Oooh, now look what you did, do you see that poor little kitten that was just run over.

Old Blue
you are just too funny!

Don't talk to trolls, they're only there to kill kittens.

Old Blue

If you mean it, own it.

Old Blue

Maybe we could simplify by having only two stamp attributes:
Stamp designed and hand-carved by a master artist/carver
Stamp is not designed and hand-carved by a master artist/carver and is therefore probably not worth putting gas in your car to find
Thoughts??

Isn't that what Blue and Purple Diamonds are for? If only there was a way to filter a search for just those (maybe there is for premium members?)

Yep, searching for blue and purple diamonds is a Premium Member perk. :^)

Question for New Member: Why would a letterboxer create a second account to post from anonymously?

I be having no idea.

Question for New Member: Why would a letterboxer create a second account to post from anonymously?

You must be new. HAH

watch the world burn like Booshmen and MissMoon.)

::::::gasp:::::

Ever the optimist, I think you will someday come to the end of your micro-analysis of stamp types and move on to logbooks (hand made/store bought/paper weight/wire bound/stitched/glued/ring-bound). Then the baggies (plastic quality/how many/what goes into which), the external containers (L&L, peanut butter jars, film canisters, mint tins, pouches) and at some point, the location analysis (adequate parking/facilities/trail sub-categories:paved, gravel, dirt, forest duff, or a combination, full viewpoint, or partial viewpoint-specify percent).

Please not the outside bag discussion. I beg you. LOL

Meanwhile, the rest of us will be out enjoying the glorious experience of solving clues, visiting new and interesting places, and finding the diverse range of boxes that others have planted.

Well said. Let's meet back here in six months and see how things went.

they prefer bespoke stamps over hand-carved

Dbare and I have had numerous trips to Dartmoor and most of what we found was store bought.

Oh, and one other point: I've never boxed in the UK, but it's my understanding that they prefer bespoke stamps over hand-carved. ("Bespoke" is Brit-speak for "custom-made").

Oh, I love bespoke--let's rid ourselves of custom and change it to bespoke instead.

Question for New Member: Why would a letterboxer create a second account to post from anonymously?

To wreak mischief, but of course.

Thank you sir, may I have another?

Let's not. While the definitions are similar, I think "bespoke" actually DOES imply the product was made by a professional for a fee.

If we were going to change anything here -- and I'm not saying we should -- the change I would propose would be to go to one attribute: A check box indicating the stamp is "unique". If this is the only such stamp in existence, check the box. If you can drop into Michael's and stamp in with exactly the same stamp off the shelf, don't check the box.

A check box indicating the stamp is "unique". If this is the only such stamp in existence, check the box.

As has been stated above, there can be several stamps using the same image. Nevertheless, you would probably consider hand-carved stamps unique anyway.

However, this discussion has persuaded me that we should have hand-made (hand-carved or sculpted, though I don't know of any of the later), store-bought and other. "Other" would sufficiently cover everything else.

As I said, debate's over!!!

"Looks like you're wrong again, troll" -- said the newbie.

====================

custom-made stamp definition has been updated:
"Somewhere between a hand-carved stamp and a store-bought stamp. A custom-made stamp has an original, unique stamp (and not mass-produced like the ones typically found in stores) but is not crafted by hand like a hand-carved stamp."

I'm very happy with the update. I still like this thread though and talking about what we find valuable and relevant.

I'm very happy with the update. I still like this thread though and talking about what we find valuable and relevant.

Agree!

Besides, we get to annoy those who want this thread to be over but who won't hit "Ignore".

Sometimes, endless discussions are ones which are not interesting because of the topic being discussed but because of the peripheral things that happen. It is like a rice dish; Sure, the rice is the main thing, but what makes it interesting is the other flavors that have been added.

I'm sorry Rogue One about how this has taken a turn for the worst and how this whole thread has been just a poking fun game at you. Do know that not everybody here is a jerk.

Welcome to letterboxing. I hope you find a group of people that will encourage you and welcome you. I hope that you continue to plant boxes and have fun finding them.

I hope you find a group of people that will encourage you and welcome you

He already has. I met him at his first event in VA last weekend and will probably see him again at an event here in NC this weekend. Plus he has a very nice LBing partner. Trust me, he's hooked.

I would change "original, unique stamp" to "original, unique image".

I'm sorry Rogue One about how this has taken a turn for the worst and how this whole thread has been just a poking fun game at you. Do know that not everybody here is a jerk.

I wouldn't say that this thread has "taken a turn for the worst." I think that we have had a lively discussion. Don't interpret "this whole thread has been just a poking fun game at you." Sometimes we do play rough, but we are really a friendly bunch.

I would change "original, unique stamp" to "original, unique image".

I still think that the third category should be "Other" and the definition should be, "A stamp that does not clearly fit in either of the other two categories."

I have been informed that the message to which I replied was itself a reply to a message that has been deleted. It was apparently a message that had "taken a turn for the worst". Sometimes we do play rough, and sometimes we go to far. We all need to sometimes be reminded of this.

As I've stated in the past and somewhere else, it is so much easier to say something online when you don't risk being punched in the face.

But we need to remember that there are so many other people here who would be willing to stand up and give a hug when you feel hurt.

Please, let's all remember both of these things.

I want to say "thank you!" from the bottom of my letterboxing-newbie heart for all of the positive messages throughout this thread, especially the ones from yesterday. :)

One of my core beliefs:
You cannot control how people treat you, but you have 100% control over how you react.

Thank you all for standing up.

I'm looking forward to finding boxes and meeting more of you :-)

I went on a cruise a little over a week ago, no internet. I come back and it is still going on. This is a "good" thing. People come back to discuss and exchange (not change, tho' it happens) opinion. I am really puzzled by the fact, no one has mentioned ALL hand carved stamps are custom stamps. If they weren't, what is the point. Other than that, the categories work for me.

I went on a cruise a little over a week ago, no internet. I come back and it is still going on. This is a "good" thing. People come back to discuss and exchange (not change, tho' it happens) opinion. I am really puzzled by the fact, no one has mentioned ALL hand carved stamps are custom stamps. If they weren't, what is the point.

Oh man, I wish I was on a cruise! Welcome back! I get what you are saying about hand-carved being 'custom,' but I think that's why it's important to get our definitions correct. Personally, I think the word 'custom' should be reserved for when another person other than the owner of the stamp does the carving. It just feels weird to say "I custom made this for myself." But sounds normal to say, "This was custom made for me."

I think the word 'custom' should be reserved for when another person other than the owner of the stamp does the carving.

So, everything done through the stamp swap should be considered a "custom" stamp? What about etsy?

So, everything done through the stamp swap should be considered a "custom" stamp? What about etsy?

You have a good point. I refer back to some of my original thoughts that would basically redo the categories. I wouldn't even have 'custom' as an option.

Let's try to encourage new letterboxers and not shame them.