Why do we collect???(my wife asked me a question)

[aroundthefur33]

What is your Ultimate goal in collecting?
Why do we collect?

For me it is enjoyable...I love the hunt, I love finding hard to find figures...I love completing a wave...

so
Why do we collect?
What is your goal in collecting?

[shawnspookcity]

I collect because it makes me happy. Whether it makes sense or not, in this life you need something that you enjoy doing.

[klocket]

lately i am starting to wonder myself...it used to be because i loved to collect all favorite characters and also the thrill of the hunt and so on...but recently (last 4 years or so), finding anything at retail for me is about impossible...my KB closed up in there first disappearing act then TRU shortly after. My WM carries nothing i collect (recently they finally got DCU but haven't restocked in over a month) Target NEVER stocks, or only for the ebay scalpers it's seems...so it's getting less and less important to me...yeah, i could buy online but lately with the quality i have received i am afraid to end up with more broken items...i see things really really slowing down collecting wise and it's really kind of sad.

M.

[frinspar]

Only the things that mean something to me in some way anymore.
Years ago it was to spend money on **** I didn't need just to have it because it just looked neat.
Now, it's at a bare minimum, with the very rare "That's so COOL!" purchase.

My pack rat/hoarding/wasting gobs of money days are long behind me.

[aroundthefur33]

you know i told my wife...
"i dont drink, dont smoke...really dont go out and party, this is how i spend my time...this is a hobby..."

i think hobbies are good for people this is my hobby...this is what i love todo

[The Wasp]

I collect because it makes me happy. Whether it makes sense or not, in this life you need something that you enjoy doing.


good point. You only live once, so have fun along the way :D

[InnerRayg]

Obsession with roleplaying (in the traditional sense, not the actual game format), desire to act out fantasies, that sort of thing.

[aroundthefur33]

good point. You only live once, so have fun along the way :D
perfect!

[Chunk-Style]

We all got our thing whether they be toys, dvds, games, clothes or otherwise. :)

For me, I just like to collect figures that look cool and if they are based off a game/movie/tv show character I like. Besides, its fun (if it wasn't, my room would be filled with some other kind of crap). :D

[Uwe]

Your wife wants to get rid of your ****.

[AsterisX18]

I collect because it makes me happy. Whether it makes sense or not, in this life you need something that you enjoy doing.

+1 This is a great hobby. The hunt part is the best. Plus the stuff I collect are great works of art and are very good display pieces :)

[IronLungs31]

I collect because plan and simple I'm a collector. When I'm done collecting I will more than likely be kicking up dirt. It's something that in me, and apart of me, and I think that if I didn't collect I would be lost some how. There is nothing that I like doing more than to add something new to my collection.

Sounds funny but that's me!

[Mr. Wiggity Man]

I collect because it makes me happy. Whether it makes sense or not, in this life you need something that you enjoy doing.

Here's my reason too.

[Trunks3540]

Gives me something to look forward to. And I have to admit I enjoy hunting too and finding something rare or HTF or that I've personally been wanting for a while. And I like having small plastic versions of my faveorite characters from games/comics/movies/TV shows ect... And then I like some of the vehicles, cause they need to get around somehow right? I used to buy them to play with. Then I turned 14 and started liking girls lol. So now they sit on shelves and collect dust, or sit in boxes till I get in the mood to swicth my shelves around and pull those out to collect dust. But they all look awesome doing it. I love the way most of them look. And I like taking pictures of everything I've had for years, or the new **** I get, to share it with you guys. Cause I know you guys appriciate the time and money I spent in finding and buying this stuff almost as much as I do. It's fun to share stories and images and whatnot and to discuss them with other people that like them.

All that, usually puts a smile on my face. Kinda makes me happy as well.

[Trunks3540]

I collect because it's like crack...once you start you can't stop... :p ;)

Pringles...

You can stop crack.

[Optronix]

I've always collected, my parents got me started getting Transformers when I was little. Now its a way of really connecting to the fiction I guess. I mainly get DCUC cause I grew up on Batman and Superman the animated series, and then obviously JLU, and I hate the figures of those, so I get DCUC. Its my main hobby too.

[WaveStuff]

i appreciate the artistry in the figures. i can buy a figure even if i dont know the property so long as its a design that appeals to me.

its a rush, its being able to admire it every day and say damn that figure is mine, especially the grails.

[Mack]

It's simple: I REALLY like the world of Hellboy / B.P.R.D. :cool:

[Coldbirth]

I don't consider myself a collector, really. I rarely complete a line and I will not buy a figure of a character just because it's that character. If it's poorly executed, it stays in the store.

[EDBSIP]

its a hobby, it keeps me occupied.

[RzeznikK]

I collect to get "high"

Collecting is my "anti-drug"

[Karnis]

I collect because it makes me happy. Whether it makes sense or not, in this life you need something that you enjoy doing.

Bingo. When I was a kid, I always enjoyed the art of comic books, I drew for a while myself, and now that I'm older I still enjoy the art of comics but I prefer to collect the art on a 3-D level.

