A game collector on an episode of Hoarders

[J T]

http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2011/07/hoa ... de_col.php

I often wonder where the line is drawn between collector and hoarder. I haven't watched this episode yet, though I'm looking forward to doing so later.

But whether you've watched it or not, when do you think a collector crosses the line into becoming a hoarder?

[DinnerX]

But whether you've watched it or not, when do you think a collector crosses the line into becoming a hoarder?

Never. Collectors collect things for a reason. They have sets of things they enjoy. Usually collectors have some order to what they collect so they can enjoy it. Hoarders just hoard random garbage with no rhyme or reason and let it pile everywhere.

[BoringSupreez]

Plus, hoarders often have tons of duplicates. Collectors don't generally do that. I mean, what would be the point of owning 10 copies of Pac-Man World 2? A hoarder would see lots of good reasons for it, but not a collector.

[BurningDoom]

So that guy is considered crazy and needs help, but Michael Jackson did the same exact thing by creating Neverland Ranch. If you've got the money, space, and time and it makes you happy, why not? It's not like this guy was collecting garbage and and filling his home to the point of it going rancid like I've seen some these hoarder people.

[dedalusdedalus]

So that guy is considered crazy and needs help, but Michael Jackson did the same exact thing by creating Neverland Ranch.

Michael Jackson isn't exactly a good baseline for sane behavior.

That said though, I don't consider this collector to be a hoarder. A hoarder is someone who amasses things that have absolutely no use or value to anyone. Collecting a bunch of vintage pinball machines is nothing like accumulating tons of newspapers because you can't bring yourself to throw out your daily newspaper.

[BurningDoom]

So that guy is considered crazy and needs help, but Michael Jackson did the same exact thing by creating Neverland Ranch.

Michael Jackson isn't exactly a good baseline for sane behavior.

For sure. But you ask anyone surrounding him or his personal Dr.'s and they'd act offended.

[brunoafh]

But whether you've watched it or not, when do you think a collector crosses the line into becoming a hoarder?

If you're collecting games with no intention of ever playing them (i.e., a sealed game collector), then yes. If you're collecting games with every intention of playing them, at some point or another, then not at all.

[J T]

Plus, hoarders often have tons of duplicates. Collectors don't generally do that. I mean, what would be the point of owning 10 copies of Pac-Man World 2? A hoarder would see lots of good reasons for it, but not a collector.

Does that make these racketboy members hoarders?

[Hatta]

Dude looks like a cool guy. I'd visit his arcade.

[t0yrobo]

I haven't seen the episode yet, but I know he isn't the only one doing that sort of thing. There's a guy in my area that has several semi trailers full of arcade games. He goes to shows, buys everything he can, loads it in a trailer and takes it home.
He is working with a local game shop to fix up and sell some machines, but even the owner of the store hasn't seen half of what he has.