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Collecting Vs Hoarding

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  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Pineapple Country, Queensland, Australia
Collecting Vs Hoarding
Posted by Wirraway on Saturday, March 7, 2015 3:35 AM
I was watching a TV show the other day about compulsive hoarders and the way their house gradually gets transformed into a giant trash heap. I get it that these poor people have a psychological disorder that makes them do it. The ones I have seen seem to be attempting to compensate for something by surrounding themselves with material goods or the ""hit" they get when they buy something. Funniest part was when the "expert" was trying to help them throw stuff away. The hoarder came up with a reason to keep EVERYTHING, no matter how useless. It got me thinking, what is the difference between them, and say, a person with 500 unbuilt kits in the stash ? Are we all "hoarders" to a certain extent ? My stash fits in 5 ceiling-to_wall steel shelves, and, worryingly of late, when a box disappears as the kit is built, another appears to take its place on the shelving.

"Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional"

" A hobby should pass the time - not fill it"  -Norman Bates

 

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  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Saturday, March 7, 2015 4:59 AM

I have about 200-250 in the stash.  My two biggest reasons for having a stash at all are 1. Will I be able to find this kit in the future? Answer. Now with eBay and the Internet you can find anything.  2. It was such a good deal.  When I see a kit that is at an unbelievable price I buy it or am very tempted to buy it.  I have been very good that last 2 years about curbing my buying.  I am seriously trying to build down my stash.  John

P.S.  Just bought 3 1/48 Hasegawa kits on ebay for $32 shipped. It was a good deal. Hehe

 

  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Saturday, March 7, 2015 7:15 AM

most hoarders collect everything  to a point that they would live in the city dump if they were allowed   a collector is specific i had an aunt in montreal who collected anything bells friends ttravellled the world and would bring her back  bells  she had wallpaper and curtians and shelevs   but you could not find a speck of dirt/dust in 9 rms of house

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Saturday, March 7, 2015 10:21 PM

No difference at all. We're all hoarders, short answer... ;o

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: MN
Posted by Nathan T on Sunday, March 8, 2015 8:14 AM

Big difference. I have a job. I use the bathroom. I don't have mice...I've seen the show. It makes my stomach turn.

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Sunday, March 8, 2015 2:55 PM

I agree, there is a big difference. Hoarders have some sort of psychological disorder that does not allow them to throw anything away. Newspapers, garbage, etc. piled to the ceiling with no rhyme or reason as to what they are hoarding or why.

Modelers buy to build or collect. Maybe even buy something to trade away at a future date. Some modelers may buy more than they can ever build, I'm one of them, but they're not afraid to part with items. I'm constantly selling kits I bought to trade off or intended to build.

Now if a modeler kept everything in the box from bits of sprue to scraps of used decal sheets and the shrinkwrap used to seal the kit, that'd be a hoarder.

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by bluenote on Monday, March 9, 2015 8:43 AM

Big difference between hoarders and collectors.  Typically collectors organize their stuff, catalogue it, etc.  Hoarders just have stuff (and garbarge) littered every throughout the house.

Having said that though, I only have 5 kits in my stash.  I only work on 1 kit at a time, and when it's done, I head to the hobby shop to buy my next build.  Going to the hobby shop to pick out my next project is tons of fun.  I view the hobby shop as my stash.  

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: NW Washington
Posted by dirkpitt77 on Monday, March 9, 2015 1:23 PM

I put glass shelves up high on the walls of my office. I have about 40 in my stash and that's where they sit, so it's kind of like a small hobby shop in that I have kits on display while waiting to be built. I promised myself I wouldn't buy any kits this year, but already broke that rule HAHAHAHAHA!  Such is life.

I wouldn't call it hoarding, in my case. I also go through my office about once a  year and slim down on stuff, so I put myself in the collector's category.

Chris

    "Some say the alien didn't die in the crash.  It survived and drank whiskey and played poker with the locals 'til the Texas Rangers caught wind of it and shot it dead."

  • Member since
    November 2014
Posted by BLACKSMITHN on Monday, March 9, 2015 2:18 PM

It's not hoarding, it's stockpiling.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Monday, March 9, 2015 3:54 PM

Well :

Actually I am with you . But in my case it's called storage shedding !

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Lancaster, South Carolina
Posted by Devil Dawg on Monday, March 9, 2015 6:20 PM

Rob Gronovius

Now if a modeler kept everything in the box from bits of sprue to scraps of used decal sheets and the shrinkwrap used to seal the kit, that'd be a hoarder.

Crap!! I thought I was just a collector until I read this..... I wonder if my medical plan covers counselling for hoarding?  Stick out tongue

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, March 9, 2015 6:25 PM

dirkpitt77

I put glass shelves up high on the walls of my office. I have about 40 in my stash and that's where they sit, so it's kind of like a small hobby shop in that I have kits on display while waiting to be built.

Chris

Thats about me, too. I've been out of extra spending money for awhile, its been nice to burn off the surplus. What cracks me up is opening a box and seeing that I had forgotten that at the time I also bought a bunch of PE or resin or decals and stuck them in with the kit. Kind of bonus.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    August 2014
Posted by Ozmac on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 12:04 AM

Glad to find this thread, because now I don't feel so bad about my stash. It's only 15 kits, but I was beginning to think this was becoming a problem for me, as my budget is tight. It's nice to know I'm still a little leaguer!

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Biding my time, watching your lines.
Posted by PaintsWithBrush on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 7:54 AM

The day I find rat poop and dead animals amongst my stash, I will concede that it's not a collection, it's a hoard.

