Worlds Worst Hobby

[BosnMate]

I accidentally found this article, and I think the author hit the nail on the head. There are hundreds of thousands of metal detectors that have been sold, but it appears most sit in someone's closet and never get used. I think her experience has been mirrored by many. I have a grand daughter that lives 1000 miles away. She has her own machine, purchased by grandpa, and she loves to hunt with grandpa, which happens perhaps part of two days a year, if that often, otherwise, her machine sits in the closet, probably with the batteries leaking.

The world's worst hobby. - Slate Magazine

 

[Produce Guy]

I read a little bit of this story and felt like his problem started with a Bounty Hunter.

 

[dirtscratcher]

I read a little bit of this story and felt like his problem started with a Bounty Hunter.

WOW!!!!!!

 

[HutSiteDigger]

I wouldn't consider it the "worlds worst hobby" but more of a "frustrating hobby" you really have to be into history and digging to enjoy it (unless you are a beach hunter i guess).. cause as you know, you can go weeks,months,year(s) without digging a banner type find... I simply enjoy digging anything Civil War, even if it is nothing but Union crap, I still fully enjoy it.. but lot of people get into it for a month or two and give up. Finding a good place to hunt (with permission) is virtually almost impossible these days, (you may get permission to hunt a really good site and dig the heck out of it and then that's it.. you can spend 2 years trying to get permission to hunt another glory spot!! this is happen to me and others I know before. You will be on a roll @ one spot then it's all gone and now you have to try to convince another land-owner to give you permission,etc)

 

[Gold Maven]

It's a cute story, but just like so many people today they want great results immediately, with little knowledge or effort.

She lives beside a life long metal detectorist, but instead of asking him for advice, they ask a salesman. I guess salesmen are known for honesty and integrity.

Articles like this are great, there's too much competition the way it is.

 

[Muddyhandz]

If I had a nickle for every "Closet detectorist" I've met, I'd have a good chunk of change.
I started detecting in 1987 at 13 years old and could only afford a Whites Liberty II for around $250.
By then most of the parks were cleaned out of signals that my cheap detector could reach, as it barely could go 6 inches deep.
My saving grace was living just outside of the city and I never got the chance to search those parks until later in life.
I went door to door knocking and searched old yards right from day one.
Of course, it was easier to get permission being that age and also my grandma was the local hairdresser and all the older ladies knew who I was.
Boy, did I find a lot of old coins! Most of them were pretty shallow.
Years later, I got a better, more deeper machine and pulled out lots of treasure from all the older parks.
The problem I see, is that most who just get into the hobby flock to the same parks and obvious spots that have been hunted to death.
They don't find enough goodies to hook them and then they do one of two things:
Throw it in the closet or follow advice on a treasure hunting forum and run out and buy a $1500 detector.
The later can be just as bad (if not worse) because of having no experience and now trying to figure out a more complex machine.
Add the "Quick fix" mentality that prevails in modern times and it's on to the next gadget.
One has to have some skill and be able to build up faith.
If you have never experienced finding anything good, then how can you have the faith that something is there, waiting to be found?
Hang in there, and try something different.
H.H.
Dave.