| Author |
 Replies: 40 / Views: 12,307 |
|
Previously Banned Member
107 Posts |
COIN COLLECTING: HOBBY OR ADDICTION? Can coin collecting become an addiction? We all hear about gamblers who become addicted to gambling while others gamble simply for its entertainment value. We know stories about hoarders who are seriously addicted (just watch reality tv). Now, to coin collectors who may be hoarders? ... addicts? What about coin collectors who spend much of their time and money at the "hobby"? What about the coin collector who spends more than 50% of his pension on coins every month. He is always looking for a bargain and keeps the bidding wars going on ebay. He does not use the Buy It Now option because the thrill is in bidding and winning (or losing). He loves to win even when he is paying much more than the coin is worth. Then he just hoards these coins in boxes. Sometimes he does not even open the packages. Is there any research or literature related to such an issue? Is it common? Edited by coinvet
01/30/2012 11:36 am
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
Here are some interesting links on it: http://rg.ancients.info/guide/compulsion.htmlhttp://www.virtualstampclub.com/marotta.htmlIt would be interesting to see a more serious story, like from a psychologist, but I don't think it is any different than what any other hoarder or addict would do though. Some people can really take it to a level where it gets out of control and that can happen to any type of hobby or activity. Like gambling. It is an addiction too and some people can get carried away with it and self destruct. It is interesting to see that there is an ad on this page that discusses drug or alcohol addiction. Coincidence? |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I suspect that coin collecting, although just a hobby, is somehow linked to people just wanting to have something to hold on to. Something, to them, valuable. Sort of a remant of that old security blanket. Note how kids continue to need a passifyer. How kids have to have their favorite blanket, shirt, etc. We all grow up having something real to hold on to for security. And for some reason shinny things end up at the top of the list. Even many animals like to hoard and again, shinny things are just one of them.
Ever notice how people just have to keep their cars shinny? A boat all nice and clean. Look how people start out not caring about what their cloths look like until one day they have to change cloths constantly. Why do Women need piles of shoes they seldom wear?
Although collecting almost anything is supposed to be a hobby, isn't a hobby something that is supposed to be just a passtime and for fun? Even notice how coin collectors want to improve their collections so all the coins are shinny?
Not sure why the shinny part of this idiocy is but the colleting thing, I really suspect, is a hold over from the sesurity blanket stage of our lives. Not an addition since so many just walk away from it but too, how many of those that come back makes one wonder about that too.
|
|
Previously Banned Member
 107 Posts |
Thank you for your comments. Could a case be made that for some bidding at online auction sites is a form of gambling when the thrill comes from winning the bid more so that what the bid buys?
|
|
Previously Banned Member
107 Posts |
Please keep discussing this issue because the problem is very real for some collectors.
Edited by coinvet
01/30/2012 2:02 pm
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
Anything can become an addiction, although a lot of people normally associate this term with things like smoking, drugs, etc. When the senses are fed to the point of satisfaction and beyond, it can become a perpetual state that the body craves. People can be addicted to running, bungee jumping, food, anything b/c of the thrill or mental/physical satisfaction/sensation they derive. ebay, or any other auction, technically is not gambling since when you lose an auction, you still have the money you started with instead of it going to the "house." But I think the "high" of suspense can be just as thrilling as if someone is gambling. Someone who can just walk away from something has either a very strong will or was never really addicted. It will depend on the individual and the circumstance. The human mind is a funny thing. BTW @ just carl, I make plenty of grammar and spelling errors myself, so please do not take this as anything personal at all. In fact you made an error that gave me a good natured laugh. Some paper money in the 19th century was labeled as "Shinplasters" (from Wikipedia): Quote:
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the name comes from the quality of the paper, which was so cheap that with a bit of starch it could be used to make paper-mâché-like plasters to go under socks and warm shins. When you were talking about shinny coins (not shiny), my mind automatically thought of shinplasters & automatically made me see a picture of people walking around with boots full of coins. The car and the boat lead to other humorous mental pics  Sorry - it must be my meds - I know I am having an off day! BTW - I agree with all you said  ... and you would not believe the amount of time I spent error correcting this entry before hitting "post new reply." |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
1501 Posts |
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
60 Posts |
Looking at some websites, it seems that anything can become an addiction. Work, sex, drugs, internet, video gaming, alchol, wealth, gambling, hoarding, excessive exercising, are just some of addictions mentioned. I think that coin collecting could also become an addiction. The addiction seems to arrise when one starts to "need" to continue in that activity. There is an obsession. There is an emotional or physical attactment to the activity that is put before all other aspects of ones life including their own wellbeing and that of their families. The behaviour often becomes self-destructive as one is willing to sacrifice everything including their health in pursuit of the activity or items. People will even break the law and risk fines and jail time to continue in the pursuit of the addiction. Often people become angry when they are prevented from doing the activity or if they feel they are being harrased for doing the activity.
