"KARENS"

[McKinney_5900]

If you have detected as long as I have and longer, me beginning in 2010, you have surely had locals see you poke holes in the earth, and then Barney Fife come out after a call from a local to run you off. It is a very vague wording "disturbing the grass, etc" so metal detecting actually includes detecting the on-lookers watching you having your innocent day outside.

The Karens seem to have little to do other than cause us hobbyists enjoying a day outside, which made me wonder, do you stay aware of them and what methods do you have in making your simple digs? I personally keep on-lookers in my radar right before I kneel down to dig, and put my back to their view on the digger flipping the first hole.

Do you just blow them off, carefree, or do you actively keep Karens giving those "looks?"

 

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[bottlecap4u]

do you stay aware of them

Have yet to meet my first full-blown Karen, but I get totally what you're saying. Whether in public spaces or door knocking, I do get the 'stranger-danger' looks, especially if kids are around and from mommies. Have yet to get a 'yes' from moms who answer the door alone with kids, always saying...have to check with my husband. In parks, when kids come up and they jump in to pull finds (I let them keep goodies too), always have a mom hovering around pretending to look at her iPhone but side-glancing. Just the world we live in, I shrug it off, smile a lot. If park staff or police are around, I go up to them first, chat it up, no barnies yet. If you appear suspicious, then to them, you are suspicious. So for me, I engage them when I can, with a smile, hello etc.

 

[Bucket Lister]

Do you just blow them off, carefree, or do you actively keep Karens giving those "looks?"

I'm a newb, but I posed a similar concern/question about a month ago... 🤔

When I finally get out there, will I feel like a dork?

I was going to entitle this, "... will I BE a dork?" but I've had other "dork hobbies" before... 🤓 (IOW, GUILTY! :hello:) Maybe the question should be, "How much of a dork..."? :laughing7: Ever since I got this thing (the climate/weather have been uncooperative)—and probably before—I've...

www.treasurenet.com

 

[smokeythecat]

I always go on private property with permission, so never had that problem. That said, last Saturday a guy driving his horse drawn buggy pulls up and asks if a certain family still lived there. No, they didn't. Funny.

 

[robertk]

Do you just blow them off, carefree, or do you actively keep Karens giving those "looks?"

Always be someplace where you have permission to be -- whether that is private property, or public -- and you don't have much to worry about from the law.

Personally, if I'm in a public place and I can see that I'm making someone else uncomfortable, I'll just go someplace else. Whatever I'm looking for has been in the ground for decades, so it'll be just fine waiting for another day.

 

[Tony in SC]

I was still learning in the early 70's, detecting a very old church yard on the run down side of town. Having a good time and finding good stuff. A grungy little urchin ask whatcha doin? I reached in my pouch, pulled out a hand full of coins. Before I even got my fingers stretched out his little nasty hand grabbed a fist full of coins and he was gone in the blink of an eye! To this day I am careful in what I let people see!

 

[pickaway]

I think the Kevin's are worse especially the ones on the net...

 

[Nathan W]

I've had a woman while I was detecting an old school ask me did I work for the school, I said no my wife teaches here and I'm allowed. She mumbled something and I walked off trying to concentrate, wasn't long cops came. They were actually interested in my finds lol. Oh and she was walking here dog all over the school grounds letting it crap twice. I was going to give her an ear full but it wasn't worth it .

 

[CaNiDigHere?]

Have yet to meet my first full-blown Karen, but I get totally what you're saying. Whether in public spaces or door knocking, I do get the 'stranger-danger' looks, especially if kids are around and from mommies. Have yet to get a 'yes' from moms who answer the door alone with kids, always saying...have to check with my husband. In parks, when kids come up and they jump in to pull finds (I let them keep goodies too), always have a mom hovering around pretending to look at her iPhone but side-glancing. Just the world we live in, I shrug it off, smile a lot. If park staff or police are around, I go up to them first, chat it up, no barnies yet. If you appear suspicious, then to them, you are suspicious. So for me, I engage them when I can, with a smile, hello etc.

i stick to the beach

 

[Whynotnow?]

Before I started I assumed people being unhappy with my chosen hobby was a given and that they'd let me know somewhat regularly. Coming up on two years detecting and Ive yet to have a negative interaction when out detecting. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe no one cares. I think it's mostly the latter.

 

[FinderTravis]

Experiences like that are always a downer, big time, specially if a dog has a spaz and is not on leash in public park and damages your machine. Or if someone calls the police and after speaking with them a black exotic suv parks next to your vehicle in a large dark empty public parking lot with headlights shinning bright on you the whole time your walking path back to your vehicle then speeds off, circles back and rolls by slow as your tossing gear into vehicle to get the hell outa there! and you realize when back home safe and sound, but shaken, your machine needs repair.. Then there are the people who have lost something and think that you have found it and get everyone they know online to troll you after stalking online to find you.. Always keep your vehicle close as you can, keep an ear and eye out and have a good idea of surroundings before you need to make a decision, buddy system and legal forms of personal protection are great ideas too! specially if near homeless camps. I know discussing this sort of topic paints a bad picture for the hobby, but feel it needs to be addressed so new persons to the hobby can have an idea/foresight of possible situations/scenario's and elements they may have to deal with or encounter while out and about. Cheers and happy hunting all!

