= ( unfortunately I can't get my hands on any... I could bring you other lb gifts...

GG

Dead horses I think.

Shiloh

Well, I hand carve all of my stamps, so I guess I'm ok. But since you have 18 disagrees on your original post, I'm willing to bet you made someone feel small because of your wording. Good night.

I'm not really venting per se as i am trying to get the point across to people i know who insist on telling me that store bought stamps are stamps too and they deserve just as much respect as hand carved ones.

Well, you made the point that YOU don't want to find a store-bought stamp. However, there are plenty of people who don't care as much about what kind of stamp is in the box, as they do about the location, the hike, and the cleverness of the clues and the hide. Although I appreciate a hand-carved stamp, I find that a store-bought stamp symbolizes the fact that I found the box just as adequately. So hopefully you haven't discouraged anyone you know from planting boxes....

Sheba

> endured this hobby

are not positive or suggestive of enjoyment.
Why do you letterbox?

Probably the same reason I "endure" thru-hikes. Can't help myself. *sigh* That which one must endue will make you stronger! =)

-- Ryan

I, for one, am with you on this. I won't look for a store bought... but I'm glad that other people can. Different strokes, ya' know.
I remember when I was new to letterboxing, I went searching for a series, only to discover they were store bought stamps. I didn't even know that people did such a thing. I was crushed to have wasted a rare letterboxing day on a few dime store stamps. But... I learned my lesson and moved on.
LunaSea

Ehhhh . . .usually I feel the same way. Then I went on a very, very, very fun chase in the library of a local earth-cruchy type college

Yeah, I know the series of which you speak. It was lots of fun sneaking around my old alma mater but it would've been sooo much better with unique, handmade stamps, dontcha think?

I hear you on that. But at least we have icons that tell us all these things. How long a hike, what kind it is, etc.

I find it funnier though that out of the dozens of people who responded to this post, only about three got the joke.

But at least we have icons that tell us all these things. How long a hike, what kind it is, etc.

Yes, and icons that clearly show if the stamp is "hand carved" or "store bought". So, respectfully, I'm trying to understand why you started this discussion, Spakinois. What was the purpose of your original message posting? Thanks for clarifying, Lovebird K

You can say your preference, but it is just you kind of lacked tact when saying it. It could be discouraging to some.

If you are not venting/ranting, your final choice of words in the original message was probably a poor choice then. Added to that, anything that goes "I Hate *insert word here*" is usually a rant.

Again, your opinion. Maybe many people don't feel that way. Maybe some do feel that way. But that's your choice to view it like that.

To show that one phrase could elicit responses from all over and cause ire and anger for some. Usually, if i saw that sentence i would have just shrugged it off and said that's someone's opinion but i thought it was funnier that it caused many people to rant and rave back.

I find it funnier though that out of the dozens of people who responded to this post, only about three got the joke

I think it's odd that when someone starts a thread on a touchy subject and it goes for days with people saying "you're wrong" they say it was a joke.

Shiloh

To show that one phrase could elicit responses from all over and cause ire and anger for some.

I'm still confused. Was your original posting an "experiment" - you wanted to see what kind of responses you would get?

it caused many people to rant and rave back.

I actually thought the tone remained very civil.

Now, I am off to plan my boxing day boxing extravaganza...potentially including store bought stamps (gasp!)

Yep

because i could and it was funny to read the replys. It doesn't bother me whether you plant store bought stmaps or not. It was just an experiment that some didn't get.

Was your original posting an "experiment" - you wanted to see what kind of responses you would get?

Yep

Thanks. I have no respect for that. Letterboxing is a social "game" - I can't really play it alone. I depend on others to plant boxes so I can go find them. I depend on others to make LTCs so I can trade with them. Therefore, I find it important to "play nice" and that includes here on the message forum.

My opinion, but I don't think running a social experiment among the community of people you are dependent upon to play the game is a very wise move.

I have no respect for that.

I agree totally. They must be really bored or angry to intentionally stir up an issue like this - just because they could. Let's just consider ourselves lucky that our lives aren't as miserable as that.

See, that hurts. No one says anything about all the hurtful comments that have been said here.

I thought it was a civil discussion. it was a statement to get people into a discussion about bumper stickers and store bought stamps versus hand carved ones. I don't think it was harmful to anyone. If people don't plant stamps, they don't plant stamps. I know dozens of people that will continue to plant stamps so this doesn't affect their opinion. A couple of my friends have planted lots of store bought stamps but they found it funny. If people don't want to carve, they don't carve. If you don't like something on the radio, then turn it off. It's simple. If you don't like a comment on the board, then you don't have to respond. It was meant to get some stirring going. Plus to also get my message post numbers up.

You're right, none of us have to read your messages or respond.

I don't think it was harmful to anyone.

However, one of the points that was trying to be made to you before was your experiment could discourage people out there who are thinking of planting their first boxes and can't carve for them yet. They may think that is a widespread opinion and will be discouraged and even hurt by your statements and may not plant because they think their boxes will not be good enough for our community.

You may have upped your message post numbers now but I have a feeling that many people following this thread are now hitting ignore member on you. That means you won't have as many responses to future threads because many people will no longer see them. They will be turning off the radio permanently on you.

Your opinion is yours, no matter how you state it. I can respect other people's opinions that differ from mine. If I don't like how they stated it, I may either email them or simply not respond to the thread.

But to post something you didn't believe, just to increase your stars and rile people up is not kind. We often disagree here on the boards and sometimes we forget to be nice but what you did borders on downright mean.

I would like to quote Lockwench: "Nice counts."

KuKu

It was just an experiment that some didn't get.

Well, now here begins another experiment where we see how many people get irate over your experiment!

Kirbert, I'm surprised that you didn't remind folks who feel that they can't carve, that they don't need to. So I'll jump in and mention that you can still plant a handcarved stamp - just go to the Stamp Swap Board and ask if someone would be willing to send you a carved stamp - you can even ask for a specific type of stamp, something to match the location or theme. There are lots of very generous carvers out there (including Kirbert - I live hundreds of miles north of Kirbert and have found more then a couple of his stamps locally).

Kirbert, I'm surprised that you didn't remind folks who feel that they can't carve, that they don't need to.

I did. Apparently it needs repeating a lot, though.

Was your original posting an "experiment" - you wanted to see what kind of responses you would get?

Yep

because i could and it was funny to read the replys.

And now we know your character type.

Shiloh

I totally agree that this game is an addiction. I have snuck off to do it. I hide it from some of my friends. I sometimes lie about the amount of time I spend doing it. I can quit any time. I just don't want to!!!
BUT since it goes with exercise and is relatively inexpensive (no way can you spend hundreds of dollars a day, every day, on it) my even-more-addicted LB friend and I have rationalized that it's not so terrible and it keeps us our of the bars! ;0
Addiction yes, unhealthy no.

it keeps us out of the bars!

Not true in all areas of the country. There's a lot of letterboxing in bars in the Mid-Atlantic.... =)

Sheba

Good to know!!!