A straggling few in the metal detecting community are making the rest of the respectful detectorist look bad and it is time to call them out.
Let me explain.
Recently my wife and I joined a Facebook group for our local county. Unlike most of its type, this particular group is pretty wild to say the least. Let’s just say it is absolutely not kid friendly! My wife and I both discussed that she might get some unwanted messages from that group. She’s an adult and can handle herself but we both knew it might become an issue. I am happy to say, even after several weeks in the group she has not received anything inappropriate.
Why is it that my attractive wife can join a local social media group and people can be respectful, yet women in the metal detecting hobby, by certain detectorists, get in boxed with inappropriate messages, photos, and videos?
Just today I talked to a female detectorist, one of the big influencers in the space, who stopped frequenting Facebook because she is turned off by the inappropriate messages that come from other detectorists, who are not her personal friends. No one should fear to open their personal message inbox.
It isn’t just heterosexual women running into this. I recently heard of a female detectorist, who is a lesbian, getting messages that were addressing her in derogatory terms. If you have a problem with anyone over sexual preferences or anything else, it’s simple, STAY AWAY! It’s downright inappropriate for you to contact them to tell them you don’t like their sexual orientation. Grow up and mind your business!
It’s really something I don’t understand, why does it seem that an enclave of metal detectorists see it as OK to send inappropriate messages? I know social media and hiding behind a computer can bring out the worst in some people, those metal detectorists who think it is OK to send such items should not be tolerated and be reported and blocked.
I am not saying it is a majority of metal detectorists, because many have been amazing at helping women get in the hobby and have teamed up with them for safety, so they are not alone detecting, as well mentored them by sharing valuable metal detecting tips.
However, those few who are sending inappropriate, messages, photos or videos to women metal detectorists, it needs to stop RIGHT NOW it will not be tolerated any further. Some women detectorists have forwarded the inappropriate images and videos, to show how explicit it gets to our team and what I personally saw as a male has really upset me.
If you listen to the All Mode Podcast Monday nights you know the hosts are Detectorist Gypsy Jewels and Detectorist Amanda Degaz. I will say it hasn’t happened more than a few times, but I have had men talk about these women to me inappropriately on and off the podcast. Of course, I shut them down immediately and put them in their place but I’m surprised that the conversation was even acceptable by the other party.
Furthermore, recently I was accused by someone in the hobby of having them on the podcast because “they are attractive women” and I let this person have it. Detectorist Gypsy and Detectorist Amanda were asked to be a part of the podcast because of their deep knowledge and passion for metal detecting, it’s that simple! Of course there was another motive behind it, more and more women are getting into metal detecting, it is the fastest growing demographic in the hobby. Therefore I want to give women a voice in the hobby and I dare you to find two women detectorists to represent this hobby better than Gypsy Jewels and Amanda Degaz!
If any women out there are being harassed, bullied or having any trouble with men in the hobby you can always reach out to myself, Amanda “digger” Degaz , Gypsy Jewels or Joanna, we will happily help anyway we can!
I know this article has a negative tone, but I do want to stress, I do believe over all it’s a fairly small group of men in the metal detecting community being inappropriate. Again I will state, I’ve heard many positive stories by women detectorists about some of the respectable men they have met in the metal detecting community. I encourage all men to stick up for your women detectorists in the hobby and please shut the those down who are inappropriate. I encourage women metal detectorists to not stand for anything inappropriate and block and report those who are, you do not have to stay silent.
Great article Mike. I’ve seen, over time, some of those derogatory posts. I hope that your message wakes up some of those posters about their inappropriateness.
Very well said. There is no excuse for these jerks to send or talk inappropriately tho anyone for any reason no matter what. I was a guest on their show and they and all woman detectorist deserve the same respect as anyone else.
GREAT article Mike! It is about time the industry as a whole straighten themselves out about inappropriate comments, about anyone that is different than they are. And I am honored to call one of those mentioned ladies my friend. She out-detected you AND me that one day we all hunted the ranch! LOL Thanks again, brother!
I always say this is more a social media problem than a metal detecing problem. For those of us who are out there either hosting podcasts, doing videos, or even like myself being on a field team, we are a bit more active socially online. And admittedly I accept many friend requests (provided they have a few in common friends and something about detecting). Certainly I want to promote my projects and engage with like minded people. But yes it can get annoying when the first message you receive asks if you are single. This isn’t the Dating Game. I have also received unsolicited penis pics along with one rather judgmental jerk who felt the need to police my wardrobe, insisting my wearing a tank top to detect was a bad influence on his daughter (no really). The ones I find most insulting however are those who assume I don’t know my stuff or think I am in this hobby as a novelty! Worse still are those who dismiss any success I have achieved as solely attributed to my gender. Ignorance is one thing but condescension I shut down cold. I have learned to judiciously use the unfriend and block features accordingly. To the ladies out there I say, be true to yourself and your passion for this hobby! Keep showing the world that girls rock metal detecing! 😉
Dude, I agree with you completely. I listen to the podcasts because you are all fun to listen to. I don’t know what any of you look like, outside of the miniature pics when you comment. Nor do I know your marital or other relationship preferences or status. It doesn’t matter to me at all. You’re fun to listen to and informative. You care about the hobby, each other, and your listeners.
Keep it up. Like my grandpa used to say: Illegitumi non carborundum. 😉