Relentless Negativity

[bender07]

It's funny you mention this as I've had similar feelings lately. Most refreshed threads are negative in nature. I sorted the threads by views and the top 5 are all about counterfeits and the like. Maybe that can be translated to these are the type of discussions people like on this board? Don't know but I find it boring and don't participate.

I like the 'show off' threads of people's collections or discussions around their collecting focus. I also enjoy reading stories of years past. Not enough of those in my opinion.

[Julian Wells]

Even though I collect autographs, I don't even bother participating in any discussions under the autograph forum because of the reasons listed previously...and there are several topics I would love to participate and learn about.

I'm sure several collector's feel this way, and that's a real shame! This should be a forum to learn, enjoy and showcase prized collections freely without insults and demeaning behaviour.

Maybe the guilty parties can create their own forum so that they can sling their biased opinions and insults at each other...and then everyone else can get back to enjoying this forum in peace!

[barrysloate]

The autograph people were already booted out of the memorabilia section for just that reason. Since they have their own forum I suppose they can do whatever they want. But no question there is a ton of arguing going on over here. They claim they love the autograph hobby, but you would never know it reading their posts.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

The autograph people were already booted out of the memorabilia section for just that reason. Since they have their own forum I suppose they can do whatever they want. But no question there is a ton of arguing going on over here. They claim they love the autograph hobby, but you would never know it reading their posts.

Do I hear a motion to create a sub-sub autograph forum?

In all seriousness, this forum was actually created because many of the memorabilia guys were getting inundated with the negative autograph threads. I don't know what the solution is but there does seem to be more angst and unhappiness in this forum than elsewhere on the board. This is also the forum where I read the least threads, partly due to my interests and partly due to my general dislike of negativity. And as Adam said, I am in no way saying bad things shouldn't be pointed out but it seems they should be tempered with equal amounts (or more) of "happy" threads. Just my take......as I continue the overall board mantra of "I don't tell people what to say or not to say." Happy collecting!!

[MooseDog]

Originally Posted by Leon

...there does seem to be more angst and unhappiness in this forum than elsewhere on the board...

Leon -

Could be the psychological nature of we autograph collectors. We are certainly a different breed of collector, In general:

- We get rejected a lot (and not just by players);

- We are sometimes victims of fraud (fakes, forgeries, clubhouse sigs);

- Card collectors don't respect us as "real" collectors (we deface cards);

- Professional sports has caught on to our cash cow and now want to charge us an arm and a leg to get an autograph in person or mail (hello, Steiner?).

- Third party authenticators (the "good" ones) have created an environment where we can't sell our collectibles for proper value without "their" approval (and a fat fee for merely an opinion!)

- Some of the things on our want lists simply do not exist.

Still, I have more angst and unhappiness from life itself. My collection has been fun and a great source of enjoyment over the years.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by MooseDog

Leon -

Could be the psychological nature of we autograph collectors. We are certainly a different breed of collector, In general:

- We get rejected a lot (and not just by players);

- We are sometimes victims of fraud (fakes, forgeries, clubhouse sigs);

- Card collectors don't respect us as "real" collectors (we deface cards);

- Professional sports has caught on to our cash cow and now want to charge us an arm and a leg to get an autograph in person or mail (hello, Steiner?).

- Third party authenticators (the "good" ones) have created an environment where we can't sell our collectibles for proper value without "their" approval (and a fat fee for merely an opinion!)

- Some of the things on our want lists simply do not exist.

Still, I have more angst and unhappiness from life itself. My collection has been fun and a great source of enjoyment over the years.

Plus, you are often worried that your balls aren't even real

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Leon

Do I hear a motion to create a sub-sub autograph forum?

In all seriousness, this forum was actually created because many of the memorabilia guys were getting inundated with the negative autograph threads. I don't know what the solution is but there does seem to be more angst and unhappiness in this forum than elsewhere on the board. This is also the forum where I read the least threads, partly due to my interests and partly due to my general dislike of negativity. And as Adam said, I am in no way saying bad things shouldn't be pointed out but it seems they should be tempered with equal amounts (or more) of "happy" threads. Just my take......as I continue the overall board mantra of "I don't tell people what to say or not to say." Happy collecting!!

That I did not know; makes sense, though. I have noticed that the memorabilia forum is 'funner' lately.

Here's a novel idea: let's just ignore the bummer threads and bummer posts--simply not respond. Let them wither away. Eventually the OPs will get tired of talking to themselves and stop.

[packs]

I agree with the sentiments of this thread. It's really annoying when a select few posters decide they're going to start an argument. I don't think people are supposed to sling personal insults on this board. Yet in every other thread the same people are relentlessly insulting each other. Maybe we could get those posters off the autograph forum?

[alexautographs]

Having just come back to this forum after an absence of a couple years, it seems everyone forgot the longest thread in history - the famous Morales-Frangipani epic of, I believe, 2010 or so. It helped fuel an FBI investigation that reaped great benefits and vindicated a fine dealer who had become a crook's victim.

Yes, there is an awful lot of mud-slinging here with people who have the same aim in the hobby attacking each other because they've aligned themselves with different "good guys". Who wins? Nobody....but the forgers.

Sure, the topic of frauds and forgers could be dropped entirely and the forum could become just "sweetness and light" - until the next giant fraud is exposed and everyone kicks themselves.

Maybe just a little more self-control and a little less needling is all that's really needed.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

The autograph people were already booted out of the memorabilia section for just that reason. Since they have their own forum I suppose they can do whatever they want. But no question there is a ton of arguing going on over here. They claim they love the autograph hobby, but you would never know it reading their posts.

I think it worked - the regular memorabilia forum has come back to life and is now much more interesting to visit.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by bender07

It's funny you mention this as I've had similar feelings lately. Most refreshed threads are negative in nature. I sorted the threads by views and the top 5 are all about counterfeits and the like. Maybe that can be translated to these are the type of discussions people like on this board? Don't know but I find it boring and don't participate.

I like the 'show off' threads of people's collections or discussions around their collecting focus. I also enjoy reading stories of years past. Not enough of those in my opinion.

I agree with Mark whole heartedly on this one!