ever consider quitting collecting?

Discussion in 'Whatever' started by eric, Apr 18, 2010.

  1. patrickvaz

    patrickvaz Addicted

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    I have a whole lot going on in my life rn. Prolly the most ever, honestly. It is what is. I’m a cockroachperson, so I’ll (prolly) survive. But I woke up a couple months ago and realized I just have too much stuff. It’s all cool stuff, but it’s ALOT of cool stuff. I desperately want to own less stuff. I can’t really explain it, I guess. But it’s like this burning desire to be less materialistic/have less junk. I’ve been collecting soft vinyl for over a decade, and I have several other collections as well. Although I have no intentions of quitting collecting, ever, I’m looking VERY forward to downsizing and having a (hopefully) more manageable collection.
     
  2. DrilOne

    DrilOne Comment King

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    I mostly only keep what i can display cleanly. everything else besides a few pieces i sold that are not displayed.
     
  3. xSuicide Squadx

    xSuicide Squadx Super Deformed

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    I have a relatively on and off struggle with collecting. Overall, it's been just over 10 years, but soft vinyl it's only been close to seven. Growing up with two older, super shitty brothers, I had a lot taken from me, and broken, so collecting as an adult is my personal way of enjoying what I often times couldn't as a kid. Even still, as an adult, I sometimes sit back and ask myself, "What the fuck is the point?" I chock it up to my manic depression switching on and making me question collecting; why I do it, what purpose does it serve, why the effort. Especially for how much I put into the photography aspect. But that process also helps remind me exactly why I do it. Like Kevin mentioned, I've also thought about selling everything for the likes of a house, or similar, but then I'd undoubtedly be left with a void in my heart. I've gotten so many positive experiences through this hobby, not only for/with myself, but seeing what it does for others, too. Building my own world/environment absolutely sparks joy for me, and SO many of the toys I own are tied to specific people/times/memories. I've come into a slightly better grasp of life in general as of late, but I still very much enjoy having control over where I stand in this niche world of monsters and plastic we live in. Like many others, I've definitely reevaluated my collection, thinned down, gotten much more in touch with personal tastes, what I love, what I only admire from a distance. I love my job with toys. I've been to Japan because of said job and toys. Paired with my friends and family, this makes up a good chunk of what's everything to me.
     
  4. taviq

    taviq Toy Prince

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    If I wasn't collecting toys I'd be collecting something else. I definitely have a collector mentality.
    I remember collecting rocks as a little kid, my first collection I was proud of were letter openers. They were like mini swords. Such a dumb collection.
    Then I went to baseball cards. I never even watched or cared about baseball. Then comics. Which I loved and collected for most of my life.
    I actually tried collecting coins and stamps. Just because I love collecting. But coins and stamps were way too lame.
    I've been collecting toys for about 15 years. Ugly dolls, 3A, KR, Megos, vintage, bootleg just about everything. But Sofubi is the collection that has really killed my wallet. When I first discovered this stuff 4-5 years ago, I was seriously going without food (or just pb & J) so I could buy a specific piece. It really feels like the culmination of everything I loved to collect all wrapped up in a toy.
    I've calmed down this year, I think a combination of getting pieces I really love and all the loss I've experienced recently can be attributed to feeling more content with my stuff.
     
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  5. hellscrape

    hellscrape Comment King

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    I go through regular trimmings on IG because I buy stuff but don't really have space to display it. I have a self-imposed rule of having only one tub for sofubi, so when that starts getting full, things that don't truly fit in 100% are sold off. It funds future purchases, but it is also part of my catch-and-release aspect of collecting; i might not be able to keep it all, but it's nice to have for a bit and treasure it before passing it along.

    Often times I notice I buy things for the joy of buying, and then sell them off just a few months later because I'm compulsive that way. It would be nice to just buy less, then I'd spend less time selling and shipping as well. And the toys, they definitely DON'T bring my girlfriend any joy :lol::oops:
     
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  6. Rich

    Rich Die-Cast

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Word for word feel the exact same way.


     
  7. noeleaser

    noeleaser Addicted

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    I think I’m going to follow your rules and get rid of a lot of my collection. I’ve got about 15 20 gallon tubs in my garage full of toys and don’t have anywhere near the space to display them all.

    Yet another good thing about having a baby is now I put some of my toys in his room on display. it’s all stuff that I’m OK with getting damaged because guaranteed he’s going to want to play with them when he gets a little bit older. He already reaches for them whenever I have him in my arms and he’s close enough to grab them.

