How does Collecting Cards Relate to Clutter

[Ryo1549]

This was a post originally on Gellman's blog and it is very intriguing and thought provoking.

Im posting this because I have wondered about a lot of things lately. In fact, most of it has been spurred by things my wife and I have seen on TV, mainly from the shows "Clean House" and "Obsessed." Both shows concentrate heavily on hoarding, the practice of keeping massive amounts of unneeded stuff with very little or no value. From what I have gathered, most of the time these items normally clutter the house to the point of imposing on the lifestyle of the individual, something I see a lot of in this hobby.

See, the question I have is in regards to the relationship that hoarding has to collecting as a hobby, versus collecting as a way to fill some sort of emptiness within ourselves. Ill admit, I have collected many, many different things over the course of my life. If I were asked casually, I would automatically refer to those things as hobbies, but looking back on things, it may be more complicated than that. I am now starting to realize that my obsession with accumulation may have actually been a way to fill holes left by a lack of acceptance from peers, emotional trauma caused by many years of dealing with my Diabetes, or maybe even problems stemming from other parts of my life.

The differences I see are that my collection is a source of pride that does provide me with many feelings of pride and happiness. To me, that is a sure counterpoint to this whole discussion. However, from what I have seen, pride is a pretty common thing for hoarders. That fact alone makes me question my own motives in this hobby, why I do the things I do. More importantly, how much of my collection is entertainment and how much of it is actually a way to fill the spaces in between?

Another question I have is how people relate to this if they focus more on accumulation instead of quality of the cards. You see videos on Youtube from people documenting rooms full of cards, many in large boxes, obstructing basements and cluttering houses. How much of this type of collecting is actually a good thing? Are the boxes filled with virtually worthless pieces of cardboard a matter of perpetuating a hobby or is it a matter of mental instability? What if those things are not worthless at all? Is that any different?

Because I know that set and player super collectors dominate the Card Blogger Network, Im curious to see what people have to say. Where do you fit in with this? Do you feel the sets you collect play some sort of an unconscious role in your psyche? How much has it impeded on your life?

The reason I am discussing this, is that many people dont see why we collect, something we have deal with from family and friends alike. Oddly, collectors in general are thought of as nerdy, hermit-like, socially awkward, and lonely people, and yet we still show off the hundreds of sets we own without seeing the root of the issue. Is it the chicken or the egg? Do we collect because we personify the stereotypes, or do we personify the stereotypes because we collect?

Yes, you may be proud of your collection, as I am, but how does that relate to why you feel the need to be a super collector of a certain set or player? I freely admit that after watching these shows and doing some research, my collecting is definitely a way deal with the anxiety of my life. I understand that others may feel differently, but Im sure when you actually go through it, you may know what I am talking about.

Listen, im not saying collecting is unhealthy, and I am not saying that you should stop. Im just curious if others have seen the same correlations I have.

I know myself, has used cards to fill a void as well. Its kept my busy and from doing things like fall deeper into drugs and other things. Right now has been one of the best times for cards for me as I have been going through some things and without cards who knows where i'd end up.

As for the clutter, it may be due to people hanging on to fill a void in their pocket book. Face it, we've all spent tons of money on wax and boxes just to have NOTHING. I think a lot of people may hold onto everything, not to accumulate the biggest collection or whatever, rather to hope to strike it big one day in what you have sitting there. I know myself has found $100s of dollars worth of stuff going through old boxes. From Tom Brady rookies to Priest Holmes Contenders rcs, to Kurt Warner rookies (when they were expensive). Could you imagine if your grandfather or father kept a 5,000 count box full of 1952 topps baseball? You'd be rich

 

[CollectorsCorner]

I have no clutter :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: ok maybe a little bit but since i stopped buying boxes (minus a group break here and there) I have been quality over quantity and like to display it

 

[Gellman]

Its interesting, a few people have told me that Cards have kept them off drugs. Thats actually great to hear. Good for you man, anything relating to drugs is never simple.

 

[Viking4Alpha]

This thread has the potential to be a very good read. I hope that everyone gets a chance to contribute something to it.

Collecting cards for me serves as an escape to simpler times. To me collecting is the basis of enjoying your memories by reliving them through cardboard, or memorabilia form. No matter what job you have or what you are going through, there is nothing quite like the escape you get from getting that game used patch or autograph from that player you have a connection to. For a few moments, reality just kinda fades away, leaving only that feeling you got in your chest the first time you walked through the corridors of your team's stadium, and taking in that magnificent sight of the professional ball players on the field.

