Is Collecting Innate?

[Centerfield]

Ok, since you guys liked the last thread, let’s get deep. Put on your thinking caps, look inside yourself and ponder these questions. Is collecting innate? Some people gather and hoard things while others don’t (like some of our spouses). Why is this? Also, why do you collect? Let’s try and go beyond “it’s fun” or “it’s and investment that I can enjoy” or “it’s a remembrance of my youth”. If it weren’t for gloves, I’d bet that 98% of us would be collecting something else because it’s just in us to do so. Why is this?

[vintagebrett]

If you want to read an excellent book about collecting, I suggest reading "Brimfield Rush" by Bob Wyss. There is no sports to be mentioned in the book but it delves into why people collect. Having been going to Brimfield for many, many years, I was familiar with a lot of the people in the book and found it fascinating to hear their stories.

One thing I remember specifically from the book is that historians have found collections dating back to people living in caves! So, based on that, you would have to say it is part of our nature. However, my middle brother is a case why it might not be - my mom, dad, little brother and myself are all collectors - he collects nothing.

Link to the book:
http://www.commonwealtheditions.com/pro ... .cfm?PC=98

[Centerfield]

In my 30+ years of collecting different types of baseball memorabilia I've taken three or four sabbaticals, some lasting several years, but I've always returned. There's an inner force that pulled me back in each and every time. I've tried to explain it, or better terminology would be to say I've tried to come to terms with it, but I can't. Have any of you found yourselves in similar situations? There is rush to collecting, but I wouldn't categorize it as an addiction. For me, it seems to be innate.

[ebbets55]

It’s innate. It has to be. You either collect something or you don’t. How else can you explain why other people don’t collect anything? They have to find something cool or interesting yet they don’t collect. My wife has 94 pairs of flip flops but she doesn’t collect anything. I have collected since I was a kid (baseball cards). Now, I love gloves and it is a nice outlet for me. It gives me something enjoyable to do with my very limited spare time. I try to collect for pleasure. I’m an analytical guy, a total left brainer. Collecting gloves allows me to solve puzzles or mysteries, fill holes in inventories, organize & catalog things and do research as well. It allows me to turn chaos into order (dirty glove to clean glove or broken to fixed). Maybe that gives me some sort of inner peace. Maybe I have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and collecting helps. No wonder my wife calls me Rainman sometimes - two hundred and forty six. Man, I think I have some major issues brewing inside. Thanks for helping me identify them Doc.

JD

[wjr953]

ebbets55,
Dude, just drop the gloves and step away slowly. You're scaring me man. Wapner, gotta watch Wapner, yeah! lol

br

[Centerfield]

Hahahaha... I am so OCD it's scary! You described me to a "T". My wife's an angel for putting up with me, not the gloves!

[ebbets55]

She sure is a gem for putting up with you. Tell her hi for me. She's a great lady.

Yeah, ten minutes to Wapner, yeah.

[Centerfield]

Thank you... I will ! ! !


I don't watch Wapner, I just yell and hit my head repeatedly when something goes awry.