Sad but true - collecting addiction

[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.

[rjackson44]

Never buy anything with money you dont have,always with money you have ,,my dad

[raulus]

Originally Posted by rjackson44

Never buy anything with money you dont have,always with money you have ,,my dad

SNL to the rescue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ZJKN_5M44

[sreader3]

I would like to know more about the facts.

If the alleged “crime” is limited to an Uber driver’s use of a federally funded vehicle then this prosecution seems like a gross misallocation of federal resources i.e. waste of taxpayer money compared to the violence and theft that is excused these days. At least this guy was providing a service.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by sreader3

I would like to know more about the facts.

If the alleged “crime” is limited to an Uber driver’s use of a federally funded vehicle then this prosecution seems like a gross misallocation of federal resources i.e. waste of taxpayer money compared to the violence and theft that is excused these days. At least this guy was providing a service.

If any of the lawyers know how to look up a case, there is some detail here that identifies the case number:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/f...d-theft-agency

I'm guessing there must be a list of allegations identifying a lot more detail about his misdeeds.

[sreader3]

Originally Posted by raulus

If any of the lawyers know how to look up a case, there is some detail here that identifies the case number:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/f...d-theft-agency

I'm guessing there must be a list of allegations identifying a lot more detail about his misdeeds.

Yeah, I read it. He worked a side gig for Amazon, Uber and Lyft with his government car. Certainly not admirable but a minor offense compared to what is not prosecuted these days in major cities. At least he was providing a service. Not a typical hobby fraudster.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by sreader3

Yeah, I read it. He worked a side gig for Amazon, Uber and Lyft with his government car. Certainly not admirable but a minor offense compared to what is not prosecuted these days in major cities. At least he was providing a service. Not a typical hobby fraudster.

As someone who served our country he gets slack from me.

Can we go after the unproductive, under qualified, redundant, government employees that hide in their cubicles and collect a paycheck with full retirement instead?

Or let's look at Congressional shysters from both sides of the aisle that get rich on insider legislation information in the stock market. Can we toss a few of those in jail?

Don't get me started...

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by sreader3

I would like to know more about the facts.

If the alleged “crime” is limited to an Uber driver’s use of a federally funded vehicle then this prosecution seems like a gross misallocation of federal resources i.e. waste of taxpayer money compared to the violence and theft that is excused these days. At least this guy was providing a service.

According to the link, the guy was doing his side-gigs on the government clock. That's about as obvious a no-no as it gets. Not really moonlighting as suggested in the OP--at least as I understand the term. Doesn't help that he was supposed to be working a job protecting our homeland security--not a good optic.

Between November 2019 and October 2021, Nelson, then a Special Agent with HSI, worked without permission or authorization for several private companies while on duty for HSI, and used his government owned vehicle (GOV) for such unauthorized outside work. Nelson drove the GOV, that he agreed to use only for HSI duty purposes, while working for Amazon, Uber, and Lyft during time periods he was supposed to be working for HSI. Nelson’s actions in working for these companies while on duty for HSI resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses to the government.

Seems almost certain he was caught up in the modern card frenzy and pack/box busting. Just buying specific cards shouldn't be the financial end of you, as I assume you could sell off when you need money and at least recoup the bulk of your purchase, unless you're a horrible speculator who always grossly overpays. More likely he bought his "spots" for those Brady, Luca and other rookie shiny 1 of 1s or whatever passes for scarce gotta haves these days, and always came up empty. Or he bought pallets of unopened material in search for these same chase cards and ended up with tens of thousands of worthless cards akin to the 1988 Donruss junk wax.

[SyrNy1960]

I had no issues with getting out of control with collecting until the start of the insert era. I remember as they started making and inserting different versions of cards (gold, silver, bronze), then serial numbered cards, then autographed cards, and then those shiny refractor cards, etc., I found myself wanting to get each of everything. Before that, cards were basic and cheaper. It was easy to get caught up into it, as the products were getting so much nicer and rarer. The worst thing I did was to start using my credit card more than I should have. It never got way out of control, but I realized it was just too much. At that point, I stopped collecting cards and moved to game used memorabilia. It really isn't that difficult to get sucked in (I was 33 at the time). Not everyone has the right mindset and control to recognize when to say enough is enough. I'm just glad I did.