: he'll keep the CDs of 1970s & later Tools: they'll rust in the celler Gardening: weeds Computer: keep it (especially if better than his) Coins: spend or sell (who knows) Everything else: yard sale! Maybe things will change by the time he's 40 or so. Maybe it is a matter as another pointed out that such hobbies as collecting now come when we are more settled and secure in life. To those of us who grew up in the 50s and 60s, stamp collecting was sort of waht the computer is today... a window on the world. I sure knew about Viet Nam before the Marines invited me to join them there. I have to wonder how many soldiers today knew where Iraq was before they were sent over there. Dave "Tracy Barber" wrote in message ... snip my previous comments Just one stamp bourse does not a hobby make... :^) Overall, the "control" of the hobby comes from the 40-somethings and on up. I still do not believe the hobby is dead. Sooner or later, those 40+ somethings will pass the biz on to their heirs. They too may be 40+ somethings. Many kids today still apsire to the same dreams as we did as kids back then. We didn't have the play toys they have now. (I would've loved to have had a 2 GHz PC when I was 5.) The world is also changing at a breakneck speed. There are still many people out there who have been taking detours on the Information Superhighway, to stop into rest areas where there are other stamp collectors. Further, even despite nasty drops of younger clientele to xBox and other fancy games, they also use the 'Net to surf for stamp related goodies - something I never had a chance to do when I was a kid. I dunno... until the Big, Fat Lady (sorry ladies!) sings her last opera, I'm one to believe the hobby is still alive and kicking. Tracy Barber |
#23
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On Sun, 02 Nov 2003 20:14:58 -0700, Grandpa jsdebooATcomcast.net
wrote: We just had a show this wekend in Albuquerque, 600,000 in the greater area and it had a steady stream of people attending. Maybe 20 tables at most but probably a few hundred attendees, plus around 20 kids. By the same token, we have no stamp stores at all and only 3 semi-viable coin shops. We do have a number of crafts stores that do a booming business, but not much to the kids in general. Another thought - I was raised in a village of 5000 people. We had no stamp stores, no stamp clubs, but we had an informal group of people who collected stamps independent of each other. It seems like I was more of a focus between them all than not. We probably culd've come up with at least 20 different collectors - in the late 60s, early 70s in that small population - from beginners to seriously advanced U.S. collectors. I wonder how many collectors or people being groomed to be collectors there are in Albuquerque? Tracy Barber |
#24
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"Tracy Barber" wrote in message ... A closet collector can pretty much sate their habit from ebay alone, none of their peers needs know how geeky they really are. You say that as if it was a bad thing... Not at all. I am just saying that the perception of others is important to young people and to them being a geek might not be so glamorous. But when you get older and decide to be your own person - geek can be a badge of honour. My wife thinks I'm a geek for my various hobbies: stamps, theology and role playing games. I am proud to be a geek in that case. Frank |
#25
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On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 04:50:24 GMT, "Dave"
wrote: Well... at least I got a discussion going without insulting remarks about politicians, references to SNA, etc. Political cross-posts are not our responsibility to monitor. This is an unmoderated group. They will jump, slide, and otherwise cross the blood-brain barrier of UseNet with or without our permission and wind up in this newsgroup. Sorry to hear your humor-meter isn't on with SNA. Maybe you'd prefer to hear the real stories of real postal agencies instead of a funnier version of said actions? We can do that as well! We multi-task quite well around here. :^) Speak to Victor. Maybe he can close the SNA doors. Me, I like working at the SNA main office working with cancels. :^) Ya know why? When I start taking myself too darn seriously, I lose my objectivity and become one of those stoic old fuddy duddies - I refuse to do that until "its time". True, one bourse does not show the whole picture, but on a rainy day with not much else to do (least of all outside), it does cast a bit of an impression. In these bourses every 3 months or so I seldom ever see a child. It's a BOURSE, not a STAMP SHOW. A big difference. How many kids will go to a bourse and spend their allowance / whatever on stamps and hang out with a bunch of (I'll be there soon enough) old fogies? I've been to many bourses around here and not seen kid one. Kids just don't hang out in bourses, looking for those oddball 211b backflip self-adhesive with inverted watermark, arrow line pair with imperf left edge stamps. I can see in my own house my son's interests in any of my hobbies and interests. When I'm gone here's what I expect some of my interests to be done with by him: Stamps: sell Model trains: sell Transportation photos: sell or dump in trash (wouldn't put it past him) Genealogy: trash Music: he'll keep the CDs of 1970s & later Tools: they'll rust in the celler Gardening: weeds Computer: keep it (especially if better than his) Coins: spend or sell (who knows) Everything else: yard sale! You can try to take it with you when you go, but it could be very costly to bury all of that stuff. Cremation would make things cheaper, especially for those that have to pay the bill. Seriously - if you're looking for a protege to carry on the family biz, you may or may not get it. I have no kids, don't expect any and don't have anyone on the (in the head right now) will to pass things onto. I could always will them to my cats, but I don't think they'd appreciate a diet of Trindidad, Martinique and Mauritania when they're used to sliced "Mixed Grill" and Eukanuba Hairball Formula. :^) Maybe things will change by the time he's 40 or so. Maybe it is a matter as another pointed out that such hobbies as collecting now come when we are more settled and secure in life. To those of us who grew up in the 50s and 60s, stamp collecting was sort of waht the computer is today... a window on the world. Yes it was and many of us still carry that thought and pass it on as fervently as we did when we were kids. I know I work that program. I sure knew about Viet Nam before the Marines invited me to join them there. I have to wonder how many soldiers today knew where Iraq was before they were sent over there. Well, they do teach history and geogrpahy in many high schools. I guess it depends on the kid and whether or not he was exposed to said class or was allowed to opt out for "bigger and better" things, whatever they are. Tracy Barber |