If you collect coins and put that above all other things even sacrificing your own, or your families needs, I believe that this is an addiction. If someone justifies the addiction saying that they are not addicted because they have the means to continue and they are not hurting anyone, I would ask that person what they would do if their income was dropped to the point that they could barely afford the neccesities in life could they stop doing that activity? If you got sick from doing the activity and were told you had to stop, could you? Or if something arose that meant that you did not have time to spend on the activity ie, looking after a sick family member, having to have a second job to pay the bills, could you stop or heavily limit the activity? If you cannot stop....there is a problem....an addiction.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
406 Posts |
Coin collecting is a hobby for me, as I suspect it is for most people who participate in it. I know I'm not addicted because I took a 10-year break from the hobby due to financial constraints. Even now, I have a strict self-imposed weekly budget and I only buy within that - If I want something beyond the budget then I'll save up for it.
But, as others have said, almost any type of behavior can become an addiction, and coin collecting is no exception. It's not the activity that is the problem, it's the personality of the addictee that needs to be helped.
I played World of Warcraft for over 6 years, and that was much closer to being an addiction to me personally. I finally quit in January of 2011 when I realized the effect it was having on my health and my stress levels. Now over a year since playing it - still miss it occasionally but I'll never go back.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
 Well said - very wise. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
It all depends whether you control your hobby--or it controls you. I keep to my budget, and I sell so I can buy. Generally--much of life is frustrating, tedious, or dull; especially in difficult economic times. All hobbies are a pursuit of something better in ourselves. Those who don't understand hobbies, don't really understand their own needs, imo.  Collecting appeals to our desire to supersede boredom with our curiosity, a desire for knowledge, and to possess beautiful works of art--where coins qualify on all counts. I would say this is a higher pursuit than merely shopping, although looking for a good coin deal is rewarding too. |
|
Previously Banned Member
107 Posts |
Of course as with most addictions, most people who are addicted will never admit that they have a problem.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
81 Posts |
Join a local coin club and you will see everything from collectors young and old, the passion, the addiction, and the investor. it is also a great place for education, companionship, and good deals. My club is in Tucson AZ, The oldest in the state. Quite a few of our members are well known in the coin community.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
BTW
@ just carl, I make plenty of grammar and spelling errors myself, so please do not take this as anything personal at all. In fact you made an error that gave me a good natured laugh. After many years of college and two degrees, spent time as a teacher, I found spelling and spelling checking could be done by a secretary. That curred me from spending time researching the spelling of a word so I let it be done by someone that got paid for that. I've always wondered if the fact that most coin collectors are in the elderly bracket. I know younger individuals are stuck on electronics most of the time so a sort of sitting there doing so little is not their cup of tea. Yet again, the possibility of a security blanket or rememberance of a more youthfull time of life could be one of the insperations of coin collecting. This would indicate that this is basically not a habit but just a real, true hobby. MAYBE. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
In my case it is a hobby AND an addiction. I admit it I am hooked. I think it would take a real intervention and rehab to get me off of them. And I'm sure that once off there would be no such thing as a casual dabbling with coins. I'd have to go the debit/credit card route for everything because if I received any change I would be right back into it checking dates looking for errors/ varieties and building a collection again. Have to get rid of most of my library. Carl, what is this "shiny" thing you mention? I've heard of low grade early copper called many things but "shiny" isn't one of them.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
Believe there should be a third category.... AFFLICTION!
|
| |
Replies: 40 / Views: 12,307 |
Posted 01/30/2012 1:19 pm
