Sad but true - collecting addiction

[brianp-beme]

You know you are in too deep when it gets to this level of bottom of the barrel collecting. I might just have to start moonlighting as a federal investigator.

Brian

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

You know you are in too deep when it gets to this level of bottom of the barrel collecting. I might just have to start moonlighting as a federal investigator.

Brian

I'm there, and happy to be!

[edhans]

The story may have had a happier ending if he was buying pre war material. But I suspect it was modern crap.

[Seven]

I find many people have addictive personalities. I think we all have our fair share of vices. I enjoy the occasional Cigar and Scotch, A nice glass of Red, and occasionally dabble with the horses. I think the key is knowing your limits.

I had noticed that around the holidays, I was partaking in the occasional scotch, much more frequently, as a result I stopped drinking all together in the New Year. I'm reserving it for special occasions. I do have to say, on that end, I feel notably better.

Concerning cardboard, I will admit, I enjoy the chase just as much as I enjoy getting the card in hand. I love what this hobby has to offer, the people that I met through it have definitely left an impression. That being said, I'm not driving myself into debt, trying to get the next card.

Moderation, is key, with everything in life. This person, clearly has a problem, and it's unfortunate that it spiraled out of control.

[Yoda]

Yes, he was wrong and he is paying the price, but the rabid collector, still raging inside me, can understand the logic: A few gallons of gov't gas and I can get that PSA9 Greg Maddox RC that I simply cannot live without. It's a bad place to be.

[byrone]

The sports collecting hobby, or any hobby really, can be an attraction to people with tendencies towards addiction.

I know many sports collectors who are alcoholics in recovery.

It seems the thrills of the hobby can be somewhat of a replacement or placeholder for the addiction stimulation

Sorry Baseball Cards is like Alcohol " One is not enough, but One is to many"

[Eric72]

I realize there would be no way to accurately calculate this.

There are a certainly a nonzero number of people within our hobby for whom sports cards have become an addiction. I wonder what percentage of these people are primarily addicted to the random chance element of breaking open wax. Whether one does this personally or uses a "breaker" to open the wrappers, the end result is the same.

Pay X dollars, get Y random cards. In this respect, breaking is really no different than gambling.

[G1911]

I mean, I’d rather my tax dollars pay for this dudes gas at his side hustle than most things they spend my tax dollars on. Federal felonies and termination of his constitutional liberties seems awfully harsh.

He should have not done the Uber and just emptied his 401K and taken some loans to afford more cards.