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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;V. Kurt Bellman, post: 2869579, member: 71723&quot;]The excitement is fine. In fact, it’s great. But what’s also great is the history, legacy, and yes, I’ll use the word again, “standards” of this honorable PROFESSION, whether one engages in it professionally or not. Those who have come before us, EVEN IF THEY ARE IN THEIR GRAVES, as several of my own personal numismatic teachers and mentors are, are entitled to a little stinking deference and respect. This is my deeply and personally held opinion which does not flow from some whim I dug out of my ear canal last week.&nbsp; This is why I value the “old school” ways. I was carefully taught those ways by people who loved coins and the coin hobby, and yes, I get snarky, crabby, sarcastic and maybe even a little “mean” and even “vicious” to those who exhibit no respect and treat this “hobby of kings” merely as a way to turn a quick buck. I’ll NEVER apologize for that feeling, no.</p><p><br /></p><p>I love this field. It is my only non-employment activity in which I can participate due to physical disability and deteriorating health. I am in a race to see whether I can EVER retire before someone carries me out of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in a body bag. I take this “hobby”, which will become a part time avocation if I win my race mentioned above, very personally. It is my legacy to leave to my only son, and in THAT, I’ve already won. He is, if anything, even more committed to coins than I am. Are. We. Clear?</p><p><br /></p><p>Don’t feel too badly. My son doesn’t write particularly well either, and I needle him about it, too, as do his professors.</p><p><br /></p><p>He is in college, has his first serious girlfriend, and STILL has time to go to major coin shows around the country. How many of US have carried THAT off? Not I. </p><p><br /></p><p>Oh, and regarding your upthread protestation that some nascent collectors might not have time to “read hours on end”, several hours PER WEEK should be the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM one should be willing to engage in in order to be taken seriously as an up and coming numismatist. Doing this field with the attention span of the common gnat is no way to be.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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