Why do some people lose/throw away game manuals?

[Redifer]

When shopping for retro games, mainly those that come in plastic clamshell cases like Sega or even TurboGrafx games, I often find that the manual is missing, but the case is still present. I can understand (but not approve, of course) people tossing or misplacing the entire box along with the manual if they just keep the game carts in a separate place. That's when games turn up in thrift stores and local game stores as cart-only. But misplacing or tossing just the manual? What the hell? That's gotta take some special skill.

Not every game I buy is "complete", but I definitely prefer it when they are.

[Hobie-wan]

Had it out while learning the game and stepped on it/spilled drink on it/cheesy poof fingers/dog ate it? People put discs down on tables too and get them scratched up which is a pet peeve of mine.

[Hatta]

When you're a kid, what do you care about manuals? You might read it once, and then what's the point? Nobody thinks about resale value or collecting when you're 12 years old and it's the day after Christmas.

[Hobie-wan]

When you're a kid, what do you care about manuals? You might read it once, and then what's the point? Nobody thinks about resale value or collecting when you're 12 years old and it's the day after Christmas.

I always cared about my stuff as a kid. Friends in elementary school usually got more presents at Christmas and on birthdays, but I had more toys because I didn't destroy everything. I still have a Hot Wheels 57 Chevy that I got in Kindergarten from a school Christmas gift exchange when I was 4 (though that is pretty beat up) and the boxed Odyssey² I got when I was 5 or 6.

[AznKhmerBoi]

i cared about my stuff as a child, but then i only cared for the carts and not necessary the instruction book/box.

[Hatta]

I always cared about my stuff as a kid.

Oh sure, I cared about my stuff as a kid too. Just saying that kids don't necessarily place value on things like manuals, when all you need is the cart to play the game.

[Michi]

I always cared about my stuff as a kid.

So did I. That's why I have so many old toys that are still in such good shape. It always confused me why some of my classmates would be talking about getting a game/toy AGAIN less than a month after they got it. Sure, sometimes it was accidentally destroyed by a pet/younger sibling, but most of the time it was because they'd treated it like crap and destroyed it themselves. Me, I'd get upset if my poster got a crease in it. But then, I'm more anal than others

[wootcube]

I don't loose manuals, but I know a lot of people who do - I don't understand why some people are so careless with their stuff. I mean, you paid for it - why treat it like crap?

EDIT: Totally forgot about cardboard boxes. I never bought any cardboard-box games first hand, but I could see how it would be easy to loose those manuals. I mean, they just looked like something you would throw out...

[flamepanther]

Years ago, one of my younger cousins randomly decided to pull out one of my game manuals and tear it to shreds.

[wootcube]

Years ago, one of my younger cousins randomly decided to pull out one of my game manuals and tear it to shreds.