How Can We Drop The Word 'Child' ...

We've all done it, but ...

... describing stamps as the sort you might find in a child's collection - while entirely fair & accurate & informative - might sting a bit.

Q/ Could we agree on a better way of saying this?

"These are sorts of stamps people set aside when they first begin to collect" ???

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

A good start to the world of stamp collecting.
Don

Professionals usually use the words "beginner", "intermediate beginner" or "advanced beginner" to describe lower level collections. At least the ones I know do.

"Junior" is a description beloved of auctioneers.

How about "Congratulations! These are the sorts of stamps one collects for fun" ...

... without adding the word "serious" et al?

I agree, it would be good to drop the reference to "a child's," or "children's" collection. Maybe just reply "the stamps shown have little or no resale value" because they are readily available to collectors.

Don

I think "beginner" as described above by revcollector is fair and casts no aspersions.

"Novice", it's a term I use frequently when describing the musicians I meet who are just starting out.

I tend to go along with the beginning collection as a proper name for it.

"These are the sorts of stamps one collects for fun" ...

I like this because it discretely eliminates the "treasure?" question, allowing us an opportunity to encourage another collector to have some fun with their discovery.

A very positive and fun suggestion.

If you read ebay auctions they just change the word to rare

Thanks for the kind words, DStamp.

It seems to me that 'novice', 'junior', beginner', etc, all set a hierarchical ranking, with the newcomer at the bottom.

That just can't feel, you know, comfortable.

The 'fun' formulation at least puts everyone on an even par, one motive amongst many, equal amongst equals.

I appreciate everyone's input, and I hope that the 'child' thing gets, well, left behind.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

I was looking through an auction catalog this evening where the term "starter collection" was used. That seemed to me to be accurate and non-judgmental (although maybe that's just me).

Some of this discussion reminds me of the current practice in youth sports of giving trophies to all the participants, and not just the winners, so that no one's sense of self worth is diminished and no feelings are hurt.

The question of whether/not every exhibit entered in a competition deserves a participation trophy (or, at least, maybe a receipt) is its own thread.

Here, I think we're talking about how adults talk to other adults that they have just met.

Thought Experiment: Would you greet an adult at a business meeting by pointing-out what about them reminded you of childhood?

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

I completely agree that "child" can have a dismissive and demeaning connotation when applied to an adult and that we should find something better. I don't feel the same way about "beginner" or think that we must avoid any term that might suggest (accurately and non-judgmentally) that a person is just starting to collect stamps.