Tom_in_CA
Gold Member
- Mar 23, 2007
- 13,837
- 10,360
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 2
- Detector(s) used
- Explorer II, Compass 77b, Tesoro shadow X2
This humorous exchange was on the forums a few years back. But bears repeating:
A newbie got his first detector. Jumped on to forums to learn all he could. And ... in the process, saw things about "laws" and/or "permits" and/or off-limits places. So .... being new to all this, he figured he should not just assume the parks in his town were ok. He decided he should go check at city hall first.
He also saw threads where the correct method of asking was discussed. Eg.: you don't go in asking "hi can I metal detect?" INSTEAD he saw to carefully phrase the question: "Are there any rules or laws regarding metal detectors in the parks?". SO IN THAT WAY, it's puts the burden of proof on them, to CITE such a law or rule, if one existed.
He went to the park's dept. receptionist. He asked the carefully worded question. The lady was initially mystified. Didn't know what he was even talking about (she was thinking airport security metal detectors or something). The two of them got that straightened out. So she reached for her park rules, codes, etc.... in their printed materials.
Eventually she cheerfully looked back up at the fellow and said "Well, I don't see any mention of that here, so it must be ok ". The man said "Thanks. And I'll be sure to cover all my holes". Her smile turned back to a confused look: "Holes ? What do you mean ?". The md'r said "well I have to dig the coins. But don't worry, you won't even be able to tell I was there".
She said to him: "Excuse me for one moment". She left her front reception desk. The md'r could see her, going down the hall, poking her head into various office doors. Apparently conferring with her superiors. She then came back to the front desk and said : "I'm sorry sir, but we're going to have to tell you 'no' ".
The md'r said: "... But why ? You just said yes, now you're saying no. What's up ?". She then handed him a brochure , from the utility Co. (PG&E or whatever). On the cover of the leaflet was a picture of a back hoe. And the title was "Call before you dig" (and it had the 3 digit # that const. Co.'s are supposed to call).
The man IMMEDIATELY realized this had nothing to do with metal detecting. And was OBVIOUSLY meant for heavy equipment (trench digging, construction, etc...). So he laughed and told the lady: "Mam, this is talking about heavy equipment . I'm only going to be digging 6 inches, not 6 feet. Thus this doesn't apply to me" . And he handed the pamphlet back to her.
The lady glanced through the brochure and says: "Sir, it doesn't say how deep. It just says all digging. So we're still going to have to tell you no". And she handed the pamphlet back to him.
The fellow left the park's dept. office with the pamphlet, more confused now than when he'd arrived.
A newbie got his first detector. Jumped on to forums to learn all he could. And ... in the process, saw things about "laws" and/or "permits" and/or off-limits places. So .... being new to all this, he figured he should not just assume the parks in his town were ok. He decided he should go check at city hall first.
He also saw threads where the correct method of asking was discussed. Eg.: you don't go in asking "hi can I metal detect?" INSTEAD he saw to carefully phrase the question: "Are there any rules or laws regarding metal detectors in the parks?". SO IN THAT WAY, it's puts the burden of proof on them, to CITE such a law or rule, if one existed.
He went to the park's dept. receptionist. He asked the carefully worded question. The lady was initially mystified. Didn't know what he was even talking about (she was thinking airport security metal detectors or something). The two of them got that straightened out. So she reached for her park rules, codes, etc.... in their printed materials.
Eventually she cheerfully looked back up at the fellow and said "Well, I don't see any mention of that here, so it must be ok ". The man said "Thanks. And I'll be sure to cover all my holes". Her smile turned back to a confused look: "Holes ? What do you mean ?". The md'r said "well I have to dig the coins. But don't worry, you won't even be able to tell I was there".
She said to him: "Excuse me for one moment". She left her front reception desk. The md'r could see her, going down the hall, poking her head into various office doors. Apparently conferring with her superiors. She then came back to the front desk and said : "I'm sorry sir, but we're going to have to tell you 'no' ".
The md'r said: "... But why ? You just said yes, now you're saying no. What's up ?". She then handed him a brochure , from the utility Co. (PG&E or whatever). On the cover of the leaflet was a picture of a back hoe. And the title was "Call before you dig" (and it had the 3 digit # that const. Co.'s are supposed to call).
The man IMMEDIATELY realized this had nothing to do with metal detecting. And was OBVIOUSLY meant for heavy equipment (trench digging, construction, etc...). So he laughed and told the lady: "Mam, this is talking about heavy equipment . I'm only going to be digging 6 inches, not 6 feet. Thus this doesn't apply to me" . And he handed the pamphlet back to her.
The lady glanced through the brochure and says: "Sir, it doesn't say how deep. It just says all digging. So we're still going to have to tell you no". And she handed the pamphlet back to him.
The fellow left the park's dept. office with the pamphlet, more confused now than when he'd arrived.
... 
Like nose-picking: You can try to convince people that it's perfectly natural, not a danger to them, legal, etc... Or ... you can just choose more discreet times to nose pick. 
