When others find out about your obsession

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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



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.