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An interesting thing happened at the school....Get out!

Some of you are advocating "stealth" to avoid such lookie-lou busy-body gripers. Ie.: out-of-sight is out-of-mind, eh? Ie.: why swat hornet's nests? If someone(s) doesn't like it, then avoid just that one individual in the future, rather than thinking it's your/our duty to make them "love you", eh?

I would have thought the same thing (seems logical enough). But on another forum where I posted that ".... sometimes you just gotta pick more discreet hours", I was "taken to task" on that answer. To the person who challenged that approach, they said that was "sneaking around". So in their mind's eyes, if you/we/I are doing nothing illegal, then why oh why oh why should we need to "sneak around" and "pick low traffic times" and "avoid busy-bodies" ?

On the one hand, I sympathize with that person's mindset. Because to them it appeared that I was promoting violations of the code of ethics. In their mind's eyes , if you "have permission" (even where there's no rules/laws that forbid detecting), then there is no need to be sneaking around. No busy-bodies to need to evade, etc..

So what do you guys say to a mind-set like this? Are you and I promoting law-less-ness and "sneaking around" ? In my next post, I'll post what my answer back to this fellow was. But in the meantime, how do you handle this counter-accusation?
 
Someone didnt answer the one of the above posts so. I will take the liberty to do so. Some schools are open. no gates no problems. Its 'community" property to be used by all They way it should be. There are some areas the schools are locked up with security. Problems are some "people" kidnap kids along with theft, vandalism and of course ...drugs.....so....they said no more...and sometimes I cant blame them for locking up the grounds.

I dont think there should be ANY sneaking around but on the other hand....one should not go out of his/her way to advertise it or cause any kind of difficulty.


Funny someone would just post about this but ....I just happen to be at the school on SUNDAY....that dealt with the original post. I didnt think anyone would be there....I was wrong.....

I was there for about 10 mins and saw the soccer coach they created the "hoopla". He was using a rake or something....looked up and saw me....and kept doing what he was doing. I looked over about 10 mins later....he was gone. I guess someone DID have a chat with him about...being part of the community".
 
I was ran off from an elementary school one Friday afternoon. It was about 5:00 PM when the school cop drove up. He asked me if I was metal detecting and I said yes. He told me the schools "preferred we nor detect so close to the buildings."

Well duh!! That's where Mom drops the kids off....and that's where the kids drop their change!!!

He said I was welcome to detect further away from the building....but did not have any idea what "further away from the building" meant.......20 feet, 20 yards, 50 yards.....who knew?

Johnny Law was VERY nice and inquisitive about MD'ing. So I took the opportunity to enlighten him about how, when done correctly, it was hard to see where I had dug and that no damage was being done. Hopefully he's gonna be on my side next time he catches me....because he will.....that school is too good to pass up!!

But he he's gotta get to work early in the AM if he wants to "take me alive, Copper!". LOL

The weather has not been conducive to hunting for months now, so I'm hoping my absence has helped him forget about me.......time will tell.

HH y'all, ya hear!!

Frank
 
As a general rule, and as part of The Metal Detectorist Code of Conduct. do not hunt around public buildings or their grounds when they are occupied or in use. If you do your are pushing the envelope to be challenged. "out of sight, out of mind"
 
Been reading all this and i just don't see what the big deal is. If the school is out of session, no cars in the parking lot, no activity around, no signs around, no closed fences then just go for it preferably on a Sunday. Our property taxes pay for that there school.

Stealth? I'll tell you what, there's a fine line between stealth and keeping a low profile.
I never blatantly advertise to the world that i'm metal detecting even in areas where i have solid permissions. To do so would invite the busy bodies of the world to ........
 
Foiler and Iron-sight, thanx for your input on the issue of "stealth". On another forum, when I suggested that our best tactic is to do exactly that, I got accused of promoting lawless-ness, ninja, sneaky, illegal, etc..... In other words, some of them looked at such advice as being un-necessary, IF IN FACT what we were doing is "completely legal". They couldn't understand that we should EVER have to "look over our shoulder" and go at low traffic times, if there were nothing legal to be worried about, TO BEGIN WITH.

