Why...

[liamnolan]

I remember asking the same questions to a detectorist a long time ago. Thankfully he was not angry or insulting, or impatient or frustrated and I then went out and bought a detector.
If you go out into the public spaces, then you have to expect the public to turn up and ask questions.
Anyone annoyed about the public asking questions should perhaps choose a less crowded place or a less busy time? Liam

[craghopper]

I was detecting on Crosby beach and a bloke came up and asked could he take photo of me detecting I didn't mind one but he asked me to pose this way then another way etc, he was an amateur photographer and thought it would make a good photo .Must remember never to detect in those Speedos again.

[Expat Aussie]

I used to get a lot of that as when I started in the 1970`s I concentrated on beaches and usually had a number of children tailing behind asking the usual questions.Now people are used to seeing detectorists on the beaches so if anyone asks me anything they are usually fellow detectorists or people with a genuine interest in what I`m doing.

[Watsy]

I don't think I've been to the beach yet and someone hasn't asked me something. I was on a beach overlooked by a guest house and it was maybe around 8:30 in the morning and a chap approached me. He said he was in the guesthouse with his wife and happened to be looking out the window and he'd said to his wife that there was some fella out on the beach metal detecting. His wife had told him to give her head peace and to go out and help me with the digging, lol.

Plenty of kids always want to look so as long as their parents are nearby, I'll give their mum or dad a thumbs up and stick a coin in the sand and let the kids have a go with the detector or pinpointer, they really love it.

Loads of folk just stop for a chat about what I've been finding. I really don't mind and put it down to a day out on the beach. In the fields it's a different story though, don't see another person from start to finish.

[Billy Doyle]

The strangest question I have been asked (whilst detecting! ) was "What are you doing?"

I thought it was obvious but ... oh well

[lardbelly]

I've had the old 'what are you doing ?' question. Recently I was asked 'Are you hoping to find something ?'

[beaubrummell]

I've had the old 'what are you doing ?' question. Recently I was asked 'Are you hoping to find something ?'

That's hilarious LB. "Are you hoping to find something?"

Good grief.

[batpuppy]

Last time I was beach detecting, a guy sparked up a conversation with me (nice day, found much etc.). Turned out he was speccing out the competition as he was the Northern Europe sales manager for C-Scope! I could tell he was for real because he knew his stuff. Mind you, his forte was industrial stuff for cable detection prior to building etc. Nice chap, sadly no freebies.

Cheers,

batpuppy

[FUBAR]

I totally agree with Debs comment. I know it can be a pain sometimes esp when you have to remove headphones etc. But stay polite as it always helps to raise our profile.

[hydraglide]

I would never be rude.....just inwardly annoyed...

[huckfin]

I would never be rude.....just inwardly annoyed...

I get asked all the time have you found anything and I politely reply always with a big grin !

[SheffieldSparky]

I would never be rude.....just inwardly annoyed...

I get asked all the time have you found anything and I politely reply always with a big grin !

I always thought it was wind Kev

[hihosilver]

Usually I'm friendly with people, as long as they're friendly or not rude to start off with when they approach me. You can size people up in the first few seconds of a conversation. Stereotyping of course but they exist for a reason.

The majority of people are just interested in hearing what 'amazing' things I've found. This sort of questioning I'm fine with. Responses range from "just a few coins today" to "syringes, rusty knives, needles, and other drug paraphernalia, you know the sort of stuff", depending if they approach me in a normal manner or a snooty way, the type to say "well why are you here, why not go somewhere else out of the way" type. Those ones get the Crown Estate & Foreshore lecture from me.

Most ridiculous thing I've been asked while beach detecting was "so does that thing pick up (as in detect, not literally) metallic dog poo then?". Felt like my jaw just fell open and didn't close for a minute or so staring at the bloke. He was dead serious, had something not right in the head it seemed.

No one seems to care that I'm cleaning the beach of all the trash, always end up with more than I can carry, so when old dears walking their dogs toddle over to ask in an offish tone what the *bleep* am I doing I show them all the stuff. That just puts them off wanting to talk to me, as I guess I'm then deemed 'dirty'. Even as their dogs crap on the beach in the background and they walk off leaving it there, pretending it never did it.
I love dogs, it's the useless owners who need shooting.

[valoda]

I was detecting Ayr beach once.(popular tourist place~ specially the beach) Older German couple approached me and the woman asked me. Do you looking for bombs?
I use MINELAB junkpocket so it was absolutely reasonable questions.

[opa81]

Here is The Netherlands I get the most reactions from German people on the beach. Looks like nobody in Germany uses a metaldetector LOL.

Andre