Agreed. I would argue that it's less a problem of "misinformation" (which is a term that is being weaponized!) than people not reading anymore. What we label "misinformation" -meaning "people not being correctly informed," and not its political definition used today to silence dissenting opinions- is MOSTLY just people blabbing without knowing because they don't read... or research, which is an activity that is deeper than simply 'reading'. One comment above is relevant: You can't listen (input information) if your mouth is open.
A sub category of the subject....why....always seems to leave out a particular reason: Experienced hobbyists/collectors/Authors/Dealers have...either on purpose or inadvertently....emphasized the investment aspect of collecting, and this has become the more popular reason for new collectors that are in fact speculative investors. We have met the enemy and (you know the rest. thanks, POGO).
There sure are. The problem is, those accurate answers surrounded and diluted and buried by garbage, and the garbage is dressed up to grab the attention of anyone who doesn't already have a pretty good idea what they're looking for. Why do we get a steady stream of road-rash Zincolns? Because any idiot who wants attention can put up a YouTube video claiming that You're Rich If You Have This One Coin. They don't even have to convince someone to buy a book, never mind convince a publisher to print it. This comic made me wince a bit the other day, because yeah, I was right there with the free-information dreamers:
I mostly agree. But most of us in 1998 didn't even know what a 'data transfer protocol was then and most still don't. This comic is a bit of "fish in a barrel" thinking with the immense benefit of hindsight. But its essence is valid. We were hopeful a seemingly infinitely scaled medium for information/ideas exchange was going to be universally beneficial. But we neglected to understand that there was no non-profit objective Fairness Doctrine-like gatekeeper(s) in place. Hence its current existence and propensity as a negative feedback loop.
Worse than that. It's not so much that there's a lack of punishment or enforcement for bad behavior. It's that the biggest rewards are often for the worst behavior.
You've skipped over the requirement of having the capacity and ability for critical thinking and scientific methodology. Required to filter all of the info that is so readily available. That is, in other words, a BS detector. Don't blame the internet for the misinterpretation of the info on the internet. I mean, wow...I just found a damaged penny...must be rare! What's missing is the connection to the fact that you've seen numerous similar examples in the years, months or days you've been looking at your change. Where is the inate ability to run such basic info through even the most rudimentary logic filter that even a cat or dog has? Jeez
If folks convinced themselves that Gordon Gekko is the personification of modern coin collecting, especially when it comes to U.S grading, I bet they would quickly realize they had better learn. Either that or they would conclude this isn't their cup of tea. Which is ok too. Better that they leave early then let Gordon rip their face off and kick a field goal with it. In either case, the Numismatic gene pool will get stronger.
And what was you source for the fundamental education that facilitated your ability to look something up? There are very few people, like Abraham Lincoln, who could go to school for less than a year (and not all at one time), and educate himself. An Internet search might not lead you to Jack D. Young who has done a tremendous amount to combat counterfeits here and on other sites. I will admit that a lot of my numismatic education has been self taught. I read numismatic books magazines when I was in high school, although there are far more sources today than there were back then. I also learned through the school of hard knocks which not always the best place for a beginner to learn. They can become angry and discouraged and might leave the hobby. No, it's a lot better to learn, at least the basics, from a teacher.
Everyone is new in everything. Yes if the same Well then, ok. A real supporter. To some it’s basic and to others it may be different. I guess, which I have, I admit, keep asking the same questions over and over, people do take the time and say, Pam, read! Just saying.
My parents. I asked dad how to spell ignorant...he grabbed the dictionary and said "look it up". So I said "I don't know how to spell it, how can I look it up". He basically said "figure it out". So I did. Flash cards for math and grammar, starting in 1st grade. Yup. Oh well, their loss. It certainly can't hurt, but you still need to figure out "how to learn" - critical thinking, etc. - which is taught in the school of hard knocks. Otherwise you're just rote learning, which doesn't teach you "how to fish."
Right now I am exchanging text messages with someone who came on CT and asked some very obvious questions and got severely (in his eyes) spanked. I had replied in a PM and now he asks me by text message. I have to admit, I skip over a lot of his questions, and I reference him a lot to CT and other sources, but it's a good exercise in keeping my temper.
As Mark Twain said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that’s the problem, it’s what you know that just ain’t so that’s the problem.”
In all fairness, in the week I've been here I've learned to be sure people know I've been doing this for a week, and- -that the experts can’t grade off of photos, ergo I can’t grade comparing to photos -I could buy slabbed coins, but I’d probably get the counterfeit ones -if someone offers to buy something I posted, I’d better set it aside until I know more -that I don’t know the difference between a coin, a cleaned coin, an aggressively cleaned coin, and a cleaned coin that is just being aggressively replied to... (Seriously, I've learned a lot about verbiage, resources, and what not to post just by reading.) Also, found this yesterday. I didn't post elsewhere because I'll figure it out myself. No, that's NOT the color of it, but that's the only way I can see it.