New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Detectors Biggest Fear

Martinc		Posted : Friday, 9 August 2013 5:46:18 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 17/05/2013(UTC) Posts: 27 Location: SouthAuckland Was thanked: 12 time(s) in 6 post(s)		I read that the biggest fear for a detector is the thought of being seen by someone else..weather it be at the park or footy field once you learn to get over the fear of someone watching you, you will become a very productive detectorer,and enjoy your hobby alot more. How often have you told yourself..im gonna hit the local park to find someone there playing on the swings,or kids throwing the ball around and simply just kept on driving ..usually back home again..i know ive done it quite a few times.. this is prolly why i tend to detect the beaches during the day when kids are at school and most people are at work i have this fear and im not afraid to admit it..some people like to detect at night so they are not seen..but that can be risky depending on the neighbourhood. I like most people must learn to conquer this fear let me know if this sounds like you or what may scare you about detecting in public places

foss391		Posted : Friday, 9 August 2013 6:05:19 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 20/07/2013(UTC) Posts: 106 Location: Pukekohe Thanks: 38 times Was thanked: 12 time(s) in 10 post(s)		I moved today when a couple of mums with their toddlers turned up at the small playground. Didn't want them freeking about magnetic fields and that sort, pretty protective they can be,and slightly irrational at times lol,( speaking about my ex wife) I worry about being told you can't do that( dig) by council, irate ratepayers, and joe public. Avoid confrontation by not being too obvious, but don't want to come across as sneaky.
		Teknetics Delta 4000. Garrett Pro Finder

latch		Posted : Friday, 9 August 2013 6:08:40 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 16/02/2013(UTC) Posts: 192 Location: dunedin Thanks: 198 times Was thanked: 27 time(s) in 27 post(s)		i was worried about what people would say(the haters),but just got out there and did it,i prefer to educate people rather than them form opinions,i do go out night hunting and beach hunting i also go out at midday and do parks and have had only had one confrontation,there are usually 2 type of people curious and jealous as long as you can deal with theese people you have no problems and know the law about what you are doing,ie are you on private property or public property
		fiend hard and find all

Shilo		Posted : Friday, 9 August 2013 7:18:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		When I started I too was self-conscious (especially living in a small community then) but quickly stopped worrying what others thought. But I still avoid busy areas and prefer to detect early hours of the morning when nobody is around because of the amount of interruptions you get. I have only ever struck one obnoxious person and they were drunk, but most people come up and ask what you are doing, do you find much, etc. This is OK once and awhile but when you get one person after the other doing it then you spend all your time talking and not enough time detecting. The hours around dawn are much better then night detecting because any low life's that can cause trouble have already passed out for the day.
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Metal Kiwi		Posted : Friday, 9 August 2013 8:15:10 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		I was a bit self conscious when I first started too. I think most people are, as not only are you doing something a little different in public, you probably dont know how to do it either. Nowadays as soon as the headphones go on I am in another place and hardly notice people around me. The biggest thing changing the NZ'rs perception of detectorists at present is the detecting shows on Sky and that's a good thing. In some ways it is nice to have people come over and chat a bit about what you are finding on the beach. MK
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Goldnut		Posted : Saturday, 10 August 2013 11:57:25 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 2/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 461 Location: Auckland Thanks: 48 times Was thanked: 95 time(s) in 92 post(s)		I think we all had the initial fear... for me I was more embarrassed about what people think... The first time I had someone mock me was when a guy drove by and shouted at me, "Loser!"... But I quickly got over it. I enjoy being me... and part of me is a treasure hunter and I am no longer ashamed of it :)... I even told all my friends and I even got some of them to go out with me to detect! Now when someone mocks me I just ignore them... cause I think that they are secretly jealous that they can't do it. But I have had more acceptance from passersby than rejection. I often get stopped or stalked by kids watching me I even let one of the older ones use my old detector and after finding $.50 he ran to his mom and asked to have one for Christmas. And I even had a lady tell me where i could find a lost gold ring and gave me the wink that she already claimed the insurance and if I found it I could keep it... Sometimes those people we fear can be our best allies :D Edited by user Saturday, 10 August 2013 11:59:21 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified
		Fisher F2 11DD coil, Garrett Pro-Pointer ----> My Blog: http://goldnut.blogspot.co.nz
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Guardian		Posted : Saturday, 10 August 2013 2:05:48 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 30/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 716 Location: Dunedin Thanks: 42 times Was thanked: 222 time(s) in 185 post(s)		People will be people and takes all to make a world - Some the world could do without.... So far for me I've had 3 negative people one of which required a flash of my digging tool to get to back down, I don't condone it and it was purely an act to stop the situation escalating, which could have gone either way. I have had plenty of training in the past but now I'd rather walk away than stand my ground, these days I try and keep my old pent up teenage testosterone in check. By far the most concerning experience for me wasn't by a human but rather by there aggressive uncontrolled dog. Now that had me calculating scenarios pretty quick. It worked out without incident but has taught me to be far more aware of my surroundings. I enjoy this hobby it helps me relax in an otherwise pretty hostile world (I have 5 kids), so if I come across negativity I let it stay there and not take it with me to the next place. Crap that sounded new age! In general over the last few years it appears more people accept the hobby easier. Which in some respects in a shame because more detectorists means less goodies for me *8^) The good thing is that the ratio of nice people to bottom feeders is very very high.