The "clutter" mentioned earlier I believe is the result of collecting just to collect, which there is nothing wrong with that but that type of collecting quickly fades with collectors for the most part. I have been guilty of the same. We tend to just buy the guy's card cause he's "hot" right now, or because we want to "prospect". Although I pretty much despise the sport of baseball right now, the only cards I collect are of Cal Ripken Jr., whom was my childhood idol and who I have met 3 different times in the past. Those memories are the priceless connection I refer to.

 

[deceptikon1978]

Collecting cards kept me out of the bar a few times when I went over budget.

I am trying to rid myself of some of the card clutter and strictly keeping PC stuff.

 

[Card Magnet]

I still drink, don't get me wrong, but I don't really spend as much money on beer/the bar as I did in my teen years because I got back into collecting. The same goes for the other recreational things like junk food, eating out when it's not necessary, and other things you can spend money on that you can't hang onto and enjoy for a long time.

I also used to smoke weed and do coke on occasion throughout high school. I never got hooked on the coke or anything, but I'd probably still do it from time to time if I didn't think "Hey, I could get that sweet auto card I saw on ebay instead". Cards are partially my anti-drug, my other anti-drug is beer (weird, huh?).

As far as clutter goes...well I've got a lot. I'm probably the messiest organized person I know, if that makes sense. I have a ton of crap just sprawled out at times, and it looks like a tornado came through. The thing is, everything is in a way that it' s not going to get messed up, and I know where it is.

I never get rid of any of my common cards in hopes that I can put them together to either do a trade and get other commons I need, or to maybe trade up. There's always that chance too that in a few years that Tom Brady or Tony Romo player springs up and I can make a decent amount on a formerly-crap rookie. I remember I had a Ryan Grant Sweet Spot rc that I turned into a nice profit through a trade.

 

[Pine Tar]

Collecting cards kept me out of the bar a few times when I went over budget.

I am trying to rid myself of some of the card clutter and strictly keeping PC stuff.

Same for me here.

 

[Groat]

Man, this is a good topic. I honestly had to think about this for a little bit.

I suppose the first reason anybody begins collecting is mostly the same. Everybody who collects cards knows that there are times in your favorite sports that things just seem so epic. The struggle between teams or even certain players is enough to write tomes about; some games go down in history. I feel like collecting cards is in some ways an attempt to capture some little piece of that epicness and keep it forever.

As far as why I continue to collect a certain player or team with sometimes rabid ferocity, that is a little harder to discern. I suppose this would be multifaceted; I both enjoy pretty (shiny!) little things and honestly like what little prestige there is to go along with a collection. I began my Clinton Portis collection while in Iraq. I decided on a narrow focus for my collection and started winning auctions just to have something to do. I realized quite early on that the thrill of the chase on ebay is another thing that keeps me collecting. Everybody has been on ebay browsing cards when suddenly you see one that makes your heart nearly skip a beat. Something that doesn't come up very often that you just HAVE to win. For one reason or another, I love watching these kinds of auctions wind down even if I'm not bidding on them.

I haven't met a ton of people who feel that I'm that wierd for collecting cards. I don't bring it up in conversation normally; when people find out they've generally known me for a little while. Often, the first time people find out I collect cards is when they see the display I have on my wall. After that all sorts of questions usually pop up, generally to the tune of 'are those really signed by the player?' or 'is that a real piece of jersey on the card?' Collecting cards has helped build several bridges for me, in fact. When I deployed, I ended up working with guys from several different units. After knowing these guys for several months, the topic of card collecting came up in some conversation and lo and behold one of the other guys collected as well. We hit it off even more from there. Hell, it ended up bringing me to the glamorous world of internet card forums and card blogging so collecting can't be all bad right?

 

[tenclubber]

Collecting cards brings me back to when I was a kid. Plain and simple for me. Every time I rip open a pack, I am brought back to being 5 or 6 again. I always used to get a pack of cards for being "a good boy" at the grocery store or some other place.

My most treasured memory is when my grandfather gave me all of his cards that he had. He only had about 200-300, but I will NEVER get rid of them. I still remember finding a 1971 Nolan Ryan, and to this day, I still think of my grandpa when I look at it.

Nostalgia...