Possible To Add A New Forum?

Hi Bobby,
Seems like on the US classics stamps forum,that there have been a lot of new collectors lately--so much, that it's almost all "ID this stamp", or "how much is this stamp worth?", and the same questions time and time again....all newer folks who may or may not be collectors, but all thinking that they have found a rarity when instead it's a common issue with little or no value, but nonetheless collectable.

We definitely want to encourage this type of question, but the forum is becoming almost all question and answer for this type of new collector, and very little discussion.

Just thought I'd make a suggestion that a new forum be added if it's possible, specific to this type of question. Those of us who want to help could visit and answer and this way, it would allow the classic forum to have more discussion vs US classics 101.

Not trying to be an a_s in any way here, and never would flame a newbie...and always encourage new collectors, and some of us more advanced collectors definitely learn from answers from guys like Bill Weiss and Clark Frazier, too...

Just food for thought, and as always thanks for providing this great venue for all of us......thanks, Ray

A Forum title - New Collector? Got Questions?

would be great

Excellent idea, Ray. I have observed in my own experience that some advance collectors may have some limited patience when answering questions and at times projecting a rude manner of response. A new comer does not know the background of all that chooses to response to questions
Rule of thumb : be polite to strangers and not be arrogant with responses even if they are simple questions. For example, may have a VIP outside of the philatelic field environment visit this site and person responding does not even know it, learning about stamps,quietly as a hobby ..Don't want a sour taste for someone not to return due to interaction viewed how one may communicate with their responses...Not all newcomers may have the opportunity to speak with another collector due to schedule availability ect.

If you do that- please insert a reminder to newcomers (and old comers) that they should respect the post categories. We have a real problem with people posting USA stuff all over the place.

It should include calling out the need for proper images (and perhaps a link on how to do it). It should also include some verbiage letting the new hobbyist know that they do NOT have a rare stamp; that their assumption should always be that they have the most common stamp(s). Additionally, there should be some mention about stamp/cover condition.

Ideally we would identify the top 12 new hobbyist questions and provide a link to the answers.
Don

definitely an excellent idea that would hopefully organize all the questions about value of stamps etc.

That's news to the Staff. We haven't had a report to move a topic since June 22nd. Almost two months. It takes less than 10 seconds to send a note.

If we're worried about things being in the wrong forum then a "New Collector" forum is a horrible idea. All new collectors will go there and everything under the sun will be there. Since no one apparently can take 10 seconds to get a topic moved, they'll just sit there.

Just sayin'

If someone wants to write that up, I will gladly post it on the site and make a sticky in the Welcome section with links.

If some of the more knowledgeable members want to get together on it I can make a private forum to work on them together.

There are many good arguments here. As for creating separate subforums, experimentation is necessary to determine what will work best in practice. The only thing evident to me is the benefit of dividing the U.S. covers and postcards forums into "classic" and "modern" divisions.

I fully embrace the idea of creating a "basics reference." With time, we do have enough knowledgeable persons to eventually create intermediate and even advanced references for the various specialized facets of philately.

I also fully embrace the idea of the creation of a guide to help members to learn the best practices of how to create useful images.

To start, Bobby, please create a private forum for us to collaborate in developing the first facet which is beginner concepts for each period of pre-1940 definitive issues. I have many ideas of how to create informative graphics. So far, I have utilized prior threads to reference to which is not ideal. I would love being able to reference to resources agreed upon by peer review and which are topic specific.

I also see much merit in tagging/flagging threads for newbies. I don't know how you could do so given the forum software, but at very least we could instruct newbies to start their thread title with something such as "Newbie - Question about XYZ". These threads would be enforced to be responded to with objective consideration where disparaging remarks are promptly reported and removed. For those that dislike newbie threads, it would also serve as an indicator for them to ignore them if they wish to avoid reading them.

On a similar note, it would be very helpful to have tagging/flagging for members who consistently provide accurate information such as expertisers and advanced collectors who demonstrate unfettered willingness to educate.