Role Models

We all stand on the shoulders of giants, no matter how high you soar in the hobby or in life, for that matter.

Someone, somewhere along the way helped to either encouraged you, teach you, mentor you or put you in a better position to succeed, to be happy, to find peace.

The hobby needs more of these people.

Men and women who are willing to show young and new collectors what the hobby is really about — the etiquette, respect and appreciation for it.

The hobby needs more authenticity from its ambassadors, more truth.

I watched a group of kids, three of them, who couldn’t have been much more than 11 or 12 year old, stroll into my local LCS and begin to mimic some of the social media influencers almost verbatim. Rambling on about percentages and comps and calling the shop owner “bruh,” over and over again.

Truthfully, it was kind of disgusting.

The shop owner took out a card from the showcase one of the kids had asked to see and placed it gently on the glass top. The kid picked it up, looked it over, then proceeded to offer 50% of the price for the card.

“I think that’s what it’s worth, bruh.” He said.

“No. Sorry, can’t do that.” The shop owner responded quickly. “Don’t have that much room on it.”

“I’ll pass then for sure,” the kid tossed the card back onto the showcase top. “I think you need to watch some content and learn how to buy right then.”

The kids looked around a while longer then left without purchasing a single thing.

“Happens a lot,” the shop owner said. “And a lot of the time, the parents are right there next to them.”

Getting the best deal on a card is just fine — we’re all trying to do that, right?

But being disrespectful in the process — not fine.

But what should we expect?

The younger folks coming into the hobby have been mentored by YouTube videos, many of which are heavily edited and presented by people who simply lack integrity. There is an inherent disconnect when you’re mentored by someone more interested in likes and views than your actual hobby journey.

To me, as much as I love the technology of the hobby and the online component, we’re losing a generation of hobbyists to bad actors.

Good entertaining content is awesome, as is some educational stuff, but someone spending 25 minutes talking about how they fleeced dealer after dealer is neither educational nor entertaining. And sadly, it’s clearing the path for an entirely new generation to mimic this behavior.

There is a cure, however.

Mentor a young collector or someone new to the hobby.

Take the time to teach them the manners of the hobby, the etiquette, and honor that is a staple in the space.

Take them to card shows and LCSs in the area and show them how to handle themselves in such places.

I’ve had several mentors along the way, and without them, I would be in a much different space in the hobby and in life.

Someone took the time to make a difference in my life, in my life within the hobby.

Be that for someone!