Open discussion off the c2e2 drama. Are influencers destroying the hobby? 3 3

[Phill the Governor]

On 8/10/2022 at 12:02 PM, jsilverjanet said:

i don't think they are destroying, and i would say in some cases they do bring some enthusiasm to this hobby that sometimes is filled with very tired views/attitudes

like all things, there are good ones and bad ones

Overall I think they are hurting the hobby, and it all comes down to entitlement.

 

If you're an influencer in this hobby, your outlook and genuine collecting nature should outweigh the "used car salesperson" inside you.

The genuine people, when selling books, come across like this: For example, when selling books they highlight who the writer was, the artist, the reason this comic is important to the culture of the hobby, or other related information.

The used car sales person approach can be spotted a mile away:

"INVEST IN THIS UNDERRATED KEY!" "MOVIE IS COMING OUT", "CHECK OUT THE HOTTTTT BOOKS OF THE WEEK!!!". The posts are usually followed by everyone's favorite rocketship emoji, inferring that the gains from the investment will reach astronomical numbers. It absolutely reeks of FOMO (fear of missing out).

I see far, far more "influencers" in the second category and I can give a shining example of the worst behavior:

In a hobby where people selling books upwards of 5, 6 and 7 figures are able to crowdfund from other people so they don't pay expenses to go to a con. Absolutely unacceptable, entitled behavior. Those people should be crowdfunding and GIVING away the $$ to less fortunate people- that's the responsible/ethical thing to do.

 

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by Phill the Governor
spelling

[WolverineX]

On 8/10/2022 at 10:15 AM, Old Fashion PB and J said:

Open discussion off the c2e2 drama. Are influencers destroying the hobby?

Yes

On 8/10/2022 at 10:15 AM, Old Fashion PB and J said:

Are influencers destroying the hobby    society?

Yes

[andamovie]

They say that you are a composite of the people you often interact with. So basically in life you are being influenced by the people around you at all times. In the past, there were still plenty of influencers in the comic collecting community (i.e. Wizard, Overstreet) but they just didn't influence on a large scale. The internet has unfortunately given more random people the platform to influence others on a wider scale so it is the responsibility of the individual to determine how much you are influenced. If you disagree with an influencer, use your pre-given ability and don't participate.

There are certain trends that any collecting base goes through. There will always be a new shiny object for people to chase. The shiny object might be chased for a few days to a few years. Just because everyone wants the shiny object now doesn't mean they want it later.

Just my take on the C2E2 variant: I don't want it and my valuation of the comic is zero. Because of the controversy, I now think there will always be a subset of people who think this comic is worth > $0 and some demand will exist. That's fine, I can't control that. But my valuation doesn't change and regardless of how the community perceives that comic, I'm not changing my mind and I'm going to keep going after my other goals. This is just a shiny object that will fade into obscurity. 

Edited August 10, 2022 by W. M.
Adding additional content

[D84]

Jim Jones was my favorite cool-aid influencer.

[jsilverjanet]

These discussions here are pointless op

[Galen130]

On 8/10/2022 at 11:10 AM, jsilverjanet said:

These discussions here are pointless op

Dang...

[jsilverjanet]

On 8/10/2022 at 12:10 PM, jsilverjanet said:

These discussions here are pointless op

let me elaborate before someone mistakenly tries to interpret what I meant and spin into drama

the board members that would provide balance to this discussion rarely are in CG and mostly live in the modern thread

here are people who primarily don't participate in social media, therefore many of their opinions are limited based on the information that is shared with them, which recently (C2E2) is negative

as @Beastfeastmany of them aren't bad, many are helping keep this community alive

the boards are a small small fraction of the collecting community, I'd challenge that they are probably the minority

[pillar81]

Aside from the influencers, I think Black Flag and CGC may be setting a dangerous precedent by being allowed to alter a book and sell it and have CGC allow it to be graded. 

[MAR1979]

On 8/10/2022 at 12:25 PM, Troy Division said:

How hard would it take for an 'influencer' to disrupt the hobby?

Buy all copies of X title off eBay / mycomicshop using various accounts.
(heck we know of CGC board members with MANY different buyer / seller eBay accounts)

Once there are no copies for a week or so create a video about the 'run' on X title.
Then they list one using one of their multiple accounts (ACCOUNT 1) 2 two minutes after.
Then ACCOUNT 2 does a BIN for super high price almost immediately.
Then ACCOUNT 3 - INFINITY lists theirs with increasing prices.
Then they dump them.
 