[RzeznikK]

Your avatar keeps me occupied. :p jk


its a hobby, it keeps me occupied.

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

because when I was a kid I wanted to sculpt model kits and had an appreciation for detail. after injuring my hands in various ways it's significantly harder and rather than sculpt myself I can at least be a fan of sculpts and buy and appreciate what catches my eye.

it started with various movie figures and then transitioned into buying things from properties I enjoy. I've always been selective and except for Halo I've never been a completist. I barely buy a whole Series of anything. But, I probably spend a good 10-15 minutes after I open a figure turning it around and admiring the details and sometimes comparing it to references that I have. placing it in various poses or if it's an ultra-detailed sculpt sticking it on a rotating disk and looking for an angle that catches the light right and then placing it on my shelves.

it keeps my inner-child happy and thriving and it reminds me of good moments in my life. I can pick up a figure and tell you what was going on around me when I bought that particular item.

[Spartan-516]

I collect because I think it's fun. I love searching the web to find what I want. I love going out and perusing 'round the stores. I'm disappointed if I don't find something, but still there's a feeling of "adventure" there. Besides, most of my friends are guys and they got me into the stuff when I was young. I needed action figures if I were to play with them. It just stuck.

[burngwngs]

Just tell her to shut up with a swift back hand, she'll understand. :D

[burngwngs]

Honestly, I collect because I see them as 3D art. That's why I can't stand MLs anymore, they're 3D trash.

[McCheif]

Like AoC, I always enjoyed the design of things growing up. When I started to buy action figures as a hobby (as apposed to just playtime) I collected TF's becuase I enjoyed studying the design of every figure. Then I got into Halo (the game) and have been addicted to it ever since I bought my Xbox.

This is how I explain it to my wife, who supports my hobby, I collect because I enjoy the hunt, and I enjoy rearranging my collection to make room for anything new. I don't smoke, rarely drink, and I don't play golf or collect firearms (like everyone else in TX), so I am saving us a fortune!!!!!

Okay, so maybe I collect firearms, they are just futuristic and REALLY small! =}

[CustomCreator]

I have been collecting something as long as I can remember. First it was building model cars and displaying them. Then Baseball/Football cards were my big thing. All the while, even though I was still playing with toys, I tried to keep them all 100% intact(aside from a few joes that got buried/chopped in half...lol) Then I started taking Joes apart and swapping parts, and that's when I felt my customizing really began. I didn't pick up customizing again until like 15 years later...lol. I always collected my favorite characters(Spiderman and Batman, and their lines) with my main focus on Venom. I never read comics regularly, so my only knowledge at the time was from cartoons/movies.

Alas, I am 33 with a mortage, wife, daughter, bills, and twins coming, so collecting for me has taken a HUGE back seat. I still stroll the toy aisles at the store, but never pick anything up. My main spending now is on customizing supplies/fodder and that adds up just as fast. I am also starting to hoard 360 games for when the twins get here because I see myself being home a LOT more....

I consider myself a 'retired collector" at the moment

[dropshipbob]

We, as a whole, collect because of our primitive ancestory. We were once hunter/gatherers, collecting food as a means of survival. But as time progressed and we created easier ways of obtaining food, that biological imperative had to find new outlets. That void had to be filled, so we moved on to the next objects that we bought on a regular basis...material goods.

Don't believe me? Watch National Geographic where they follow some tribe out in the rain forest.

Do you see their huts lined with action figures, or purses, or muscle cars?
No.
Why?
Because they have their day to day survival to deal with. Food, shelter, protection from animals and outside dangers.

Or look a little closer to home, the pioneers of old. Did they have shelves stacked with comics or collectible cups from Burger King? No (and yes, I know these things weren't around then, but that's not the point). The point is, they had other things to occupy their time.

Not that I'm saying this to make anyone feel bad about collecting figures or what not, I do it too.
I'm just trying to answer the question. :)

[TheRiddler]

This is actually a good question. For everyone its different, obviously - but for me its simple.

The hunt is irrelevant. Thank you, internet.

Having a supposed "rare" piece that hundreds if not thousands of other people have is also irrelevant. If you want unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, mass produced toys isnt the way to go.

Completing a series even if you dont like every figure in that series is nonsensical, and wasteful. I would rather use that money on something I actually want from another line.

Having figures of value is also irrelevant. If you want to collect for value and uniqueness, buy paintings. If you collect for value, you think too small. Raise your standards.

I collect simply because I enjoy the way they look on display. That is also why I am an opener. I appreciate the sculptwork, and - up until recently at least - the paintwork.

Thus, my goal is never to complete a collection, but to make sure I have a really interesting looking collection. Interesting to who? To me, thats it.

[Undeadplastic]

I do it because I enjoy it....I know that I don't really need any of it of course...I'm just really picky with what I buy these days...

[SeattleMariners51445]

I collect because it makes me happy. Whether it makes sense or not, in this life you need something that you enjoy doing.
I'm going to have to go with this answer.