    As far as new toys, nowadays I only go after different variants of sculpts that I already have. I very rarely buy any new sculpts. The only exception is blank GID sofubi, anything by Paul Kaiju and any of MVH’s bigger toys.

    I have taken breaks throughout the years and I always get reinvigorated during those times. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of my toys because they bring so much beauty to my otherwise ugly world..
     
  8. meanmistert

    meanmistert Line of Credit

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Considered, yes.... followed through, no. ;)
    Feel free to send all unwanted coins & currency to yours truly :razz:
     
  9. JoeMan

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Yes, though in the last few years I’ve sold a substantial part of my collection and purged a lot of stuff in storage, I’d say now I have 85% on display. I’d like to get it down to 100. And I have a ton of my own samples in storage I would like to start selling off as well.
    Granted I make toys and it’s likely because Of that I spend more time involves in this than most on this board. And maybe it would be manageable if it was my only job, but I also work full time. And over the years I reflect and I think it caused me to neglect other areas of my life and put strain on my marriage. I don’t think I prioritized right, now my wife is 36 and we’ve had multiple miscarriages and can’t get pregnant and we have to do IVF. And the only reason I can think I delayed more important things in life is because of toys.
    Yet still I find myself browsing Mandarake and making an occasional pick up, though it’s mostly older stuff, I’ll still grab a new M1 or Marusan figure occasionally.
    I just find everything so boring now, the same routine monthly lottos so artists can collect their monthly salary. The same shows with the same toys that were there 5 years ago. I feel like there are so many ways to be creative and make art but I’m stuck in this box of toys and I can’t find the motivation to break away and do something new.
     
  10. hellopike

    hellopike S7 Royalty

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    @JoeMan if you’re tired of toys, or you feel stagnant then stop, or at least take a break. If this hobby or in your case job is causing you grief and strain on your marriage then the choice is easy. If you were at a regular 9-5 job and it caused marital issues, or frustration or stress you’d quit and find something else. It’s never too late to make a change.

    Also, if you’ve got samples taking up space in storage you’ve got my number ;) lol.
     
  11. HardDragon

    HardDragon Toy Prince

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    This is a subject that I find so fascinating to read others reflect on. Recently and I’m saying in the last couple of years have been my heaviest collecting habits witch is ironic for me as it was in the same time space that I was injured at work and left with a pretty substantial disability and what helped getting through that time, collecting took my mind away from what was really going on. Settling out this year I know I can’t continue in the fashion that I was. Narrowing down what and who I collect from was made a bit easier because also during this time I was able to tap into a creative side to my mind with the Crawlah Club.

    To reflect on what @Rich and @LamourSupreme had said I find I want to be surrounded with things that ultimately keep me inspired to do my own art. Things that help me push through blocks and creative uninterest. This includes works from even both of you. I think that’s why I have made the decision to primarily keep up with my primary love in the hobby (most of you know that for me it’s the work of Shirahama) and for pretty blatant reason I just get inspired when I look at his work and it always “sparks joy” with me personally. Unless I can attend a show or specifically spend extra I have learned to just admire from afar. Watch new birds get into the hobby and even leave just as easy.

    I’m a collector at heart always have been as @xSuicide Squadx stated I also tend to collect other things that I had when I was a kid that were either lost or taken from me, all of these things I find major inspiration from either the artwork of the packages or just the item itself. When I’m in the studio I find myself in a world of my childhood and adulthood mixed into a blend that just takes me to that place mentally so I can create and just be happy. I find that piece of mind the most important, @JoeMan i can relate hard with you when reflecting on marriage and having kids. My wife and I have gone through similar issues and are thinking of trying IVF and that’s no easy expense along with trying to own a home this year it can easily be viewed as a “no brainer” to ease up on collecting or depleting what you have in order to achieve new goals, sometimes stepping away is just what the head needs but shure as hell we will be brought back in one way or another.

    Thanks for the mental thoughts. This is a great therapy all and all. Just my two cents! Perhaps my $20.
     
  12. liquidsky

    liquidsky Vintage

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    ,,,
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2019
  13. Michael Beverage

    Michael Beverage Line of Credit

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    ever consider quitting collecting?”

    Nope!
     
  14. 3wing

    3wing Addicted

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    nah... I curated a collection to interact with talk about and switch around.
    I try to keep toys people gift me.
    It's nostalgia and inspiration. I like the idea of supporting other artists. be it comics, clothes or toys...
    all of my ideas are derived from my surroundings.