 

[pepperj]

Karen's, drunks, weirdos, perps lots of them out there.
Guy tried to boot me in the head while I was doing a recovery.
Instincts I jabbed my long screwdriver at his chest.
Well the drunk did the chicken flap on the ground.
Ambulance/cops came, I guess the jab effected his heart.
I was cuffed, then folks stepped up and explained I was defending myself.
I enjoy my private permissions now in life.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Since I look like a serial killer, the Karens never approach me. It's the baseball and soccer coaches that try to tell me what to do. "I coach a Little League team here" is the usual comment. That's nice, but you don't own the field just because you're a coach. Since I only do ballfields off-season, they have no reason to take offense to what I'm doing. My simple reply is feel free to call the cops, but you're not telling me what to do. That usually gets them to go away with their tails between their legs...

 

[FinderTravis]

Experiences like that are always a downer big time, specially if a dog has a spaz and is not on leash in public park and damages your machine. Or if someone calls the police and after speaking with them a black exotic suv parks next to your vehicle in a large dark empty public parking lot with headlights shinning bright on you the whole time your walking path back to your vehicle then speeds off then circles back and rolls by slow as your tossing gear into vehicle to get the hell outa there and you realize when back home safe and sound, but shaken, your machine needs repair.. Then there are the people who have lost something and think that you have found it and get everyone they know online to troll you after stalking online to find you.. Always keep your vehicle close as you can, keep an ear and eye out and have a good idea of surroundings before you need to make a decision, buddy system and legal forms of personal protection are great ideas too! specially if near homeless camps. I know discussing this sort of topic paints a bid picture for the hobby, but feel it needs to be addressed so new persons to the hobby can have an idea/foresight of possible situations/scenario's and elements they may have to deal with or encounter while out and about.

And if you ever get that eerie gut feeling you're being watched, chances are...

 

[Nathan W]

And if you ever get that eerie gut feeling you're being watched, chances are...

The buzzards scared me once. Old house just the shell, I got close to it and the birds flew out of the windows and open areas. Was like a horror movie scene lol

 

[robertk]

The buzzards scared me once. Old house just the shell, I got close to it and the birds flew out of the windows and open areas. Was like a horror movie scene lol

The birds are always watching....

 

[jewelerguy]

Most of my experiences with other people in public parks or where ever have usually been them just being curious if I'm finding anything. One time years ago though, a couple of women in their 70's and with obvious snooty dispositions were on the walking path in our local park. I was just popping a couple of quarters from a very shallow hole a few feet off the path when they stopped and one of them said "do you think you should be doing that?". I replied "it's a public park, open to everyone. Do you think you should be walking here?". They both immediately stuck their noses in the air with a silent 'hmmmff!' and continued on their way. I still don't understand where someone like that comes off thinking their activity is any more important than mine.

 

[pepperj]

Back in the late 80's detecting in a large park in Toronto.
These folks came up to me and the woman thought I was so poor I was digging for coins.
In broken English she commended me for my actions.
I tried to explain, but then he took out his wallet opened it and said take.
I finally got them to understand it was a hobby.
Then we all had a good 🤣

 

[Blackfoot58]

I have an old woman who comes to the park whenever I’m detecting.
Drives her car as close as possible, writes down my vehicle license, etc.
I only use a screwdriver to dig, in that park. I pick up trash and don’t detect around the equipment if any children are present.
Next time I plan to photograph her and her license plate. I can’t see how it would be illegal. However, by definition, I suppose it’s assault, if she says I made her afraid.

 

[Bucket Lister]

I have an old woman who comes to the park whenever I’m detecting.
Drives her car as close as possible, writes down my vehicle license, etc.
I only use a screwdriver to dig, in that park. I pick up trash and don’t detect around the equipment if any children are present.
Next time I plan to photograph her and her license plate. I can’t see how it would be illegal. However, by definition, I suppose it’s assault, if she says I made her afraid.

Experiences like that are always a downer, big time, specially if a dog has a spaz and is not on leash in public park and damages your machine. Or if someone calls the police and after speaking with them a black exotic suv parks next to your vehicle in a large dark empty public parking lot with headlights shinning bright on you the whole time your walking path back to your vehicle then speeds off, circles back and rolls by slow as your tossing gear into vehicle to get the hell outa there! and you realize when back home safe and sound, but shaken, your machine needs repair.. Then there are the people who have lost something and think that you have found it and get everyone they know online to troll you after stalking online to find you.. Always keep your vehicle close as you can, keep an ear and eye out and have a good idea of surroundings before you need to make a decision, buddy system and legal forms of personal protection are great ideas too! specially if near homeless camps. I know discussing this sort of topic paints a bad picture for the hobby, but feel it needs to be addressed so new persons to the hobby can have an idea/foresight of possible situations/scenario's and elements they may have to deal with or encounter while out and about. Cheers and happy hunting all!

Karen's, drunks, weirdos, perps lots of them out there.
Guy tried to boot me in the head while I was doing a recovery.
Instincts I jabbed my long screwdriver at his chest.
Well the drunk did the chicken flap on the ground.
Ambulance/cops came, I guess the jab effected his heart.
I was cuffed, then folks stepped up and explained I was defending myself.
I enjoy my private permissions now in life.

Most of my experiences with other people in public parks or where ever have usually been them just being curious if I'm finding anything. One time years ago though, a couple of women in their 70's and with obvious snooty dispositions were on the walking path in our local park. I was just popping a couple of quarters from a very shallow hole a few feet off the path when they stopped and one of them said "do you think you should be doing that?". I replied "it's a public park, open to everyone. Do you think you should be walking here?". They both immediately stuck their noses in the air with a silent 'hmmmff!' and continued on their way. I still don't understand where someone like that comes off thinking their activity is any more important than mine.

These are the kinds of things I was asking about (before the thread got 'jacked).

Now I'm feeling paranoid again.... 😱

I can see now why some detectorists travel in packs, and I've seen at least one "packing" on YT. 😲