Mark K
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,816 
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Post by Mark K on Jan 25, 2014 23:18:45 GMT -5
I see on various site where someone will be very excited over a rock they find.(or bought)
While this is always a good thing, much of the time, the rock is similar to what I consider junkite.
For those who don't know what junkite is, it is the leverite that you bring home by mistake.
And while I am not judging anyone else's taste in what they see as appealing, I don't understand.
I see the same thing in a lot of places where rough is sold. Tuscon is full of it.
At our rock club meetings, I have given away many hundreds of pounds of stuff that came home with me that I did not find appealing, yet others were delighted in having.
When I see this, it makes me wonder if I am missing out on something.
Maybe I am just too picky, but at the same time, it kind of makes me wonder if the rough I have in my rock shed isn't something to worry about.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Jan 25, 2014 23:51:25 GMT -5
The one great thing about humans is that we are all unique in taste and perspective. Were we all living a cookie-cutter existence, it would be pretty dull.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,492
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 25, 2014 23:55:16 GMT -5
Like they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. Also, these days sometimes the great stuff is not that easy to find so you have to cut some lesser material to find a little good spot to work up...Mel
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Post by Pat on Jan 26, 2014 0:16:25 GMT -5
I agree with the comments already made. Periodically I go through my stash. Lots of rocks get tossed into the give away bucket. These very same rocks thrilled me once upon a time. I think this is common.
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
Member since July 2012
Posts: 361
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Post by ash on Jan 26, 2014 7:02:41 GMT -5
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as well. Some people love all kinds of things that I find astonishing. Like why does my wife like to watch House Hunters every day of her life!  lol I appreciate that other people appreciate something even if I don't. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 27, 2014 11:47:29 GMT -5
I use to pick it all up,now I pick and choose! Received 14 buckets from Clyde and ended up just keeping 3 1/2 buckets and gave the rest away...
When I hunt rocks on the gravel bars on the river here,I end up with less rocks because I leave most laying there or if I'm with other hounders I give it to them and let them keep it or toss it....
To each his or her own!!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 12:05:22 GMT -5
Saturday night at Quartzite I sold over 100# of free rocks!
The more nice rocks I get, the more picky I am in acquisition. You are just farther along than the other guys.
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Post by drocknut on Jan 27, 2014 12:12:19 GMT -5
I agree, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and one person's trash is another's treasure. I think it is great when people give away rocks they don't want so others can enjoy them.
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Post by DirtCleaner on Jan 27, 2014 13:54:17 GMT -5
The folks before have said what we are all thinking. Sometimes looking at a rock from a different direction can make a huge difference in it as well. But you never really know until you cut it.
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 27, 2014 14:39:18 GMT -5
While beauty is largely very individual, there are general principles of aesthetics that have been found in the study of beauty and some of them would apply to rocks. These are "on average" and each individual may have a more idiosyncratic response. So there is room for two people to differ on evaluation of beauty, because some elements that conform to the principles are in the rock, other elements of appraisal (even when generally based on these principals) are based in the observer's brain and experience.
But then for some (i.e., lapidaries) rocks are not simply appreciated for their passive beauty, but also for other properties such as workability, solidness, yield, and the appeal of the pattern when only a small cab-sized section is taken. So people with the intent of putting the rock in their yard and people intent on making cabs could have two very different opinions of beauty.
Sometimes the perception of a real bargain can induce an appraisal of beautiful. I can see an OK jasp-agate at a show, and then find out it is only $1.50/lb (instead of maybe $3) and I become somewhat captivated by it. Also, once some reasonable amount of available money or effort has been expended to obtain something, our psychology primes us find what we get as more rare or more beautiful: we like things better after an investment. (If too much money/effort, or if resources expended were not really available, a separate psychology of buyer's remorse can kick in.)
