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Why I Collect

#31
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8/21/09 at 3:07pm
  • Joined: August 2001
  • Location: New York City Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post

(This chronic and repeated disconnect between intended and actual behavior is a hallmark of human behavior. It could certainly be ascribed to my annual renewal of the gym membership...)

 

LOL.  Next time my wife mentions about my failure rate at collecting (and not keeping up w/ watching them) -- not that she actually does that of course, bless her soul  -- I should bring up your post in reference to her renewing gym membership.   I OTOH have no such delusions about the gym (though not sure if that's actually a good thing ) -- collecting BD/DVDs and the occasional violin(!)  are more than enough already.

My wife still wants me to dump my old, mostly packed-away, modest comic book collection too (among other things).  I'd like to pass it along to my now-10-yo son, but it'd probably get ruined in a hurry (and lose whatever little $ value still remains) if I did that...

_Man_

Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".

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#32
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8/22/09 at 12:08pm
  • Joined: January 1999
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 I say, let the kid read the comics.  Books, even comic books, should be read, not stored!  Just one degenerate collector's perspective.  
Too Much Culture
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#33
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8/22/09 at 12:58pm
  • Joined: August 2001
  • Location: New York City Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu Rosen View Post

 I say, let the kid read the comics.  Books, even comic books, should be read, not stored!  Just one degenerate collector's perspective.  

Hehheh...  I didn't buy them just to collect, so yes, I'd like them to be read -- and would probably enjoy revisiting them again myself, especially if the experience can be shared w/ my kids -- maybe even my wife would actually enjoy them.   Ironically, the more practical side of me is actually the side that wants to preserve them better for their $ value.  Anyway, I do intend to share them w/ my kids -- just need to figure out the best way to do so w/out having them all ruined.

_Man_

Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".

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#34
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8/23/09 at 4:52am
  • Joined: July 1997
  • Location: Amsterdam, Holland
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"Only to collect" is a somewhat fuzzy notion as well.

There are many films or TV shows I have seen in the past, or recently, and/or have on what I clearly consider as an obsolete medium (VHS) or own not at all yet, that I do want to own. Always with the intention of watching it whenever I feel to.

I never buy a movie or a book I don't want to see or read ever. Or show to members of the family.

But, e.g. if I just happened to have it seen it in the cinema or even on TV, I may decide not to watch my new acquisition right away. It's part of the collection though, and I can choose to take any of them whenever I want to.

Which still leaves me with many items I haven't seen yet - not in that instance.


Cees
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#35
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8/24/09 at 12:43pm
  • Joined: August 2009
  • Location: London. England
  • Post Count: 40
my prime driver for collecting is to have the CHOICE

I sit down after a long day at work, and let my gaze move across my collection, I will find a film (whether on DVD or Blue) that grabs my attention

it might be something light like a comedy or TV show box-set, or a more involved viewing of a great film

but having that choice is essential - I do not have a TV aerial or satellite feed plugged into my high-def TV - its only recorded material, and I appreciate that every time I want to view, I am making a choice rather than being fed something from a TV network

once you ditch TV, your appreciation of movies changes, this includes TV box-sets which are like movies, but more involved due to the longer viewing period
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#36
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8/24/09 at 10:39pm
  • Joined: October 1999
  • Post Count: 651

Quote:
So, for me I guess there are two aspects to movie collecting that appeal to me.  First the solitary nature of collecting which is made up of research, databases, etc.  Second, the social nature of sharing the film experience with others. 

As for the first, I used to have a spreadsheet with all my DVDs and the prices I paid for them to calculate my contribution to Reel.com's demise, but lost interest in that.  The second reason is what has really survived.  Having a nice collection is great for when you have friends or family over, you usually have instant access to something good they haven't seen that also fits the mood.

Quote:
the next one I buy may be the next one I watch - it's not like there's an orderly date-stamped queue.  There's a pleasure I get from the choices I have, even if I don't ever expect to choose them all.

Exactly!  I use my collection to have many choices of movies I know are good spur of the moment entertainment.  Adding titles keeps that selection fresh and varied, but also contributes to that perceived need to get titles on the shelf at increasing rates.

The number of Blu-rays I purchase has been cut in half because of high prices of many titles or the inability to get them outside of a box set or expensive collector's edition. I am usually a bit outspoken, including now, about how some studios have started raking consumers over the coals with these practices, but it has gotten me to take a look at why I really collect and what I really need to have in my collection to satisfy those reasons.  I have found I can cut back quite a bit without any perceived loss in the collection's ability to serve its purpose.
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#37
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8/25/09 at 1:36pm
  • Joined: August 2001
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Ditto much of what Aaron (and a couple others) said just above, including the spreadsheet thing.  

I did get back to maintaining my collection on DVD Profiler recently though, and probably should still cut back a bit more on BD purchases (or plan on unloading some on the used market on occasion).  Even though regular street prices are still on the high side, I do seem to come across plenty enough solid sales (including some barely-used titles) to make purchases very tempting.  My average BD cost so far probably runs right around $15 (factoring that the occasional quality TV series boxset would count as roughly equivalent to 2 or 3 movie titles ), which is not bad at all.

_Man_

Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".

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