Hobby or hoarding: The psychology behind the drive to collect

[@WafflesX3XD]

i love collecting toys and anime figures, my parents on the other hand consider it hoarding (despite its small size). personally, i reckon the line between collecting and hoarding is that of a sense of love and passion for what you purchase, goals (like the video mentioned) and wishes associated with the items and doing so with a clear focus, along with purpose/rationality. collecting is out of love, hoarding is derived from illness and mental unrest. just my two cents ^^’

[@jinxx8456]

I agree. Some people see collecting and dumb or unhealthy. Its about proper management and passion. Ive started collected video games in the last few years. But I dont want to buy literally everything. Just the games and consoles that have a meaning and resonate with me.

[@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu]

Well. Being a weaboo is not collecting, thats just sad

[@WafflesX3XD]

@@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu ah i’m not a weeaboo (i had a phase tho lmao), i’m just a big fan of all animated mediums ^_^ i watch more western cartoons than japanese ones nowadays

[@Schizobateman]

@@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu ok incel

[@nee7178]

@@Schizobatemanok rude man

[@AnklepantsSkateZine]

I used to collect so much stuff like movie, music, literature, figure, shirts, etc. It was absolutely ridiculous. There were so many boxes full of stuff stacked floor to ceiling. I've since sold and donated the majority of those things. I want my home to feel like a home - not a museum, library, video store, record shop, etc. I actually find more joy in life with less collecting. It's awesome.

[@wylier]

An interesting story. What do you think caused that 'epiphany' moment when you realized you didnt want that stuff any more? Sometimes people with compulsive behaviors reach 'rock bottom' moments, when they realize what they are doing is causing them more problems than they realize. As for me, I am a Cancerian, and we are called 'The Collectors of the Species" by astronomers - I will let you do the math on that. :-)

[@robinlillian9471]

Museums and libraries are wonderful places for those who value learning and history. Too bad you can't appreciate them.

[@WafflesX3XD]

i’d personally love my house to look like a weird toy museum, but you should be proud of yourself for making that decision ! coming to terms with what you really want and need is tough, way to go dude!

[@AnklepantsSkateZine]

@Robin Lillian, who says I don't appreciate those things? I often go to museums and when needed I'll go to libraries. My home is a home, not a museum or library.

[@AnklepantsSkateZine]

@wylie richardson, the main moment was in 2018 when I was living in a studio apartment with my girlfriend. I had been "collecting" so much random stuff like books, music, movies, etc. Seeing one wall of shelves filled with movies and music made me stop and think if I was truly going to use most of that stuff. I had movies on various formats, sometimes the same thing on multiple formats, that I was either only going to watch once and never again or not watch at all. Same with music. What really made me stop and think like that was when my girlfriend and I put up one of those big metal shelving units in the kitchen area. There were boxes filled with overflow and other nonsense like nutcrackers and such in the closet. The entire place was pure chaos. On top of things I had a bad health scare within that time and I was probably out buying things as a coping mechanism before realizing I could be gone at any minute. My uncle was also a hoarder and when he passed he left a big house full of junk to his three children. I don't want to end up doing that to anyone. My dad also has an issue with having stuff and it really upsets my mom. Plus, moving with all those material goods is a real pain. We moved shortly after I started downsizing and selling off things. I still love movies and music and books but don't feel the need to own more than what I really like and can see myself using numerous times. It feels good to not stress over stuff anymore.

[@PinkyBear]

I have slowed down, but I still love buying an item here and there to add to my collections.

[@tikvision]

You know you are in trouble when your stuff needs a house of its own. And when you suffer watching other people having more stuff than you do.

[@robinlillian9471]

If someone enjoys their collection and has the money for extra space to store it properly, it's really none of your business. Hoarders mostly keep useless things like empty packages & broken items which pile up until they can't perform activities of daily living and/or become a health hazard.

