Up until I made this thinking out loud comment, metal detecting was not a political activity for me. I would never dream of starting a treasure website because it would distract me from being in the field and actually participating in the hobby. Metal detecting will never be a political pastime for me.
While we are on the subject, I think everyone using this site should make the charter contribution every year to help run and maintain it. It's really not a lot of money for the value.
I will note, that although I do not read political discussions, while searching the site for interesting topics, I will come across thread starters using slurs of politicians names. These, by themselves, convey political commentary. It's like having someone flash you. Then tell me I didn't have to look.
I have learned so much from this site from other detectorists. I will never forget, early on when I first began metal detecting, I posted a beautiful George Washington Inaugural button I found. I had no idea what it was, but posters on the site politely told me what it was without calling me an idiot for not knowing. I visit this site foremost for encouragement. Seeing what other people are finding on a daily basis motivates me to get out there and search. Sometimes I need this motivation. I spend entire days in the field walking and swinging for hours with a back pack full of gear. In the snow, rain, freezing, hot and humid weather while dodging hunters bullets and deer ticks. Then having others explain to me what I have found. Maybe encouraging others to get out there by showing my finds and teach them something I have learned. Plus, I do read gear recommendations and buy accordingly.
Despite not ever pulling in what this site considers a banner find, I have pieced together, in the past five years, an unprecedented look into early settler life in my area. The old snobby historians in my area won't give me an audience. They can't imagine me finding something beyond a corroded piece of crap. I come from a science background. I am unwilling to make bold historical statements like them without proof. Recently I did some carpentry work at the home of a member of our local historical society. I mentioned that I was a detectorist and have a nice colonial collection. He totally blew the comment off. The next time I worked at his house, I brought a mid-1700's Georgian shoe buckle with matching knee buckle. Both in working condition with all three pieces intact, minimal corrosion. I also brought a matching handcrafted silver horse bridle rosette that is museum-quality, and nice period buttons to match. The response: "Would you like to give a talk to the society?"
Okay, I apologize for not acknowledging other people who enjoy this site for reasons other than treasure hunting. That's cool. The site name threw me off. I guess metaphorically, I run into nails and iron while searching for treasure, so why not come across it in life? Like our detector units, we have to learn to use notch filters. Yes, we might miss some treasure, but we certainly will save time.
If I take a lot of heat for expressing my opinion in this thread, I will leave. Otherwise, I am going to spend an eight hour day tomorrow in freezing weather searching a colonial site with a 20lb. backpack on. Where I found a 1787 CT copper last week, and a 1780 1/2 real minted in Mexico City two weeks before. Excited to find something to post.
You know what would be an interesting topic to discuss? I have made observations regarding coin condition related to whether or not a site has been actively farmed for 100's of years, exposing the metals to agricultural chemicals.
