General Forum

When I was 10 years old, I started collecting 1987 Topps baseball cards after over a year of collecting Garbage Pail Kids.  My dad sold coins and jewelry, and his buddy sold cards and comics at the Aloha Stadium on the island of Oahu.  We'd see the Pro Bowlers come in every year, and I do remember getting Junior Seau's autograph on a ticket stub one of those years around 1992.  What I remember most about those times though was the first time I ever laid eyes on a 1962 Topps baseball card set in pages and a binder.  It was right then and there in 1987 that I dreamed of one day owning the entire collection of Topps baseball cards. 

Of course teenage years led to a 10-year hiatus from the hobby, but when I came back, and picked up right where I left off.  I've completed everything since 1968 (except Trout RC), and only a few cards away from 1951, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1962, 1966, and 1967.  Everything else is pretty much well on it's way to completion too like 1965, 1964, 1961, 1959, 1956, and 1953,  The only sets not too far along are 1963, 1958, 1957, and of couse, 1952.  I consider myself a very traditional, but unconventional card collector.  

I found this site by chance probably searching for a checklist one day, and have been a pretty active member ever since.  But lately, I can't seem to provide a comment without inciting some other member into flames.  I've had 2 or 3 forums deleted, and numerous members ganging up on me and attacking like ravenous wolves in my opinion.  I just like to talk about cards and spark up different views on card collecting, even if they're different from my own.  Certainly, I can't be the only unconvention traditionalist card collector out there.  

I doubt that I'll be able to quit collecting anytime soon, althought I've quit just about everything else that was bad for me.  I hope you don't think this is just another troll posting, but I might need to see those guidelines again just in case.

I'm not trying to be judgemental but from what you have discussed I don't think your issue is with the hobby but perhaps how you handle your comments here. I can't say that I have found many issues with sensorship on this site nor have I seen anyone attacking others. It seems to me that the main group on here seems like a pretty good group of guys.

Yeah, I guess collecting doesn't have to include social media.  

I envy your dedication and focus on what it is you like to collect.  when i got back into cards in 2015 (my third trip down this path after the usual kid collectiing in the early 70s, then the junk wax hype of the late 80s) i was totally out of focus on what to collect because the breadth and depth of the hobby was staggering.  with unlimited wealth (and a much larger place to keep my cards) i would go for one of everything, but i bounced all over like a dog chasing a shiny object (though surprisingly chrome cards were not my thing) and in the last year or so have FINALLY reduced down to minis with a few other side projects like the 2015 A&G buyback cards.  I think going the Topps only flagship set route not only a great path, but also within the realm of possibility to collect within one lifespan (except maybe for the 52 Mantle and a few other whales).  collect what brings you joy, but as my Father used to tell me, my opinion ended at the tip of my nose.

IMHO, from what I've seen and read you seem to make inflammatory comments, not voice an opinion.

You might be right.  It's definitely not intentional.  

I definitely attacked him, in response to his attack on me, including attacking my weight. I also called him a troll, because he's been trolling the forum lately. He's trolling me in his last paragraph here.

I'm going to give him an honest answer, anyway. Since I've contributed to the drama it's the least I can do. People don't take well to being attacked. When you come on looking for a problem, you usually find it. Editing your own posts and claiming censorship is something that can only be described as looking for trouble. You've done that at least three times that I've seen, and I have chosen not to read some of your threads, so it stands to reason I may have missed some. You (everyone) agrees to the clause that inappropriate messages may be deleted. That's not censorship, that's playing by the rules you agreed to when you chose to use this forum.

Today you attacked me about Shaun White...and I see you've changed your profile picture to him. Your argument was predicated on him stepping on the flag, yet your own photo clearly shows the shadow of the flag over the top of his sneaker. Which means by law of physics he could not possibly have been atop it. That leads me to believe you were simply looking for something to argue about. 

I want you to think about something...this forum has existed for more than 10 years now, and you're the only member ever to get into fights with people on here. And not just one member, but multiples. And often nothing to do with card collecting, which you proclaim that you want to talk about. Did you consider that it's your actions causing the problems? Look, I've said things in the past that I wish I hadn't. I've done things I wish I hadn't, both related to cards and not. What I don't do is try to make myself look like a victim and that "woe is me, everybody hates me". I've learned from my mistakes, and I think I'm a better person from it, even though at least one of the things will haunt me forever. (I went to a card show two days before my father died of cancer, he was already in the hospital). I've changed my ways because of the mistakes I've made, I don't try to deflect the blame onto anyone else. I'm seeing you purposely trying to cause problems and then trying to make it seem like you're being targeted. Whether you are doing that because you are trolling or if you actually believe that I don't know, but it's what I am observing.

You can still be a valued member of this community, but if you keep attacking people who disagree with you, you're not going to find that you're welcomed with open arms as literally everyone else is...and I don't just mean this forum...I mean everywhere in life. 

I suggest taking a day or two off, then come back and read through your own old posts objectively. Don't think about what you were thinking about at the time, read it as if you're reading it for the first time ever. You may be surprised as what you find, you may not even realize what's going on. 

Unless, of course, you simply are trolling in which case this has all just been an act to get attention. You're the only one who can answer that question. 

These forums should be a place to get away from the BS of today. Everybody's got an opinion. I have one too, but rarely share it because nowadays people can't just agree to disagree and respect that. I disagree with a number of people on certain things, but it doesn't affect me - I simply just realize it is what it is. Enjoy the hobby. Help people where you can and just let things be.

I'm sure I spend too much time on this site.  Thanks for the comment suomibear8, and sorry for the friction Billy.  I think you're a stand-up guy.  In terms of re-reading my posts, that might not be a good idea.  Every time I read one of my posts, I seem to want to edit it.  My posts just seem to keep growing.

Sometimes the context of what we say doesn't come out well when we write it. Kinda like it's not what you say, but how you say it. Hell, my wife bites my head off after a text message sometimes - and I'm like, you took that in the worst way possible. I try to read what I write before I send it to see if it can be misconstrued. Often times it can, so I reword it.