I don't think the people here are a representative sample of the general public. CoinTalk members are much more in tune with the precious metals markets than the average public and more likely to own gold and silver. It isn't unusual for folks to try to sell or pawn their belongings during a recession when unemployment is high. It sounds like the type of people you mention fall into that category and not into the "goldbug" category. Maybe it is Nebraska because nobody I know believes a word of anything said on gold buying or gold selling TV commercials. That said, TV commercials don't make a bubble. When your friends tell you they gave up beer and KFC to buy gold, THEN it will be a bubble.
:rolling: this is the HUGE counter weight to the "demand will fall" aspect... isnt it? Afterall, we do have billions (near trillions) of borrowed money from China.. the dollar continues to fall (as evidence by the report last week causing gold to spike over $1,000...) what to do what to do....