Pros vs Cons of Detecting Club Membership

[Keppy]

As long as you stay away from the politics it's a good time. You can definitely learn a lot from other members & I really enjoy seeing what everyone has found. There's always a bad apple or two but that's life

If you are in any type of club… There is always politics and clique's …. Even in your church's

 

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[Jason in Enid]

If you are in any type of club… There is always politics and clique's …. Even in your church's

Even here.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I am a lone hunter when i take my detector and go on a hunt i am with no one i am by my self…No one from any of these treasure forums is with me …..

Ah but you participate on forums. Right? To engage in various md'ing topics read/post, etc... . Perhaps you post your finds to show, and perhaps you read/see others finds they post. Yes ? No ? So in effect, you're in a "club".

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Even here.

hahaha. Human nature never changes, eh ?

 

[pepperj]

If you are in any type of club… There is always politics and clique's …. Even in your church's

It's hard to get a read on you Keppy as we're not sure what clique you are in as you use the generic ** I use only top name brand detectors ***** it has to be one of them.

 

[pepperj]

Ah but you participate on forums. Right? To engage in various md'ing topics read/post, etc... . Perhaps you post your finds to show, and perhaps you read/see others finds they post. Yes ? No ? So in effect, you're in a "club".

I imagine that you even know there is a true difference between the virtual world "clubs" and a hand pumping slap on the back "clubs of the real world" To broad brush the two together is daft in a sense.

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Will you befriend me.
Peace ✌

 

[Keppy]

It's hard to get a read on you Keppy as we're not sure what clique you are in as you use the generic ** I use only top name brand detectors ***** it has to be one of them.

Well if you read my posts you would know i use Minelabs and Garrets and just picked up a DFX..

 

[TheSleeper]

Perhaps I am more of a lone wolf than most. I have been here sure since 06 and lurked on here before that, have I ever shown a prize NO. Have I found items worthy of such, LOL, I wont answer that. To me the point of a club is just like here on Tnet, we chat, we share secrets and suggestions to help others. Technically each and everyone of us that registers here is and has been a member of a club, the Tnet club so what is the difference. There is drama, heck me and Tom in CA have disagreed, I have disagreed with others, others have disagreed with me, doesn't make them right and me wrong nor vice versa.

To me a club is about comradely, being around like minded people who share in the same hobby, and lets take a min and be real gut wrenching honest here not only with ourselves but with everyone else. If none of us were looking for a sense of comradely, we would not be here. Each of us gains a small sense of belonging to a club/group/fellowship of fellow hunters sharing tales, tips, stories what ever with other like minded people, treasure hunters.

A club is just like everything else, there is good and there is bad, it is up to each of us to decide if the good outweighs the bad.

I have been hunting for well over 40 years either in the dirt/ sand or water and almost always by myself, I have found my treasures, multiple times over, sold them gave them away to others to inspire them in our heritage, or in the case of jewelry from the beaches and water given them away to gals I have dated. Treasures come and go, will I find more in the future, can't answer that since no one can see what tomorrow may bring, but from all these treasures I have found the ones that I treasure the most are the friendships I have made from this hobby.

Gold, silver, coins, jewelry they come and go but friends, even if they move away or what ever, last a lifetime and no small little patch of dirt is worth loosing them over squabbling over whose spot is was!

And just so you all know, Tuesday night for the first time in my lifetime I am going to be attending a treasure hunting club meeting.

 

[Slingshot]

Pros - clubs can be fun, and if you are fairly new at detecting and are paying attention then you will acquire a vast amount of various types of information and concentrated experience in a short amount of time. I also used to loved to break out one of my old BFO's for the club hunts, that was a real hoot.
Cons- dues, politics, clichés, overbearing personalities, and the ever present crooks can make for an uncomfortable experience.

 

[pepperj]

Well if you read my posts you would know i use Minelabs and Garrets and just picked up a DFX..

Well I'm busted. I have enough too much on the plate to remember what everyone uses, sorry nothing personal.

 

[Keppy]

Well I'm busted. I have enough too much on the plate to remember what everyone uses, sorry nothing personal.

I don't like to put up what detectors i use …. For i am always thinking of changing but i never do...

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very interesting thread!

