Collector burnout discussion
23 Apr, 2008
2008-4-23 5:37:07 AM UTC
2008-4-23 5:37:07 AM UTC
Skwish mentioned in another thread that she was going through a patch of burnout in Tolkien collecting. In addition to the attached poll, I'd love to hear various comments and thoughts on this topic here.
From my personal perspective - every interest waxes and wanes over the years, and Tolkien collecting is a passion that takes a long, long time and a lot of dedicated effort. It is also an endless field - I firmly believe that there is no possible way to have everything (just ask Wayne and Christina)). I find when I get a bit overwhelmed with a particular field of interest that something else pops up - thus the sporadic updates to various areas of the Guide (puzzles, fanzines, etc.) Would love to have additional contributors for their own areas of interest!
But just from sheer overwhelming quantity - I can certainly understand someone hitting a patch of burnout. I have also gone through patches of spousal burnout ("and just where do you plan to put this latest box of smelly old papers?") but somehow we always manage to pull through.
From my personal perspective - every interest waxes and wanes over the years, and Tolkien collecting is a passion that takes a long, long time and a lot of dedicated effort. It is also an endless field - I firmly believe that there is no possible way to have everything (just ask Wayne and Christina)). I find when I get a bit overwhelmed with a particular field of interest that something else pops up - thus the sporadic updates to various areas of the Guide (puzzles, fanzines, etc.) Would love to have additional contributors for their own areas of interest!
But just from sheer overwhelming quantity - I can certainly understand someone hitting a patch of burnout. I have also gone through patches of spousal burnout ("and just where do you plan to put this latest box of smelly old papers?") but somehow we always manage to pull through.
I have vicariously experienced collector burnout through the aforementioned spousal affliction! I can not tell you how happy I was to hear that I am not the only collector to experience this!! (Something to do with misery loving company?) I am so like you all that it is scary. I just bought a lot of 18 calendars on eBay just to get a single (French) JRRT calendar in there that I was looking for, and I, like alpingloin, promised to sell all of the extras. And like Rowns, I have been asked where I plan to store the next one(s). I feel like Frodo reaching for the ring and begging Sam to help him stop. As there a Collectors Anonymous meeting somewhere that I could attend? 
Away from The Green Hill Country,
Parmastahir
Away from The Green Hill Country,
Parmastahir
Um... actually, that patch of burnout I was speaking of was in regard to my archive; not the archive itself, or my personal collecting, but the difficulties resulting from creating it (the mountain of books, primarily).
As far as collecting goes, I go through phases of not actively searching (which doesn't prevent finding!), but my interest level stays pretty steady.
I'm a slightly different breed of collector from this forum's regular crowd, I think. I try to keep the accumulation down to 30 board feet of just my favorites (and I fail ...but the effort is made). I could just be in the world's longest denial, but I think not... it does sound like it would be quite a burden (both in sheer mass and of responsibility) to own one of each thing, even if it were possible, so I operate in a very slow, perpetual upgrade mode. Perhaps I have a perspective in common with the aforementioned spouses because they are wives (as I am) rather than husbands-? Hm. Anyway, I also don't have the spousal burnout problem (so far). But, if you need an excuse for buying that book, try explaining that it's NOT a book, it's a very small piece of real estate; likely to appreciate in value at the same rate as your house, and you needn't pay taxes on it in the meantime. A wife might better understand this reasoning put in those terms... maybe.
-skwish
~Please don't visit today, the website is on hiatus
As far as collecting goes, I go through phases of not actively searching (which doesn't prevent finding!), but my interest level stays pretty steady.
I'm a slightly different breed of collector from this forum's regular crowd, I think. I try to keep the accumulation down to 30 board feet of just my favorites (and I fail ...but the effort is made). I could just be in the world's longest denial, but I think not... it does sound like it would be quite a burden (both in sheer mass and of responsibility) to own one of each thing, even if it were possible, so I operate in a very slow, perpetual upgrade mode. Perhaps I have a perspective in common with the aforementioned spouses because they are wives (as I am) rather than husbands-? Hm. Anyway, I also don't have the spousal burnout problem (so far). But, if you need an excuse for buying that book, try explaining that it's NOT a book, it's a very small piece of real estate; likely to appreciate in value at the same rate as your house, and you needn't pay taxes on it in the meantime. A wife might better understand this reasoning put in those terms... maybe.
-skwish
~Please don't visit today, the website is on hiatus
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