Do you ever feel ashamed of your hobby?

JacktheRipper said:
If you don't mind me asking: why is it only when you lose out on something big?
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Because when it's something big it hits you hard. I REALLY do enjoy this hobby and I want to have the best Mike Green collection out there more than anything... but when someone like canadiancapsfan comes in and outsnipes me on a couple 1/1's and a couple low numbered cards I thought you could easily win.. the first thought that came to my mind was "this guys never going to give them up, what's the point of continuing?".
 
Mike52Green said:
Because when it's something big it hits you hard. I REALLY do enjoy this hobby and I want to have the best Mike Green collection out there more than anything... but when someone like canadiancapsfan comes in and outsnipes me on a couple 1/1's and a couple low numbered cards I thought you could easily win.. the first thought that came to my mind was "this guys never going to give them up, what's the point of continuing?".
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Ah, the plight of the completionist. Yeah, I had that for awhile, too, but I learned that it's virtually impossible to own everything so I just try to pick up what I can and enjoy it. Next to Sarkis, I think I have one of the better JMFJ collections going and that makes me proud enough. Nabbing rare cards is an added perk (side note: 4th 1/1 inbound! :dance:)
 
Ashamed? No, as far as I am concerned if someone wanted to look down or try to belittle me over a hobby then they can kiss my (_1_)

You shouldn't let people get to you over something YOU enjoy, at least you will have something to show for the money you spend... I would like to see where those same people are later in life if they don't have a honest hobby or something they enjoy
 
bmoy88 said:
Card-collecting geek is what I am and I'm darn proud of it! No need to be ashamed or have to explain it to others!
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Seconded. All of my friends know about my hobby/obsession (it is on my facebook page :rolleyes:), they don't get it; but most of them think that the patches are awesome, or the 1/1 auto is sweet. I haven't been able to coax any of them in. . . yet.
 
Why would someone be a geek because they collect sports cards? All my friends who collect are athletes and very popular people, they certainly are not geeks. I collect comics as well and when you go to comic stores you can understand why a lot of comic collectors are called geeks, card collectors are nowhere near the same. As I mentioned earlier most of the card collectors I know are very out going and popular people who are just big hockey fans. All of the young kids that I know who buy cards are all minor hockey players and also very popular. I don't think the label of geek fits in with sports card collectors.
 
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newfiecomicguy1 said:
Why would someone be a geek because they collect sports cards? All my friends who collect are athletes and very popular people, they certainly are not geeks. I collect comics as well and when you go to comic stores you can understand why a lot of comic collectors are called geeks, card collectors are nowhere near the same. As I mentioned earlier most of the card collectors I know are very out going and popular people who are just big hockey fans. All of the young kids that I know who buy cards are all minor hockey players and also very popular. I don't think the label of geek fits in with sports card collectors.
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I meant to say that most people who don't know collectors, have an image of Steve Carell in "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" when they hear the term. I've been to plenty of card shows and the majority of the buyers are men over the age of 30 - maybe with a bit of worn-out notches on their belts, a little bit less hair on the top - although not geeky, definitely not your average high school/university athlete, maybe at one time but those are days gone by.

I'm just generalizinghere, but I'm sure most of the members here spend a bit more time in front of their computers on HI, SCF or Ebay than they'd care to admit to. Nothing wrong with that! I do! But if that doesn't define a geek, then I apologize if feelings were hurt.

I play hockey twice a week, think I'm a pretty funny guy, have quite a few friends, but still consider myself pretty geeky!

Yours truly,
McLovin88
 
I find its something I don't really share with anybody. The people that are close to me know I do it, but because I don't flaunt it, they don't see it and have no idea what I have.

It seems to be something that I keep private, unintentionally. I enjoy it. And that's all that matters. I guess I just don't want to talk about it becuase it becomes all about how much you spend on these things. Ah well, it could be crack.
 
My wife told me last night that card collecting is just as geeky as collecting comics:(

We were watching "The Big Bang Theory" on TV and part of the show was about comics and a comic shop. Anyhow we got into a conversation about it and somehow card collecting was also dragged into it. I was shocked when she told me that they both are equally geeky. I knew that comics had a sterotype attached to it but I never realized that cards did. Maybe I knew but I was in denial haha.
 
