When others find out about your obsession

[mouschi]

I like to think that on the outside, I present myself as a normal(ish) type of person. People who know me, know I love baseball, baseball cards and collecting. I like to think that there is a bit of ... "charm" for lack of better words, associated with being an adult who enjoys baseball & baseball cards.

The very fact that we are here in our free time on the forums discussing the sport/hobby we love so much shows that we are a bit over the top...fanatics if you will. When this comes out, "outsiders" may tend to ridicule us.

I remember when the switch was flipped for me from collecting cards to focusing exclusively on Canseco cards / memorabilia. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I set out to not be one of those guys who had posters plastered all over his walls. No disrespect at all to you folks who do it like this guy:

National Geographic Hardcore Hobbies : Andy Van Slyke
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/videos/baseball-cards-galore/

(Speaking of which ... check out one of his you tube videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8LdkV5Rpw8 - he's a riot! Love it.)

Anyway, slowly but surely, as I began to get more and more cool things, I just had to display them. I'm not to the point yet where it looks like I need to light candles for a shrine or anything, but I have had a few people up in my office, and the looks on their faces showed that they were in total awe and amazement. (More accurately read: They looked horrified.)

As I am slowly but surely able to adapt and better hide the crazy, (why do you have his game used socks draped on your hutch, Mouschi?) I thought it would be fun to hear what off the wall feedback everyone else had for their obsession.

If you are uncertain at being able to read the body language / faces of those whom you have blessed with the knowledge of your obsession, I've put together a chart, expressed in emojis:

I love baseball! :)
I collect baseball cards :p
I enjoy going online to read about other collections :rolleyes:
I enjoy "showing off" my collection to others by taking pictures and putting them online, eagerly awaiting feedback from others :confused:
I ONLY collect a certain team/player, as shown by my tattoos and/or throw rug :eek:

So, what have others told you when they found out about your obsession?

[th38larg]

If somebody at works asks me what I'm doing over the weekend and I tell them I am going to a card show they inevitably say something like this:

"A car show? I didn't know you were into cars. You don't even drive to work."

After which I say "No, no I'm going to a card show...c-a-r-d."

Then, in a tone that implies they really don't understand or want to understand what I mean, they usually say "Oh, okay. Well have fun"

[Leon]

Most of my friends just look a little surprised or befuddled. They don't really know what to think and usually wait for me to expand a little bit. In general most think it's ok, I guess. :) (most of my friends nowadays are hobby friends anyway)

[bn2cardz]

If somebody at works asks me what I'm doing over the weekend and I tell them I am going to a card show they inevitably say something like this:

"A car show? I didn't know you were into cars. You don't even drive to work."

After which I say "No, no I'm going to a card show...c-a-r-d."

Then, in a tone that implies they really don't understand or want to understand what I mean, they usually say "Oh, okay. Well have fun"

That is why I say "sports memorabilia" show.

I am actually secretive about it. Not that I am ashamed, I just don't go out of my way to bring it up. The only person I ever talk to about my collection is family, here, or one friend who is also the curator of the STL Cardinals Museum.

[brian1961]

MOUSCHI---

"So, what have others told you when they found out about your obsession?"

A family friend for over half a generation told me I was very interesting when describing the book I was writing on postwar regional / food issues. As I tell people in a nutshell what my book is about, they seem genuinely intrigued. Not that I will hit them up to buy it; never, they're not card collectors. Just yesterday, however, a non-collecting colleague at work who's a rabid Notre Dame and Chicago Bears FB and Cubs BB fan, told me he wants to buy a copy. I was honored.

Then again, for many years I've been a speaker off and on, and know how to tell a good sea story.

You have to be wise in picking your opportunities to convey to someone about your passion, and guard against boring them.

I will always remember my favorite incident in the Jerry Lewis classic, THE BELLBOY. In the scene, there's a cameo appearance by Milton Berle. He's signing autographs. A most anxious father inquires advice of Mr. Berle. I quote the dad from memory, of course.

