Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.

Discussion in 'Whatever' started by MyVinylVeins, Dec 10, 2019.

  1. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    Many of us have been collecting things our whole lives. As a child I collected toys, stickers, shells, mineral rocks, cards, pogs and a shit ton of anxiety when I didn't get what I was looking for...I'm 38, not much has changed. You feel that fleeting high and almost as quickly as its received, your itching for another hit. Visions of vinyl dance in your head...You go to sleep at night and dream of your next score...if you're fortunate enough to sleep, that is. Thousands of dollars collecting dust on your shelves and a bank account filled with...wait, did I just say bank account and filled in the same sentence?:lol::razz: fml lol ..Collecting should be classified as an addiction, prove me wrong!

    EDIT: Just wanted to add, though I have experienced many of these symptoms in the past, it hasn't affected me on a financial level personally. I wonder if that is purely attributed to the low cost of the figures I was collecting at the time though. My post was written from both experience as well as general observation. Having been collecting my entire life, I have come across many, over the years, that have fallen victim to financial crises, anxiety and depression due to an inability to say no. When it comes to sofubi, well...prices are a bit different in this game so I'm going to have to keep myself grounded. I haven't slipped, to bad, yet but the temptation on a few of these higher priced figures is strong. Perhaps it would have been more accurate to say that collecting is a drug with a high probability of forming an addiction...
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2019
  2. Michael Beverage

    Michael Beverage Line of Credit

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    There’s no argument to be had; most of the board members here would agree it can be an addiction.

    What would be more interesting is to address the 800 pound gorilla in the room, and create a thread that collates help resources for collectors with hoarding tendencies, shopping addiction, etc. It’s a very personal issue and there are different thresholds for everyone. But my collecting has certainly spiraled out of control at points. I know I’m not the only one.

    There are tons and tons of resources out there for substance abuse. Not so much for something like a collecting addiction.
     
  3. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    @Michael Beverage - I was going to bring this up as well, but then ... I wonder if there would be enough funding for such a program. I mean, collecting is considered socially acceptable and It's, technically, not "substance abuse" but it's an addition just the same.
     
  4. kid_miracleman

    kid_miracleman Comment King

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    It certainly can be addictive but it's something you see more with newbies who have to own all the hype stuff the second they get it into it. It's a...bad idea. I would say the more of a vet you become the more often you're likely to shrug your shoulders if you miss a drop. There are so many new people coming into this hobby that maybe some vets could help with some "rules of the road" to help avoid this addictive behavior.
     
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  5. Anti Social Andy

    Anti Social Andy Die-Cast

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    Turn around and drive as fast as you can in the opposite direction!

    I would say that most of us have been through the initial 'gotta buy everything' frenzy before realising a) you don't b) you can't c) it's exhausting . . . unless you're Connell or Carl! :lol:

    The number of collectors that start with your enthusiasm and 'sofubi or death' attitude before dropping off the radar 6 months later is pretty high . . . slow and steady wins the race!
     
  6. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    @kid_miracleman - idk, I don't need all the hype stuff, I buy what I like...thats something Ive always done but maybe I'm an exception. I'm fine with breaking sets if I like one figure and not the other :| (I know I'm getting some scowls right about now lol), I don't need every color way of the same sculpt... For me, it's a relatively slow progression. I've been treading carefully with sofubi because of the prices but, I find, I'm falling deeper down this rabbit hole. Everyday I come across something new that I love and it's getting harder to say no lol. Due to my financial situation, I'm collecting mostly micros rn. I know how I can I be though...I literally had, thousands of retro toys at one point. I'm getting nervous, I don't know how much longer I can hold out lol
     
  7. foto junkaay

    foto junkaay Addicted

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    Have y’all seen “Hoarders” it’s the same shit
     
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  8. kid_miracleman

    kid_miracleman Comment King

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY

    *bank statement delivered*

    SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL

    I think you're off on the right foot: buy what you like and damn the rest. Make a budget and stick with it. Sofubi is a crime of opportunity; the more opportunity the more you spend. That's probably the biggest danger I see: buy now and figure out if you can afford it or even really want it later.
     
  9. nico000

    nico000 Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    Here is Gabor Mate’s definition of addiction. I imagine it might help the discussion.
    “Addiction is manifested in any behavior that a person craves, finds temporary relief or pleasure in but suffers negative consequences as a result of, and yet has difficulty giving up. In brief: craving, relief, pleasure, suffering, impaired control.”

    If we agree on that definition, it doesn’t matter whether it is substance, shopping, gaming or social media we are abusing. It’s the same root cause and the remedy is the same. 12 steps program and trauma informed therapy are our beat bet as far as I know (and I should know).
    For anyone interested in this, I strongly recommend checking out Gabor’s talks on YouTube, maybe reading his book (in the realm of the hungry ghost) and if possible, seek the help of a trauma informed therapist.

