Stamp Collecting Today Is "Just Not Sexy"?

Unfortunatly, this new generation is too fast paced and convenient. Though I don't understand how sex appeal relates to stamps? It's sad how lazy society is becoming...almost leaves stamp collecting as a lost art. You'd think something that allows you to sit for hours on end WOULD be appealing to this generation
I know I wish I would've stumbled upon stamp collecting when I was 11...think of all the stamps I'd have now!
I guess all we can do is try to pass on our passion and knowledge to those around us and hope for the best they pick up on it!
...and when the time comes for my children to be 11, if I find they are looking for "sexy", I will MAKE them sit with stamps as punishment! haha!

I did not find Danielle Arnet's article offensive to our hobby, if anything it was realistic in assessing the inherent problems:




There are just too many alternatives available to young people: from TV to Video games, from Facebook to fantasy/life games on the net. Everyone still only gets 24 hours in a day and I can see how the immediate gratification of the elctronic era would leave little time for stamp collecting.

A lot of Postal Authoritites are making it even worse by non-stop issuing, making it a rich-man's sport to collect anything, even modern, to completion. Add to that, their continual release of 'improvements', like for example 'forever' stamps (why would even border collecting those?); unreadable cancellations, counter stamps, own-design stamps, peel & stick, etc.

Stamp collecting must be a dying hobby because eventually there will be no more stamps issued by anyone but the 'stan'Countries ...Platefalw is right, collecting emails might be the thing of the future...fortunately I wont be around to see it.

Years ago (around 2001) I wrote a letter to Linn's stating that I will no longer be collecting new U.S. stamps because I was a stamp collector, a philatelist not a label collector, a labelatelist. The U.S. has been creating labels much inferior to labels that you can purchase in WalMart, for much less. The average age of the stamp collector is much older now than even 20 years ago. I suspect that today's average age is somewhere around 55 and I hope I'm wrong!

I have not collected any new U.S. issues except some coils and that part of my collecting interest has gone away as well. I save and spend my collecting $$ on the older material that I couldn't afford. One more thing, I don't subscribe to Linn's anymore either. Its not the magazine it once was, too many advertisements, too few stamp articles and not worth the money they are asking for it. Just my opinion. I'll get off my soap box now.

I really miss the fine engravings!

I get Linns for free online. It may not be their intent for that to take place, but it turns out that way. I agree with Art, though, I would not pay for it.

I have a son 16, 3 daughters (2 26 and one 27) and all but the 16 yr old (thankfully) have children. I've given each of the grandkids their own album and pass along a handful of stamps here and there and they are excited which is great. I fully expect them to grow out of it quickly but my hopes is once they are done with hormones and settle down they will find that album in a box and maybe 3 of 5 will get back into it. If I show my son a new find that has high catalog value he says sell it so he certainly doesn't get it yet. I've only picked the hobby back up in the past few years and at 43 wish I had started sooner. I think the average age for starting to seriosly collect is probably 35-40 with the well educated in the field being 50-55+ . As long as us 40 something newbies can keep the boat floating there is hope but must admit the postal companies certainly don't help with few exceptions. Canada Post seems to be on board either intentional or not with the odd release that has faults and varieties or intentional limited production items.
Canada Post has operated with a profit for 16 straight years so they must be doing something right. However a strike looms in the next few days.

glad for you nitro, I have four kids and can't get one of them to start. ( give them stamps and give them stamps, but they keep complaining cause I take them back.) All kidding aside, I wish one of them would show some interest. I won't force it on them cause it won't stick, but I don't know what to do with my collection. So I keep hoping.

Last weekend I soaked a batch of stamps on our kitchen table, and my youngest kid (4yrs) watched me doing it & wondered why some stamps remain float while most sunk on bottom (which is btw. a truly good question- why do stamps behave like that). Then she suddenly said - "daddy, I still need that new stamp book you promised to me. My old one is still broken." Likely that was one of those 'happiest dad on planet earth' moments

Anyway, story of the point... I've introduced all of my kids to stamps on early stages. At this point kids don't care whats sexy or not; they simply like it or don't like it. And there's very little external competition (TV,Internet etc) with kids under/of pre-school age... It's too early to tell if any of my kids becomes a stamp collector on later/adult age, but at least they've all been exposed to basics of stamp collecting as a small kid.

Thats why I hit the grandkids so when they get older it may at least bring back a few memories enough to kick start them back at it. I'm same with you Jeff --of all the older kids none seem interested other than possible $$ value so maybe I'll take them with me when I leave this world. Sorta figure MNH would be a must in the afterlife.

The theme expressed here seems pretty much the same with us. We put stamp collecting in front of our children at a young age and HOPE they take it up when they get older.

I have two daughters. When my youngest was around 6-8 years I showed her some Disney stamps and she wanted more, I got more Disney stamps then I got her an album. She still has the album, someplace. She is now 35 and too busy to do anything with stamps. My hope is that she will have the time, sometime. My older daughter never has had an interest. However, my grandson is now six and I'm about to introduce him to stamp collecting. Wish me luck.

I tried to start a stamp club in my area. I put up notices in the local food stores, senior citizens centers, schools, boy & girl scouts and even a couple of churches. No takers! For nearly a month I have been the only person to show up and after about an hour I leave. Go figure.

Art, I agree with you about collecting labels. It's sad to see how US stamps have gotten. Does any thought go into producing them? It seems like the USPS is just trying to make a buck instead of pass on anything about US culture or history. One of these days, I suspect that US stamp issues will be the same as the ones from micronesia.. temporary pop culture made specifically with topical collectors in mind. I have yet to hear of tuvalu using michael jackson stamps locally!

Catch'em when young I guess. Too many people suffering from lack of patience these days.

Catching them young doesn't necessarily work either. My kids are not interested in collecting anything at all. I've tried, they just don't care. They're too busy hanging out online with their friends and playing video games.

Education Education Education

Stamps are not just Stamps - there is what is depicted on the stamp - there is where did the stamp come from - etc

Relaxation, Recreation, Researching etc

As the saying goes beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Don't forget the fact that 95% (at least) of all collectors are obsessive-compulsive!