Does Anyone Still Just Collect Cards?

[homerunhitter]

Wouldn’t it be cool to just pull out an old cigar box with a stack of vintage topps cards rubber banded together and just hold them and smell that old card smell?

If you said yes, you’re a true collector. If you said no then you’re an investor! Am I right?

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

Wouldn’t it be cool to just pull out an old cigar box with a stack of vintage topps cards rubber banded together and just hold them and smell that old card smell?

If you said yes, you’re a true collector. If you said no then you’re an investor! Am I right?

Well, I guess a few of us could just be "mold spore enthusiasts", too.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

Wouldn’t it be cool to just pull out an old cigar box with a stack of vintage topps cards rubber banded together and just hold them and smell that old card smell?



If you said yes, you’re a true collector. If you said no then you’re an investor! Am I right?

I suspect that 90% of us are collectors that are happy our card values are going up, so that we can tell our wives we are investors.

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[BRoberts]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

Wouldn’t it be cool to just pull out an old cigar box with a stack of vintage topps cards rubber banded together and just hold them and smell that old card smell?

If you said yes, you’re a true collector. If you said no then you’re an investor! Am I right?

You couldn't be more wrong. You, me, James Ingram or anyone else doesn't get to define what a "true collector" is. And though James seems to get joy from putting himself on a pedestal because he fits the definition of "collector" that he himself created, it's a hollow victory.

Actually, if elevating himself because he doesn't like graded cards and supposedly doesn't care about the value of his collection gives him joy -- and it clearly does because he posts about his perceived superiority quite often -- then good for him. He's enjoying the hobby in his own way: self-congratulation.

It is, however, a slap in the face to the countless number of collectors -- yes, collectors -- who don't fit his narrow definition.

[Luke]

I don't really get the point of trying to define what a collector is or should be. We all have different life circumstances and budgets so the things we accumulate are going to be different. If you always dreamed of owning a '52 Mantle, and now you can afford it and justify it, you have to consider the value and leave it in a graded holder.

I'm not going to make this argument because I don't think any of us are more true collectors than anyone else, but the argument could be made that the guy who owns a bunch of high value slabbed cards is "more of a collector" than the guy who has a shoebox full of $5 cards. You could argue the guy with all the big time cards actually loves cards more because he's willing to take the risk involved with spending a larger % of his money than the shoebox guy on cards because he loves them that much.

Now, I think what I just wrote is asinine, but so is inferring that the shoebox guy is more of a collector than the slabbed guy. It would be great to focus on what unites us rather than our differences.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Luke

I don't really get the point of trying to define what a collector is or should be. We all have different life circumstances and budgets so the things we accumulate are going to be different. If you always dreamed of owning a '52 Mantle, and now you can afford it and justify it, you have to consider the value and leave it in a graded holder.



I'm not going to make this argument because I don't think any of us are more true collectors than anyone else, but the argument could be made that the guy who owns a bunch of high value slabbed cards is "more of a collector" than the guy who has a shoebox full of $5 cards. You could argue the guy with all the big time cards actually loves cards more because he's willing to take the risk involved with spending a larger % of his money than the shoebox guy on cards because he loves them that much.



Now, I think what I just wrote is asinine, but so is inferring that the shoebox guy is more of a collector than the slabbed guy. It would be great to focus on what unites us rather than our differences.

Luke, I agree with everything you said.

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[homerunhitter]

Originally Posted by Luke

I don't really get the point of trying to define what a collector is or should be. We all have different life circumstances and budgets so the things we accumulate are going to be different. If you always dreamed of owning a '52 Mantle, and now you can afford it and justify it, you have to consider the value and leave it in a graded holder.

I'm not going to make this argument because I don't think any of us are more true collectors than anyone else, but the argument could be made that the guy who owns a bunch of high value slabbed cards is "more of a collector" than the guy who has a shoebox full of $5 cards. You could argue the guy with all the big time cards actually loves cards more because he's willing to take the risk involved with spending a larger % of his money than the shoebox guy on cards because he loves them that much.

Now, I think what I just wrote is asinine, but so is inferring that the shoebox guy is more of a collector than the slabbed guy. It would be great to focus on what unites us rather than our differences.

very, very excellent and eye opening points. After reading your posts a couple times over and over. I agree with you 110% my friend. Very Well said! Thank you!