Alaska TV gold mining show glorifies recklessness (costs, bills)

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

That's what most people on here are overlooking. Extraordinary amounts of time and energy are required to be invested before a mine become profitable.

and many go deeply into debt and loose everything doing this, there are hundreds upon hundreds of closed abandoned gold mines throughout Ak and the US that substantiate this. A spent mine rarely becomes profitable again.

[Dakster]

For every success there are hundreds of failures I bet... I don't think I could risk it all...

[stiffnecked]

Originally Posted by blueflames50

and many go deeply into debt and loose everything doing this, there are hundreds upon hundreds of closed abandoned gold mines throughout Ak and the US that substantiate this. A spent mine rarely becomes profitable again.

Better to sit in a dark closet then to venture into the light.

[Dakster]

Stiffnecked and here I thought you were coming out of the closet...

[stiffnecked]

Tired of people talking out of their backsides espcially when they have no clue what they are talking about. Instead of taking a risk, like those two prospectors, we'd all be better off if we just sat in the closet and never ventured outside.

As they say, "With great risks, come great rewards". Instead the motto for this forum should be "Can't we all settle for just a little mediocrity?"

[Metlakatla]

Suppose you give us some examples of how you've done this yourself, Stiff. Seems to me that you do nothing but sit around and collect entitlement benefits while trying to build yourself up on the internet by running down everyone else.

[tidelines]

Originally Posted by Dakster

.... I am just waiting for the gold bubble to burst and gold goes back to $300/ounce...

The interesting thing about that particular sentiment is that the old gold diggers made their money exactly that way. Come hell or high water, frigid winters and searing summers, they hacked away and rat-holed all that they found. In the end, after saving and scrimping and laboring on, their expenses evened out, they picked and shoveled and stockpiled ahead and, when the price was right, they sold. Nowadays, the quick-profit and instant gratification pretty much guarantees loss. I've been in old workings that had been dug out by hand, with pick and shovel and wheelbarrow, and the drift went in hundreds of feet. That's a helluva lotta work and time. Eventually, the claim was sold or passed on and heavy equipment took over. The descendents will tell me how much their father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc., made but how hard it is for them to get ahead. The industrial revolution made life easier, but not necessarily more profitable for all.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

Better to sit in a dark closet then to venture into the light.

see you know absolutely nothing of anyones personal life to know what risks they have taken in life to get where they are this is a very ignorant statement! Smart, intelligent people think the process through and take risks all the time..you just give absolutely no one any credit....stop projecting your own "in the closet" miserable life on everyone else!

[NomadicBear]

These guys would have made more money if they had gone south and panned for gold in the rivers of CA, buying no equipment and living in tents.

[Dakster]

They would have made more money being the wal-mart greeter, McDonald's Cashier, or pan handling for money on the side of the road... They LOST at least $255k so far. The one guy who left should've stuck to the fishing job he got. I think he made $600 in ONE day.

And, blueflames - I agree with your statement 100%. I wouldn't take the gold mine risk, because I don't know enough about it. But I have taken plenty of other risks in my life.