 

[Old Dude]

As with a lot of threads here, I see people are very opinionated about this and argue their points very passionately. Tom, I can see why you feel this or any forum is in effect a club. I suppose we do the same things they do, but this is just so much more comfortable as it is still a bit anonymous. I am sure there are people here that pass things off as " dug " but aren't really. That's OK. Liars always fail eventually. They are cheating no one but themselves. You get no second chances from me. Once a liar, always a liar. I do know this, I will definitely contribute to ,and participate in this much more than I would if I had to drive to a meeting after working 10 or 12 hours. My free time is spent in the field as much as possible. I really don't think I would attend a meeting very often and the thought of a seeded hunt just seems to me to be an imitation of the real thing. I suppose this will be my " club ". It's easy to dismiss the cliques here...just don't read their posts, lol. If I had to physically see them, I believe there would be friction.
Thanks all for your thoughts, and please carry on. You're doing well!

 

[pepperj]

As with a lot of threads here, I see people are very opinionated about this and argue their points very passionately. Tom, I can see why you feel this or any forum is in effect a club. I suppose we do the same things they do, but this is just so much more comfortable as it is still a bit anonymous. I am sure there are people here that pass things off as " dug " but aren't really. That's OK. Liars always fail eventually. They are cheating no one but themselves. You get no second chances from me. Once a liar, always a liar. I do know this, I will definitely contribute to ,and participate in this much more than I would if I had to drive to a meeting after working 10 or 12 hours. My free time is spent in the field as much as possible. I really don't think I would attend a meeting very often and the thought of a seeded hunt just seems to me to be an imitation of the real thing. I suppose this will be my " club ". It's easy to dismiss the cliques here...just don't read their posts, lol. If I had to physically see them, I believe there would be friction.
Thanks all for your thoughts, and please carry on. You're doing well!

Anonymity is a feature of this which a lot of folks enjoy, it's like the hobby it self some enjoy the solidarity of hunting alone. I can never quite understand the need to have a hunt that's planted, as I tried one that was sponsored by Minelab did well won a new detector (still in the box never opened it) did well in the hunts but it really was a one of as I never will do it again.

I totally agree with the liar part OD as it comes down to a simple trust, break it and it's a very quick goodbye. I believe trust and a true friend are two of the closest gifts one can have in life, and not to be taken lightly.

 

[Nepa-Will]

Interesting topic. I often wondered the same. I have some great guys who i hunt with and who have become great friends as well. I also have met some guys that I wish i never met at all. The guys who do their homework are the ones who truly are in it it for the hobby. I do a lot of homework and try to teach the guys I meet how to do the same. Not saying groups are bad, but i am sure there are vultures who join just to tag along and cherry pick sites, and find out where the spots are. In a group you wont be able to avoid those guys. I am happy the way it has been with the guys I meet along the way. The best part of it all is that it doesn't cost me a thing to make a great friend.

 

[voodoo]

I'm curious to join a club. I have been tossing the idea around for a bit, but I can't bring myself to pay twenty dollars a month. I really don't want to do seeded hunts, I meet enough people and easily make friends on my own. I hunt with one or two folks at a time and I like it that way (wow just realized I sound like an old geezer). I show my finds to my friends, family. Most folks that visit ask to see what I've found. I would prefer to go to a restaurant with my MD buddies and just BS and plan hunts. As far as "clubs" go this is my club. This is where I can see all the great finds, this is where I can ask questions. Best of all no Fees, no politics, no drama, no poaching, no meetings. Well actually I guess this is a meeting 24/7 and I can attend in my PJ's. Best of all, y'all keep me going with this crazy hobby we have.

 

[Bev]

The good: Educational. Interesting speakers. Seeded hunts people seem to like. People there who just loved to teach the hobby and help any way they could. I would say go and observe. Interact just a little and trust your gut. If you're with a great bunch of people then you'll know. If you feel like you're not, get out fast. Just like any club situation, there can be some people there that are just nuts and you don't want to find that out when you're deep in the woods with them!

 

[pepperj]

The good: Educational. Interesting speakers. Seeded hunts people seem to like. People there who just loved to teach the hobby and help any way they could. I would say go and observe. Interact just a little and trust your gut. If you're with a great bunch of people then you'll know. If you feel like you're not, get out fast. Just like any club situation, there can be some people there that are just nuts and you don't want to find that out when you're deep in the woods with them!

As the old saying goes "Everyone seems normal until you get to know them"

 

[Bev]

Just be careful. Don't trust that everyone that shows up to those places is ok just because they like the same hobby. Some people might be great- until they're NOT. It seems like most people on here carry arms so to them it's probably not an immediate concern!