Do you ever feel ashamed of your hobby?

JohnnyDrama

JohnnyDrama

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I know we have all battled the "why do I collect?" question before, but it's usually a matter of it making us happy or not.

Certain people I know don't think very highly of my collecting and pretty much blast me about it whenever they get a chance. Sometimes, its a bit much.

So what ran across my mind last night is this: do you ever get embarassed/ashamed because someone looks down on or belittles your hobby?

Interested in hearing what some of you guys (and gals) have to say.
 
I'm not embarrassed by the hobby, but I have a lot of trouble explaining what the hobby is about... especially as it relates to "modern" cards. However, people always seem to understand and appreciate when I explain my (true) "vintage" card collection. That's actual, old vintage cards... not modern cards of vintage players.
 
Yeah people heckal alot about the hobby but when it comes down to it. It is what I enjoy doing not only the collecting but most of the people in the hobbie. It is more than just collecting cards. I guess you just have to get into it before you understand what it is all about.
 
My close buddies don't get it; "What a waste blah, blah, blah" but I find as long as I don't bring it up...neither do they. So I rely on the show and tell forum and my girlfriend (who tries to pretend and care) to talk about my pick ups. As for feeling ashamed? When coworkers ask what I did on the weekend, normally I don't mention that I went to a card show. I don't think I'm ashamed but I just know people don't get it and need the head aches of explaing to them why I spend money on shiny cardboard.
 
It's not really something I ever bring up. It has come to talk with friends that do find it silly and childish. Considering most of them did collect back around the boom in the mid 90's but grew out of it. But when I tell 'em how much money I've actually made over the years buying and selling cards, that tends to shut 'em up. :rolleyes:

I'm somewhat on the same board as Jason. My love for the European oldies is something else from the modern days (even If I collect all Kharlamov cards, even the modern ones) since i'm hoarding up for the future.

I don't give a damn actually. I enjoy it and that's that.
 
I suspect for most of us a don't ask, don't tell policy is just easiest. I know it is for me. People outside the hobby don't get it, for the most part in my experience.
 
bidds55 said:
I suspect for most of us a don't ask, don't tell policy is just easiest. I know it is for me. People outside the hobby don't get it, for the most part in my experience.
Click to expand...

Well put. The Don't Ask Don't Tell policy...never thought I'd say that I used it.
 
I pretty much take that approach, but it's when people like the girlfriend give me crap about it even though it makes me happy. You would think that's all that would matter to her..
 
Never had anyone bother me about it (other than my wife). I'm sure everyone has their own interests that don't mean much to others.
 
I don't have any problem telling people that I collect cards. I don't smoke, do drugs or drink (much:) ) My wife supports my love for it and now my son also collects which makes it even better. Our house in obsessed with hockey, most people who know me is not surprised that I collect. I don't care what other people think so NO I don't ever feel ashamed of doing something I love.

Try collecting comics if you want a hobby that people don't understand. Most adults think that comics are kids books and think its crazy for a grown man to spend hundreds of dollars on them.
 
I don't get ashamed or embarrassed easily, so that answers the question...I like what I do and I love what I collect. Some people don't get it, but the truth is that I don't always get what other people dig either.

If someone asks, I tell. I rarely ever bring it up, but not out of shame. More like there are many other things to talk about than "my swatch has six colours!". Unless you have a like interest, the conversation will get boring and quick.
 
No, I'm not ashamed at all of the stuff I collect (Action figures, sports figures, hockey cards and comics). Deep down most people will find it neat, but perhaps just excessive. But I always say there are a lot of things worse than I could be doing with my spending money and spare time.

However, I haven't found a good card community who help each other out with their collections. I find that I'm not one of those high end collectors looking for limited #, multi colored, jersey GU, autograph cards. So sometimes I find myself on the outside looking in. I just like to complete sets that I've started, get some autograph cards of players I like, and pick up anything I find interesting. Because of that, I don't have any ultra rare or super desired cards.

I do buy most of my stuff on ebay, but it'd be nice to have an online community that helps all kinds of collectors.
 
tiger tiger said:
No, I'm not ashamed at all of the stuff I collect (Action figures, sports figures, hockey cards and comics). Deep down most people will find it neat, but perhaps just excessive. But I always say there are a lot of things worse than I could be doing with my spending money and spare time.

However, I haven't found a good card community who help each other out with their collections. I find that I'm not one of those high end collectors looking for limited #, multi colored, jersey GU, autograph cards. So sometimes I find myself on the outside looking in. I just like to complete sets that I've started, get some autograph cards of players I like, and pick up anything I find interesting. Because of that, I don't have any ultra rare or super desired cards.

I do buy most of my stuff on ebay, but it'd be nice to have an online community that helps all kinds of collectors.
Click to expand...


You have definitely come to the right place.
 
As a 50 year-old collecting cards, I've taken my fair share of ribbing for it! Most notably from my 2 university-aged and 1 CEGEP-aged children. But it's mostly for fun (they're also the ones who enjoy helping me break what few boxes/packs I do buy!). I don't mind - I have the disposable income to support my hobby so it's not like I'm taking food off the table and like a lot of others here, I don't drink or smoke.

I also buy a lot of cards for 3 of my nephews (my son has no interest in the hobby). Can't beat the expressions on their faces when I give them a blaster box or some inexpensive autos/GU picked up on HI or Ebay.

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!
 
I am a 38 year old underground copper miner, i run a 150 manual drill for a living and most of the guys i work with consider themselves very tough, macho guys so when they find out i collect hockey cards as a hobby, trust me i take my share of ribbing. Most of my closest friends know i'm a huge hockey fan and that my collecting is just an extension of that, if they don't understand then we don't ever talk about it. as for feeling ashamed, i have collected cards since i was 8, i have some very nice cards in my collection, i am proud of the collection that i have been able to put together.

ps. my wife hates it. lol
 
Never really felt "ashamed" but when I lose out on something big, it makes me think twice about why I do this and what the point of it is.
 
I'm not ashamed, I take a lot of flak when people find out what I have spent on card board. Especially since i just bought a bunch of boxes (break post coming soon!). When i got into the hobby my best friend's exact words were "What are you? A 12 year old boy!?"
My mom doesn't really get it either and when I try to show off my cards most people are like "...ok?" so i rely on the forums and show and tell posts to get me by. But I enjoy it and well I've simply become addicted and now that I have some extra cash flow from my second job, I can afford it a bit more. But hey, you know your addicted when you've spent an hour waiting at the window to see the mail man coming lol


Sarah
 
I'm not ashamed in the least .. I collect hockey cards Spawn figs and Hockey figs. My Girlfriend just rolls her eyes cause she knows i enjoy it and that I'm not taking away from our bills or my savings to buy the stuff i get.
 

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