FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Peter Megaw]

Way things worked back then, Murf the Serf found a cool rock and the rules said he had to give it to his liege lord, because it was already his. Sounds like the governments attitude towards my money. Murf probably got an extra crust of bread for his trouble and was happy.

As you point out, elites have always existed, what matters is the ease of getting in...we call those who try to narrow the entrance elitists. We could wax psychological about why some feel so insecure they have to close the door after they're in. I think they need a hobby

[Carles Millan]

[nurbo]

Hello
I have this idea that the first mineral collectors must have been the serfs Ed mentions, dragging a pretty rock up from the mines where they relentlessly toiled to make their masters rich, then their masters saw what they had brought from the depths and wanted it for themselves, I could be wrong but it seems logical to suppose that this were the case.

I couldnt help but notice in Gails photoreportage of Denver that there were Sweet Home Rhodo's for $75 - 80 000, thats about what I paid for my house, a price tag of this kind is appealing to the few (relatively) who can afford such sums of money, and they are by definition "Elite" and some may feel they are superior because they have that kind of money to spend on rocks, but in my opinion its all relative, we spend what we can afford to spend, if that is $75k it probably equates as being less than the schoolboy who spends his pocket money, proportionately the schoolboy spends more as an overall percentage of income.

It seems to me that value is maybe of more relevance to non collectors, in that I have non collecting chums who see my collection and ask about its value or how much it cost me to put together, whereas I firmly believe other collectors would be more "Thats an interesting piece are you sure the locality is correct :-) "

[Les Presmyk]

I take a couple of days off and Ed and Pete start running off at the mouth, or email. Of course there are elitists in the mineral hobby, both as dealers and as collectors. It is no big deal, just accept it and move on. I am still not quite sure if I like it when Ed is actually gainfully employed or just sitting around typing away.

I am going to take a different tact and propose that collecting minerals (include fossils) is one of the last great democratic hobbies, bringing folks from all walks of life together. Anyone, with knowledge and hard work, has the opportunity to go out and find a specimen that virtually anyone who collects will covet. Or, you can travel to another country and be lucky enough to purchase a specimen that makes you weak in the knees.

What other hobby would allow someone like me to know the likes of Steve Smale, Gene Meieran, John Lucking, Ed David, Jim and Gail Spann, Bill and Carol Smith, Terry Wallace, Fred Steiniger, Eric Asselborn, Francis Benjamin, and Lauren Megaw, just to name a few? I have not forgotten Tony Potucek, Ed Huskinson, and Peter Megaw, but because we all work, or have worked in the mining business, our paths probably would have crossed at some point in our professional careers.

The people I have listed are among the numerous friends I have made over the years because of our common interest in minerals. In their own fields, excluding Lauren who still has many years ahead of her, everyone I have mentioned can be considered "elite". From investments and economics to medicine, to science, mathematics and technology, I would have no reason to connect with these people, nor them with me.

Another facet of this hobby is the impact we can each have on local and national museums. Not many of us could afford to donate a piece or art or coin or stamp that would be placed on exhibit in one of the national museums, or possibly even local museums. However, most mineral museums are glad to receive new donations and place them proudly on display.

So, do not worry about titles or names. Enjoy the minerals at whatever level you collect and let others worry about categories.

Finally, the only bet I will make is that Lauren Megaw is likely to outlive us all.

Yet, when we walk onto the Tucson Show floor, or bump into one another at some other show, we have a common interest. None of these people have ever struck me as elitists, but they are among a group of elite collectors.