Awkward?

[Gregory]

Welcome to the TQ family

[Dylan]

I am sure people do that at the beach! If you want to stay away from them go later in the evening.

[Lt1stone]

Yep its like that at first but it goes away!

[KellycoChick]

Welcome to TQ!! That's a totally normal feeling! Don't beat yourself up about it... you felt a little awkward the first time you were behind the wheel of a car didn't you? It's totally normal and will pass. Personally, I tend to have a certain amount of natural enthusiasm about life, so for me I run around the beach like a kid and people usually laugh at me anyway, so maybe I'm used to it... lol... but it'll pass and eventually you'll be comfortable in your new, metal detecting skin Goodluck out there!

[bdahunter]

If I'm getting extra attention from a Beach Gawker I'll dump my trash pouch in the next available garbage can, right where they can see it. The extra attention drops to a normal level after that. I never stop to check out my Good Finds during a hunt, nor will I admit to having found anything good that day if asked by a stranger. I'm the sorriest excuse for a pirate you ever saw as far as the other beachgoers are concerned.
I've heard reports of people falsely claiming finds when a rookie pirate was indiscreet and started showing his newly found gold ring around. "Oh, that's mine!" says someone and who's to say different? I know of one pirate who was followed along the beach by a sweet, little girl of about 7 years old and when he found a silver ring she sweetly asked if she could see it "Please". "Of course, Honey" said the Pirate but as soon it was in her hot little hand she yelled at the top of her voice "It's Mine, it's Mine!" and ran back to her parents who were sitting at the beach. I think they were both lawyers which is just further proof that the Apple doesn't fall far from the Tree. He decided not to argue about it and let the little lawyer-in-training keep his find.
I know of another pirate who was mugged by two jerks as he went to his car after a hunt and I've been cased out by a couple of punks once myself (a couple of twirls of the big aluminium scoop in my hand and they decided to go birdwatching instead)
This sort of stuff doesn't happen often but it does happen so keep your wits about you. Don't be self conscious, it's a great hobby and you are having twice as much fun as most of the other people at the beach or park. That look in their eyes is usually curiousity because they're bored, occassionally it is envy or jealousy because you have the guts to live your dreams.
Nothing Could Be Kewler than Being Yourself!

Cheers,

BDA

['E']

I was the same way at first but no longer, it's my hobby which I love doing & if they don't like it then they can either deal with it or get over it, like BDA said never advertise what you've found, even tho I want to brag about some of my finds to people who walk up & talk to me on the beach who ask if I've found anything good I just tell them a lot of trash & a few pennies, but tourists are always nice to me & I'm more than happy to talk to them, I've never yet had anyone say anything rude to me.

[The TINMAN]

I just wear one of them Michael Myers Mask and no one even looks my way or come over to see what I'm doing.
It's Normal and you'll get use to it. If someone comes over I will talk to them and have had No bad experience yet... Just don't show anyone your GOOD Finds as Ya just never know what their intention may be. I keep my Good stuff in one pocket and some pennies or Pull Tabs to show. They don't hang around long after that.

[Nighthunter]

I hunt alot in open fields and had felt goofy when I first started. It didn't take long for me to realize 88% of people hardly notice me.