Man Behind the Curtain

True. There seems to me an image problem with CT. Many think it too 'low brow'. Today I received this message from another source regarding CT:

"Too bad ancient coin discussion have mostly left the lists. At least the actual lists had some degree of real discussion.


Now they have moved to things like face book where someone makes a comment or shows a coin, a number of people say "I like that" or on face book simply it the "like" button, and it ends. I had a look at several of the "discussions" on the cointalk and found it is perhaps one step up from face book but not by much. There may be some genuine discussions with depth, but none amount the samples I checked. This is simply how the web has gone. I doubt it will improve, rather only get worse."

I do understand his opinion. CT it more of a social site, not a scholarly one. Most discussions tend to end up in a "OK, you showed me yours, now I will show you 10 or so of mine" mode. But then, I appreciate that aspect. Forum has more scholarly discussions, but the topics are usually very dry and boring.

 

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^^^ Exactly, and that is great! CoinTalk Ancients is for the fun and social aspects of collecting; Forvm aspires to be more scholarly. It's nice to have both.

 

I think of CT as a coin club, FORVM as a library. It's definitely a case of apples and oranges.

 

As usual, I find myself appreciating both sides of the 'discussion' and I think Ken, TIF and JA have expressed it just as I would have.

 

As far as user names, it is my understanding that a moderator can change it.

 

Why do the elitists think this forum has to be a bunch of experts showing how much smarter than everyone else they are, while everyone else is supposed to remain quiet and fawn over the wisdom of their masters? That's what FORVM is for. If I want to get a more nuanced and in-depth opinion on one of my coins, I'll browse their threads, but when I want to have fun and share my joy at a new coin purchase, or share my feelings of awe or joy over another member's purchase, this is where I come to post. Sometimes someone just wants to have a conversation over ancient coins with someone else they could relate to and share a beer with. What's wrong with that?

 

Concerning light versus serious discussion - how many serious topics come up with any regularity? Here or anywhere else? Is this website or "community" a detriment to these discussions?

No matter what forum I post on, there is little serious information I can contribute to a discussion. I've never analyzed or cataloged a hoard, done a die study, or discovered anything. Heck the only ancients I've ever seen are the ones I've bought.

 

My username is also a version of an email address and has components of my real name. If someone really wants to figure out who I am, they certainly can, and that's fine with me.

I'm glad CT's focus is more social and "fun", that's about as far as my interest in coins goes really.

 

I don't care how stuffy, high-brow, sarcastic, moronic, etc. any poster is AS LONG AS they can teach me something. That's why I monitor several forums and will NEVER "ignore" anyone.

I don't fit this example; yet, do you have any idea what it would be like if you were a world renown Nobel Prize winning mathematician and some ignorant fool was arguing that 2+2 = 4 was not correct when you were trying to educate him? That is why that particular world renown, award winning, numismatic author and researcher stopped sharing his knowledge about coins with us here. Our loss.

 

Hopefully you post on the CT Ancient site also. It is very active.

 

Oh yes! CT is my favorite!

 

I joined CT many years ago and at the time was in the habit of using 'vespasian70' for my online nom de plume. Since that time I've changed to my real name on Forvm but haven't done so here. I think because Forvm is a bit more 'scholarly' it seemed only right for people to know to whom they are talking to.

I would love to change to my real name on CT too (for consistency), but apparently it isn't easy (?).

 

P.M. a moderator they can do it.

 

Regnad Kcin

 

*Edit*

 

I always thought that was a person's middle name...

 

I care. I'm too old for "stuffy, high-brow, sarcastic, moronic, etc." I enjoy my hobby my way as you should. Good luck

 

I like the atmosphere here. I also use Forvm and other sites. I do not use my real name because those who know me in a professional capacity already have enough ways to interact with me. I like keeping this part of my life to myself or at least choosing with whom to share.

Btw, are there any mediaevalists here who know the origin of my handle?

 

Ha I use something similar in my signature.