[deefuzz]

I've actually been asked a version of this before, or more specifically what my goal was with collecting.

I've never, and most likey will never, have an ultimate goal with what I do. A goal, to me signifies an end, or a strategy for an end. I have smaller goals for some of the lines I collect, like as far as sports figures go to get all of the figures released from the teams that I like. But all in all I collect because I want to, because it's fun, and because it is a part of me.

I have always collected something as far back as I can remember. First it was baseball cards and comic books, then video games, then back to cards and comics, now toys and comics. Every time I try to stop collecting (and I have taken 1 year, and 6 month breaks in the past) I always come back to it. It's almost like I continuously try to deny who I really am but I cannot escape it.

I always tend to get involved in a little too much at once, which is what I think forces me to stop and attempt to scale back. I have just recently come back from a 6 month break and I have been playing catch up with all facets of my collecting. Obviously it will get to that point again, or to a point where I need to re-evaluate everything for space concerns or whatnot, but I know that I will always end up collecting something. And I think I am ok with that.

[aroundthefur33]

I've actually been asked a version of this before, or more specifically what my goal was with collecting.

I've never, and most likey will never, have an ultimate goal with what I do. A goal, to me signifies an end, or a strategy for an end. I have smaller goals for some of the lines I collect, like as far as sports figures go to get all of the figures released from the teams that I like. But all in all I collect because I want to, because it's fun, and because it is a part of me.

I have always collected something as far back as I can remember. First it was baseball cards and comic books, then video games, then back to cards and comics, now toys and comics. Every time I try to stop collecting (and I have taken 1 year, and 6 month breaks in the past) I always come back to it. It's almost like I continuously try to deny who I really am but I cannot escape it.

I always tend to get involved in a little too much at once, which is what I think forces me to stop and attempt to scale back. I have just recently come back from a 6 month break and I have been playing catch up with all facets of my collecting. Obviously it will get to that point again, or to a point where I need to re-evaluate everything for space concerns or whatnot, but I know that I will always end up collecting something. And I think I am ok with that.

i hope it doesnt come to that...
collecting is something i think we all love, it keeps us busy, it makes us happy and it is awesome...we could be out robbing and killing...maybe not...

my wife wasnt being negative at all...just a question

[Sugartank]

Because some of us saw "40 year old virgin" and idiotically believe that one day our toys will get our kids through college? :rolleyes:

[Wrestling Fan]

Every line that I collect is of a great interest to me: hockey, basketball, Harry Potter, Marvel, wrestling

[anthonyrapitis]

"i dont drink, dont smoke...really dont go out and party, this is how i spend my time...this is a hobby..."

i think hobbies are good for people this is my hobby...this is what i love todo

me too. plus, if the shizzle hits the fan, we can sell our hobby for atleast close to what we paid for it

[Dreamcatcher]

There are some many reasons: memories, art, design, fanatic, custom ideas, style, sale ideas, scalper ideas too, lol. Basically the wrong idea of why the figures are strange for some people it's because they believe you gonna play with the figures, because they are toys, wrong concept, stereotype concept.

[deefuzz]

my wife wasnt being negative at all...just a question

I didn't take it as anything negative...I rather enjoy the thought provoking discussion

[aroundthefur33]

I didn't take it as anything negative...I rather enjoy the thought provoking discussion
yeah thatswhat she said...OH SNAP!!!
she said you win by the way

[The_Arbiter]

Cuz it makes me happy :)

[Fake_Nick]

I collect because some years ago I used to somke a lot, so I quitted and promised myself that the money I spent in cigarrettes would go to action figures.

My utimate goal is to have a decent display with lights and everything. :D

[Lord_kimboat]

We're all tiny chasers.

[Gary Stevens]

I started collecting comics when I was 14. Still do to this day. I have a HUGE collection. (It sucks when it’s time to move)
When I had kids in the 80’s I bought cool toys for them, but didn’t really collect per’se. (I wish I had started then!!)
Then I discovered McFarlane Sportspicks in 2001, and it was ON. I found out about Spawn Figures and Movie Maniacs and the Music figures. Then came Marvel Legends, and on, and on, and on…..
Eventually I even started collecting Hot Wheels. Anything for that “gottafinditnow” fix.
My wife had a pretty good analogy – She said I started out with the paper (Comics/Weed); then moved on the harder stuff, Plastic (Figures/coke, meth) and finally into the crack of collecting – Die Cast cars!!
But why do I do it you ask?
I’m thinking compulsion? OCD? :confused: :rolleyes:
I don’t know. I enjoy the hunt. And there is actually a rush involved when you find that one certain figure that you’ve been looking for. I remember I found a No Helmet Tom Brady figure in Wall Mart. I literally jumped up and down and squealed like a little girl. True Story. I was pumped up for days. :D
So I guess that’s it. The HUNT. The finishing a series. Setting up the displays. Buying/Selling/Trading here and elsewhere. The camaraderie of like minded geeks.
OK.. that’s all I’ve got…..