What Do You Think Other People Think When.............

Have you ever thought what people think when you say you collect stamps? This I maybe shouln't say but you know me,i'm going to anyways. When I was growing up,and up to about 9 months or so ago,my visual of a stamp collector was an elderly man,grouchy,with tongs in one hand and mag glass in the other.Since I've joined SCF my whole opinion has changed dramatically,but when I tell people I wonder what it is they think,cause they get a strange look on there face.I'm 39 years old and female,I'm 5'4 (my husband says im short) and I spend a couple hours a day with my stamps.My question is what do you think people think when they visualize a stamp collector? lets hear your opinions im curious
i

In most cases your description is correct. I have been collecting stamps for a long time and about a year ago I joined a stampclub in my neighbourhood. I am 39 years old as well and the youngest at most meetings

I'm still a teenager... not a stereotypical stamp collector at all!

if at all..I think they are impressed

That's great James. I started collecting when I was a teenager and it has been a lifelong interest. I am 65 now and still get excited about a new stamp. Let's hope you find the same enjoyment in stamp collecting as I have found.

One piece of advice--never shun the new and unusual. Always be willing to branch out and try something new--but don't forget the old friends.

Tina, I think most people would think the same way you use to, but I still make sure that everyone knows I collect stamps. It's surprising how many people have stamps at home that they are willing to offer.
I have amalgamated 5 other collections in to mine this way. So don't care about what they think, just make sure they know you collect.

Steve

HI Tina,

Like you, my thought of a "stamp collector" was one thing a few years ago, but now that I've been collecting and communicating with people all over the world and both sexes, and varios ages, my thought of a stamp collector has pretty much disolved and I now realize that anybody could be a stamp collector.
I myself am happy to tell people I collect stamps. I think they get envious that I am actually doing something in my liesure time and not just wasting away my time and using up the world's air.
But I still think us stamp collectors have a nerdy streak right down our middles :)

Dave N.
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Stamp Collector...to me it defines who I am..the internet has increased my circle of friends 10 fold...have had visits from collectors from Alberta, North Dakota,Ottawa and even Buchanan, New York !!

It has been my experience that the very young and then older people think that it is a great hobby. But for those somewhere around puberty through age 30 (more or less), a frequent comment or look I get is "Why would you do that?". So, .... it is the innocent and the mature who see the benefits of stamp collecting.
Plus, it seems to me that anyone who appreciates art tends to gravitate towards stamp collecting. Miniature pieces of art, that is what stamps are, that is the main reason I collect them.

As most of you know I am only 33 and I look younger than that according to most people. When I say I collect stamps I usually get a quizzical look and "you mean postage stamps?" I also will admit I have a "nerdy" streak & fly that flag high. When I explain the history behind stamps & show what I collect most are actually impressed & had no idea what collecting stamps really is about.

In fact, most recently a tried to get 2 of my best friends to attend the FDOS ceremony for the Missouri Flag in Jefferson City, MO (where they reside), to get me a program postmarked. There initially reply via email was, "you are going to have to speak English and translate exactly what you want" and then they gave me a hard time for being a dork. The ribbing was all in good fun.

My friends and family know I collect stamps and save various things for me. As far as other people, I really don't let their opinions bother me.


Butch

Where did you get a picture of me Tina?

If you look at pictures from the APS meetings, stamp shows, etc. that's exactly what you see for the most part. We haven't done a good job of marketing the hobby to women, kids and young men.

When people find out I collect stamps 1/4 of the time they tell me that their Dad/Uncle/Brother collected and a lot of times they fess up that they have some stamps squirreled away also.

My mother in law just gave me a cover sent from Mexico to Illinois. It has a wonderful large commemorative with an Aztec Temple and square postmark. You never know when someone whom knows you collect stamps may want to learn more, give you some, or tell someone else.

My mother also had asked me to make a cover for my 2nd cousin's birth last month to give as a unique gift & keepsake. They were very pleased and surprised. I made it on my lunch hour complete with a photo cachet taken at the hospital & hand delivered it that same day to the parents myself.

There is so much more to stamps than completing a page, of course that comes in a close 2nd to most collectors.

But I still think us stamp collectors have a nerdy streak right down our middles :I disagree with you on this one Dave no nerdy streak in me

Who cares what they think? I'm not hurting anyone.

Besides... I could be sitting in a pub, drinking my face off, rather than working on my stamps!

David

David I was just trying to see what other people thought, me personally,I don't care what other people think,I was just curious and thought that maybe i'd have an interesting topic so I can be in Londonbus' contest