A part of you has to chuckle at that, and sympathize with that, eh? I mean, on the surface, it sounds logical. But *realistically* we've got to admit that EVEN WHEN LEGAL, that doesn't mean someone might not DREAM UP some reason to say it's not legal. You know, because of the eyesore lookie-lou aspect of the "odd person with the geiger-counter". Eg.: "oooh, I wonder what he's finding", and "oooh, I wonder if he'll leave holes", etc....

So it's kinda like nose-picking: not illegal ... but .... still advisable to be a little discreet in your timing. There are times in this life where we need to give lip-service, and respect those who "may not like it". And to respect those persons, I will simply not wave it in front of them. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When no Romans are around .... well .... then no one to be offended, eh?
 
ironsight said:
Been reading all this and i just don't see what the big deal is. If the school is out of session, no cars in the parking lot, no activity around, no signs around, no closed fences then just go for it preferably on a Sunday. Our property taxes pay for that there school.

Stealth? I'll tell you what, there's a fine line between stealth and keeping a low profile.
I never blatantly advertise to the world that i'm metal detecting even in areas where i have solid permissions. To do so would invite the busy bodies of the world to ........
Click to expand...

Hey, I am the same way AND to the extreme, but it's just wrong that we must sqwerm at all with detectors. If the school is on holiday or weekends and without events going on, then just go ahead and hunt. If you choose to be a sunrise hunter on Sunday morning, then you are "laying down" and being stealthy.

You can call me Mr. Stealth. I follow that sneaky, and sneaky is what you are really doing by adjusting to Joe-public's hours. Being just a bit blatent could be good for the soul. This particular aspect of metal detecting is what would have had me to never begin if I was starting over for the first time. Pardon my French,,,it sucks to have to feel like you must look over your shoulder. That ain't fun. martin
 
I agree that it would be nice if all archies, custodians, and gardeners would "roll out the red carpets" for us. I agree it would be nice if there were neon signs saying "metal detecting welcome here". And I agree that it's no fun to need to go at "sunrise" or "low traffic" times so-as-to-avoid busy-bodies. And I agree that you and various others would have chosen a different hobby, if they knew that "not everyone loves them and welcomes this activity". Ie.: if being a bit .... uh .... "discreet" means to some that it's akin to "sneaky" and hence un-comfortable, then yes: there are some people to whom they can't have fun in such a hobby. No fun thinking it's *possible* someone "might not like it".

So with all that, I agree. However, unfortunately, it is what it is. Unfortunately, THIS IS a hobby that draws the stares of the curious on-lookers. And DOES have connotations. And no, not everyone is "going to love you". I certainly wish they did, but alas, it's not that way. If that's uncomfortable to some people, then you're right: This isn't the hobby for them.
 
The word 'sneak' has popped up here. To 'sneak' supposes one is guilty of something.
Guilty? NO! Courteous and respectful to any public at large? YES!

School grounds and tot playgrounds have one thing in common, kids.
And kids have parents. Parents who watch their kids with paranoidal eagle eyes.
A stranger walking around with a large digging knife with kids around the area will raise all kinds of red flags to parents and other on-lookers.

I stay clear of those two areas when kids are present...period.

This is the main and only reason i hunt those areas on a Sunday morning.
 
ironsight said:
The word 'sneak' has popped up here. To 'sneak' supposes one is guilty of something.
Guilty? NO! Courteous and respectful to any public at large? YES! .
Click to expand...

good answer. Not that anything is illegal, but simply to KEEP it from becoming illegal. Out of sight is out of mind. A T-shirt that pokes fun at vegetarians may not be the best attire to wear at a hard-core vegetarians conference, now would it? SO TOO do I not flaunt my detecting in front of those who might take exception to it either.
 
It's called PMT, lol. Make a note of the time of month and avoid at all costs! Hahaha.
I've only been detecting for five months and now I can't look at a beach without wondering what the heck is under the sand! Good grief! What's happening to me? My wife calls me a scavenger! Charming! Does anyone else have this problem? She won't take part in any of what I find either! Help!
 
An opinion, idea, view to consider. Tax money spent on schools, tot lots and other government buildings and their surrounding grounds where not for the purpose of metal detectorist pursuing their hobby. There are parks and other recreational public areas for that. So, if you intend to practice the hobby on such properties do so when their intended use is not evident. That way you eliminate the vast percentage of objection that might follow. I never detect on such properties when they are occupied or otherwise in use.
 
