This does not mean that we are not caring, personable people......nor does it mean that we are reclusive. It's just that our particular hobby/pass time lends itself to the solitary individual connected to his/her own inner thoughts...........
This is it... Primarily.
But...
There is also other things that factor in...
Like I got tired of THE SAME conversation with people... 30 years ago ! heh
When I was a kid the guys that I would see go by me detecting never stopped and talked.
Only the ones that knew my dad would "share their secrets".
It was like a "secret society" and none of them wanted "new people" on their turf / spots.
They kinda fought for their areas.
And would be pissed if another guy came in.
Welp those guys are mostly gone... and the collections they had were representative of their hard work.
But I can tell you this for sure... They sure as hell did not encourage others... in any way shape or form.
Now I know times have changed... and a few of those old timers still exist...
but prolly don't even own a computer let alone know how to join a site to "chime in here" and verify what I am saying.
Perhaps a few of them are lurking here.
But me...
heh... last time I was at Sebastian... many years ago after the last big storm... was in the RV park at The State Inlet.
Was approached by some fellow detectorists... who were camped in the next spot.
Who apparently saw me as someone they really wanted and needed to try and talk to.
One of them had a 12 year old daughter who was fascinated ... I mean like she had the bug...
But no detector... she wanted one but just had been helping dad and his buddy so far...
These guys were cool and I taught them a few tricks... and lent the kid a small earth and science detector that I kept in the RV for finding nails and screws on the cuff around my tires.
She never stopped...
She found six nails in my RV spot and a slew of stuff... she was "focused" to say the least.
Come morning... she had her first detector.

And I took my chances with nails for the rest of the trip.
I often wonder... if she stuck with it...
and if the gift inspired dad to "kick it up a notch" with her.
For that was me at one time.
HECK ! she could be... OR dad could be... a member here.