[@socillizt4life]

Lol.Yeah,I know that feeling about a collection of hip hop vinyls & GN books taking up entire rooms just to keep them in!

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

One thing that people always forget about a collection, it's the collector saving things that eventually will become a valuable section of history.

[@sp123]

Not really, most stuff ends up being junk. Nobody knows what will be valuable 20 years from now so I tell people to take good care of whatever they have.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

@@sp123 Nearly every single thing I had as a child and threw away is worth money and a collectors items which now I feel stupid for getting rid of it. Lego, Machbox and other brand toy cars, Boglins. I had this old phone 18 years ago it was a big thing huge battery and looked stupid to Me as a tean and I lost it, didn't really care, now that phone is worth about £700, as one of the first mobile phones available to the public, it's the sort of item I'd love to have now.

[@Hamzakilife2004]

​@@HOLLASOUNDSreal

[@badfirstimpressions]

how many things did you used to own that are worth the price of storage it takes for them to become valuable

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

@@badfirstimpressions Most of the used stuff is already worth more then I payed for it, but that wasn't My point. My point was as a whole people who collect things, are saving those things through history and goes beyond just them self. They might never earn a penny from the items them selfs during there lifetime but the items are saved for future generations to see.

[@seriousbeast1028]

I used to be obsessed with collecting hotwheels when I was younger, i still get the urge to buy more when i see them but i try hold myself back. I currently have a collection of +/- 4000. They were the only thing I ever wanted. Birthday and christmases and pocket money.

[@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu]

I'm collecting because some people artificially rises the prices of said things and I'm afraid i won't be able to aford them later.

[@neuromancer692]

Sounds like you are part of the problem.

[@Dan-gw3cu]

I collect things that were part of my childhood.

[@venomtang]

Amidst all the responsibilities and strife, its a small respite, of a simpler time. At least that's what i tell myself. And unlike weed or alcohol, i can always resell it.

[@mrhoffame]

A lot of good points here. One that I would add is that I feel like my collecting (vinyl records) is way of allowing the intangible parts of my spirit to actually manifest itself in the actual, real world. When people walk into my music room and the eyes light up, and you get all the wows, this is insane, etc....they are literally connecting and celebrating a part of me that I couldn't just "share" with words. It literally is a way of drawing people into your world/ mind/soul WITH you.

[@WilliamBurton-1980]

I've collected coins, hotwheels, star wars toys, micronauts, books, tapes and cds, and watches... because it's fun.

[@robertmarkold3408]

I collect action figures and statues that are made for the adult collectors, I enjoy collecting my favourite characters having them in figure form ,it is artwork

[@joeblue4116]

The truth of the matter is that you are an adult man who plays with dolls. Grow up and get a pair. . . A pair of nuts, and not another pair of dolls.

[@cassianpicaro]

@@joeblue4116 bruh, it IS an artwork as it’s not toys. It is meant to be displayed and not to be played with. Look up Mayflies 1/4 scale statues or Goodsmile company scale figures or sth. Get yourself educated.

[@venomtang]

Any prime 1? If so, which

[@androidfarmer8863]

After watching four videos about “the psychology of collecting”, I’ve come to the realization that the people making these videos appear to be very light on the psychology and very heavy on… not psychology. Hearing someone say that have 1 of 3 sewing machines in existence is not psychology, it’s an interview. Moving on…

[@angelawildman122]

I happen to think that collecting shouldn’t be addictive nor should it have to be. I’m a collector myself.

[@patrickmcdaniel8123]

It's simple. Some people are minimalists some people [me] are maximist . The guy who said it was about discovering the next unique piece hit the nail on the head. It is a rush to discover a rare example of what you collect! My collection was average until covid. Now my collection is worth TWICE what I paid for it. Put that in your clean uncluttered room.

[@simonshura9144]

😂 Still i much prefer my room space over a bunch of stuff but u do u good for u

[@jakestoys2209]

Excellent. Except I'm still clueless as to why I collect.

