silver-shroud, thanx for the dialogue. I mean that in all honesty.
... I'm just the kind of person who needs permission to do anything. ...
I'll bet that in *practical application*, this is not the case. For example, I'll bet that if your intention were to fly frisbees, or skip stones on the pond (might poke someone's eye out), that you would not think for a moment that you should get permission.
So I'll bet your statement only applies to things that you think are somehow amiss, or harmful, or risky, or whatever. Thus: How did md'ing get into that class ? If we START with that inherent definition (that our hobby is bad and dangerous), then sure: We "need permission". But why that starting definition ? I believe that MD'ing is harmless, benign, healthy, innocent, etc....
.... There are also people in the town who will not look kindly on this.....
I don't disagree that "some people might not like it". Why ? Because let's be honest : MD'ing (at least in nicely manicured turf) has ... uh .... connotations. Right ? Ie.: that you might be about to leave a hole. I don't disagree with you. However : Going and trying to get express permission does not solve this, IMHO. Here's why :
a) you risk bumping into the old "no one cared UNTIL you asked" psychology. When in fact, perhaps no one ever would have given it a moment's thought/ And worse yet, when they see another md'r later, they recall the earlier inquiry and start booting others !
b) There's been ample stories of people who went and found an express yes (even though it wasn't necessary). Then, when out in the park, someone (cop, gardener, or whomever) comes up to gripe. The MD'r proudly whips out their permission or name-to-drop. The griper gets on his cell-phone, calls that person and says
"But he's tearing the place up" (which isn't true, of course). Then guess what happens to your permission ? It is promptly revoked.
c) Although I acknowledge (yes) that some people might-not-like it, it's actually quite rare. I know that , by reading forums (when the topics of stink-eyes or scrams come up) that it might SEEM like it's pervasive. But that's only the psychology of shark attacks. Eg.: Even though 10,000 people per day swim in the ocean without incident, yet if a single shark attack occurs once in the year, guess what makes the next day's headlines ? And guess what you'll fear the next time you swim ? Even though reality is: It's so-rare as to be a non-issue.
So too is this supposed "no one likes us therefore I must grovel" notion. In fact, I find it quite the opposite : People come up and want to know what's the best thing I ever found, and "Where can I buy one of those?" etc... FAR from the supposed dis-taste that you envision each passerby is thinking of you.
....I actually have a question for you Tom. A while back, I asked a town where my wife is from if they allowed metal detecting. They expressed that they didn't although they don't have anything in their city ordinances nor do they have signs posted. ....
Bingo. Now you know what I'm talking about. You were the latest victim of "No one cared till you asked". And whomever gave you that answer, I'll bet had never, or would ever have given the matter any thought, if he'd just happen-chance been passing by the park . But when they're pressed to give an answer, a "safe" answer will tend to emerge. Eh ?
...... It's a very small town. Would you detect there although my name is now on their radar and have been told "no detecting"?
Do you see the pickle you are now in ? You ask whether I'd still detect or not. But that's kind of a loaded question, since I would not have asked, to have ever fetched a silly answer, in the first place. But perhaps this would shed more light on the general concept of "no's" and/or "scrams" :
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=278842
