Hobby or hoarding: The psychology behind the drive to collect

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Inspired by the likes of Marie Kondo and the Minimalists, many of us are trying to live with less. In a de-cluttering climate it almost seems profane to accrue but there’s a group who can’t be convinced to part with their treasures - collectors. KISS fan Paul Neilson started collecting band merchandise at age six.

He said in the late 1970s shops had aisles full of the band’s branded merchandise; they were on cereal boxes and had their own confectionary lines. “For me really it was the records I was buying, this stuff was just icing on the cake because there was just so much of it. “

Mr Neilson said as a lot of his collection was accrued as a child, he has things that are incredibly rare as few adults would have thought to keep them. “As a kid that is really hard because I did cut up magazines, I did put posters up on the wall,” Mr Neilson said. “And some of them are damaged but… some items are very well preserved because I just had the nous to look after them.”

Collectors are a special breed. “Collectors are different people,” said antique sewing machine collector Les Walsh, who has about 150 machines dating back to 1863. “People who don’t collect they don’t understand why collectors have such a passion,” he said.

Mr Walsh purchased his first antique machine 20 years ago to add interest to his sewing machine dealership. Since then, he has travelled to Europe and the USA to buy machines to enhance his collection.

The former aeronautical engineer said he finds the mechanics of the machines fascinating but it is the seeking and sourcing of his next treasure that thrills him. “Collecting is addictive to any collector, you are just keen to know what your next find will be.”

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Комментарии
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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 ^^’

WafflesXXD
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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.

seriousbeast
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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.

tikvision
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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.

mrhoffame
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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.

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

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

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

WilliamBurton-
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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.

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

HOLLASOUNDS
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I collect things that were part of my childhood.

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

angelawildman
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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

NS-lzjh
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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

robertmarkold
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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.

patrickmcdaniel
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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.

virtuosyc
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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…

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

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

ZeldasMask
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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.

tomaud
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