When we're at our best...

I collected raw coins for about a year before I bought my first "slabbed" coin. Shortly after I bought my second slab (first NGC coin) I tracked down the NGC homepage and then started seeing things about the registry.

I initially thought that this place was some kind of super competitive environment where only people with $100,000+ invested in their collection should even dare venture for fear of being laughed to scorn and humiliation. When I started looking into it more, I found out it was a place for discussion and sharing what we all love, a place where friendly people come to chat. So I registered and started adding coins, sets and posts. I'm easily one of the youngest and least experienced members here but I'd like to think that my perspective is valued by at least a few.

But there's a problem... this is also a place of competition.

This may be an over-simplification but the vast majority of the petty bickering that occurs in the Collector's Society starts when we start thinking of ourselves first as fellow competitors instead of fellow community members. I'm guilty of it too, so don't think I'm pointing fingers here.

At times like this I feel the importance of the text that is at the top of every member's "Control Panel" page:

"Rule your own sets. Set your own rules. This is your page, so personalize your profile, bio, journals and friends, and create and manage your sets from here."

We're all left to approach our collection and our registry in the way that makes us happiest. How everyone else chooses to do things is ultimately none of our business.

I'll get off my soap box now. Have a good week everybody and happy hunting.