I'm 22 so yeah.. I can't/choose not to share my collecting with many in real life :(
LOL for a few years ago I hid all traces of my collecting once I took new friends or a girl to my place but I've come to a point I can tell I collect cards.. even if that's not the first thing that pops up in a conversation, if you know what I mean :rolleyes:
 
hi there

for me i have had ppl tell me i am wasting my time "why collect cardboard" but i like it & it is fun but they seem to think other wise when i tell them how much a peace of cardboard is worth lol.

thanks johnnaseri
 
jibron86 said:
hi there

for me i have had ppl tell me i am wasting my time "why collect cardboard" but i like it & it is fun but they seem to think other wise when i tell them how much a peace of cardboard is worth lol.

thanks johnnaseri
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Don't do that!! Otherwise, you'll never hear the end of it! :crazy:

Best to keep it under the radar!! ;)
 
i have got one buddy into collecting ... my younger bro would be in if he could afford it too ... my parents think its dumb ... and my gf just dropped a huge bomb last night when she said she would love to buy me a nice card for an occaision (my bday is this week) but she wouldnt know how to go about buying it online .... i jumped up and said I CAN SHOW YOU ... hahaha
 
No not really...

I don't make it a point of discussion either when I'm around others all the time but guests who come to my house notice my interest for card collecting. If they inquire I tell them why I collect cards simply for two reasons.

1) I enjoy it
2) It brings back good memories from when I watched hockey back before the lockout.

Yeah some bash it but most people don't really care that much. I don't really feel ashamed of this hobby but sometimes I do if I spend too much time and money on it. I think everyone has at least one guilty pleasure. A bunch of my friends love to ride horses and its their passion, I think its completely nerdy and of course I bash them about it. I mean come on we all have legs so why not use them?

Plus its nice to have a network of traders on the internet like I have here. When I'm having a down day or need to get away from my life, I come here and enjoy relaxing browzing the boards and trading and what not.
 
I am not ashamed at all and my whole room is covered in hockey memorasbelia from pucks autographed, mini pictures autographed, auto jerseys, big framed pictures of hockey stars and hockey figurines all the way to cards. Therer is tons of embarassing stuff in my room but i am lucky enough to have a girlfriend that likes that i have a hobby and great friends that enjoy looking at my cards even though they have no idea what they are all about. To answer your question...no i'm not ashamed at all and very proud of myself for buying and selling these little peices of cardboard, they are a great conversation topic with my friends and even a few or them have began to buy some low end packs just for the hell of bustin a little wax. My gf wants to buy me cards for my birthday and is supporting my collecting habits. I also don't tell everyone at school about it so the people that would normally make fun of me for it can't because it is kinda a secret of mine and people close to me, if it ever got out im sure i would get teased but who freakin cares, honestly if iu enjoy it then im gonna do it no matter who makes fun of me or what they say.
I love my hobby and that will not change.
thanks for the great topic
 
It would be interesting to compare the ages of those who answered yes and those who said no. I wonder if age is a determining factor, it probably is.
 
i have been in the hobby since the late 80's, most people dont know i collect until i tell them about a great steal on ebay or a sweet trade i just pulled off. someitmes i get the "u are wasting your money" and them that same person will go for a smoke or plan to party the night away inthe bar or some other thing, makes me laugh a bit. needless to say the hobby is not geeky, most of the guys i know that collect play the sports they are into, and enjoy the hobby as a bit of an extension of that sport. my wife thinks its a bit dumb and i waste money on it but i am working on her, she does like tim thomas and CUJO so maybe i can get her into it a bit.
never get ashamed or embarrassed about something you like, its not fair to yourself. everyone has likes/dislikes and everyone is different. thats my philosophy.
 
I'm 38, for the record.

I think everyone who knows me knows I collect cards and other sports memorabilia, and I have absolutely no shame about it whatsoever. Do I think it is as "cool" as rock climbing or something? Well, no. But I can think of a million dumber ways to spend your time and money on things that people would consider "cool".

People who know me know I have an unusual obsession with the game of hockey, and understand that my collecting is just a natural extension of that.

Plus, I am around Grade 5 kids all day (I teach), so having a hobby that is considered a "kid's" hobby makes sense to people, I suppose.

I'm like newfiecomicguy...I don't do drugs, smoke or drink (much). This is my only really expensive passtime. My wife thinks my hobby is great, my kids think it is great, and even my dad, who thinks everything is a waste of money unless you can eat it or heat your house with it thinks it is a good escape for me. Teaching can be very stressful, as people know...and having something that brings me nothing but joy is important.

That is what it is all about...joy. It can't be about "the investment". One thing I have learned, if you love collecting, you are not likely making money in this hobby. Do I care? Not even a little bit. And I am not ashamed of it at all.
 

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