[@virtuosyc]

I think it's sometimes sad that certain things end up being more valuable just as collectible decorations instead of finding use. Aside from outdated vintage stuff, there are always things like clothes or instruments which end up just collecting dust. I get it, it's history, and you don't want it to break, that's why people wouldn't play with their most expensive trading cards, but what's the point of it? People like this guy in the video basically have their private museum, which is cool and all for preserving history, but it's also kinda sad to see how much stuff there really is. Materialism is getting out of hand.

[@eliezer1060]

Without people like this no museum should exist nowadays actually.

[@virtuosyc]

​@@eliezer1060 Sure, but where do we begin, and where do we stop? You can turn anything into a museum if you wanted to. There is even a “museum” in Istanbul where they showcase cigarette butts. Well, I personally think it's weird that we place such high importance on popular culture as opposed to actually preserving history and at least some historical artifacts. 1:54 This goes in the direction of what I'm talking about, but that's also too much, imo. Just a couple of machines are sufficient because they're almost identical and such waste of space. I wish we knew more about the Middle age and ancient history, since we know almost nothing for certain, except whatever has been regurgitated from historians. Nothing against these collections, but I just think there are more meaningful collections than this. All of this gives you just the “oh, that's kinda cool.” impression, but that's it. We don't really learn much, aside from the fact that nowadays people are obsessed with strange things such as printed cardboard (Pokémon cards). I'm really starting to think that this kind of accumulation of stuff isn't natural but only normalized by capitalism and consumerism. Ironically, we have a housing crisis and a severe lack of space, yet we have no trouble filling up entire rooms with things we will never use. This could perhaps be considered a mass psychosis created by all the consumerist propaganda. As George Carlin put it: "The only true lasting American value that's left, *buying things!* People spending money they don't have on things they don't need, money they don't have on things they don't need...”

[@eliezer1060]

@@virtuosyc Thanks for your message.

[@eliezer1060]

@@virtuosyc I agree. But some things have historical worth. And I love my own stuff, to use it, to remember things or create. I've also a little art collection and use clothes i bought a long time ago. Never buy new because I hardly never trew something away I almost never need to buy something.

[@tomaud]

When I used to travel a lot I always kept the change (banknotes) and placed them in albums, but now that I can't travel I started purchasing worldwide banknotes from a dealer and that way I can get better quality, scarcer banknotes. It's fun.

[@JimmyJaxJellyStax]

Yes! I've done the same. So many beautiful banknotes all over the world!

[@VaporeonEnjoyer1]

Yes! I would always try to get every coin and every common banknote from every country I visited! Not only because it was a keepsake from a time I spent abroad, but because money is a form of art that you never really appreciate until you visit a different country and see how different it is from what you grew up with! And it's not like you are collecting a piece of plastic garbage like a Funko Pop, you are literally just diversifying your retirement portfolio! (Except when I went to Laos, where they'd rather you pay in USD or Thai Baht opposed to their own currency. I knew that paper was worthless, but it was going into the collection damn it!).

[@SpringNotes]

The man with the antique sewing machine collection, basically has a museum.

[@palmerzona8244]

I consider it hoarding when you are virtually indiscriminate about what pieces you add to the collection. For example, say you have dozens of the same exact item, and every time you see it for sale you just keep buying it again compulsively. One of the things I collect is old Pyrex (a common collectors item) and there are some designs that are a dime a dozen, or others that I just don't particularly like. I'll leave those behind rather than collect them just for the sake of finding more Pyrex to bring home, and wait until I find something really special.

[@sp123]

If you understand collecting, you know certain items go for a lot of money. It's okay to hoard several pieces/items of the same thing if market demand exists for it

[@NS-lz6jh]

My 12 years of collecting retro 80s action figures and comics has reached level 3 horder status. I ran out of space and still I buy new stuff. It's reached a point where alot needs to be sold. But for me it's a nice feeling having them around. Empty space makes me want to put something there for some reason

[@maheshkakarla3501]

I have been collecting all sorts of things like stamps, coins, currency, first day covers, vinyl records, table lamp, books, war equipment, postcard, maps and many more but struggling what to do with them now.

