DetectingWales.com

In the light of all the media attention on the £3.2 million hoard, can too much publicity be a burdon?

I was queueing in Clydach post office today, and could not help overhearing a conversation between a customer and the lady behind the counter.   The gist of it must have been about what the customer had in mind to by his young daughter for Christmas, and after hearing about the bike that he had bought her, he then followed on with "and we got her a metal detector - she wants to go out and dig up gold and silver herself".......

After the crackers have gone off with a bang and the turkey is stuffed, how many people do you think will be climbing over fences and gates and switching on their shiny new detectors hoping to find treasure just 4" under the surface  :o :o

The words  "tar" and "brush" come to mind. :(

What does anyone else think ?
Deb

I agree Debbie.

i just wish that those who sell metal detectors, would also include a series of notes on

how to record the artefacts,
the importance of recording,
how one must seek permission to detect on land and beaches,
the work of the PAS

and above all else, info on the country code.

cheers

Spot on Alan - documentation on all the points you raised should be included as a matter of course, even with the 'cheap and cheerful' machines, starting at £19.99, from Maplins and the like.

I agree with you both, the big publicity can be a bad thing for our hobby, in that a lot of people , not just youngsters, think thats what a metal detector is for "TREASURE".
If they only knew, that 99 % of the things we find are of no use to anyone, but to us i suppose their treasure.
Then there's the people who have never heard, you need permission and no you can't detect on ancient sites, etc, etc.
Then when we do find something good, still waiting though myself, then we do the right thing and get it recorded.
How many finds i wonder have not been recorded, and will never see the light of day, by so called wanna be Treasure Hunters  ??? ???
Makes the mind Boggle  :-\
Ace  ;)

I don't understand why FID or the NCMD do not get any publicity when a find like this happens.Why don't the finders say something about this in the interviews because you can be dam sure if it was a FID or NCMD member who found it will be in their booklets and any paperwork that is sent out to members of their organizations also in any write ups in the two detecting mags.I also think that some people get into this hobby just to try and make a few quid out of it again this is the fault of the media, programmes likehen it will just carry o time team do not help in any way in fact they make it worse.Lets face it how many times have Tony Robinson and Mick Aston said that detectorists are theives stealing the countrys past.As long as the hobbies main two representives stay quiet and take no action over this then it will just carry on.

I couldn't agree more with you Debbie, so much so that I've just got off the phone to my friends who own and run Keens Guns, in Aberkenfig.
They also sell Bounty hunter and Viking Detectors (this is what got me started)
They have agreed that, if i can give them the info, they will in turn copy it and give it out with every Detector sold,
The Stuff they sell is exactly the target customer i think we are talking about.
To that end, can anyone help me compile this by Tomorrow? :o, as i need to go to the shop in the afternoon on other business.
Salty

 
  i dont just see new people coming into the hobby some that have been in it for years need read the rule book again .
  i welcome anyone to the hobby its  up to them how they act if the right way or wrong way.
 everyone had to start somewhere .
 its sites like this that should help them to be put right on the right way and wrong way to do things its called helping .
  i think a bit more on the wrong and right way to do things on the site may help new comers more and some old that didt get the rules the first time round.

  i have seen a lot in 30yrs i have been doing it boy i could right a book on it Mmmm idea there?
 
 

salty

the PAS scheme have printed leaflets on the scheme, the recording process and treasure act.

contact your local FLo [Mark?] and aks for a few handouts and pass them onto your contact.

cheers

alan

Thanks Alan, I've done some digging and I've just about got it covered now.
This will get them going, I'll take your advice for the future though, I'll see Mark on Wednesday.
To be fair to the shop, they always warn people to get permission before they go searching, but the rest of the info will be news to them,after all, their main business is firearms and fishing tackle.
I know there are loads of shops in similar positions, the Detector manufacturers/Importers should be enclosing this info :(

i totally agree Karl.

in fact perhaps handing out such information with detectors should be a legal requirement?