Then there is the culture of places like this. There is a strong bias for positive comments (sometime really really positive with jumping icons and drool warnings) or just say nothing at all. I have found that discussing the strengths, qualities, and merits of a rock often produce a hostile response if the positive comments are anything less than 100% bestest, and/or if any problematic aspect (i.e., vugs, alteration, fractures) is noted. This is one of the last places one should come for an honest appraisal. But, I would also say that unless you are going into business, the only appraisal that counts is your own.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2014 15:24:55 GMT -5
Daniel, excellent essay!
i.e.:
In quartzite I was looking at some stuff and at $4 a pound for a 40 pound piece. The seller also dug the stones and had room to offer cash discount. At $1 a pound it wen home with me! Now it's beautiful. lol
Also, I happen to be in love with lavender jade from turkey. So much so I am considering getting a big shipment in order to get a better selection to choose from. In Q only one table had any and she had a 60# boulder. Of course I had to inquire the price. $50 a pound. $3000! I wont say how much that gets me in Turkey but it's enough to fill a lot of 5G buckets. BUT I still love the stuff.
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 27, 2014 18:30:09 GMT -5
A few years back Richardson's had tons of the stuff for $10/lb, with many pieces in 3-12lb range.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,548
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Post by tkvancil on Jan 30, 2014 13:00:10 GMT -5
Interesting question Foxtail .... I've wondered the same about myself. I've got buckets of stuff that I collected with joy and vigor that I'll never work up. Junkite certainly describes how I feel about it now. My grandmother used to say a persons taste changes every 7 years. I think my taste in rocks changes every time I tumble something new. Like others have said what we like is individual and relative to our experiences.
People I work with often want to show me their rocks when they find out I'm a "rock guy". Sometimes they even want to give me a "really cool rock" that they have found. Most of the time it's something I'd never bother with. If it's a gift I always accept it with gratitude and a smile which is genuine because they are thinking of me and sharing what they like. If it's their "showpiece" I like to ask them questions about it, like what they find interesting about it and how and where it was found. Again I think that this shows that we like what we like and there's not a right or wrong about it.
deb193redux has a great point about the culture here and similar places. I have been contemplating starting a thread called "Is there something wrong with us?". I didn't do it because I wasn't sure how to present it without seeming overly negative. The general thrust would be why do we always seem to say something good or nothing at all. Is it the culture in general? Are we all just really nice people? Is this just not the place for critisism even if meant to be constructive? It's probably not important because, quote, "I would also say unless you are going into business, the only appraisal that counts is your own". Well said deb.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 30, 2014 16:08:51 GMT -5
I think Scott hit it on the head (at least for me): as I've gained experiences I've gotten better at high grading.
Chuck
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,816
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Post by Mark K on Jan 30, 2014 17:56:38 GMT -5
This thread has gone in a positive direction and that is good, but that is for the most part not what I meant.
I will try to find pics and show what I meant.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,816
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Post by Mark K on Jan 30, 2014 18:11:54 GMT -5
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,816
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Post by Mark K on Jan 30, 2014 18:13:37 GMT -5
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
Member since July 2012
Posts: 361
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Post by ash on Jan 30, 2014 22:10:18 GMT -5
I don't think your taste is that much off of others, neither of those have any bids so... Like others have said, people's tastes change, and it is taste which is subjective. I do think that if someone brings you some garbage that you don't want, there is nothing wrong with being nice to them about it. I truly envy people that can compliment someone and, not really lie to them at the same time, about something that they don't really like or necessarily agree with, it is a gift IMO. Always build people up, no matter what is my motto, it might be the only compliment they get that day! Sorry if I am still being too positive lol
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2014 22:14:16 GMT -5
I agree with Mark K that the ebay stones are turds. The seller wasted his/her time posting. No bids, and it someone snipes (a) they will be disappointed and (b) the seller makes almost nothing. turds indeed. |
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Post by radio on Jan 30, 2014 22:39:53 GMT -5
In my experience, anytime someone talks up the "metaphysical" aspect or "Chakra" of stones, they usually are not something most of us would waste the effort on. If you do happen to see some really good stuff, it is priced at 10 times or more what a rockhound would pay for slabbing material.
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lol I appreciate that other people appreciate something even if I don't.
