Pin Hawks...for shame...

[TracyL]

I'll add my sympathy for the bad experiences -- I've had a few as well, and I've encountered some gun-shy CMs who expected me to be "one of THEM." They are pleasantly surprised when I'm polite, smiling, and make actual eye contact instead of staring at or yanking on their lanyards. It is astonishing how people behave sometimes.

In regards to wearing pins you don't wish to trade on a lanyard... Inasmuch as there is an "official pin trading" etiquette, culture, or process, good pin traders (by which I specifically mean people who are NOT hawks, sharks, or just rude) most often tend to follow the same rules the CMs follow. That is, pins you are wearing on a lanyard are fair game for trade, and pins that are not fair game for trade are not worn on a lanyard.

On the one hand, obviously it's pointless to be offended if someone else isn't following the same rules you're following (welcome to life), but in defense of sincere traders, you do confuse us if you're wearing a lanyard with pins you won't trade. On the other hand, this is why humans have language -- so we can (*gasp*) TALK to each other when we're not sure.

The way it's *supposed* to work is like this. I see you have a lanyard, and I'd like to take a closer look. So I go up to you, smile brightly, and say, "may I see your pins?" And you smile back and say "sure!" and hold them out for me so I can easily see them without having to invade your personal space. And if you're not trading, this is a perfect time to say, "I'm sorry, but I'm not trading today. I just wanted to wear some of my favorite pins." At which point I can say something like, "oh, okay. Thanks for showing them to me," or, "wow, I've been looking for that one forever because X is my favorite character in the world. Are you sure I couldn't convince you to trade?" And we can have a conversation and be civilized about it. What a concept!!!

If you're not up for that, or more to the point, if you're not up for how it often goes worse than that, your best bet is to choose some other display method for your pins -- a vest, a jacket, a hat, your shirt collar, or whatever. While there are people who trade from hats or vests, the widely-recognized sign of a trader is a lanyard. If you're wearing pins on a lanyard, people are going to assume you're willing to trade.

[Clotho]

TracyL,
Thanks for your well-worded post. That is my sentiments exactly about the lanyard-means-trading in my understanding. I totally understand wanting to wear pins you like but don't want to trade, but it would help avoid confusion and frustration if those were worn on some other part of your person, and save the lanyard for a "I am ready to trade!" message!

Thanks, everyone, for validating my frustration and for reminding me of all the kind traders out there. If only we had a way to identify each other.... LOL

[mermaidmarian]

I'll add my sympathy for the bad experiences -- I've had a few as well, and I've encountered some gun-shy CMs who expected me to be "one of THEM." They are pleasantly surprised when I'm polite, smiling, and make actual eye contact instead of staring at or yanking on their lanyards. It is astonishing how people behave sometimes.

In regards to wearing pins you don't wish to trade on a lanyard... Inasmuch as there is an "official pin trading" etiquette, culture, or process, good pin traders (by which I specifically mean people who are NOT hawks, sharks, or just rude) most often tend to follow the same rules the CMs follow. That is, pins you are wearing on a lanyard are fair game for trade, and pins that are not fair game for trade are not worn on a lanyard.

On the one hand, obviously it's pointless to be offended if someone else isn't following the same rules you're following (welcome to life), but in defense of sincere traders, you do confuse us if you're wearing a lanyard with pins you won't trade. On the other hand, this is why humans have language -- so we can (*gasp*) TALK to each other when we're not sure.

The way it's *supposed* to work is like this. I see you have a lanyard, and I'd like to take a closer look. So I go up to you, smile brightly, and say, "may I see your pins?" And you smile back and say "sure!" and hold them out for me so I can easily see them without having to invade your personal space. And if you're not trading, this is a perfect time to say, "I'm sorry, but I'm not trading today. I just wanted to wear some of my favorite pins." At which point I can say something like, "oh, okay. Thanks for showing them to me," or, "wow, I've been looking for that one forever because X is my favorite character in the world. Are you sure I couldn't convince you to trade?" And we can have a conversation and be civilized about it. What a concept!!!

If you're not up for that, or more to the point, if you're not up for how it often goes worse than that, your best bet is to choose some other display method for your pins -- a vest, a jacket, a hat, your shirt collar, or whatever. While there are people who trade from hats or vests, the widely-recognized sign of a trader is a lanyard. If you're wearing pins on a lanyard, people are going to assume you're willing to trade.

I was prompted to read the pin trading ettiquette posted here at Intercot, and I can find no reference to it being bad form to wear pins if you are not a trader, on a lanyard or any other place.

I certainly wouldn't respond rudely to anyone who approached me with an invitation to trade - I just find the sentiment that you are not playing by the rules if you wear pins but don't trade - a bit extreme.

[Clotho]

The PURPOSE of the lanyards and pins are for trading. That is why they are all sold in "The Trading Post" or "Pin Traders". You're right that there is no specific law, but it's inherent in the entire system built. On the walls of the shops, they show a list of "how to trade", and show people holding their lanyards out for others, etc. Disney would never deign to say you HAVE to trade from your lanyard, but that is what it was designed for.

[mermaidmarian]

The PURPOSE of the lanyards and pins are for trading. That is why they are all sold in "The Trading Post" or "Pin Traders". You're right that there is no specific law, but it's inherent in the entire system built. On the walls of the shops, they show a list of "how to trade", and show people holding their lanyards out for others, etc. Disney would never deign to say you HAVE to trade from your lanyard, but that is what it was designed for.

I don't know that that is necessarily so - I purchased a lanyard that is meant to carry park passes and other forms of ID.

I understand that people who are into trading view the lanyard as a shorthand invitation to trade. As I said in my first response in this thread, instead of being offended by people who wear their pins and refuse to trade, perhaps understand that there is a fairly good sized demographic (albeit by my guess) who aren't into trading and are really not interested in being instructed in the "rules" of a culture or hobby they are not participating in. Pin trading etiquette governs trading, not pin collecting.

BTW...I always purchase my pins. I don't recall a CM ever telling me that pins are intended chiefly for trading purposes.

[Mickey'sGirl]

I am not a huge pin trader, but I have a very specific collection of "Mickey all by himself" pins that I have collected, and cherish. I wear my lanyard like I would a watch or a necklace, and do not trade from it. That said, I also carry some "trading" pins that I will gladly exchange with anyone who wants them (I don't care about the financials -- just the sentimentals ) . When people ask to look at my pins, I always explain my collection, and show them the pins I have for trading... and I would never enter into a discussion with a hawk (I usually chat with the kids) I guess I'm more of a pin purchaser.