The terminology process

[willbrooks]

I have stayed relatively quiet - until now:

Here's what I see going on...

I believe most of this got started because I mentioned that too many people were using abbreviations for terms that we shouldn't using them for when explaining coins to new collectors. That was swatted around for a while and turned into this.

My concerns are largely the same as Bob's - a lot of time spent on something that already exists. It also doesn't address my initial concern over too many people using too many abbreviations to describe stuff in an educational forum. If people would learn to type out the entire term in titles and posts, most of the problem would be solved.

The other issue was with regard to 'making up' terms to use, which also can create problems. While it is a far lesser problem than overuse of abbreviations, it can still cause issues.

I personally think reinventing the wheel of coming up with a whole dictionary on a forum is overkill. I do know that error-ref.com does a very good job of explaining errors, and once I get to a point where the content is coming together on coppercoins, I plan on creating image and video rich pages that will explain everything from the minting process to the overlay and attribution process. I know the information is sorely needed, but I honestly don't think the forum is the right place for it.

Think about things this way. A publisher will kick a book back in a heartbeat if an author uses acronyms and abbreviations in their writing without clearly spelling out what the acronym or abbreviation means. If we want people to understand what we are trying to tell them the FIRST TIME - without having to re-explain our posts, I would think we would want to write publishable quality work in our response posts.

Think of it that way, and spell everything out, and I seriously don't think there will be a problem with referencing error-ref.com and coppercoins.com for any answers they may need beyond the terms themselves.

This will largely alleviate the confusion caused by using MDD, PSD, DDO, and DDD all in the same sentence...which I have seen.

The content I will be writing for coppercoins.com will be easily referencable information from anywhere on the web, and I not only allow - but encourage people to link to the information I will be writing. Heck, I am largely doing it FOR use as a "link-to" reference for the forums. You think I like typing out the same things over and over again? Heh...I'd rather link people to something already written, and it's not out there now.

So you think it is a bad idea because you want to do it on your site instead?
As for being a waste of time, the time belongs to those of us who choose to participate, therefore this argument is, well, as waste of time.
Besides, owners of other sites may retire, or sell off all of their stock, or pull their website, or change their minds, etc. Why shouldn't we have our OWN glossary right here where one belongs!!!!!!

[coppercoins]

No, you took that completely wrong, this is not an argument, and I am done with this thread.

Thanks.

[kloccwork419]

I dont think havin a glossary is a bad idea but to discuss the definitions and terms is really stupid. Or what ones will be used..lol..There is already meanings. No need to figure out what one will be used because they all matter. You guys are blowing this up. Smh, for those that dont know, it means shaking my head .

[willbrooks]

I dont think havin a glossary is a bad idea but to discuss the definitions and terms is really stupid. Or what ones will be used..lol..There is already meanings. No need to figure out what one will be used because they all matter. You guys are blowing this up. Smh, for those that dont know, it means shaking my head .

I think having an open discussion about certain terms will be educational for many members rather than "really stupid."

"There is already meanings."
Ok, thanks! rofl.

There are also already other coin forums. Should we shut this one down? There are already other tattoo artists in your area, are you gonna quit or are you going to try to put your own best foot forward? Well?

[1jackel1]

I am staying out of this one lol, to much heat going on.


George

[coppercoins]

This will teach me for replying to a request to chime in and discuss.

Yup...me too.

[Peter]

Ok--lets stop now. While I appreciate all of these opinions I should not have used the word discussion and had no clue that it would lead to this. I did not mean it to discuss the merits of doing this or not. Moot point--it is being done. I only meant it in the spirit Chris originally presented where it could be used as an educational tool that would lead to discussion on the terminology itself.

I'd rather members be pointed to an internal link on this site as opposed to being taken off site for information as Jody pointed out. I'm not looking to come up with anything new or earth shaking--just a list of terminology, acronyms etc that we can all agree on. It's simple. Use this site, use external sites, go wherever you want. Yes it exists in hundreds of other threads in bits and pieces. Yes it exists on dozens of other websites. So what? I have a book shelf of coin books and dozens on Lincolns alone. Should I have stopped buying books after I had my first?

Chris had the good idea to involve everyone and make it a learning process. We could have just made a list, posted it and announced it. No one would have said a word then and it would have just been another added forum. At the very least it will be more visible now instead of being buried in a menu item that no one knew existed. I have a huge bucket list of additions and upgrades for this site to make it more sticky and this is one of them.