General discussion thread - keep the other threads clean 29 29

[jsilverjanet]

I'm not preaching. I was stating my opinion that I feel like the place has changed and was asking members who have been here a lot longer than I have if they think it has as well.

 

This place was great until the person who registered exactly after me arrived. Every member after that has done nothing more than bring down the internet real estate that this forum exists in.

 

BTW, the person who registered before me probably said the same exact thing.

 

I used to think it was this place that had changed so drastically. But I don't think so anymore. I think it is the market that has changed drastically.

 

Movie and TV hype have brought a "key-centric" focus like nothing I've ever seen before. Books get hot and then get flipped more times than a jailhouse mattress. Lots of new entrants into the market. Some collectors and some folks trying to cash in on the next collectible spike. This place attracts everyone, because it is a little epicenter of the high end (especially slabbed) market. There is real money and there real books on here all the time.

 

For the old guard, there is some battle fatigue to seeing the same stuff over and over, but that is natural.

 

There have been some great new members added in the last couple years, and even though it seems like they get drowned out by the specu-dinguses, they don't.

 

This is the new normal. At least until that Walking Dead bubble pops.

 

[ttfitz]

 

I would be interested to see what percentage of the total members joined in the last 12 months (I bet it is higher than you think) and how many of them had less than 20-40 posts before they were never seen again (i.e. tried to "join the community" only to eventually pimp their wares at redonk prices and fail).

 

I don't know any easy way to look at just people joining for the Comics as opposed to Coins, but just looking at everyone who joined:

 

In the last 12 months, there were approximately 2625 new members. As a point of comparison, in a comparable 12 month period spanning 2005-2006, there were approximately 2200 new members.

 

Don't know what any of that means - probably nothing - but figured I would throw that out there.

[thehumantorch]

I'm not preaching. I was stating my opinion that I feel like the place has changed and was asking members who have been here a lot longer than I have if they think it has as well.

 

This place was great until the person who registered exactly after me arrived. Every member after that has done nothing more than bring down the internet real estate that this forum exists in.

 

BTW, the person who registered before me probably said the same exact thing.

 

I used to think it was this place that had changed so drastically. But I don't think so anymore. I think it is the market that has changed drastically.

 

Movie and TV hype have brought a "key-centric" focus like nothing I've ever seen before. Books get hot and then get flipped more times than a jailhouse mattress. Lots of new entrants into the market. Some collectors and some folks trying to cash in on the next collectible spike. This place attracts everyone, because it is a little epicenter of the high end (especially slabbed) market. There is real money and there real books on here all the time.

 

For the old guard, there is some battle fatigue to seeing the same stuff over and over, but that is natural.

 

There have been some great new members added in the last couple years, and even though it seems like they get drowned out by the specu-dinguses, they don't.

 

This is the new normal. At least until that Walking Dead bubble pops.

 

You nailed it. The hobby has changed from a collector focus to a speculation focus. Certainly there have always been collectors and speculators but now there seem to be a lot more wheeling and dealing.

 

And every year some great new members sign up.

[Jeffro.]

I'm not preaching. I was stating my opinion that I feel like the place has changed and was asking members who have been here a lot longer than I have if they think it has as well.

 

It has changed and not just in the last year. I really wish more of the vets that have left would come back. You are correct in that there used to be a more of a "respect this place or get out" attitude. However, all long lasting message boards change. Not sure what can be done about it.

[miraclemet]

The hobby has changed from a collector focus to a speculation focus. Certainly there have always been collectors and speculators but now there seem to be a lot more wheeling and dealing.

 

has the hobby shifted or expanded?

 

In other words did we go from 10,000 collectors a 2000 minority of speculators to a hobby comprised of 10,000 collectors and 10,000 speculators? Or did we see the number of collectors shift to become speculators?

 

 

[vader2001]

But to be fair some of the older forum members put a lot of junk like and have over 30000 posts that put up c-rap and rip on people that disagree with them. When I read those posts, I think you want to sell to this community and this is how you treat people.

[jimjum12]

I'm not preaching. I was stating my opinion that I feel like the place has changed and was asking members who have been here a lot longer than I have if they think it has as well.

 

This place was great until the person who registered exactly after me arrived. Every member after that has done nothing more than bring down the internet real estate that this forum exists in.

 

BTW, the person who registered before me probably said the same exact thing.

 

I used to think it was this place that had changed so drastically. But I don't think so anymore. I think it is the market that has changed drastically.

 

Movie and TV hype have brought a "key-centric" focus like nothing I've ever seen before. Books get hot and then get flipped more times than a jailhouse mattress. Lots of new entrants into the market. Some collectors and some folks trying to cash in on the next collectible spike. This place attracts everyone, because it is a little epicenter of the high end (especially slabbed) market. There is real money and there real books on here all the time.

 

For the old guard, there is some battle fatigue to seeing the same stuff over and over, but that is natural.

 

There have been some great new members added in the last couple years, and even though it seems like they get drowned out by the specu-dinguses, they don't.

