Leaving hobby? Why?

[frikativ54]

Re: Leaving hobby? Why?

And art, awards and academic achievements aren't merely possessions? What's the point is getting all hung up about some old paint on a piece of paper? Why care about competing to get an award? Why strive for anything tangible? Sounds like a biased double standard to me.

You can go to the grave with various distinctions for things like art, activism, and academics. They are things you've done, and the titles don't vanish with death. However, owning other people's jerseys or bats, while they may provide pleasure, is not the same as going out and doing something yourself and being successful in your own life. It's living through others' achievements, and that is not always constructive.

Your argument is flawed in the sense that, at the end of the day, everything short of what you mentioned is merely "stuff". Who is to say where the line should be drawn and what should be included/excluded? To each his own and who cares what the other guy does as long as you are happy? Who cares if someone beats you out on a bat or a jersey? I have lost out on quite a few items during my collecting days and I don't pout about it for more than a day, if even that long. Life isn't fun if you spend your time dwelling about trivial things.

Just a thought, for what it's worth

I don't think I'm drawing a line in the sand with anything I've said. The question is why would I leave the hobby, and the answer would be that it's only worth so much to live my life vicariously through athletes. While I wouldn't deny that collecting is fun on a certain level, if I left, one of my reasons would be because of the competition between collectors and the general pettiness of fighting about which person won which bat.

[perlman9]

Re: Leaving hobby? Why?

I have thought about leaving the hobby several times, but then a piece pops up and I get right back in. As the movie line goes, "I thought I was out and they pulled me right back in."

And I agree with Mark Hayne, I love the chase and the excitement when I find a MSU alum jersey, especially when its not on ebay or another auction.

I probably have as much excitement finding a piece for me as I do another collector. When I run across something interesting, one of the first things I do is search the forum to see if there is a collector who would want it, and it is awesome when I see them post the find in the pick up section.

However, the over-saturation and high prices for common NFL jerseys is becoming frustrating. Since I collect former MSU Spartans, there are not too many super stars, but seems the price of their jerseys is as high especially when the seller knows what I collect. But other than that, I think I will be a life-long collector just may wane a bit from how deeply involved I get.

But people like Mark, Preston, Buckeye, and others who helped me get my collection to where it is will always be appreciated, and more than make up for the negative experiences I have had.

[jonschuette]

Re: Leaving hobby? Why?

For the Biblically minded, this verse comes to mind:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

[otismalibu]

Re: Leaving hobby? Why?

For the Biblically minded...

[Dewey2007]

Re: Leaving hobby? Why?

+1

For it was I Moses who rescued the 76ers and promised my people, "Fo, Fo, Fo"

[jppopma]

Re: Leaving hobby? Why?

I think many people have covered the combinations of things that change for us all.

Life changes is likely one of the big pushes. Be it kids, marriage, or just the fact that everything else is so expensive now....many people just do not have the recreational cash to put into the hobby.

With all the push of people wanting jerseys to be photomatched, LOA'd, and packaged all fancy with every loose end tied up....I am surprised to hear all of the other old timers bring up that it takes away from the thrill. Maybe I take much of my collection for granted, but there is not the thrill of receiving a new jersey and looking over every inch of it for an hour just admiring it.

With prices dropping, I think alot of people are scared to lose the investment side of the hobby. While many of us collect for the fun of it, there is a great deal of pride in "getting a good deal", "the find", or knowing that we can liquidate some of the collection if we find ourselves in need. The mix of values dropping and many team prices skyrocketting, does not work well for the hobby.