Post #56504 by purple jade on Thu, Oct 23, 2003 9:27 AM

I urge everyone to go back and look at the ORIGINAL post on this thread. It doesn't say "ALL the newbies are just not tiki enough". (BTW, I really loathe the word "tiki" being used that way.) I'm answering this as an "oldster" (I was in the Yahoo club for a while) and a "newbie" (since I've only been on this forum since March). And as someone who has had a long-standing interest (I WAS born into it since my parents had the bug when I was a child) in the subject matter, but has not delved into it nearly as deeply as some others here, bless 'em.
The original post says that there seem to be a lot of people who have joined recently who seem to have "a passing interest" in tiki. It is true that there is a wave of new membership after events. And it does seem sometimes that maybe several of these people joined just to be a joiner. I met several people at Exotica who stumbled upon a flyer somewhere and just showed up to see what it was all about. Perhaps maybe some heard about TC there and joined to further find out what it was all about. And no, there's nothing wrong with that. It's one of the reasons forums like this exist.
But every person out there must truthfully admit, if you have a long-standing passionate interest in something, you would much rather discuss it with people who also have a similar body of knowledge than to listen to questions from the uneducated neophyte. That not a slam on newcomers, it's just the plain truth. And I think that's all Bong was trying to say. It may be because, as it was said, there are fewer and fewer new discoveries. And the thrill of the hunt has been somewhat tainted by eBay and the handful of high-roller collectors. (I equate them with those who would hunt squirrels with a bazooka. Of course they're going to win. But that's a whole 'nother topic, one I really don't care to debate, so let's just leave it.)
I'd like to discuss costuming with AtomicCocktail one day, but I'm sure if he had his choice he'd rather discuss it with Julie Taymor. So would I. No offense to Atomic. No offense to me. Who here hasn't wanted to talk to Sven about something? Or Otto? Or Bamboo Ben? Newbies come here to get info from people who know their stuff. I'm sure all those who said the "oldsters" should go off and reminisce by themselves don't really mean that. That's why you joined, to find out what they know. So you'll have to forgive their impatience, and maybe they'll forgive your ignorance.
And, again folks, stop looking for insults where there aren't any, and being so quick to respond with one yourself. Try to use more than your limbic system when you read something.