#26
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On Mon, 3 Nov 2003 00:14:43 -0500, "Frank Emanuel"
wrote: "Tracy Barber" wrote in message ... A closet collector can pretty much sate their habit from ebay alone, none of their peers needs know how geeky they really are. You say that as if it was a bad thing... Not at all. I am just saying that the perception of others is important to young people and to them being a geek might not be so glamorous. But when you get older and decide to be your own person - geek can be a badge of honour. My wife thinks I'm a geek for my various hobbies: stamps, theology and role playing games. I am proud to be a geek in that case. If you're a geek and you know it clap your hands, (clap, clap) If you're a geek and you know it clap your hands, (clap, clap) If you're a geek and you know it And your stamp collection shows it, Then you're a geek, 'bove all else, by demand! :^P Tracy Barber |
#27
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Hmmm my problem is that i'm extremely geeky but don't look it.
I deal with this quite well by always taking a copy of a stamp magazine to the pub with me - works wonders for fending off unwanted male attention when i want a quiet drink Em "Frank Emanuel" wrote in message news "Tracy Barber" wrote in message ... A closet collector can pretty much sate their habit from ebay alone, none of their peers needs know how geeky they really are. You say that as if it was a bad thing... Not at all. I am just saying that the perception of others is important to young people and to them being a geek might not be so glamorous. But when you get older and decide to be your own person - geek can be a badge of honour. My wife thinks I'm a geek for my various hobbies: stamps, theology and role playing games. I am proud to be a geek in that case. Frank --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.534 / Virus Database: 329 - Release Date: 02/11/2003 |
#28
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"Emily" wrote in message ... Hmmm my problem is that i'm extremely geeky but don't look it. I deal with this quite well by always taking a copy of a stamp magazine to the pub with me - works wonders for fending off unwanted male attention when i want a quiet drink VBG You might just be doing our hobby a grand favour. The guys see you and the magazine and go out to try to figure this stamp thing out to win your favour. Hmmm if there is a stamp revolution in your neck of the woods we will know why. ;-) Frank |
#29
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"Dave" wrote in message ... snip Young people just aren't interested. Dave (just an opinion & I have many of them too) While it may seem that way in your area, I'm not sure it applies everywhere. I still read of requests for stamps for use in school classes and glowing descriptions of the interest that kids have. I find that most times the timing and locations of stamp shows and bourses don't coincide with the time I have available to go to them. Case in point this past weekend: I would liked to have gone to a bourse less than 35 miles away. But with a yard full of leaves and rain on the way in less than 24 hours, guess which took priority. Like many others, I think the interest is still there---though there's nothing wrong with targeting older people, too---but the venue for finding stamps has changed considerably in the computer age. Mike |
#30
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Tracy Barber wrote:
On Sun, 02 Nov 2003 20:14:58 -0700, Grandpa jsdebooATcomcast.net wrote: I think life is pretty fast paced in the US so kids spend little time at home except on computer games & TV etc. The media and movies influence them greatly and a lot of illegal activities are glamorized. Little parental supervision or family time occurs and many homes have 2 working parents who are tired after the day and have little time for the kids. Few read anything, let alone stamp related material. Collecting hobbies are too slow paced for many of the kids here. "Stamp, yeah, cool, Ok, so whats next?" Our societies interests (US) seem to be in making fast cash and spending it just as fast - live for today and let tomorrow take care of itself. Little time is spent doing anything leisurely, s in slower paced. The media does not lend itself to quiet time either, nothing much does really, even the entire gambit of Scouting. Apathy is alive and well in the US. Yes, I'm a native US citizen - 55 years young. This type of thinking will achieve even more apathy, my friend! I'm 47 and not past the point of apathy no return. I'm speaking of the younger generation. I hope they take the time to slow down just a little and look around them as there is a lot happening that they are simply passing by. This is why I'm introducing my grandson to stamp and coin collecting, and perhaps models inthe near future. I think its important that he know there are other things available for him to occupy his time with too. I've nothing against TV and computer games in general, jsut suggesting that there is a place for leisurly things too. I have been approached by many moms / dads / relatives about scouting merit badges for stamp collecting. Hmmm... Its good to hear that the Scouts are alive and well. Cetainly not the case in Abq saddly. |
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