is it just me?

[adamslogik]

I am noticing a disturbing trend on this site.

If I post a show and tell, I am lucky to get 2 replies (even though I routinely see over 100 views), as if everyone one this site is so important, so busy, that they don't have 10 seconds to type a brief reply. I mean, seriously, none of you are THAT busy, your time is not at such a premium (if it was you wouldn't be hanging around an online sports card forum in the first place).

If I post a tradelist or cards for trade, nobody replies. If by some miracle I do get a reply, it is someone who is usually BLATANTLY looking to make a deal where they come out significantly ahead of me.

If I send 5 PM's out about potential trades today, I will routinely get 1 reply out of 5. Yet again, is your time in such short supply that you can't spare 15 second to type, "sorry, not interested"?

If someone tries to get a card for me and they don't have something I need, I will ask for tradebait of slightly higher value (ex: if they want a $20 card from me I will ask them if they can find another $10 card on my list and trade both cards for the $30 card) and am told that I don't have anything they need. I mean, if you want a card for your PC and you expect me to take trade bait for it, shouldn't you be willing to do the same to get a deal done, isn't trading 2 cards for 1 the least you could do to get a PC card from someone who is shelling out postage and not even getting a PC card in return?


Basically, what I am asking is, do people in this hobby seem to be getting more and more selfish as time goes on, or is it just me?

I mean, either this site is has many more Doctors, Lawyers and CEO's than I originally imagined OR people just don't have the time for simple niceties or bits of politeness toward their fellow hobbyists unless there is something in it for them.

[the_nange]

Everyone wants to "win" the deal in some shape at the end of the day - and I don't blame them. I feel the same way many times, especially since I'm a smaller collector who can't crack a middle or high end box a month. I rather hold on to something that I know has more value than what I'm trading to get in return if it's a non PC item, and I suspect the other person is going to flip the card they just got from me.

That said, I have sold or traded in other people's favour if they are a PC collector of the player or team before.

As for returning PMs, I try my best... I've had the same scenarios where I even offered to give a collector free base and inserts he needed to finish his set (as long as he paid the shipping) - no reply. I just kind of shrug it off as their loss by then.

So in summary, I don't think all collectors are selfish... I just think there's many who do view the monetary value of the card as something that's important to them for whatever reason. The returning PMs thing is just common courtesy, and unfortunately as I've learned from general life off SCF, many people don't seem to have these days.

[philhelm]

I am noticing a disturbing trend on this site.

If I post a show and tell, I am lucky to get 2 replies (even though I routinely see over 100 views), as if everyone one this site is so important, so busy, that they don't have 10 seconds to type a brief reply. I mean, seriously, none of you are THAT busy, your time is not at such a premium (if it was you wouldn't be hanging around an online sports card forum in the first place).

If I post a tradelist or cards for trade, nobody replies. If by some miracle I do get a reply, it is someone who is usually BLATANTLY looking to make a deal where they come out significantly ahead of me.

If I send 5 PM's out about potential trades today, I will routinely get 1 reply out of 5. Yet again, is your time in such short supply that you can't spare 15 second to type, "sorry, not interested"?

If someone tries to get a card for me and they don't have something I need, I will ask for tradebait of slightly higher value (ex: if they want a $20 card from me I will ask them if they can find another $10 card on my list and trade both cards for the $30 card) and am told that I don't have anything they need. I mean, if you want a card for your PC and you expect me to take trade bait for it, shouldn't you be willing to do the same to get a deal done, isn't trading 2 cards for 1 the least you could do to get a PC card from someone who is shelling out postage and not even getting a PC card in return?


Basically, what I am asking is, do people in this hobby seem to be getting more and more selfish as time goes on, or is it just me?

I mean, either this site is has many more Doctors, Lawyers and CEO's than I originally imagined OR people just don't have the time for simple niceties or bits of politeness toward their fellow hobbyists unless there is something in it for them.

Just my two cents, take it for what it's worth: It is interesting that you perceive a lack of response as "selfish". If you want responses, give responses. If you want politeness, give politeness. If you dont want people to be selfish, dont be selfish yourself. Dont post a thread being impolite and expect something different in return.

[ncm7772]

Pretty much everything the_nange said.

It's a sad trend, and seems to be getting worse. I get pretty bummed too, when I don't get more than a reply or two to my S&T threads.

I've personally given up on trading, as no one wants to do it anymore. Just tired of the BS of it. Whenever I crack a box, I'll post what I pulled, let everyone know everything that's for trade, wait a day or two, then it goes to eBay. Might as well sell it for cheap and recoup some funds as opposed to having it sit in a binder or a box taking up space.

[adamslogik]

Just my two cents, take it for what it's worth: It is interesting that you perceive a lack of response as "selfish". If you want responses, give responses. If you want politeness, give politeness. If you dont want people to be selfish, dont be selfish yourself. Dont post a thread being impolite and expect something different in return.

I would challenge you to find a member on here who could say that I didn't reply to them within 12 hours of receiving their message. As far as me "perceiving" a lack of response as selfish, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. By not responding to a PM, you are telling me that the time it would take YOU to type out a one liner reply is much too important to be wasted on the likes of ME.

Selfishness is defined as:
characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself

sounds reasonably accurate.

[centrehice]

I've never understood why posters on this site only participate in the Show and Tell and not in any other threads. Selfishness is manifested in many ways, the Show and Tell thread being the sites biggest.

I myself don't have time, but I have time for Hockey. I am a Hockey fan 10,000 times more than I am a Hockey Card fan.

[philhelm]

I would challenge you to find a member on here who could say that I didn't reply to them within 12 hours of receiving their message. As far as me "perceiving" a lack of response as selfish, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. By not responding to a PM, you are telling me that the time it would take YOU to type out a one liner reply is much too important to be wasted on the likes of ME.

Selfishness is defined as:
characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself

sounds reasonably accurate.

Right, because it couldnt be something else.. it couldnt possibly be that someone is busy or forgets or any number of other reasons. Jeez - no wonder people dont respond to you.. get your issues worked out.

[RGM81]

This is going downhill quickly.

Such a trend is not limited to any particular hobby site but across the spectrum.

Be the change you want to see.

Until then, this rant thread has served its purpose.