    Personally, I would think that putting Gabors definition of addiction somewhere on this forum where everyone can see might be of help for new and less new collectors. I like that it’s behavior focus (and not substance related) and non shaming.
    My two cents
     
  10. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    @foto junkaay - defiantly, only cleaner and more socially acceptable...maybe :razz: lol
     
  11. nico000

    nico000 Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    I moved in a house of hoarders (it’s clean now. I m living in the damned house). It’s way crappier than any collectors I’ve seen.
    Main difference: most collectors keep their prized possession on dedicated shelves, dust said shelves every so often, and their ‘hoarding’ tends to look somewhat coherent.

    Saying all that ... I don’t keep my toys on dedicated shelves and there is no cohesion in my collection besides me liking the toys... thank god i am dusting them
     
  12. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    @nico000 - Your 2 cents is priceless. Not an untrue word spoken. It is, honestly, a major issue for many people and resources are limited so thank you for your contribution to this conversation. I myself have been treading carefully with sofubi...the high prices are keeping me relatively grounded but I have struggled with past collections. Selling the bulk of my retro toys was a huge step for me. Now this is slowly creeping its way into everyday and consuming more and more of my time. I'm pulling back, but the draw is strong lol
     
  13. Paulkaiju

    Paulkaiju Mini Boss

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    Been collecting Japan toys since I was 12.(Yes, believe it or not, I'm a collector too.) I currently concentrate on specific characters and rare model kit lines and it's a bottomless pit.
    It's more a "science" than an addiction at this point. I do get an extreme rush when unknown cool stuff pops up.
     
  14. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    @Anti Social Andy - I would drive in the opposite direction but I wouldn't be able to take my eyes off the review lol j/k I've been keeping myself grounded with sofubi, primarily because of the prices but its getting harder to say no. I know how I can be, I've had issues with collecting consuming large portions of my life in the past...I'm trying to go slow...I am...I am lol
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2019
  15. JoeMan

    JoeMan Mini Boss

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    I think you are casting a very wide net, saying you are addicted to "sofubi". It's like any form of art or design. If you collected comics or prints, or posters, you wouldn't want to buy every single one that was ever printed. With experience your tastes settle and you realize what you are really interested in.

    Like Andy said, many of us here went through a gotta buy everything phase. With exposure and learning, it will pass and you will get to a point, where 99% of new releases don't interest you anymore. You should just relax a little, research what has been done the past decade or two and try to develop a real feel for what appeals to you the most, before just spending indiscriminately and burning yourself out with regret and financial issues.
     
  16. kid_miracleman

    kid_miracleman Comment King

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    One of the key differentiators though is the low production run which makes people think if I don't get it now I may never have a chance to get it. That alone fundamentally changes the collecting dynamics of sofubi, even though to your point over time you'll go from "I GOTTA OWN EVERYTHING THIS MAKER FARTS OUT" to "eh, that's cool, but not 200 bucks cool".
     
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  17. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    @Paulkaiju - Fucking Paul Kaiju is on my addiction thread rn lol <3 You're honestly a big part of my problem :razz: I love your work! I've known many artists, myself included, to be collectors so I believe it lol. I wonder if there is any correlation with collecting and creative minds...perhaps being visual people has some contributing factor. By "science" you mean, you focus on specifics rather then purchasing hap hazardly? lol
     
  18. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    @JoeMan - I said collecting, generally speaking, is an addiction. I know what I like, Ive always just collected what I like...even still, I ended up with thousands of retro toys at one point in my life. I know what that addiction feels like though and I wanted to discuss it =)
     
  19. Anti Social Andy

    Anti Social Andy Die-Cast

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    The unknown cool stuff is the BEST stuff . . . no hunt, no stress, no frenzy! :thumbsup:
     
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  20. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    Thats when the bug bites lol
     
  21. Anti Social Andy

    Anti Social Andy Die-Cast

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    There's the paradox . . . you can't get hung-up in advance about something awesome that you never knew existed! :lol:
     
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  22. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    Also true lol but finding something you love after its gone is a terrible feeling...Thats was leads to those eternal hunts :razz: ...Speaking of, if anyone cares to check out my thread in the wanted section -insert nervous laugh emoji here-
     
  23. JoeMan

    JoeMan Mini Boss

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    I would say it's addictive to me in the sense, of the time I spend here or on instagram, or thinking about it. Not so much buying anymore. I've probably only bought like 6 toys in the past 6 months, which seems pretty manageable in terms of spending or not buying too many objects creating new clutter. I probably also sold off a few hundred toys over the past couple years to reduce my collection and the amount of stuff not on display.

     
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  24. MyVinylVeins

    MyVinylVeins Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    I'm the same, I do spend a decent amount of time looking though and that can also fall under the addiction umbrella. I use up my memory to collect pictures lol
     
  25. skaldavsatanssol

    skaldavsatanssol Toy Prince

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    Collecting is an addiction, prove me wrong.
    I think I went too far when I started whoring myself on the streets for vinyl...

    In all seriousness though:
    This is a great point. If anyone is facing personal or monetary issues because of this expensive hobby, feel free to reach out to me. It would be great to have a support network in place for something which is very real for collectors but mostly handled alone.

    As many have said I went through the whole “want it need it” phase to easing up but hey sometimes there’s the odd brash decision. Always will be. With even Secret Base jacking their retail prices lately, it’s best to think long and hard before adding whatever toy you like into your cart coz this shit adds up.
     

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