[@yadontnomi]

I see videos like this and I’m like.. “oh! That’s where they all went…” 🤷‍♀️

[@ZeldasMask]

I collect but I sell what I fall out of love with that way it never gets too big

[@Asherons]

The first guy it shows on the video has more hair now than when he was a teenager, lol. He's been collecting hair. Good video I'm really fighting spending $900 on the last piece of a sentai show group... burning in my mind I'm looking to KZbin for therepy

[@cassandraknight8804]

I love sewing history, that’s why

[@emaw222]

It would be interesting to see a version of this where the ball is not affected by gravity!😊😊

[@cassandraknight8804]

I love the sewing machines, I have a small collection

[@socillizt4life]

While my collecting hip hop vinyls (mainly 90’s underground hip hop),graphic novels/TPB or HB comic books aren’t getting as much new additions in the last 2/3 years compared to 10years back but the room I have all my collections in would to the majority of people just look like pile of throw away junk of a hoarder while other people who are knowledgeable about true skool hip hop vinyls(yeah skool not school,90s hip hop head spelling lol)or clued up about the rarest graphic novels/comic book omnibuses would realise they’ve stumbled across a treasure trove worth alot of money but like any true skool collectors know,the feeling of having records or books that are sought after but pretty damn rare be it vinyls or hardback G’N’ books that only an exclusive number of people might even know existed,nvr mind paying a small fortune for is a feeling that beats any cash the items might be worth,that’s how it is with me at least!

[@angelawildman122]

Also I collect a lot less than average and I try to collect mostly sustainable and fair trade stuff!

[@frankreynolds4413]

I collect books but not much else.

[@oooweebaby4483]

Love collecting statues, oh it's so joyful but I feel like I don't enjoy other things in life.

[@AfterSchoolReviews]

The Kiss Guy hell yeah!!

[@ms.evegene]

My house looks just like bath and bodyworks....

[@benhall8946]

I collect 96 to 2000 honda civics and the worst thing to tell me is your gonna scrap the car

[@bruneydamekanic6151]

I collect cause I’m a car enthusiast

[@simonshura9144]

Now add videogame cosmetics to the mix 😂 were basically doomend lol

[@venomtang]

This didnt help me at all, i need HELP, crap!

[@joycea3290]

I wish my blood family had a compulsive with bath and body products.

[@xiqueira]

What are those birds?

[@rodolfourive7944]

The kiss collector looks like a chubby Tom Scott

[@johnbaker6572]

Interesting.

[@joycea3290]

No one in my family has compulsive shopping in Joyce A-deg-bo-ye-ga family.

[@TheMrjoehughes]

PokeMon

[@joycea3290]

What is collecting no one in my family has got this problem.

[@talesofthetoydad897]

Why is it a "problem" ?

[@talesofthetoydad897]

@@user-gy6ze3bk6b that is if you do bot have disipline.

[@716_ハディくん]

@juliet lack of control then

[@joycea3290]

No hard working people in the A-deg-bo-ye-ga females and Olowojoba family.

[@FoodaliciousHomeStyle]

GUYS? just wanted subs peace.

[@Serialberto82]

KISS sucks!!

[@lesterbronson2385]

Why?? They’re sexy men in makeup. What’s not to like about that

[@wylier]

They are pretty popular tho. But to each his own, ultimately.

[@Serialberto82]

Ha ha. No disrespect here. Remember the movie Detroit Rock City? I've always liked that part with the little kids. It's all good.

[@getmartincarter]

Collecting , a power trip over inanimate slaves totally under the control of their slave master . Collecting is a desire to dominate and control

[@ohcrikey9560]

What a load of rubbish