posted 11-17-2009 01:34 PM            

Everybody starts as a new member and is equally treated like a little idiot! The pictures are too large, are you researching for profit, behave like we want than you are condescending allowed to participate with the other 3 or 4 lone constant posting old members. If you make a mistake you get rude comments, your pics get snipped etc.

You do not know who is behind the user name!

Maybe she/he could be of tremendous value for your forum - but everything is done to shy them away! Why? Do you want no interesting traffic and discussions? Why not helping new participants with their starting computer/posting problems?

Maybe someone will answer and explain the purpose of this behavior to me!

As a "new member lacking all the necessary good behavior to participate" I have to post here, RE: denture tablets

An other very efficient method to clean old silver coffee or tea pots is the use of dishwasher pads. Put one pad in the pot, fill with hot water up to the brim and wait one day - you will be surprised (positive).

posted 11-17-2009 03:46 PM            

There is no intention by anyone here to be difficult or uncaring. We genuinely wish this to be a place where all people who enjoy talking about silver and sharing their interest in it can talk and share their ideas and photos of objects in their collections with others who share that enthusiasm.

The problem that you are identifying stems from reactions to people who do not seem to take the few minutes to first read the instructions for how to get started in participating in the forum, or who wish to change the purpose and intent of the forum to meet their personal wishes.

This forum is a group of silver afficionados who welcome anyone who wishes to join in the stated purpose of the forum - to enjoy discussing silver without the commercial overlay. It is unlike many other internet forums that tend to have commercial interests as one of their primary purposes. Think of this forum as if we were a tea party at our hosts' home. Scott and June are the hosts. If you were to come to such a tea party in your neighborhood wouldn't you first start by introducing yourself to everyone? That is all we ask in the forum rules where new posters are asked to please introduce themselves. It does not have to be extensive, just a sentence or two saying what your interest in silver is, what do you collect, what would you like to learn.

The part about the photos needing to be of a certain size comes from the requirements of the website company that Scott and June pay to have this forum on the web. Oversize photos create problems. It is not difficult to resize photos, and there are simple instructions for it in the 'how to post photos' area. If anyone has a problem with the instructions all they need to do is post a message saying that they are having problems and could someone please provide some assistance and people here would be more than happy to help.

The part about the 'no researching for selling' and no 'requests for appraisals' and 'please do not get into commercial values discussions' may be more difficult to understand by those people who are more used to other internet forums where this sort of discussion is normal. This forum is different from those other ones - it is a place where we simply talk about silver to learn more about it without the commercial aspects getting in the way. This may seem strange at first, but after a while it becomes a very pleasant part of participating here. Also, there are many people here who are world experts, museum curators, authors, and professional appraisers who would quickly leave this forum if it turned into a site with commercial purposes like the other forums. They are happy to share their decades of research and expertise with people who share their interest and appreciation of silver. However, when someone takes that information that they have so generously given and turns around and uses it to sell their object for a profit then the experts here feel as if their kindness has be taken advantage of.

If you are interested in discussing silver with other people who are truly interested in silver just for its beauty, history, lore, and so on, then this unique forum is for you and I hope you will work with us to make this one of your favorite places on the web. If your interest is obtaining information to sell your things for a higher price then you will not likely enjoy this forum as it is not designed for that.

I hope this helps you understand. Please just ask if I have been unsuccessful in helping you understand this remarkable forum.

posted 11-17-2009 04:40 PM            

Thank you for your lengthy explanations of the rules which I have understood immediately. What you did not explain is - using your idyllic picture - why I have to stay in an other room of the tea party of June and Scott, though I introduced myself short with "longtime silver collector"?

I think I have no interest in posting around several corners!

Thank you very much for your time and effort - you just lost again a potential new member.

posted 11-17-2009 06:28 PM            

That's a shame. I am another long term silver collector who signed up not that long ago. I was content to live by the rules. I needed help to get the hang of posting pictures (and still surprise myself every time it works) but beyond that I reasoned that if I was interested in joining a club it was no great problem to go through a short period of apprenticeship. I have not regretted sticking with it.

posted 11-17-2009 06:49 PM            

Secondly you who are a potential contributor and have already made a great addition are who should be here and the fact that you post in a newbie (like other forums I go to) section should be of no concern. It does not diminish your post or relegate you to inferior status; it just lets people get to know you. Others have been "let in" in very short order by the power of their knowledge.

posted 11-18-2009 06:35 AM            

I am disarmed and start my apprenticeship as tray carrier for your tea party!

Discriminating - as I mentioned before...

Let's go!