A 100% rider on a 70% bike will always defeat a 70% rider on a 100% bike. (Kenny Roberts)

  • Member since
    April 2014
Posted by Sandbox on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 8:46 AM

I almost never let my household pets take a dump in my model inventory area or work area.  And if they do, I first check to see if it might something I could use in a future diorama before I clean it up. (Notice: the preceeding is an attempt at humor.)

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: NYC, USA
Posted by waikong on Thursday, March 12, 2015 9:15 AM

When you say to yourself, I'm a collector, everyone else is a hoarder.  That's when you know you stepped over :)

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Thursday, March 12, 2015 10:14 AM

I've placed a moratorium on any new kits until I finish at least one of the FOUR builds I've started!Surprise


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Thursday, March 12, 2015 8:30 PM

.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Houston, Texas
Posted by panzerpilot on Thursday, March 12, 2015 10:57 PM

I consider myself a connoisseur of fine model kits. Kind of like an art collector. Or, more correctly, a collector of things that will be art once I apply blood sweat and tears (or glue, xacto and paints) to all those 100-150 kits stacked in my closet. Hoarder? Nah. NathanT said it best. I bathe. I conjugate verbs. I have cut way back on the input, until I've done better with the output. I am out of space for unbuilt kits.

-Tom

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by AnalogKid on Friday, March 13, 2015 6:49 AM

If you know where each of your kits is, no matter how many you have, and can get to it (relatively) easily, you are a collector. If you have no idea what you have and only that you have a ton of inbuilt kits stacked away in your house, you are a hoarder. Nothing scientific here...just my opinion.  

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Lancaster, South Carolina
Posted by Devil Dawg on Saturday, March 14, 2015 11:12 AM

Texgunner

I've placed a moratorium on any new kits until I finish at least one of the FOUR builds I've started!Surprise

Yeah, RIGHT!!!!! Hahahahahaha!! I think we've ALL said that to ourselves at least once in our model-building lives!! Propeller

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Saturday, March 14, 2015 11:25 AM

Devil Dawg

Texgunner

I've placed a moratorium on any new kits until I finish at least one of the FOUR builds I've started!Surprise

Yeah, RIGHT!!!!! Hahahahahaha!! I think we've ALL said that to ourselves at least once in our model-building lives!! Propeller

Lol!  Hell, I've even said it before Dawg!  Who am I kiddin'?Wink


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Houston, Texas
Posted by panzerpilot on Saturday, March 14, 2015 2:03 PM

panzerpilot

... I am out of space for unbuilt kits.

Scratch that! Hasegawa is coming out with a 'new' 1/32 FW190D-9 next month. I have room for one more, right? Right?? Surprise

-Tom

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Lancaster, South Carolina
Posted by Devil Dawg on Saturday, March 14, 2015 2:15 PM

I hope it's better than the last one they offered of that kit. I finally finished it last year, and had a lot of fit problems at the wing root where it joined the nose at the bottom of the plane. Also, the decals just broke completely apart when I tried to apply them. First time I ever had an issue with a Hasegawa kit.

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Houston, Texas
Posted by panzerpilot on Sunday, March 15, 2015 1:00 PM

Devil Dawg

I hope it's better than the last one they offered of that kit. I finally finished it last year, and had a lot of fit problems at the wing root where it joined the nose at the bottom of the plane. Also, the decals just broke completely apart when I tried to apply them. First time I ever had an issue with a Hasegawa kit.

I've built one 1/32 dora and seem to remember that fit issue. I've never had an issue with their decals though. Interesting.

-Tom

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Sunday, March 15, 2015 6:42 PM

My wife says I have too much. Funny thing is I only have less than 15 kits in my stash. Go figure....

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Lancaster, South Carolina
Posted by Devil Dawg on Friday, March 20, 2015 10:35 PM

Only 15 kits? I have about 70, and the desire to buy more!!! Not the money, mind you, just the desire.......

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Saturday, March 21, 2015 10:09 AM

15 kits in my wife perspective is too much. In mine - not enough. LOL!!!

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Northeast WA State
Posted by armornut on Saturday, March 21, 2015 12:14 PM

I went to Shreveport with 107 kits, came back home 7months later with 124, sill had 50 that never left Deer Park, i know what i have and where it's at.... 1 of everything and it's EVERYWHERE LOL. I call myself a collector but truely i'm a hoarder, too much therapy to correct the issue so i deal with it, i ask my wife before ANY model related purchases, she usually puts things in perspective when i get awe struck by the cool box art or unusual kit. She never says no but "why don't you wait and see if you find it cheaper at a contest vender, golly i love her.

we're modelers it's what we do

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Saturday, March 21, 2015 6:46 PM

Collecting is one thing a lot of people do with a great many items.

Hording however is something different.  If you have stockpiled up a amount of an item that are deemed necessary to many but will have to be rationed because of a great need  somewhere else to the extent that you have now acquired much more than others, like the government, feels ir right, then you might be considered a hoarder.

This was not an unknown situation during WWII when people would cut back a bit on what they were allowed, like fuel or food, that was needed to go to the war effort.  If you were caught doing this the punishment I believe could be a bit harsh.

People were issued ration cards and you were not allowed ot exceed the limit of coupons you were given.  You had to be able to account for your ration book and report if something happened to it.

During the war in S.E.A. we were given ration cards each month.  As you used things on the cards they would punch that item.  When the card was finished, so were you.  Getting things for other people, especially foreign nationals, was black marketing and you would be picked up for it.  At best you could be fined, have a record of this placed into your personnel files, and loose your card privileges for whatever time period your commander, or the base or wing commander decided.  If it was serious enough, you could be reduced in rank, confined, discharged, or maybe even sent to Fort Levenworth.  If the offense was big enough.

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