"Stampcollector" Discourages Woman !

In the March issue of the American Philatelist a woman wrote how she went to a stamp show and does not want to return to another because a collector called her a "hoarder" because she did not collect a particular topic or country...the May American Philatelist came in the mail today and there were 7 pages of letters from members about how the woman was treated and how certain stamp collectors with their opinions give the hobby a bad name and keep new folks from entering and enjoying our hobby !

I'm a stamp collector. Although I'm not a woman, some may consider me a "hoarder", too, as I'm not following all the "rules" of collecting one country or topic or way to collect. If someone wishes to label me a "hoarder", I'm not insulted by it. In fact, I consider my collection somewhat "eclectic".

To some I may not be following the accepted practice of collecting stamps as some collectors might view as "proper", however, I was always told and always give this advice when asked, that my way of collecting may not be yours (and vice-versa) but there are "no rules" to stamp collecting--and it's exactly for that reason why I find it so interesting and enjoyable.

As far as how to form a collection, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and hopefully it won't discourage or insult someone else because of one collector verbalizing an opinionated comment.

Enjoy the hobby and have fun with it. After all, in my opinion, that's all that's really important.

i am a hoarder myself...i call myself a stampcollector..but at a show I head for the first cover dealer I see...i don't care to label anyone other than myself...and would never tell another person what or how to collect...

Had no idea there was a right way and a wrong way. I then fall into the category of people doing it wrong as I collect what I like in no particular order with no rhyme or reason for what I do collect. If I like it, I try and get it.

stallzer, I guess there are a few of us undisciplined ones running around yet !!

Collector, hoarder, idiot..people can call me what they like, I carry out my hobby the way I want to and enjoy doing it my way, simple as that really :)

For god-sakes Fred, learn to spell HOARD

You're going to make it worse

By the way, every woman I've ever lived with was discouraged. No wait, I think they said, "disappointed."

Stallzer.
Yes, I do the same, if it appeals I want it. That said, I admire collectors who complete Country's or Topics then progress to another etc etc.

All collectors are hoarders. Who else accumulates thousands of items that other people consider to be trash?

Karen

I've had similar experiences with collectors and dealers at stamp shows. I think the issue which has not been discussed here is that, with a hobby that is ailing in terms of its number of adherents, dealers and other collectors, if they are brusque with others, will definitely be a turn-off to a newbie who wants to get more involved in the hobby, has voted with their feet by visiting a stamp show and is hoping for some friendliness and encouragement. I realize there are others - most likely men - who are perhaps more thick-skinned. Good for you! But we forget what brings us to this hobby. It's the love of beauty, art, literature, geography, history, technology, etc. (and I may have missed a few here)

Opening oneself up to a social scene after having spent time, mostly alone I would wager, working on the hobby, is a RISK. Now, I wasn't at the show where the woman was called a hoarder, so can't really comment on the tone of voice, in what context the comment was made, whether it was in jest, etc. But I do resent the "elite" collectors in our hobby who won't take a minute out of their day to have a friendly conversation with a newbie.

Well, enough ranting. You can't change others' bad behavior. I hope to attend a meeting of one of the local stamp clubs in my town within the next month or two and, as it would be my first journey into the philatelic social scene, I'm expecting people to be well-mannered. I hope I haven't set my expectations too high!

Everyone is different. Therefore, we view things differently and think differently. So, there really isn't a "correct way" to collect. For this reason, I refuse to judge people based on their collection or their collecting interests. For me, it's always interesting to see how others collect and why. I've seen alot of creative topical collections etc. It's the beauty of the hobby. I really dislike people who try to force people to think "mainstream" or insult others because they are different. It's pathetic that an adult would make comments like that and that another adult would get so offended about it. It's like I tell my ESL students, "Stupidity is an uncountable noun". Unfortunately, it's everywhere these days. I used to think that stamp collectors were patient, open minded and tolerant people. Thankfully, the majority are, but it's the few who aren't who tend to give others a bad name.

I have my own rules for collecting that apply to just one person - me! I do, however, enjoy seeing other collections, particularly ones that are similar to mine since I have gotten several GREAT ideas for my own collection by looking at someone else's. I didn't even know the space twins (1331-1332) could be collected as true singles (if you keep the selvage from the proper position) until I saw it in someone's collection. An example is in mine now!

I would welcome the opportunity to look over any U.S. collection that can be viewed online. Mine can be seen:

http://www.colp.info/stamps

The album is up-to-date, but I'm reworking the philosophy as I recently expanded the scope of my collection.

It does not matter where we are or who we are with, bad manners happen, that is life, get over it.

This is bad news for me, because I'm sure I'm not doing it right! I didn't necessarily know there were rules to collecting stamps. I'm just getting back into it after many years of putting it aside. I have been working on US stamps and will continue to do so, but I would like to add a topical album or two. I do have some world stamps that I need to figure out how to organize or get a world album of some sort. I can't really worry about if I'm doing it wrong or not. I just want to enjoy the hobby.

Karen

Way to go Karen! I have been working on it off and on for many years (gulp, decades) and every time I think I have a "way," or the "right thing" I get distracted by some pretty, cool, neat, hot .. ummm . stamp or cover and I have to have it and that sends me in another direction. One of these days I'll get it under control, but then I will be dead and won't be able to enjoy it, so till then, chaos rules (with the occasional streak of "ahhhh .. I think I got that one part right.") ... good luck to us all!

Of course there are!

RULE #1: Collect what you want.
RULE #2: Have fun!

I just like seeing what other folks collect because that sometimes convinces me to expand my boundaries a bit on what I collect. (Funny, I've never seen a collection that convinced me to get RID of any of my collection. Hmm. Wonder what that means?!?