I just recently discovered what "like" means, how to use it, and that i could access it on Tapatalk (I use TNET almost exclusively from my phone). I am 29, but unlike the majority of my census i am not into social media of any kind - so the concept of "liking" is all new to me. I've since tried to make up for lost time and i now hit the thumbs-up for specific postings that interest me or the posts that someone took the effort to share their story.
I have a problem in that i probably only see about 10% of TNET postings... I strictly abide by the "constructive comments only" rule, and when i do reply i really try to put forth the effort to offer details, photos, etc... then proofread/correct any grammatical errors to the best of my abilities... So, in short - i spend most of my TNET time composing, and by the time i have finished my "browsing" time has been greatly reduced.
The TNET mobile apps search function just flat-out doesn't seem to work, so if i miss new postings, it seems they are gone forever unless i get on the computer (or someone bumps it back to the top).
What i can't stand is when I (or anyone for that matter) post something up inviting community involvement here on TNET, and HUNDREDS of members read/view it, without a single contribution... If your not interested in speaking up, cool... But don't be a tittybaby when i revive the thread 2-3 months later to see if any newcomers would like to offer input. Just because no one answered 'back then' doesn't mean that I lost interest.
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As an example, for anyone who has stayed with me this long and is still hearing me out:
Someone started a thread a good while back asking everyone for their opinion on what the "Top 10 Guns" found by members here on TNET were. I'm pretty sure i was the only one to respond to the guy who posted it... I thought it was a great idea for a discussion. If guns aren't your thing, awesome - I understand you may not be interested in contributing to that particular thread.
But the kicker is anyone who has spent more than a day on TNET knows there is a lot of firearms-related talk by self-proclaimed 'gun experts' whose prior postings may also be related to relic hunting... You'd think a "Top 10 Guns Found" thread would catch their interest!
But in all the months it's been posted, and including my recent "bump to top" - still no other takers have chimed in.
I'm starting to think a good majority of these 'gun experts' are just members of your run-of-the-mill "It's cool to like AR-15's / 1911's / 'Come and Take It' flags" crowd and wouldn't know truly timeless firearm designs if they got whacked by one between the eyes. Perhaps since no one is digging up an AR-15 or a 1911 they have nothing to say - because they don't know anything else?
I don't know, it just seems that a lot of threads with good potential seemingly get ignored in favor of bashing a certain detector brand or justifying to others that their 100% natural yet goofy-shaped rock is a 'treasure sign', haha.
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AFTERTHOUGHT:
There was just recently a thread regarding users posting up finds and not stating what machine they were using, details, etc.
I posted the following up in that thread. I figure it is along the same lines as what I've typed up in this post as well, so I've included it here:
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What -really- frustrates me is when folks don't put ANY location info on their profile, and then post up their finds without the courtesy of a general location included in the narrative...
Maybe I'm alone on this - but I am of the mindset that you should type out every new thread you start under the assumption that a brand new member is seeing your postings for the first time... And if your profile is blank how are they supposed to know what general location you dig? Listing a generic locale may help offer encouragement to the guys near you who maybe have been stuck in a rut lately, plus it just adds provenance to the find in general.
There are a lot of folks on TNET, and a ton of us (me included) can't remember that one time 3 years ago that you may have casually mentioned you worked near that one gas station about 45 minutes south of Nashville or whatever, haha! We don't have that recollection to apply to all your later postings.
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(This is me when i read a blank-profile members thread)
"Oh cool, this guy found a belt plate, I'm going to -assume- in Virginia cause that's where the majority of TNET plates seem to come out of. It's been a month since that has happened."
-Versus-
"Holy crap, this guy found a belt plate on private property near where Custer made his last stand!!! BANNER!!!"
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I am 100% on board with not disclosing your hunting spots - but give us your state at a minimum... Ideally (in my mind) would be your general vicinity or region (Northern Tennessee, Southern Pennsylvania, a miners camp in Colorado, a beach on the east coast of Florida, etc...)
If you don't offer us a little bit of insight into your find, as far as i see it your just posting to brag - which is cool - but TNET should be utilized to the FULL potential it was intended for: a resource to connect with/help fellow hunters.
I'd like to add that location becomes potentially even more vital when you post over in the "What Is It?" section... You can only help those who help themselves!
Oh, and scale. Doesn't have to be a science. If you don't / can't provide measurements, weights, etc - no problem - but at LEAST plop a dime or something down next to your find before you snap a photo!
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I apologize if i derailed your thread, OP.
If you don't want all this jamming up your thread let me know and I'll remove it and start a new thread titled "Tejaas' suggestions for helpful/constructive/involved discussion postings" , haha!
Happy Hunting!
~Tejaas~
. When I do post it is the only time I have to myself to go out and detect. I do try to comment on some posts when I do get on. This is a really great topic and I will make a better effort to appreciate others finds in the future.