"Oh Mr. Berle. I have a daughter. She loves to sing. She sings like a boid. Every time the neighbors come over, she sings for them. She sings all the time. Oh Mr. Berle. What should we do?"

Berle answers the father with one word, "MOVE".

I don't want to be the anxious, doting dope of a dad from THE BELLBOY.:D

Fail to see the correlation? A self-absorbed parent can go on and on, nauseating everyone about their child.

A collector can go on and on about their obsession, eventually nauseating all, 'cept themselves.

Moral: Become the very best tour guide you can possibly be of your own collection. Just keep an ear open to a whisper inside you warning you're being set up, and your collection scoped out.

---Brian Powell

[pokerplyr80]

That is why I say "sports memorabilia" show.

I am actually secretive about it. Not that I am ashamed, I just don't go out of my way to bring it up. The only person I ever talk to about my collection is family, here, or one friend who is also the curator of the STL Cardinals Museum.

I agree mostly with this. I love collecting cards and talking about it but rarely bring it up with non hobby friends or in casual conversations with people i meet. That's why I enjoy this site. So many others as "strange" as myself to share my obsession with.

[egri]

I couch it a bit in the historical side of collecting. My non-collecting friends are more understanding when I explain to them that most of the guys in my set were World War II/Korean War veterans, and many of them saw combat.

[Tripredacus]

People seem to realise the inherent value to things people collect, thanks to news stories, click-bait stories (you'll never guess how much this thing from your childhood sold for) and reality TV shows. So when people learn that I collect or do x thing, it is not at all surprising.

Probably the only group I can think of is "opposite" collectors. Even in sports cards this division exists, the type that does something different in your hobby than you. Think graded vs pages collectors. Or in cards in general, the sports vs game card collectors. I've met some people who are huge into Magic cards that have expressed literal difficulty in trying to figure out sports card collectors. Its a weird thing.

[gopherfan]

I no longer tell the ladies for sure. They can hardly control themselves when they find out how many refractors I have. It boggles the mind.

[the 'stache]

I no longer tell the ladies for sure. They can hardly control themselves when they find out how many refractors I have. It boggles the mind.

Chicks dig the colored refractors. With serial numbers. :p Nothing gets a woman hotter than a super refractor 1/1! :p



As for me, there will be no hiding the fact that I'm a collector the next time I get back to dating. If the cards out on my desk, or the myriad of books I have out on the coffee table don't give it away, the McFarlane figures in my bedroom will.

[Rookiemonster]

Wedgies lots and lots of wediges .

[Stampsfan]

Over the last 25-30 years (I'm 57), all of my good friends have learned that I collect sports items, and some comics. I talk about it like I talk about sports, the weather, my kids, politics, our golf games, a movie, and whatever else comes up. I neither brag about it nor hide it. Privately, some guys will bring me things they have kept and ask me opinions, and of course value.

I've found in the last year when I talk about certain cards and how much they've gone up in value, non-collectors eyes glaze over mentioning an 8/10 grade now sell for over half a million dollars (1 guess what card I'm referencing) and what it cost in 2012, 2019, 2007. Suddenly they are more interested in understanding.

As for dating, when I was into that game, my line was "I like sports. I collect things. Hopefully you like something too." I've found that there are not many women who are passionate about anything inanimate like men are about sports, or collecting.

[midmo]

I am actually secretive about it. Not that I am ashamed, I just don't go out of my way to bring it up.

Same here. I have very few friends that know I collect. The last time I remember showing stuff to a friend was one that mentioned he owned a couple card shops in the 90's (before I knew him). Hell, I lived with my last girlfriend for 6 years and I don't think she knew. Not that she would of cared, she just had no interest in sports so I don't think I ever brought it up...

My one exception is an old guy at work that is a sports freak (but not a collector) and loves talking about the old days. I try to bring in one "card of the week" to show him.