Jim, I understand what you are saying about the older collectors encouraging the younger ones, but youth is no excuse for unethical practices in the hobby. I always find it fun to go to chip shows and introduce myself to my cyberfriends because the response is always the same, "I expected someone older!" (Probably because I'm always dealing with those old musty illegal chips.)

I was merely 23 years old when I started and although I would have liked to come in and make alot of money, I always relied on honesty with others. I trade, buy, and sell with many people on this board who are 2-3 times my age and I have never heard a complaint.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would hate for this whole thing to be blamed on youth and inexperience because we younger collectors might get the wrong image.

Ed Hertel (27 years old going on 80!)