Sorry SAEActive, but I don't see any flames in that other thread. I do see a disagreement that was [for the most part] logically argued on both sides. It is my observation these last few months that GC as a community does not handle dissenting opinions very well. That's unfortunate because dissent is often an excellent catalyst for learning and growth. Oh well.
By the way, I wasn't arguing the right and wrong of pin collecting in that other thread. SAEActive claimed that selling pins was illegal and I disagreed. End of story. FuzzieAlum just summed up my whole point from that other thread in one sentence:
"Obviously pin selling isn't illegal or it wouldn't happen on eBay - they make a policy of not selling anything that breaks the law (getting sued doesn't make for profits). "
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Here's a just-for-interesting-conversation on this topic: WHY are pins such a popular item to collect? ...They don't mean anything to the collectors (not the way we see it as fraternity and sorority members, anyway)...what's the appeal?
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Good question. Remember that the overwhelming majority of collectors are fraternity and sorority members themselves (I would estimate more than 95%). So in fact they DO mean something to us. Sure, they can't mean the same things that they would mean to an initiated member of that group, but they still represent a tradition and history that we appreciate and enjoy. That's the appeal. Value to a collector is based mainly on age and rarity and historical significance - not really on gold or gem content.
wptw