 
 Phil if thats what you think why did you join the hobby people detecting at that time could have said that about you joining the hobby.
 it seems to me you want it for yourself . this hobby is for anyone .
 who knows they may behave better than some that have been detecting for years.
 who give people the right to say who or who not can join the hobby.
  yes they may need educating and showing the right way to do things but thats up to people that have been doing it longer to show them and talk to them .
 like i said everyone started somewhere and no one has the right to say who or who not can detect .
 

 i can understand where you are coming from but dint you think educating them better in the hobby .
 if i talk to people even if i dint know them or its just someone who walked over to see what its about i find time to talk  .  most the time they walk off bored i talk them to death and they think i dint want to be doing that hobby and ending up like him lol

Hi Gaff

you make some good comments, but i would like to expand upon some of the generalisations you make, in order to help those newbies reading this thread.

you wrote  "yes they may need educating and showing the right way to do things but thats up to people that have been doing it longer to show them and talk to them" .
 
i agree with that comment, but it can only happen if those who purchase detectors actually make contact with clubs or fellow detectorists [Regretfully, very few do], i wouldn't want a newbie to pick up the bad habits of nighthawkers for example.

"like i said everyone started somewhere and no one has the right to say who or who can not detect"
i agree with the thrust of the comment, but there is actually legislation available to prevent people participating in such a hobby, if they have previous convictions that would put the hobby in jeopardy, if they were to participate.... we both know however, that it is very very very rarely used.


"i can understand where you are coming from but dint you think educating them better in the hobby ."

if we can get them into clubs or to make contact with relaible groups thro the FLO's knowledge, then i would agree with you. Regretfully many come into this hobby with the idea that it's a get rich quick scheme with not a blind bit of appreciation of our historical heritage and the value of recording finds.

cheers
Alan

yes thats my way of thinking getting them into clubs ect.

 only thing is past times i have joined clubs the welcome was nill .
 i will not say what clubs but i find when i first started the clubs where great people talked to you but
 i tyred to join 5 clubs in the past 10years  and it felt like i was a man with two heads or guilty of something i just never went back .

 i think the word is CLICKY .
 i think new people to the hobby after going to one of the clubs meets would not bother again and go there own way be it good or be it bad.
 please don't get me wrong i don't think all the clubs are like this i bet there are some great ones but i am still looking for it .
 the last one i went to the only word said to me was £1 please and near the end would you like to join its £12 or at the next meeting. i felt i was on show all night .
i think shops should point people in the right way by giving the address of the clubs and once a new person comes its up to the club to make them welcome and that way help them into the hobby the right way of doing things.

"i think shops should point people in the right way"

i would agree that they have a role to play in passing on information, but its the detector manufacturers who must ensure that they place a higher emphasis than at present, on the value of recording artefacts.   They should also be promoting the PAS scheme big time.

i agree with your comments re: clubs and their 'cliqueness'. I'm not surprised that there is such suspicion of new members, particularly as one cannot be sure of their  motives!. Only time will reveal their true motivation.

i still think that all those newbies who purchase  a detector should be required to attend a course [either online, or evening class] on various aspects associated with detecting. maybe that is how we should be promoting the hobby and the responsibility expected of those who participate in it.

finally, in the local PAS report for our county, it reported that only 32 detectorists recorded finds with the scheme, yet we know of well over 700 detectorists attended clubs throughout  the year! [make of that statistic what you will!!]

cheers
alan

Just as an addition to the thread i because of work and other committments find it

very easy to record any significant finds on the UKDFD and very simple too...I for one

am all for recording items but find it easier to do so on UKDFD.

But i will always support what PAS does as i believe they are the backbone of keeping

our hobby alive.

I just have some trouble understanding their recording system...prob just me being a bit

dense lol

I have most certainly "declared" as required when appropriate and will continue to do so

I have enjoyed this hobby for over 40 years and am convinced that sharing our countries

heritage knowledge and recording items is the correct thing to do...PaulB. 8)

 finally, in the local PAS report for our county, it reported that only 32 detectorists recorded finds with the scheme, yet we know of well over 700 detectorists attended clubs throughout  the year! [make of that statistic what you will!!]

 well there you go it just tells you a few people out and about already are not playing the game
 
 i think yes lets get back to the class room and permits are the way .
 
 there is good and bad in all walks of life . but a little bit of greed comes in part the way.

