What do you tell a starry eyed new detectorist ??

[Elton]

I posted a few days ago about a newbie using a 5" coil in a field... About 18" up in the air if you remember..

Today I saw him again, and he wanted to talk detecting.. Like all newbies he is expecting great things from every site he detects.

Asked me how many Silver coins should he be finding in a baseball field.... and how many rings..... [size=large]I didn't know what to say.[/size]

Do you tell the guy he may find none, ?? He has bought into the hype hook line and sinker... Actually believes he isn't detecting properly is why he has no Silver Coins. He thinks their just laying there waiting for him under the grass.

Do I burst his bubble......tell him how hard it really is to find SIlver in this day and age of detecting... Or do I say the potential is everywhere.. This guy is hunting sites that no one has found anything in for three years at least. He just doesn't understand the concept of detecting, and I'm not sure I want to give him the hard facts..What would you do..and would you, like I, not want to damper his spirit ?

[size=x-large]Let me hear your thoughts[/size]............... I have a heart, and hate to be the one to say you'll be lucky to find any Silver where you are detecting ,and should try for some unhunted spots ( Private Property)...

 

[Woodchuck]

Like any star eyed buck caught in cross beams you knock em dead ! just tell em the truth and burst his bubble !!!

 

[BarberBill]

I believe in telling the cold hard facts, but gently. Explain that it may take many hours of detecting to find silver and or rings/jewelry and the importance of location, location location. Equally important is putting in the hours to really get to know his detector. You've already given him some pointers and in relation to that, I think it is desirable that we help newbies develop good detecting and recovery techniques. He'll either stick it out as most of us have, or get discouraged and quit, but at least he'll be given some instruction to help him succeed if he persists.

BB

 

[mudpuppy]

I tell them what some old guy told me when I was very very new and met him out detecting, I asked about the same question. The answer was:
"Dig 1000 pulltabs, dig 1000 pennys". Then, at least he will develope some retrieval skills, has a goal, get some excersize, and will learn what the machines language is. I show him the screwdriver coinpopping method, and tell them about this forum, and go on my way. The excitement of this sport (addiction) is evident on some people and that should always be encouraged as best we can.
As a follow up, me and that old guy have stayed in touch, and encouraged each other over the years both fishing and metaldetecting together...heck, we talk 3-4 times a week about beach conditions, waves, what we are finding, etc. Both of us would tell you that for some reason, theres a great likelyhood a noob will hit an awesome find in the most unlikely spot just because they simply dont know any better, and are digging trash signals we would pass on....besides, who knows? maybe the noob you help today will be the friend who helps you tomorrow? Or at least gives your widow a fair value on your gear someday!
Mud

 

[Furious T]

mudpuppy, always thinking ahead
Elton, there was a song around some 45-50 years ago called "Get a little dirt on your hands"......if you could sing that to him in 3 part harmonies, and play the guitar at the same time, I'm sure he'd be impressed. I would just give him words of encouragement (which you are probably doing), but let him know that we all dig lots of rubbish before, during and after finding good stuff. It's more important for him to get his techniques right (for detecting, digging, removing trash etc.) before worrying too much about what he is or is not finding. All the best....

 

[Sailorman]

I'd say I'm with Mudpuppy. The truth up front but nicely delivered and let him know persistence is a big factor. Heck I'm fairly new but got bit bad and jumped in the deep end a year ago. The sooner he knows the facts the sooner he can figure out if it's for him.

 

[matthias]

I agree with BarberBill. If I were in newbie's shoes I'd respect the truth up front from someone more experienced so I could make good finds and not just dig clad and garbage. HH. Matt

 

[slingshot]

I was one over 30 years ago. It doesn't matter what you say. They either stay or leave. My best friend who got me started has given it up.

 

[BMRockford]

Tell him the truth that it's pure dumb luck to be at the right place at the right time and that he's going to dig alot of these

 

[fowlercharles]

Hi Elton, It can be difficult explaining to noobies sometimes , but I always try and be up front with them and if given the opportunity bear with them and give them that extra time,info, instruction and incouragement. You are so right about the hype/BS taking it's toll on them. We all got a good dose of that we were noobies. It will be largely depent on the kind of folks you are dealing with as we all have different personalities. Some are easy to talk to and others will be wound up so tightly any advice you give them goes in one ear and out the other. Just check them out best you can and when you think it might stick with them, give them the truth with your offer to help them even further if you can in any way. They may even turn out ot become a good friend and diggin Buddy. HH, Charlie

 

[larryk56]

I agree....being upfront and honest is always the best advivce.

