WHY do we collect?

[MasonBogosianColl]

I only collect for 2 reasons Busting Boxes and the thrill of it and the main reason the people in this hobby.

[notoriousrob101]

Good thread and comments. It can be an addiction which I share with a lot of people here! Plus it's fun. I have a hard time selling/trading because I like to keep them. Although as mentioned before if I had to sell my collection due to an emergency, I would.

[Sportfreund]

I do it because I'm a hockey fan and I wanna be able to look back on each season several years from now via review/preview magazines like the hockey news or the forecaster and of course cards that show stats on the back.

For me it's not as much about finding the rare card though it is cool, I don't personally own any rare ones...mostly just cheap base cards from sets but it's nice to have a collection of each season in a binder with the guys who retired that year at the back.

[sephiroth]

I do it because I'm a hockey fan and I wanna be able to look back on each season several years from now via review/preview magazines like the hockey news or the forecaster and of course cards that show stats on the back.

For me it's not as much about finding the rare card though it is cool, I don't personally own any rare ones...mostly just cheap base cards from sets but it's nice to have a collection of each season in a binder with the guys who retired that year at the back.

True, excellent reason. Trying to order the chaos? Keeping things in history perspective...

[Ray33]

I love collecting because its unbelievable to see what someone would pay for some of the cards for your collection and how a card can jump up so much in value suddenly. I remember I tried to collect some 05-06 the cup black 1/1s, and I obtained a Robbie Earl CUP Black 1/1. I think I traded a bunch of Canucks parallels and a game used card I think I paid less than like $3 bucks for. Then in return I sold the Earl I think for like $300 few years back. Then with that 300 few years back, I used that $300 and some other cards and obtained 3 Aaron Rodgers playoff contenders auto rcs because I thought he had the ability to become an elite qb, and in the market he was playing for. and now I think they sell for like 500-700 all day. Gotta love this hobby.

[sephiroth]

Another thing that I pinpointed in the analysis of the hobby is that a lot of persons here are generous and happy. That's quite the contrary of what I observe in my everyday job, where people are stressed, anxious, stupid, etc.

So maybe this hobby is a place where we try to be the contrary of the rest, to balance the rest of the life, like saying everything is stressed but not here?

[Wickabee]

Another thing that I pinpointed in the analysis of the hobby is that a lot of persons here are generous and happy. That's quite the contrary of what I observe in my everyday job, where people are stressed, anxious, stupid, etc.

So maybe this hobby is a place where we try to be the contrary of the rest, to balance the rest of the life, like saying everything is stressed but not here?

I think that's more a case of one "has" to be at work, whereas one would "want" to be here. This is our hobby, which exists to make us happy, much like someone who carves wood or takes photos.

To put it another way, I'll quote the father from Calvin & Hobbes:
"The trick to loving your job is to have a hobby you hate even more."

We like our hobby. Most of us would probably much rather spend our days collecting and trading instead of going to our respective jobs.

[lumm0x]

I have an addictive personality. If I didn't collect trading cards I would collect something. If I didn't collect I'd spend my money in an addictive way elsewhere. At least this is an outlet that matches my interests, has some residual value and doesn't hurt anyone.

[ColtsD21]

The thrill of gambling by busting a box. Most of the time u strike out, but when u pull something sick, it brings a nice rush. The thrill of chasing down a card, or picking up a bargin, and making a profit. I love sport, and this gets me closer to the game. Buying, opening, scanning, selling, posting, researching all keeps me busy when im board. Most of all it brings me back to my childhood, and ive meet great friends that share in the enjoyment of a sick pull!

[razzamaztaz]

First, how about we don't assume there's only men, as some seems to do ; ) I got no boyfriend to upset, but I agree with cardscards, I'm also incredibly addicted to busting wax. I've tried several times starting different sets and I either lose interest after awhile, or most of all realise it turns too expensive. I still got favorite players I prioritice, but my big thrill is really ripping boxes. Addiction probably got to do something with it, I wonder how many of us got gambling personalites too.

As for our partners, I always find it incredibly narrowminded if your wife, or husband, can't understand your collecting. If the wife goes and buys shoes or clothes or makeup, which is exactly the same squirrelminded collecting beahvior really, but complains about hockeycards (or stamps, or mugs or figs), she's not really a good broadminded person. Same goes for a husband who complains his wife spends money on clothes for instance, while he loves to buy magazines, car stuff or whatever. I guess the world consists of too many bad relationships with people who only can understand their own egominded world and not see beyond the nose. So boys and girls, perhaps better to stay single ; )

I love to see some here though who go with his wife to a cardshop and both are busting like crazy lol