Featured Just an idea for new threads...

Joan, the General Discussion forum here is not visible to the bots, since a person has to be logged in to see it. Some people have posted items there if they don't want the bots to pick up on them. So they don't come up in general web search results. I don't think anybody always posts their items there, but it would be okay to do that.

And I didn't list @Ghopper1924 's very instructive threads, among others!

Most of the forums here have posts pinned to the top listing books and/or web sources that are recommended for broad topics related to the forum.

 

Thank you, Figtree3, for that information.
To circle back to my original post, I was suggesting separate threads that mainly contain photos and a description of special items owned by members, which would be different than a list of resources or threads that also include lengthy explanations, comments, opinions, and questions. I envisioned threads with mainly photos of members' best examples as being more like eye candy, but also informative in a superficial way. It seems some people like the idea and some people don't, which is normal. As I mentioned before, I was just trying to be helpful after reading comments about membership declining, which turns out to be the opposite.

 

I'm a Facebook power admin. I run several groups, mostly related to antiques and such.

I can't speak for the US groups, but the UK specialist groups have some extremely knowledgeable subject specific members, which is why I've ocasionally recommended them. The Whitefriars ones have former workers, Andy McConnell is on glass groups and the PCC one is run by someone who knows more about weights than most. The Mdina group has current and former employees, and the Bitossi one has the family on there.

Some other non UK groups, I've left as they propagated arrant nonsense.

 

@Joan ... don't believe everything u read here.....or take it as gospel ......at least not until the weight of evidence ....comes down on it's side, or u can verify it's veracity !!

""
after reading comments about membership declining,""

How many comments............. maybe just one.....on an angry thread that was clawing at me and out for my hide....

we pride ourselves here on getting it right.....so always look for evidence, research, where folks are willing to back up what they say.......

 

Good advice...thank you komokwa.

 

yes...I'm very sorry......

u have completely misunderstood

 

Thank you, komokwa. I've re-read your post and think I understand now what you were communicating.

 

Oh, I see... I didn't understand . I think others have started threads somewhat like that, but the Finds thread is probably the best one. The search engine here on Antiquers is pretty good, although it doesn't search for images. So if a person wanted to find a discussion or even find an item by name it is often possible to do so. Of course, there are some things posted here that are never identified.

 

Yes, what I was suggesting would be similar to the Finds thread in the Antique Discussion Forum, but would be a thread in some or all of the other forums that would include only items representative of the individual forum.

I suspect people like to look at the Finds thread because there are lots of photos in fairly close sequence, it’s fun to see all the various things people have found even though some items are not antique, and the thread is always easy to find right there at the top of the forum . I’ve noticed that some people who post in the Finds thread mention they are also going to post their find in another forum because they have questions they want to ask and don’t want to take up space for that in the Finds thread. I thought people might enjoy the same type of experience in some or all of the other forums….but maybe there wouldn't be enough interest to keep it going.

 

I agree that the thread might not be maintained. I thought the finds thread was a good idea but it never has anything new on it. Sometimes people post informative info just to post info on the discussion forum. I find those posts interesting and nothing to maintain.

 

If I may say something. I have been a member since 2018, I have never posted about any items nor have I commented. One of the reasons that I have not posted, is for fear of making an error with a picture, as well as when someone has knowledge of an item the poster is can be made to feel in nicer words “awkward”. With that being said, people need to be grateful & thankful that others are willing to share their knowledge, sometimes it is not what is said but how it is said. I know for me I have a vast collection of jewelery, pottery, porcelain, vintage items, pictures, etc. each time I think ok, I will post a picture & ask questions I stop. However, I have read so many of the forums and find a large majority of people so willing to help and people genuinely grateful for any insight. I know that I have also learned what some of what my things are (which makes it so much easier to divvy between my kids & grandkids). One thing I know that I enjoy coming on each day & it is so nice to see, and read about everyone’s finds, kind of makes me feel like everything that is going on in this world; here is one place that is nice to come to.

