A Troll No More

After trolling numerous stamp collector forums for about a year, I have chosen to step into the light that is Stamp Community Family! I found your forum to be the most informative and welcoming of several other sites. The one thing that impressed me most was how well the serious/experienced collectors treat the casual/newbie collectors. So... thank you for allowing me to join the discussions.

I am 54 and started collecting at age six. I am a 25yr member of the APS, a newer member of the AFDCS, AMGCC and USPCS. I am also active in clubs in Detroit and Lansing. I would call myself a "beginning advanced" collector of US stamps and covers - learning Bank Notes, fancy cancels etc. I also collect Japan, China and UK. I have numerous thematic collections, plus a magpie worldwide collection.

I am looking forward to sharing some of the best (and worst!) items in my collections with you and learning all that I can as I continue to grow from "stamp collector" to "philatelist"

Welcome - you do realize that the term "troll" has a very negative connotation on the Internet! What you have been is a "lurker" - just trying to be helpful.

Yes. Although I deliberately chose troll over lurker. Unlike Al Gore, I did not invent the internet, but I have been maintaining what would be called today an "online presence" since the fall of 1978. I'm a mainframer by profession.

Technically I was indeed just lurking here. Pretty well secured system so kudos to your webmaster.

-IBFS

Hi and welcome to you. I only recently found the SC forum myself and have much the same impression that you posted.
I have noticed none of the anti-social attitudes in our Community that I have witnessed in other online forums related to
sports or politics which I have "lurked" in.

I think the civility and positive vibe in THIS community stems from the generous character I have witnessed from some of the most
active and experienced members. That generosity of spirit is evident to anyone who observes the musings shared here. Add to that is a structured "culture" that begins with an expectation for folks to behave like friends at a family picnic. I love the code posted in SC Rules: "Don't say anything here you wouldn't repeat to your 10-year old daughter." I believe is the advice! Nice. Enjoy. And I hope to connect with you in the future.

Cheers,
Dan