Anyone who thinks that is not being done is a rube ripe for the pickin'

[Old Fashion PB and J]

On 8/10/2022 at 12:31 PM, WolverineX said:

Yes

Yes

well played 

[KirbyTown]

On 8/10/2022 at 11:38 AM, D84 said:

Jim Jones was my favorite cool-aid influencer.

Flavor-aid!

[MAR1979]

What about "gocollect" .

I read there just yesterday that  Eternals 1 - yes Eternals 1 which has sunk like an anchor is undervalued. Link

Translation: The writer is stuck with many paid for at or near bubble high copies and wants to relive their salad days by ripping off the same pigeons yet again. 

The thought process is probably something like this; hmm I paid $2100 last year for a Eternal 1 9.8 and now it's down to $695. If I buy at the dead cat bounce price of $900 surely I cant lose again!   We'll Rube/Sucker/Moe Ron, you can lose again, as the population of the book increases and it drops down to $550 then $400 then maybe $250.  "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me" ,  I feel zero sympathy for those unable to learn that old and very simple lesson. 

After gocollect "writers" sucker them twice, the rubes will then get to whine "Buh Buh Buh gocollect said" right before making the same mistake yet again

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by MAR1979

[Old Fashion PB and J]

On 8/10/2022 at 1:23 PM, jsilverjanet said:

let me elaborate before someone mistakenly tries to interpret what I meant and spin into drama

the board members that would provide balance to this discussion rarely are in CG and mostly live in the modern thread

here are people who primarily don't participate in social media, therefore many of their opinions are limited based on the information that is shared with them, which recently (C2E2) is negative

as @Beastfeastmany of them aren't bad, many are helping keep this community alive

the boards are a small small fraction of the collecting community, I'd challenge that they are probably the minority

 The boards are without a doubt a tiny fraction of this hobby/community. I do however believe that there are quite a few here who are positive influencers who do things FOR the hobby with no expectation of getting something in return.

[Galen130]

On 8/10/2022 at 10:38 AM, D84 said:

Jim Jones was my favorite cool-aid influencer.

 

[aardvark88]

On 8/10/2022 at 9:02 AM, jsilverjanet said:

 i would say in some cases they do bring some enthusiasm to this hobby that sometimes is filled with very tired views/attitudes

 

Just a newer version of Wizard mag, Comics Value Monthly (CVM) and Overstreet Monthly hype machine moved to YouTube and IG WhatNot:

 

[Motor City Rob]

On 8/10/2022 at 12:26 PM, Phill the Governor said:

 

I see far, far more "influencers" in the second category and I can give a shining example of the worst behavior:

In a hobby where people selling books upwards of 5, 6 and 7 figures are able to crowdfund from other people so they don't pay expenses to go to a con. Absolutely unacceptable, entitled behavior. Those people should be crowdfunding and GIVING away the $$ to less fortunate people- that's the responsible/ethical thing to do.

 

 

While I agree with the overall tone of your post, I don't believe it's anyone's "responsibility" to raise money for the less fortunate comic collector. And I certainly wouldn't label anyone as "unethical" just because they aren't doing that. Would be nice for people to do things like that, but 99% of the people in the hobby aren't doing that. Does that mean we're all irresponsible and unethical? 

[Phill the Governor]

On 8/10/2022 at 2:13 PM, Motor City Rob said:

While I agree with the overall tone of your post, I don't believe it's anyone's "responsibility" to raise money for the less fortunate comic collector. And I certainly wouldn't label anyone as "unethical" just because they aren't doing that. Would be nice for people to do things like that, but 99% of the people in the hobby aren't doing that. Does that mean we're all irresponsible and unethical? 

I never said it was their responsibility to raise the money for the less fortunate. Crowdfunding is (generally) done by people trying to help the less fortunate, not by people trying to help themselves who have the means to do so anyways. Other less fortunate people that couldn't afford to go either sold stuff to go, or simply didn't go. They didn't crowdfund from other people knowing that there are suckers who will give them free $$ because they're asking for it. All that does is build resentment from members of the community.

[KirbyTown]

That site mentioned up there is a garbage clickfarm.

Edited August 10, 2022 by KirbyTown

[rexinnih]

If it influences prices up on what I have, then more power to them. Do watch, no. 

[JB123]

does anyone know if Clayton owns part of Black Flag?