I dont see why a school is basically any different from a park or other recreational areas. Most (unless posted or other wise)are publicly funded and viewed as "public area". If you are saying the parks were "made" for metal detecting....I would have to disagree. It "might" be easier to metal detect at most parks but not a given. I would say sometimes in some areas....it could be ever "easier" to hunt a school rather than some parks. As for a I know.....there is NO sanctioned areas for metal detecting..... I wish there was.

If you do anything at a park or school other than walk around or play basketball or baseball etc....someone may have a problem with it.....no matter when your there. The police once showed up while I was detecting at a park because of a report of "suspicious activity" . The officer turned around and left Even once an individual called the police on me and then about a week later....I found them detecting in the same park! Imagine that.
 
I agree totally with JamesBondaka
Public is public is public funded by our property taxes.

The only other thing i can say as i've said previously, is just use common sense, respect the people's right to use those properties for purposes other than detecting and without us being either a blatant distraction or a perceived threat especially when kids are present.
 
ironsight said:
I agree totally with JamesBondaka
Public is public is public funded by our property taxes.

The only other thing i can say as i've said previously, is just use common sense, respect the people's right to use those properties for purposes other than detecting and without us being either a blatant distraction or a perceived threat especially when kids are present.
Click to expand...

Well....I agree with you.

Metal detecting a threat? The only "threat" I have seen....is how many kids try to dive into the hole when I pinpoint something.
 
And if someone sees metal detecting as a "threat" or "harmful" or induces "defacement", etc.... They're welcome to think that. The solution is not to get that person(s) to change their minds and love you and your hobby. As much as I wish that were possible, to run around and change all those people's minds (that you might be about to leave a hole), it's simply not going to be possible. I certainly wish every last person on earth loved me and my hobby. But instead, knowing this is an impossible task, you just avoid those persons. Kinda like nose-picking: Not illegal, but .... you still pick discreet times so as not to offend other people who may not like it.
 
JamesBondaka said:
ironsight said:
I agree totally with JamesBondaka
Public is public is public funded by our property taxes.

The only other thing i can say as i've said previously, is just use common sense, respect the people's right to use those properties for purposes other than detecting and without us being either a blatant distraction or a perceived threat especially when kids are present.
Click to expand...

Well....I agree with you.

Metal detecting a threat? The only "threat" I have seen....is how many kids try to dive into the hole when I pinpoint something.
Click to expand...
I was at a small public park one time and found myself in one of those clad heaven areas. A clad every few inches, multiples too!
At the time i was the only one in the park.

Out of nowhere this 5 or 6 year old kid appeared and was as you said 'diving into each and every the hole'. As soon as a coin appeared, he picked it up and stick it in his pocket. No big deal, its only clad. The kid was relentless and fast too. LOL!
Was seriously thinking of leaving but finding more of that easy clad was tempting. One big fear suddenly developed, what if that kid seriously cut his hand on a piece of broken glass or other junk. This must of went on for at least 10 minutes, then just when i had enough and decided to leave, a County Sheriff pulled into the parking lot near my Jeep the only other vehicle in the lot and just sat there watching. OH! OH!
A few minutes later, the kid's mother showed up and whisked that kid away without a word said.

Did the mother observe what was going on from her nearby house window?
Did she see a 'stranger' with a large (digging) knife?
Did she call the police?
Was it all a coincidence?
I'll never know?
But one thing i learned for sure that day, unless the kid is your own or kin, IMHO, kids and metal detecting are mutually exclusive.

The police car was still there after the kid left. Dilemma now. If i leave immediately, i might look suspicious to that cop or he'd get out and approach me when i stowed my gear in the car, yeah i was a little paranoid.
So i decided to stay and do more detecting.
After about 20 minutes the cop left. I ended up emptying my junk pouch in a trash can, got into my Jeep and left without incident.
 
I always tell kids...."If you want to watch me metal detect.....go ask your parents first".
 
MY HIGH SCHOOL IS FENCED IN LIKE A PRISON. ONLY THING MISSING ARE ARM GUARDS AND MACHINES GUNS. OH MAYBE THEY ARE GETTING OUR CHILDREN READY FOR THE OUTSIDE
 
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