 

I really appreciate your thoughtful comments, NanaB, and hope that you will change your mind about posting photos and asking questions. Even if you don't have questions but have something that you want to show off because you think it's special or different, it might prompt others to share their photos of similar items.

I found uploading photos a little confusing at first even after reading the instructions provided in the "Announcements & Rules". A really simple way to upload photos if working on a computer is to drag and drop them or copy and paste. (I've never posted photos from my phone, so that would be a different process).

To drag them while working on a computer shrink the Antiquers.com page so you can see your folder of photos beside the space where you type your thread (I use Windows 10; other systems might have a different process). Then click on the photos one at a time and drag to the the space where you enter text in the thread. You can also hold down the shift key while you're clicking on photos if you want to drag more than one at the same time (however, they may not end up in the order you want them if you drag multiple photos, so I just do one at a time).

You can also click and copy the photo files then paste them into the thread. After you're finished, click "Full Image" at the top of all the photos. Before inserting photos make sure your cursor is before where you want the photos to appear in your thread. (Photos can't exceed 1mb each, and you're limited to 8 photos for each post within a thread.) You can practice doing this and then just delete everything and hit the back arrow if you don't want to create the thread.

Regarding your concern about possibly being made to feel "awkward," I understand what you mean, but maybe just tell yourself that we all have different personalities and ways of communicating. Some people can be quite blunt and critical of an item, while others can be exceptionally diplomatic about something that looks like junk to me. I suspect people are less likely to remember or think less of someone who was made to feel awkward, and maybe more likely to remember the person who made the comments.

 

Joan, that was the nicest reply I have ever received a big thank you. The best explanation as well for pictures. I typically use my iPad (I find it easier to navigate most of the time) for this very non friendly computer type of person! I am always willing to learn (empty nester) I no longer have my kids at home to show me how to do things. I will post some pictures of some of my jewelry that I am trying to figure out maker, or what the stones etc. are (I inherited a ton from relatives) and various other items in the near future. I have a terrible jewelry obsession as well. My modern stuff, I know, it is the older stuff that makes me spend hours & hours looking up. I have both costume & I believe real. I spent a good amount of time reading the forums recently, I read the entire jewelry forum from the very beginning, it captured me for weeks on end. Again a very big thank you & reminder to both you and the moderator.

 

NanaB don't feel bad about making mistakes here. I still have trouble sometimes posting a photo and don't have the patience I once had when I was not vintage to get it right.

Most everyone here is generous and kind spirited but we are known for some sarcasm now and then. Because we can not hear the tone, it is hard to know how to interpret it what is being said in a post. There are or were some bad apples but the mods take care of them. Thank you Mods.

I look forward to seeing your jewelry. I am not a joolie but love looking at the finds and collections here.

 

Thank you NanaB. I look forward to seeing your jewelry photos.

 

Thank you Pearls, It is the kindness & generosity of others that have kept me lurking and I will most certainly start posting some pictures. I am separating as we speak. I had started separating so I know what is what! I agree, and actually being deaf in one ear & hard of hearing in the other inflection & tone are lost on me always but I can usually figure out in person. My husband & I always say to our adult kids there is no inflection in a text message so please pick up the phone! Patience is something I work on constantly unless it is computers. It is not for lack of trying & like I tell my kids (I bake & cook) here is a recipe figure out, then they remember it is just not my forte.

 

@NanaB please post your jewellery! And anything else you like
I love looking at other peoples treasures. I’ve probably made every mistake there is (not enough photos, not clear enough, no sizes etc) People do reply in many different ways because there are many different characters. Despite being named Antiquers I’ve had very helpful responses to more modern items too.
My favourite threads are usually the ones that after I’ve learned about the item the discussion takes a sharp right off course and I end up learning about something random and fascinating.

 

SHOW ME DA JOOLZ.