and who is expected to pay for these courses or evening classes.what if this new detectorist want's to take up the hobby just to have a few hour's alone at the weekend away from his wife and young kid's but does'nt have the money to attend one of these evening classes does that mean he cant detect until he is awarded some micky mouse certificate. most people on here were newbie's once and it does'nt seem to have spoilt your fun and enjoyment of the hobby as you've learnt thing's alone the way so why do people want to impose restrictions on people wanting to get into the hobby. and my view on permit's is you can stick them where the sun dont shine

yes ok gafflad point taken  :-\ but what your not saying is out of them 700 not all of them find the stuff to record if we all found it whats the point of detecting it would be to easy were you got your sats from i dont know  ??? if you got the portable antiquities scheme booklet (did i say that right  ???) witch every responsible detectorist got and should have  :-\ it says that 97% out of 100 reported treasure cases 23% not reported as far as they know and only 80 cases were investigated on ebay .92.3% of finds are made and recorded by detectorists in the uk thats a fact were are you getting your info from beats me  :-\

if you read up i didt get the sats i was going on what was said read up

well who ever you got it of dont know shit from clay thats a fact  ;)

 well if you dont want classes and permits then stop biching about new people coming into the hobby
 

i dont bitch mate i try to get guys to start the more the merryer its good for the hobby  :-\ most of them start and just as start they stop cos they know they are not going to get rich as they think  :)

 yes i say the same everyone has the right to detect and you cannot say all new people into the hobby are bad not when there is meany aready doing it the wrong way .
 you only got go to a rally and see how meany hole are left open for one if they cannot fill them on a rally i wounder what they are like on there own ground  lord help we need it .

Gaff, i was new to the hobby February this year, after communicating with RJM via PM on the Minelab owners forum, I was invited to the Cardiff Scan Club, far from being made to feel alienated, i was given a warm and friendly welcome, so much so my whole family have joined the club and my new hobby and really enjoy going to the meetings and socialising, i have since gone on to join the RARE club also, after being made to feel very "AT HOME" on one of their coach trips that the scan club were invited to.

My experience certainly doesent tie in with yours.
Maybe some people just mix better than others and find it easier to socialise with strangers, these strangers often go on to become new friends.
I can honestly say this year, via detecting i have made new friendships that i know will last for years :)

Salty

back to the Topic that is Too much publicity ??

i think now were online it cant be helped . anyone Hearing about detecting in wales only has to type metal detecting and wales in to google and here we all are.all our best finds making it look like were rolling in treasure  ::) if only .
on the subject of treasure and publicity ive never been that happy with our most popular magazines name treasure hunter  :-\ not the best image or thought out name  ???
its a delicate balance if it to few publicity we not heard or understood and easy to sweep away , to much means more of it will be bad by averages so tricky it is and out of our hands other than doing nothing that can bring bad publicity . simple  ;)  

 there is some good clubs out there like i said its nothing to do with mixing it fact this has been brought up lots of time about clubs not beeing welcoming .
other people not just me have had this problem in the past.
 

you would be made more than welcome at the scan club mate thats for sure or the gwent club or rare come along and see  ;)

Why dont the FID or NCMD stand up for the detectorist.I had my FID book today and there is a write up about the staffordshire hoard in which it states that FID were asked by the media for comments did anyone here them? i didn't. Don't know if the NCMD said anything but both of these bodies are supposed to represent us and look after our intrests but every time they just go very quiet.

There is also a very good write up on AL THE PASTFINDER,well done AL ;)

thats a very good point indeed dave  :-\ thanks for puting that to us  :)

totally agree dave and think it deserves it own thread and some answers , just what do they do other than take the money ??? has any one heard of anyone clameing on the cover  ???

Well done Alan great right up
I'm a bit disappointed that my pic wasn't included I think you can just make out me and Des on the right in the distance lol

I take your point about clubs being clicky but as with all things in life.you'll always get on better with some people than others
Rare Has at present 78 members I dont know half of them and the half i do know only a select few id call good friends and i guess everyone in the club has there own close friends.
Maybe clicky isnt the correct word maybe selective is a better one
Friendships arnt made over night in any walk of life.
You just got to stick at it !
Joining a Detecting club had made me more rounded Detectorist and id recommend joining a club to anyone

Phil, i think you'll find its the Lager and welsh cakes have made you a "more rounded detectorist" ;D :)

 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o Thats it !
I USED to regard you as a close friend  :'(
You know how sensitive i am about my 12 pack  he he he he  :P ;D