Just How Boring Is Stamp Collecting?

Another article SCF members may enjoy reading:

http://www.articlesphere.com/Articl...cting/260559

The author suffers from the same disorder as I ... the inability to proofread his work prior to posting!

Nice article, I am not sure that most people think that stamp collecting is boring; I think that most feel a little intimidated and perhaps a little scared. Scared that they might become addicted!

I am relatively new to this hobby and none of my friends have expressed an "isn't it tooo boring???" reaction. Most have asked about it and have asked how they can help, and a few have donated stamps, which they had been hoarding for no particular reason... till I came along!

The hobby has so many aspects to it, that no one with an ounce of brain matter could possibly find it boring, once they look into it even semi-seriously! That's my my opinion; BUT... I am an addict...and a member of SCA (Stamp Collectors Anonymous)

Funny, I think most of us belong to SCU (Stamp Collectors Unanimous).
I think there's hope for all of us.

A lot of people look at me funny when I tell them I collect stamps. That is until they get to have a look at my collection, they are are just jealous.

Dianne.

That's being kind, Rileysan.
It was just awful. Mr.McCloskey needs to improve or give up.
Still, it was quite a good piece [English apart] until one reached the "Trading stamps if done right can make you a comfortable little earner" bit. Why does money always have to come into it in that way.

Londonbus1.....off to see if my stamps are collecting stamps !

"Trading stamps if done right can make you a comfortable little earner"
Darn!, I must be doing it wrong!
All of my giveaways, though,(except for my club's "Stamps for Kids") have resulted in unexpected instant blow-back of new material :-)

Not really mentioned in the article are the "Social Network" and knowledge building aspects, which I find equally rewarding.

"Trading stamps if done right can make you a comfortable little earner"

This sound like a joke to me and I think it give a wrong perception to the beginners. I once read about the hobby "Stamp collecting is a hobby when you can recuperate by selling collections, sets or lots some of the money you invest" Of course on occasions I sold a set or a lot with a profit but when it come to collections with mounted pages I always get below what I spend in stamps and supply. Unless you are a dealer the incentive of making a profit shouldn't be your main motivation in collecting stamps.

In general stamp collecting would be better served if some tight collectors (ebayer's) did not buy stamps and pick out the descent copies, for themselves, then try and sell the junk (damaged stamps) to the unsuspecting and inexperienced in-order to recover the few measly dollars spent. Burns the soul.

If the collector doesn't want to keep damaged, thinned missing perf junk - don't expect others to, simply BIN IT.

i guess I am a boring guy...i could be out doing other things...why would I sometimes spend hours a day studying and cataloging stamps which most of the world would consider a waste of time..i guess I consider myself a student of history and in some small way thats the cross I bear....i will never discover a Mayan temple..but I am sure happy that I took a side trip from a cruise to see the ruins at Tulum in Mexico...perhaps one day Guatemala !!

Nice little article, thanks for sharing WT1 !




I agree it's very good to take your mind off your worries. Work's every time for me.




If you're lucky you could walk blind-folded across a busy highway and make it alive to the other side too.


I think becoming a millionaire is more about the knowledge and learning and understanding how thinks work than luck. You gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em as the song goes. Also how and who and where and why and when.

Right now I am well on my way to a million. I am at, oh, let's see now, um, er, OK, a bit over negative 2000 and there's no end in sight!

I keep remembering when I was really enthused one time about selling stamps on ebay and my nephew, keying in on the excitement and enjoyment in my voice, asked me how much money I was making. It kind of dumbfounded me at the time. I didn't know. That wasn't the reason I was doing it I realized. It was because I could learn and play and have fun.

It's something like asking someone who is listening to music how much money they are making from it.

Instead of an enjoyable hobby stamps have at times turned into a money making venture and an investment. Sometimes they are that, I grant you. But mainly I think they are not.

I'm working on my second million, I gave up on my first million.

Just change "all" to "The last thing" and I totally agree If that happens I will take up tatting - the most retro hobby I can come up with - until the stamp fad is over.