Tuesday, September 26, 2006
I Wonder Why?
Is history important to you?
It is to me, especially family and personal history.
Some of you may know that I collect Boy Scout patches. Order of the Arrow flaps, to be specific.
(A brief explanation for the uninitiated: The Order of the Arrow (OA) is a Boy Scout honor society, whose members identify themselves by wearing special patches (flaps) on the right shirt pocket flap. The OA is organized into 550+ groups (lodges) across the US. Thus, there are thousands of different flaps, and people collect and trade these flaps much like baseball cards, comic books, stamps, or coins.)
Aside from the usual patch for patch trading at trade-o-rees or through the various trader forums, these patches have been coming up for sale on ebay in the last few years. I have no problem with selling or buying OA flaps - it's just like buying a comic book or a coin for your collection. Trading is more fun and engaging, but is a break even game. The only way to build a collection is to purchase (in general flaps are 2 to 5 bucks, but rare ones can be quite expensive. Needless to say, I don't own any rare ones.).
Recently, however, I noticed people beginning to sell other types of Boy Scout patches/medals - things that make me wonder why it is being sold, or even if they should be sold. A few of the big ones I've seen are: numerous Eagle scout medals (the highest youth award), Honor Medals (for saving someone's life), Hornaday awards (for outstanding volunteer service), various religious awards (for service to some religious organization). These are awards that only a few people get each year and they had to voluntarily work very hard to get them.
I don't know, at least to me, these types of awards would represent an irreplaceable sort of personal or family history that I would not being willing to part with for 30 dollars. It can't be personal need, 'cause 30 bucks doesn't go very far these days, and I'd cut off my internet service to save 30 bucks before I sold my Eagle Scout medal on ebay. Maybe these are pieces of estates, but I would think such personal belongings would pass to any available relative before being sold at auction. Maybe there are some relatives who would sell grandpa's or dad's Eagle Scout medal for 30 dollars, but my relatives - be on notice - if you sell mine, I'll haunt you... forwarned is forarmed, you know.
Moreover, I wonder who buys these items. My desire for a Hornaday medal is not so great that I'll buy one off a destitute or deceased guy on ebay.
I don't know, perhaps I'm being harsh. People will collect nearly anything. For myself, though, I'll stick will collecting my own personal history.
It is to me, especially family and personal history.
Some of you may know that I collect Boy Scout patches. Order of the Arrow flaps, to be specific.
(A brief explanation for the uninitiated: The Order of the Arrow (OA) is a Boy Scout honor society, whose members identify themselves by wearing special patches (flaps) on the right shirt pocket flap. The OA is organized into 550+ groups (lodges) across the US. Thus, there are thousands of different flaps, and people collect and trade these flaps much like baseball cards, comic books, stamps, or coins.)
Aside from the usual patch for patch trading at trade-o-rees or through the various trader forums, these patches have been coming up for sale on ebay in the last few years. I have no problem with selling or buying OA flaps - it's just like buying a comic book or a coin for your collection. Trading is more fun and engaging, but is a break even game. The only way to build a collection is to purchase (in general flaps are 2 to 5 bucks, but rare ones can be quite expensive. Needless to say, I don't own any rare ones.).
Recently, however, I noticed people beginning to sell other types of Boy Scout patches/medals - things that make me wonder why it is being sold, or even if they should be sold. A few of the big ones I've seen are: numerous Eagle scout medals (the highest youth award), Honor Medals (for saving someone's life), Hornaday awards (for outstanding volunteer service), various religious awards (for service to some religious organization). These are awards that only a few people get each year and they had to voluntarily work very hard to get them.
I don't know, at least to me, these types of awards would represent an irreplaceable sort of personal or family history that I would not being willing to part with for 30 dollars. It can't be personal need, 'cause 30 bucks doesn't go very far these days, and I'd cut off my internet service to save 30 bucks before I sold my Eagle Scout medal on ebay. Maybe these are pieces of estates, but I would think such personal belongings would pass to any available relative before being sold at auction. Maybe there are some relatives who would sell grandpa's or dad's Eagle Scout medal for 30 dollars, but my relatives - be on notice - if you sell mine, I'll haunt you... forwarned is forarmed, you know.
Moreover, I wonder who buys these items. My desire for a Hornaday medal is not so great that I'll buy one off a destitute or deceased guy on ebay.
I don't know, perhaps I'm being harsh. People will collect nearly anything. For myself, though, I'll stick will collecting my own personal history.