Let me make it perfectly clear that my comments are not directed at any individual in particular but at the group of forum users who consistently impinge upon the good nature of the membership to their own gain. They can be split into two groups.
Those who make absolutely no effort to learn or take on board any informative material passed on to them. They scour the internet and find items they want to buy, post decidedly poor images and then hope that others can do all the work for them, not bother to take any steps to find out for themselves but lean on everyone else and rely on the judgement of others on how to spend their money. They go quiet and don't contribute until they want the help of the members here again. They don't contribute to threads discussing other member's items and take the step of learning for themselves. They can't understand that by doing this they might actually learn something and be able to repay the help that has been shown to them.
It's too easy to build an impressive collection without actually realising what their items mean or have any vague notion of the history behind them.
Then there are those who just want to make a quick buck after posting an item, getting an evaluation and then take it elsewhere where they hope to make money of the back of other people's help to them. No morals, no integrity.
These members, again, don't bother to help out, contribute or interact in a positive manner, they are very often can't be bothered to offer a word of thanks or gratitude. I mean, why should they, they've got what they wanted and don't have to show any form of politeness or decency. This type of member is the sort I would encourage you to research prior to offering your help. Is there a trend of single posts asking for an opinion or value which is a regular pattern? If so why should you bother replying?
Both groups of members have the 'give me an answer now' types within. Those who don't realise that just because fifty people have viewed their post it doesn't mean that those fifty can answer their query so just be patient and wait for someone who does. Get over yourselves!
You should not confuse my comments here with those members who genuinely want to learn, new members who come here for help. You can tell who is a genuine collector and wants to learn, those who want to find out about items left to them or those who want to start out in the hobby. Every effort should be made to encourage those people and help them out.
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