Why do you collect? (Seems like an overly simplified question but since you have committed to answering it as honestly as possible, it could be a very interesting answer.)
This is a great question that required a lot of thought. And after five or ten minutes, I realized it doesn't boil down to one simple answer.
Here are five reasons I collect... in no specific order:
Reason #1: I'm a huge sports & pop culture fan. And it just so happens that both of these are popular subjects in the trading card industry.
Reason #2: I enjoy the social aspect of this hobby. Card collecting & sports memorabilia allow me interact with others who share a similar interest... whether it's talking to collectors at card shops & card shows, trading with people online (on forums & blogs), or discussing hobby related topics with other bloggers and collectors.
Reason #3: Some people can't live without going to the gym. Others need drugs to get them through their day. I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to collecting pieces of cardboard. I've stopped at various points in my life, but something always leads me back to them.
Reason #4: I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Since I was a child, I've always enjoyed organizing and sorting things. It started with dumping out boxes of crayons and organizing them by color and eventually led to the shoebox full of 1979 Topps baseball cards that my neighbor gave me. The rest is history.
Reason #5: It brings a smile to my face. Don't get me wrong, there are times I think about how much money I've spent during my lifetime on cards and it bums me out. But those moments are the minority and don't occur often. I love this hobby and it makes me happy.
Reason #1: I'm a huge sports & pop culture fan. And it just so happens that both of these are popular subjects in the trading card industry.
Reason #2: I enjoy the social aspect of this hobby. Card collecting & sports memorabilia allow me interact with others who share a similar interest... whether it's talking to collectors at card shops & card shows, trading with people online (on forums & blogs), or discussing hobby related topics with other bloggers and collectors.
Reason #3: Some people can't live without going to the gym. Others need drugs to get them through their day. I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to collecting pieces of cardboard. I've stopped at various points in my life, but something always leads me back to them.
Reason #4: I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Since I was a child, I've always enjoyed organizing and sorting things. It started with dumping out boxes of crayons and organizing them by color and eventually led to the shoebox full of 1979 Topps baseball cards that my neighbor gave me. The rest is history.
Reason #5: It brings a smile to my face. Don't get me wrong, there are times I think about how much money I've spent during my lifetime on cards and it bums me out. But those moments are the minority and don't occur often. I love this hobby and it makes me happy.
I'm sure there are other reasons for collecting... but that's all I have at the present time. Maybe I'll read some of your responses and update my answer.
Are you ready? It's your turn:
Why do you collect?
1 Point - Leave your response below.
2 Points - If you've already answered this question in a past blog post, then leave a link below.
3 to 5 Points - Write your response in a new blog post.
I'll accept responses until tomorrow (Wednesday) at 3pm (PST). I look forward to reading your responses.
Happy Tuesday and sayonara!
I think I'm a bunch of reasons too. One is definitely the sorting aspect - I'm not diagnosed OCD but I do love tidy little lists and Excel files where I list cards I still need and the like.
ReplyDeleteI think two would be that I love the community aspect of collecting - both on the blogs and on stuff like Blowout. It's real neat to see people come together to help each other's collections out.
Three, I love that I have a collection that is uniquely my own, especially with my main PC which is the "best" PC of its kind. In this world it can be kind of hard to stand out and cards are sort of a way to do that for me. It's neat to be pretend famous in a way if that makes sense (haha).
I totally wish I was "pretend" famous... LOL.
DeleteI think the reason I first started collecting was because I'm a huge fan of the history of the game. Since then, I've come to love numerous other aspects of the hobby, especially the social part of it, as you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI wrote about this topic here:
http://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-we-collect.html
Wow... what a great post. Thanks for sharing.
Deletebaseball is my favorite sport. collecting is my way of keeping connected to baseball heroes of the past, reading about them and the history of the game.
ReplyDeleteit also gets me through the loooong winter with mo baseball.
I never thought of collecting as passing the time until your favorite sports come back on the boob tube. I'm with you on that one.
DeleteIt brings me back to my childhood, collecting with my father.
ReplyDeleteIt is a historical log of the sport and the style of the day.
And, perhaps most important, the social aspect of commiserating with other collectors.
This hobby totally brings me back to my childhood. If I revise my post, I'll definitely include this. Thanks for pointing that out.
DeleteWhy do I collect?
ReplyDeleteOriginally it was to get to know the "who's who" in the majors today. But nowadays the only names that don't ring a bell to me are prospects.
So what still keeps me going is the wave of emotions I feel whenever I open a pack. Thrilled when I find the packs (I'm a sucker for new products with "it's new, it's shiny" written all over it lol), hopeful when I buy the packs, excited when I open the packs and either disappointed, mildly disappointed, slightly glad, satisfied or overly thrilled at the end. I haven't had too many of the 1st or 5th one lately, but like how each pack offers different cards (a majority of the time anyway) each pack also offers different results emotionally.
