If I could teach one thing, it would be Self-Reliance.
If someone knows where to hunt for information and what questions need to be asked, they stand to be able to improve their knowledge on their own.
Historically, knowledge and wisdom (the Craft) came from self study. There were books and periodicals available, coins to be seen at shows, other collectors to talk to. When the show ended, the sun went down, and the lights went out, that was about it for the day. With the advent of the internet and, lately, advancements in digital photography, the world of knowledge has opened grand vistas never known before in the hobby.
Back in the day I could borrow every book about coins from the local library and haul them home in a backpack, and that was a 2 mile hike, uphill, through deep snow.
Today, there is so much information freely available that it is impossible to take it all in over the course of your lifetime. In fact, the amount of information is growing faster than it can be assimilated.
When I answer questions I strive to include a link to further reading so the folks can delve deeper on their own. In a group of this size a tactic has developed: Find out who to ask...tag them in a post.
I'll have to step up my game and teach other people to follow suit.
The challenge, then, is to urge people to answer questions from all these new collectors, and include a link with that reply. Not only do the new people get answers to their questions, those who offer the answer become more able to teach self-reliance....Here's what you got, and here's a link to more information.
Treading through that snow gave you wise prospective and a knowledge that you have shared with others so we do have to tread that snow anymore. Your teachings will be a reference for centuries to come, and remembered like the scholars of old.
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