Thanks to GDC Members! - 09/14/2015 06:58 PM
As some know, I am reluctantly trying to liquidate my collection. Honestly, things aren't going all that well, thanks to a slow economy, uncertainty about the future and tight money for many. I understand and appreciate that. In trying to sell some things, I have found a number of other militaria websites do not have the gentlemanly atmosphere found here. I place ads, as I do here, and the ads turn into discussion forums about what is "real" and what is not. Some of the participants are downright rude and obnoxious in their comments, often making personal slurs. I have found the same to be true of some "advice" sites, where people post information and photos of ads they have found, which, as often as not, is like throwing raw meat to a pack of wolves. I have enjoyed collecting for some 35 years and am the first to say I have not seen everything and do not know everything about this hobby. But, I do know some things. I also know the general atmosphere and attitude is vastly different than even a few years ago. There are way to many naysayers and self-appointed critics who haven't the slightest idea what they are talking about. Yet, they are influential when they lash out about some item shown on a site seeking opinions, when they don't know what they are talking about. Such tends to "poison" the sale of legitimate items. Such nonsense, with very few exceptions, doe not exist here at GDC. If someone asks for opinions, they usually receive knowledgeable, courteous replies. If someone questions an ad item, they have the courtesy to send a private message or email, rather than posting their observations or question in the ads themselves. This speaks a great deal of the caliber of the members here and it is refreshing, to say the least.