 

This is the new normal. At least until that Walking Dead bubble pops.

 

You nailed it. The hobby has changed from a collector focus to a speculation focus. Certainly there have always been collectors and speculators but now there seem to be a lot more wheeling and dealing.

 

And every year some great new members sign up.

 

..... this change in focus is somewhat inevitable due to the ever increasing prices that many non-key books command. It's become financially daunting to pursue runs.... which I believe many people would still do if it was more affordable. When I first started collecting back issues in the early 70's, one could take a paycheck and pick up a huge stack of vintage books and still pay the bills. The vast majority of people just don't enjoy the buying power they had then (... I sure don't). I have to admit, I've started picking up some of the movie hype books that haven't reached the stratosphere yet..... and it's kind of fun collecting them. I can see the appeal..... although I sometimes miss the "run " focus. As for the element of contention on the boards, let's face it.... we're a bunch of geeks who are all relatively intelligent, so arguing and chest thumbing is sometimes unavoidable. It may just be me, but it seems that was always at work on the boards to some degree. GOD BLESS...

 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u

[Comicopolis]

I'm not preaching. I was stating my opinion that I feel like the place has changed and was asking members who have been here a lot longer than I have if they think it has as well.

 

You are hanging out in the wrong forums. Stay out of the sales forum and General and you will see some good discussions.

 

:shrug:

 

Honestly, where? On what type of frequency?

 

I feel like the only place there are consistently good conversations is in the Gold forum, Silver is hit/miss and Bronze-Modern are increasingly about which books to flip or are worth speculating on... Even some of my go-to threads in Modern on current series are rarely updated with opinions on the stories themselves and people seem more interested in the variants than anything else (few exceptions being the TMNT crew, etc).

 

CG seems to be the only place where bigger comic topics are discussed, albeit they devolve pretty quickly. Even then, there is a post at least once a week where someone is "looking for advice" on their collection that they found/inherited/whatever - only for progressive discussion to show that they are fishing for buyers.

 

I can't speak to this place years ago, but there is definitely a change since I joined and particularly since we hit 2015. More flippers, less actual discussion on comics and the "experienced" members seem to have hit an all time high of frustration (justifiably) with the frequency that the same conversations/questions come up over and over.

 

I would be interested to see what percentage of the total members joined in the last 12 months (I bet it is higher than you think) and how many of them had less than 20-40 posts before they were never seen again (i.e. tried to "join the community" only to eventually pimp their wares at redonk prices and fail).

 

Maybe I am not the best person to comment, but whatevs. :shrug:

 

Excellent post.

[VintageComics]

I wonder what the average age per year would be?

[seanfingh]

I wonder what the average age per year would be?

 

I am willing to bet most people are 32-38 when they sign up. Obviously not all, but I bet 3 out of five.

[VintageComics]

I wonder what the average age per year would be?

 

I am willing to bet most people are 32-38 when they sign up. Obviously not all, but I bet 3 out of five.

 

I'm betting that the average age has moved younger since I signed up.

[seanfingh]

I wonder what the average age per year would be?

 

I am willing to bet most people are 32-38 when they sign up. Obviously not all, but I bet 3 out of five.

 

I'm betting that the average age has moved younger since I signed up.

 

If you are talking about sign-up age, I agree.

[Cascaders27]

I was 27 when I signed up. I'd like to think I've been a reasonably respectable member of the community

[vaillant]

But to be fair some of the older forum members put a lot of junk like and have over 30000 posts that put up c-rap and rip on people that disagree with them. When I read those posts, I think you want to sell to this community and this is how you treat people.

(thumbs u

 

..... this change in focus is somewhat inevitable due to the ever increasing prices that many non-key books command. It's become financially daunting to pursue runs.... which I believe many people would still do if it was more affordable. When I first started collecting back issues in the early 70's, one could take a paycheck and pick up a huge stack of vintage books and still pay the bills. The vast majority of people just don't enjoy the buying power they had then (... I sure don't). I have to admit, I've started picking up some of the movie hype books that haven't reached the stratosphere yet..... and it's kind of fun collecting them. I can see the appeal..... although I sometimes miss the "run " focus. As for the element of contention on the boards, let's face it.... we're a bunch of geeks who are all relatively intelligent, so arguing and chest thumbing is sometimes unavoidable. It may just be me, but it seems that was always at work on the boards to some degree. GOD BLESS...

 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u

I am not sure I follow you here, Jim. I would rather make another, different, consideration.

Instead of a shift from collecting runs (or relevant issues that are not commercially "keys") to collecting movie hype books, I would say the movie hype influences you in the most varied manner.

When I came here in 2012 I wasn’t even remotely thinking to restart collecting Marvels. I arrived while doing a research on wartime comics (started on italian ones) and then went on to discover the essentials of the Golden Age (more or less) but then there were various factors which prompted me to pick up where I left about ten years before with "collecting the Marvel age".