Many the person may not hear what they wanted but I feel
you gain respect from "telling it like it is".

I always go out and hunt without expectations because
I know the odds of finding the rings are against me.

I dig up all the trash knowing that it takes alot of
persistance to find the gold.

 

[JB(MS)]

There's an old antebellum home site here that dates to the 1830's. It's loaded with iron and other trash and tough to hunt, but I found several 1800's coins there. A couple of times a year I'll go back and last November I went to give it another shot, but when I got there a guy was picking up pecans that had fallen off two pecan trees that are near the home site. I stopped maybe 10 feet from him, and before I got out of my truck he asked if I were there to pick up some of the pecans. I told him no, that I was going to do a little metal detecting. He said he had never used a detector, but had wanted one for a long time and had decided he was going to buy one of those Whites detectors he saw on TV that would detect a coin four feet deep and tell you what it was before it was dug up. He said he was originally from Arkansas and where he grew up there were several old home sites he wanted to detect. One had belonged to an old lady who collected coins and it had burned, along with all her belongings including the coins, and he was positive he could find some of them with one of the Whites detectors he saw on TV.

Instead of detecting, I told him the commercials didn't say anything about detecting coins four feet deep, and spent the next two hours attempting to explain how detectors work, how hard it is to hunt those kind of places and that TV commercials and magazine ads about detectors aren't always 100% truthful. I got a detector out, set discrimination to minimum, walked over to what had been the back yard of the old house and let him listen to how many metal objects were in the ground. Even with the 5.5 inch coil and barely moving it the signals were pretty much a nonstop staccato, then I explained how trash targets could mask coins and other desirable targets. He said the commercial didn't say anything about what I had told him, and that he didn't realize there was that much involved in using a detector. I started telling him the best place to learn how to use a detector would be to start by hunting playgrounds, tot lots and places where there wasn't much trash, but he got a phone call about that time and said he had to go. He left looking thoroughly confused and completely disheartened.

 

[artman60]

When I first bought my machine in the late eighties, early nineties, I was raeding the magazines and expecting to find my fortune, didn't happen. I think that was why it was so easy for the fishing/boating bug to bite me and leave the detector on the shelf in the basement. Getting back into it now, I have much, much lower expectations, and consequently I am enjoying it more. I think the best thing anyone can realise is you have to put the time in, and for most of us ( I think) It's not gonna be about making a fortune, but having fun. Artie

 

[GunnarMN]

I would tell him he will never find anything - that way he will try to prove me wrong and maybe find somthing , ITS NOT LIKE THE ADDS I SEE FOR METAL DETECTORS ,,

 

[Hank68]

I would be a straight and up front with him !

 

[cosmic]

lots of time
lots of learning
lots of work
lots of digging
lots of trash
LOTS OF TRASH
EVEN MORE TRASH !!
All for a few goodies now and then !!

 

[REVIER]

He is in need of a serious attitude adjustment.

It's not impossible to find silver coins, nowadays, but he needs to be taught the difference between difficult and easy.
Explain that research is a big part of this hobby to raise the percentages.
He also needs to get it in his head that the big rewards are exercise and enjoying the outdoors, and whatever he finds he needs to be happy with...not frustrated.

Also mention that some of us that had a difficult time finding old coins due to several factors like hunted out spots or extremely bad soil changed into jewelry hunters because that stuff can be found anywhere and at anytime.

Good luck!

 

[woodchiphustler]

Take up golf.

 

[pasttom]

As a pastor married to a therapist, I can assure you... never lie unless you have to.
"Are you listening?" "Does this make me look fat?" "What are you thinking?" etc.
I tell newbies and wannabes that MDing is great if you are okay spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to find zinc pennies. The fun is where you find it and I still get a kick EVERY time I find ANYTHING. I am driven to finding really cool stuff because I want to. I don't need money and I have plenty of time to spend as I choose. This is not, NOT a money making proposition for most hunters. If I calculate my gain per hour I almost never make near to minimum wage and yes there are some rare spectacular hours, BUT on average... I don't cover gas and battery costs. Its still a hoot! And yes I make a heck of a lot more than jogging or virtually any other hobby would net. There is a possibility of a windfall find that would be life changing, but there are only a handful of those in the WORLD each year.
Well, its fun to think about.
Tom

 

[Elton]

n/t