Originally Posted by
z118 link=topic=13923.msg146842#msg146842 date=1375971523
Angel, with the utmost of respect, I might be inclined to argue this point... or maybe just refine it a bit. To me at least your statement above is a bit like Tiger Woods saying Anyone can shoot 7 under par if they are familiar with the course, know their clubs, and practice often. While knowledge, patience, and familiarity with the equipment are absolute musts and will improve anyone's results in any sport or hobby, I still tend to suspect that you posses a certain je ne sais quoi that gives you an innate skill and overall superiority in metal detecting. Some folks are just gifted in music, some in writing, and some in sports. Well, I think you are just gifted in detecting. Insanely gifted.
Hopefully, I don't just think this as a way of making myself feel better that I am not able to personally see results like yours. I think there are plenty of folks (on this forum especially) who love the hobby as much as you, hunt in the same general areas or types of areas, use the same equipment, and practice (or at least try) the same patience and discipline. The fact that your results are generally so astounding to all of them (myself included) I think bears out my theory that you are a detecting savant.
Again, this is not to say that the practice, patience, and knowledge will not give everyone better results, or that they are not huge factors in yours. Nor is it to say that anyone should give up on dreams of emulating your success in the hobby. And I have no doubt that in no other activity in the world is the foremost master so open, encouraging, and generally fantastic as you are to others in this hobby. For that I feel quite fortunate and offer my deepest thanks. Your posts serve to inspire and motivate me more than I can say. But, I won't find myself disappointed when I don't have overall results like yours because to some extent I just don't think it's possible for me, even if I hunted in the very same spots as you. Although I have no doubt I love this hobby as much as you, and try to practice the same patience and discipline (try being the key word), I just don't think I am gifted in the same way you so clearly are when it comes to detecting.
I hope these thoughts are not negatively received, as that is not my intent. But this is something I've thought about quite a bit, and would welcome other folk's thoughts as well.
EDIT: I posted this before I saw some of the other comments going on in your other amazing posts. Again I apologize if my thoughts sound anything like some of those. I honestly feel badly sometimes because I see how people can often react to your amazing finds with a bit of negativity or some dismissive excuse or reason for your success. I think people are just inclined to want to explain to themselves why your success so far exceeds their own. And in doing so they tend to dismiss the discipline, patience, and practice you put into the hobby. Please understand I am not doing that, and I very much hope it doesn't sound that way. I just tend to think that in addition to all of the best practices, skill, and patience you employ in this hobby you have an additional gift that exceeds others' (or at least mine).