Weird collecting proclivities

arkangel · 08-19-2014, 07:51 PM

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...

08-19-2014, 07:51 PM	#1
arkangel Hench Mutant Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 444	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...