Weird collecting proclivities
 

People collect almost anything that suits their fantasy, but there seems to be as many collecting mentalities as there are things to collect. I have friends that are completionists and those that focus on a very specific category of items from a favorite franchise.

When asked what kind of collector I am, I had to really think for a moment, before realizing a definite pattern. While I am very much a completionist with certain fandoms, it's usually very focused.

eg: I'm a huge Star Wars fan, but don't collect everything Star Wars. It's strictly movie prop replicas , mostly lightsabers and I have 12 of the 15 I intend to acquire among other very recognizable artifacts of the SW universe. I also have a sizable lego collection but it's specifically modulars, batman, and Tatooine only SW sets (no Endor or Hoth). For some reason I have a strange desire to collect specific themes and constantly refocus my areas of interest.

The biggest collecting habit I have is a preference to collect the history/evolution of a prop, such as purchasing multiple unlicensed prop replicas of the same prop from multiple individual artisans because they each have their creators own personal take on it. Having the perfect licensed version that has been digitally scanned from the real used prop isn't enough. I want to have the much less perfect ones so I have a visual representation of how the prop replica improved over time as new details came to light or as more real world parts were discovered. Eg: I have 4 original trilogy Obi-Wan sabers from individual non-licensed makers that give a great visual history of how the prop got to be more and more accurate, leading up to the licensed version that is correct in all it's measurements and details.

It's this "weirdness" that probably puts my collecting habits among a small niche minority of like minded collectors rather than some of the more mainstream collecting habits. I also have to give away or sell everything from a certain theme or a certain franchise when I'm no longer into it, as I can't be comfortable having a bit of everything.

Is this normal or psychiatrist couch material. Please share your weird collecting habits. I need to be sure I'm ok in the head... :lol:

For 3:75 inch Star Wars I get almost everything I can. Marvel Legends I get what comes out and I can find. Turtles is the same way. I don't collect anything besides Lego outside those things.

Over a hundred views and one reply. (thanks btw bud)
It's the word proclivities aint it? Was gonna go with habits, but noooo... had to use proclivities.. Oh, well. I'm growing this thread in spite of proclivities dammit. :x

Now where was I ? Oh ya..
A friend of mine, with even stranger collecting habits, was curious as to why I'm interested in getting the Playmates Mirage comic turtle figs when they come out when I already own the NECA versions, which look to be the superior of the two.
My response was the same. Even though the Playmates version lacks the visual appeal and articulation of the NECAs, they are still a different take on it... a different artistic interpretation of the same source material. To be able to compare the two is enough to warrant picking them up, imo.
I do the same with Lego (one of my other hobbys). For some of my favorite sets (the x-wing for example), I like having the older, more inferior sets to have a good visual display of how the set improved and evolved over time. By having 3 different x-wings over the course of 15 years, it's like having a visual history. My lego buddy, on the other hand, can't wait to sell off an older set when a new and improved one comes along. Different collecting mentalities.

I collect the lids to Pringles cans. Don't know why, but I just started saving them one day and before not too long I had quite a few. I finish a can of Pringles I chuck the lid into a plastic bag with all the others kept under the sink pf a half bath in the house.

It's the only really odd thing I collect/save. That weird enough for ya?

Oh, and I have a large collection of anime on DVD.

I don't know I collect weirdly? Or however you want it put. I did used to collect movie stubs. Back when I was 18 a bunch of us went to the movies EVER weekend. 15 deep at the most. For some reason, I kept them all in my wallet. Had about 150 before we all stopped going. Had a ton for The Bee Movie. Never knew you had to be 21 to buy R rated tickets for other people, so that's the one everybody bought, still haven't seen that movie to this day!:lol:

I collect Superman stuff. At one time it was any and everything. I'm actually only working on figures and comics now days.

Used to collect poke'mon cards. All ended up stolen. So last year I bought a Charizard, since he was my favorite. Then I discovered there was a bunch of types of his card, so I got a good bit and then stopped. I'm a Jordan head, so I've got a lot of those.

I've also narrowed my turtle collecting down to Raphael only.

I have a couple of unusual collections, aside from my action figures of course. I collect anything with The Question (well, Vic Sage, the original Question) on it. So far I have every figure made, every t-shirt & poster I've found and all but 2 of his comic appearances. I'm actually holding off on buying those as I don't really want to complete the collection just yet... I've been at it for almost 17 years and want to prolong the chase a little more.

My other non-toy collection is basketball jerseys. I've been collecting these for more than 20 years, and at one point had almost 200, although I'm down to around 40 now. I only collect pre-1990 jerseys, mostly authentic or game-issued, although I've had a fair few game-used (mostly no-name players) over the years. My current gems are either my '87 Dominique Wilkins road jersey (game issued) or my '93 Dell Curry road (game used).

I started collecting ticket stubs when I moved back to the US in 2008. I, usually, go every weekend and catch the morning showings because tickets are $7, a couple years back, it was $6.

As far as weird stuff, I don't have any that I consider weird. I do have the mentality of buying stuff up when it's a good deal and collect as much as I can. Like, when Amazon and other sites had Adidas Superstar shoes, my favorite shoes, for $25 a pair w/ coupon codes and free shipping, I bought like 20 pairs (over a month's time). Then, I vacuumed sealed them with desiccants, to maintain their bright/white color, and kept them in my closet. I still have about 18 pairs because I don't wear shoes much, anymore...I wear sandals because it's hot in Southern California, except for work.

One thing that I don't see many doing is that I go to an annual independent hip hop festival, Paid Dues, and go VIP. VIPs get an event backpack and I would go around and collect signatures from many of the artists at the event and have them sign my backpack.

Here are a couple of my backpacks that I collect /w the signatures that I've collected.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5551/...96d7ca65_z.jpg

I like this. I've been trying to get a Jordan Bulls road authentic for years!

I used to have an '88 road Jordan Sand-Knit authentic, but unfortunately it was one of the jerseys I sold to pay for university. I've been trying to get hold of another, but the prices are ridiculous - even the replicas are too expensive. And of course, there's so many fakes out there that can be hard to tell the real thing.

Yeah, tell me about it. I keep saying next time they put one up on NBA store, I'm going to get it. I always forget to check and when I do, I'm broke..haha.

And yeah. Waaaay to many fakes.