    I do get rid of stuff, give stuff to my siblings kids, and friends. sell/ trade stuff.
     
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  15. kid_miracleman

    kid_miracleman Comment King

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Can confirm, Lee is going to die under a sofubi avalanche
     
  16. bunnyboy

    bunnyboy Side Dealer

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    That Japanese dude who got buried alive by his porn collection did everything right afaic. #lifegoals
     
  17. kid_miracleman

    kid_miracleman Comment King

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Honestly this hobby is dangerous if you are really OCD, and I do think that maybe it attracts some people that are like that. If you “gotta catch em all” and feel genuine depression over lost lottos, you should find something else. It should only be fun and joyful when a box arrives and not focusing on the boxes that don’t. I see people with collections that cost tens of thousands of dollars but then suddenly have to sell things because of a small financial emergency. That just strikes me as a misappropriation of priorities. Collecting should be something that adds to your life, not a focal point that defines your personality, emotional well being or financial safety.

    I tend to be into a hobby until it becomes cumbersome. I ran out of shelf space for comics and was backlogged enormously I could read a book a day for years. I quit Mondo posters running out of room to hang them. I am getting to the point here i will probably post my first for sale thread, but all that means is my collection is getting sharper and more representative of my art interests.
     
  18. 3wing

    3wing Addicted

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Some of the collecting behavior is quite concerning.

    I had a good friend who lost everything because he collected toys so obsessively and refused to prioritize his money. He refused to get his teeth fixed, lost his house, his relationship. And he was making 90k plus a year.

    I understand curating a collection in relation to nostalgia and history, personal preference maybe...
    At some point people must invest in themselves. good diet, exercise, a vacation maybe?
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2019
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  19. Anti Social Andy

    Anti Social Andy Die-Cast

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Or hookers, heroin and a lost weekend . . . to each their own! ;)
     
  20. kid_miracleman

    kid_miracleman Comment King

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    How many people have we seen flat out have a mental breakdown in this hobby? There are probably a couple of people here I would say toy artists should blacklist as a form of intervention.

    As sad as that is, it’s worse when that anger is reflected outwards, especially to the artists. I would not be surprised if some artists have quit/slowed down because they got frustrated dealing with a few rotten apples that are sucking the lifeblood out of them.

    I feel sorry for some people and as cheesy as it may sound, I just want people to be cool to one another, hook each other up, and have a good time. I am not an artist but I do events so I am trying to contribute with my toy show and so far so good at least

    Tl,dr; if you ever post using the terms “cart hoarding”, “cart jacked” or “another failed lotto”, you should probably quit now and save yourself some mental strain
     
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  21. Roger

    Roger Vintage

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Came across this video and was reminded of the discussion in this thread.

     
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  22. IronPaw

    IronPaw Side Dealer

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Awesome thread, funny it was resurrected when I took a break from everything and was having the same feelings.

    I’ve collected whatever I found interesting over the years but vinyl/sofubi has been the largest amount of anything when comparing.
    But in recent years, nothing has made me happier than being able to travel, toys a somewhat close second. When my health issues get even worse I will definitely end up selling most of my collection to make it to those final areas I’ve always wanted to see. Hell with the way the environment is going, reaching those places might have to be sooner than later.
     
  23. Anti Social Andy

    Anti Social Andy Die-Cast

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    Great video . . . I think I may have hit that point! :shock:
     
  24. xSuicide Squadx

    xSuicide Squadx Super Deformed

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    I think I've hit Collection 3.0. Highly focused and intentional, really don't pick anything up that doesn't resonate or hit hard with my collecting tastes. Still in process of cleaning out some old pieces, though I'm gettin' close. Even with narrowing down how many different artists I collect to just a solid handful, I still have quite a bit! :lol:
     
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  25. eckotyper

    eckotyper Post Pimp

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    ever consider quitting collecting?
    its the hardest thing to get to this stage. it's even harder when you do like things you see, but are trying to stay on the path. I stay heavy with 3 artists, and every now and again a piece will speak to me enough to be a part of my overflow shelves. I think the goal is to not buy anything unless you honestly don't see yourself selling it. that helps a whole lot. now things might come up still where you do in fact sell something, but going into a purchase with that mindset helps a ton. There is items where im like damn thats cool, but would I keep it? and you just have to brutally honest with yourself when answering that question.
     
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