Comments on: Collecting Or Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome? http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/ Where Hunters Gather Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:14:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » Collecting Insanity? http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-59627 Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » Collecting Insanity? Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:20:34 +0000 http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-59627 [...] contacted Collin regarding a psychology course assignment on collecting and hoarding. Since Collin and I had just been discussing this very subject, Collin directed Steven to contact [...] [...] contacted Collin regarding a psychology course assignment on collecting and hoarding. Since Collin and I had just been discussing this very subject, Collin directed Steven to contact [...]

]]> By: Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » Hands Off My Books, Storm Troopers http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-23772 Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » Hands Off My Books, Storm Troopers Thu, 04 Oct 2007 10:48:09 +0000 http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-23772 [...] You know by now that I’m not just a collector, not just a lover of stuff, but a hoarder — but there is one act of collecting I do not like: When a group of objects is rounded up for the sole intent of being removed from society. [...] [...] You know by now that I’m not just a collector, not just a lover of stuff, but a hoarder — but there is one act of collecting I do not like: When a group of objects is rounded up for the sole intent of being removed from society. [...]

]]> By: Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » Lessons Of The Dodo http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-12592 Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » Lessons Of The Dodo Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:35:44 +0000 http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-12592 [...] You know that I (as a hoarder, preserver of boxes, and mutant toy collector) agree with the Kovels. Don’t throw that out! [...] [...] You know that I (as a hoarder, preserver of boxes, and mutant toy collector) agree with the Kovels. Don’t throw that out! [...]

]]> By: Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » All Packed Up, But I’m Staying Home: Vintage Suitcases http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-1137 Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » All Packed Up, But I’m Staying Home: Vintage Suitcases Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:18:23 +0000 http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-1137 [...] I may be, in fact, a hoarder so you might think I am rationalizing yet another collection but I do have periods of intense organization. These periods involve touching nearly every single thing I own and finding it a home — not just a place to put it, but a home. One of the most practical means of doing this is via suitcases. [...] [...] I may be, in fact, a hoarder so you might think I am rationalizing yet another collection but I do have periods of intense organization. These periods involve touching nearly every single thing I own and finding it a home — not just a place to put it, but a home. One of the most practical means of doing this is via suitcases. [...]

]]> By: Deanna Dahlsad http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-865 Deanna Dahlsad Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:24:02 +0000 http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-865 FYI, <a href="http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/wrg/267382874.html" rel="nofollow">TLC is looking for compulsive hoarders</a>... FYI, TLC is looking for compulsive hoarders…

]]> By: Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » No Dearth of Vaders http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-664 Collectors’ Quest » Blog Archive » No Dearth of Vaders Sun, 21 Jan 2007 01:44:17 +0000 http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-664 [...] And I realize that to a vast majority of the population, all of these look exactly the same, and they’re not entirely incorrect. Deanna recently spoke about hoarding items, and the possibility of a biological or genetic reason for some of our collecting compulsions. I think that for collectors, the idea of accumulating a ‘critical mass’ can be a quiet, unarticulated, but dominant urge. Either the idea that possessing every last something-or-other will create some kind of perfection, or creating a perfect balance in a display in a seamlessly-meshing sea of items - these are the impulses that drive a lot of my collecting. [...] [...] And I realize that to a vast majority of the population, all of these look exactly the same, and they’re not entirely incorrect. Deanna recently spoke about hoarding items, and the possibility of a biological or genetic reason for some of our collecting compulsions. I think that for collectors, the idea of accumulating a ‘critical mass’ can be a quiet, unarticulated, but dominant urge. Either the idea that possessing every last something-or-other will create some kind of perfection, or creating a perfect balance in a display in a seamlessly-meshing sea of items - these are the impulses that drive a lot of my collecting. [...]

]]> By: Deanna Dahlsad http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-641 Deanna Dahlsad Thu, 18 Jan 2007 23:24:25 +0000 http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-641 Ouch, nashbabe, that hurts :p Seriously, as they say on Grey's Anatomy, I really wonder where collecting ends and mental illness begins -- it must be a pretty fine line... I admit that like Collin, I can and do prune, even if only for cash to buy more 'junk' -- so if I can part with it, I should be OK, right? ...But then there's that visual thingy. That's what really made me wonder... if that's how I've seen my whole life, how I've found everything that a roommate, spouse or child has misplaced... Is this a gift or a syndrome? (And nash, do tell... how close are you to a brain-scan which lights up in 2 places?) Ouch, nashbabe, that hurts :p

Seriously, as they say on Grey’s Anatomy, I really wonder where collecting ends and mental illness begins — it must be a pretty fine line…

I admit that like Collin, I can and do prune, even if only for cash to buy more ‘junk’ — so if I can part with it, I should be OK, right? …But then there’s that visual thingy. That’s what really made me wonder… if that’s how I’ve seen my whole life, how I’ve found everything that a roommate, spouse or child has misplaced… Is this a gift or a syndrome?

(And nash, do tell… how close are you to a brain-scan which lights up in 2 places?)

]]> By: nashbabe http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-638 nashbabe Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:07:01 +0000 http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-638 "She also has a weakness for printed matter, and so ephemera and books are hoarded in quantities too large to be called 'collections'." I'm just quoting your bio on the site. “She also has a weakness for printed matter, and so ephemera and books are hoarded in quantities too large to be called ‘collections’.”

I’m just quoting your bio on the site.

]]> By: Collin David http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-637 Collin David Thu, 18 Jan 2007 10:07:43 +0000 http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2007/01/18/collecting-or-compulsive-hoarding-syndrome/#comment-637 I have to say that I'm often concerned about having something like this myself! Every damaged, half-dead book I see is a future project, everything MIGHT have a purpose. I've recently been cleaning out my closets and only yesterday defined my toy collecting as 'compulsive' - instead of really collecting things I loved, I collected everything I loved, everythings tangentially related to those things, and then those things kinda related to those things. I try to define what I keep vs. what I throw away by imagining what I'll miss or what I re-acquire someday. Of course, this definition will change every few days, but it keeps me from compulsively acquiring things every second. The internet and a credit card were murder to my resolve, though. But lately, while cleaning out those closets, I realized that I don't even LIKE those first three Star Wars movies, and unless it's a cool alien, everything's gone on eBay. Some things are worth nothing after hiding in the closet for 5 years, and some things have become unusually rare and valuable! Of course, the first 100 bucks made after selling off the excess toys was spent on... toys. But smaller, cooler ones. I'm sure I'll love them for at least 6 months before they go back on eBay. I have to say that I’m often concerned about having something like this myself! Every damaged, half-dead book I see is a future project, everything MIGHT have a purpose. I’ve recently been cleaning out my closets and only yesterday defined my toy collecting as ‘compulsive’ - instead of really collecting things I loved, I collected everything I loved, everythings tangentially related to those things, and then those things kinda related to those things.

I try to define what I keep vs. what I throw away by imagining what I’ll miss or what I re-acquire someday. Of course, this definition will change every few days, but it keeps me from compulsively acquiring things every second. The internet and a credit card were murder to my resolve, though.

But lately, while cleaning out those closets, I realized that I don’t even LIKE those first three Star Wars movies, and unless it’s a cool alien, everything’s gone on eBay. Some things are worth nothing after hiding in the closet for 5 years, and some things have become unusually rare and valuable! Of course, the first 100 bucks made after selling off the excess toys was spent on… toys. But smaller, cooler ones.

I’m sure I’ll love them for at least 6 months before they go back on eBay.

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