But then the movie hype peaked (so to speak) and I realized I could have been forced to give up buying certain issues or stories I really cared about just because of the overnight price peaks. In the end, I am not sure it has been worth the effort to purchase more, look for deals and then went back to the fact what I cared about remained somewhat out of reach, or in risk of getting hyped, as there are too many important things that compose the Marvel age across the various titles and stories.

 

In my opinion, these increases in speculation and bad selling habits are also due to the facts people worry about how "marketable" or "resellable" a book is, and then, only AFTERWARDS think about its actual value, or why it’s important for them.

So, while I do not regret having "lost" time in buying some issues I cared more in a few copies, resell them thanks to some hype and earn a bit of money to fill holes in my collection, I still think this will be bad – and not only for collecting, but for contracted habits as well, and not necessarily in the long term, but also in the short term.

[crassus]

But to be fair some of the older forum members put a lot of junk like and have over 30000 posts that put up c-rap and rip on people that disagree with them. When I read those posts, I think you want to sell to this community and this is how you treat people.

(thumbs u

 

..... this change in focus is somewhat inevitable due to the ever increasing prices that many non-key books command. It's become financially daunting to pursue runs.... which I believe many people would still do if it was more affordable. When I first started collecting back issues in the early 70's, one could take a paycheck and pick up a huge stack of vintage books and still pay the bills. The vast majority of people just don't enjoy the buying power they had then (... I sure don't). I have to admit, I've started picking up some of the movie hype books that haven't reached the stratosphere yet..... and it's kind of fun collecting them. I can see the appeal..... although I sometimes miss the "run " focus. As for the element of contention on the boards, let's face it.... we're a bunch of geeks who are all relatively intelligent, so arguing and chest thumbing is sometimes unavoidable. It may just be me, but it seems that was always at work on the boards to some degree. GOD BLESS...

 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u

I am not sure I follow you here, Jim. I would rather make another, different, consideration.

Instead of a shift from collecting runs (or relevant issues that are not commercially "keys") to collecting movie hype books, I would say the movie hype influences you in the most varied manner.

When I came here in 2012 I wasn’t even remotely thinking to restart collecting Marvels. I arrived while doing a research on wartime comics (started on italian ones) and then went on to discover the essentials of the Golden Age (more or less) but then there were various factors which prompted me to pick up where I left about ten years before with "collecting the Marvel age".

But then the movie hype peaked (so to speak) and I realized I could have been forced to give up buying certain issues or stories I really cared about just because of the overnight price peaks. In the end, I am not sure it has been worth the effort to purchase more, look for deals and then went back to the fact what I cared about remained somewhat out of reach, or in risk of getting hyped, as there are too many important things that compose the Marvel age across the various titles and stories.

 

In my opinion, these increases in speculation and bad selling habits are also due to the facts people worry about how "marketable" or "resellable" a book is, and then, only AFTERWARDS think about its actual value, or why it’s important for them.

So, while I do not regret having "lost" time in buying some issues I cared more in a few copies, resell them thanks to some hype and earn a bit of money to fill holes in my collection, I still think this will be bad – and not only for collecting, but for contracted habits as well, and not necessarily in the long term, but also in the short term.

 

I think just the steadily greater sums being spent in the hobby as a whole, whether its in pursuit of hot keys, or just high grade books of any kind, has made the hobby a greater and greater risk.

 

The more money goes in, the more that is at stake, and the greater the risk. In some sense we all have to think like businessmen in order to ensure that the money sunk into this increasingly costly hobby is not one day a complete liability or loss to our families.

[revat]

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=8894082#Post8894082

 

Hi, the CGC 9.8 you're attempting to sell for thousands of dollars has a defect, which I'm going to point out for everyone who might be interested. Also, I have a copy of this book that is better than yours. But good luck with the sale! You have a lovely book!

 

 

[Buzzetta]

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=8894082#Post8894082

 

Hi, the CGC 9.8 you're attempting to sell for thousands of dollars has a defect, which I'm going to point out for everyone who might be interested. Also, I have a copy of this book that is better than yours. But good luck with the sale! You have a lovely book!

 

 

That's a move.

[Ditch Fahrenheit]

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=8894082#Post8894082

 

Hi, the CGC 9.8 you're attempting to sell for thousands of dollars has a defect, which I'm going to point out for everyone who might be interested. Also, I have a copy of this book that is better than yours. But good luck with the sale! You have a lovely book!

 

 

That's a move.

 

+1

[Red84]

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=8894082#Post8894082

 

Hi, the CGC 9.8 you're attempting to sell for thousands of dollars has a defect, which I'm going to point out for everyone who might be interested. Also, I have a copy of this book that is better than yours. But good luck with the sale! You have a lovely book!

 

 

Congrats! You just made the most ridiculous post of the day.

 

What is wrong with people!?!?

 

This type of post deserves an insta-ban. Interfering with someone trying to sell a book to pay for medical expenses. Saying your book is better (you forgot to write na na na na boo boo) which is irrelevant. Disingenuous "good luck with the sale."

 

You officially look like a spiteful 10 year old with no social skills. If I were you i'd be embarrassed.

[jsilverjanet]

Insta-ban?