Interesting point... sort of makes me want to go to Target and pick up a few retail packs. Thanks for sharing.
Deletemany reasons why I like baseball cards. Or hockey, or soccer, or whatever....
ReplyDeleteI like doing it. Sorting, making lists, tracking down what I need still...
I learn things. About the sport, about the player... I like to learn.
It brings me closer to the game and the players.
And maybe mostly I enjoy the friendships from the people I've met because of it.
Learning things is definitely something I need to add in my revision. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteWhy not?
ReplyDeleteI hate the gym. Don't do drugs. And love baseball.
It really just makes sense to me.
I used to want the "best" collection, now I want my collection.
I too enjoy the trading and community aspects of the hobby. I think that I enjoy satisfying the collecting needs of others, stemming from my first job at a card store.
I couldn't think of a better way to waste my time, and money.
Sounds like we have some stuff in common ;-)
DeleteI enjoy collecting things that remind me of my favorite athletes. also, cards don't judge me or deceive me. people do.
ReplyDeleteso yeah.
sports.
Lol... so true.
DeleteI collect because it's a damn, good time:
ReplyDeletehttp://nightowlcards.blogspot.com/2012/08/isnt-it-obvious.html
That was a damn, fine post! Thanks for sharing.
DeleteWell I started to collect as it made me feel closer to the actual sport. Also the ability to collect player and teams which makes me feel more proud to be following them!
ReplyDeleteYou should feel proud... it's an awesome hobby!
DeleteI collect cause I love baseball and making friends, like yourself!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike ;-)
DeleteI collect because if I didn't, I'd actually have to accomplish something with my life. Just kidding, but I did answer.
ReplyDeletehttp://playattheplatedude.blogspot.com/2012/08/why-question-should-be-why-not.html
another great post... thanks for sharing!
DeleteI would say there are two distinct phases. The first was when I was a kid and I had the need to collect something, and cards were perfect. I'm a numbers guy and slightly OCD, so I loved sorting, organizing and keeping track of what I had. A lot of my early computer experience involved tracking my collection.
ReplyDeleteThe second phase is my return to collecting which was sparked by David Wright and other local guys hitting the bigs. It's really cool getting to collect cards of people you know.
Did you ever use any baseball card collection software? I was always bummed that they didn't have something for MAC users.
DeleteI briefly tried some shareware/freeware things but ultimately didn't like them. I preferred my own programs and databases.
DeleteBecause chicks dig it.
ReplyDeletehttp://classonave.blogspot.com/2012/08/erika-jordan-2007-bench-warmer-39.html
Damn... I wish there were more hours in the day, so I could write up a cool blog post and make a guess. Oh well... that's how the ball bounces sometimes ;-)
DeleteNice eBay throw in... I've never bought any packs of that stuff either, but I have purchased a few of the autographs.
Dude, therapy. (PS I totally get the whole OCD thing. My coworker/friend just asked me tonight, after seeing my apartment for the first time, if I was a neat freak.)
ReplyDeletehttp://thiscardiscool.blogspot.com/2012/08/why-ask-why.html
Another great post Ryan... thanks for sharing.
DeleteI'm too grown up these days. I have a job where I work long hours. I have a family and a new home and a pile of student loan bills. My legs aren't what they used to be and my back is shot.
ReplyDeleteYet when I open a pack of cards, it feels the sane way it did when I was 12 years old. I collect because it keeps a part of me young and helps bring me back to simpler times.
I love your answer and agree 100%!
DeleteA bit long winded, but here you are:
ReplyDeletehttp://dawgbonesaphilliesphan.blogspot.com/2012/08/another-helping-of-fuji.html
Thanks for the question,
Dawgbones
Bro... I need to get a couple of things off my chest:
DeleteA. This post is awesome. I loved how you took the time to read everyone's responses and incorporated it into your post. I know my contest has been longwinded and a little insane with blog post requests, but the goal is to bring everyone in our hobby a little closer. What you did in this post epitomizes this.
B. You'll be receiving a couple of extra credit points for your extra effort.
Thanks again for taking the time to participate in the contest.
That's a hard question, but I guess it mostly boils down to "Because I wanna"
ReplyDeletehttp://tenetsofwilson.blogspot.com/2012/08/why-i-collect.html
Two strong reasons... thanks for sharing!
DeleteI like sports, especially hockey. I collect to preserve and document artifacts so knowledge will not be lost. Or as I alluded to when I answered an earlier question, ,my wife says I'm a junk collector.
ReplyDeleteLol... I've been told that I'm a junk collector too.
DeleteAt first it was a trial run, you know, buy them and see if they are worth it. My brother and I then got hooked because of all the info on the cards; it helped us become fans of the game itself, rather than just a team. Of course, once you buy a couple of packs, why stop? Also, it seems to be a harmless hobby, better than pillaging and plundering.
ReplyDeleteYep... most definitely better than pillaging and plundering ;-)
Delete