what's the THRILL of collecting

[BW]

I was searching through some past articles trying to answer the above
question, but unlike other subjects I've been looking at this one is
still a mystery to me.

What *IS* the thrill of collecting? Is it the hunt, ownership of
something rare, being an expert, showing your collection to an
audience, finding someone into the same thing as you, dangerous
encounters…? You tell me!

I'm a researcher in England and I'd really like to know about your
collecting related thrills. I'm currently conducting interviews with
people about their personal experiences on the web-site
www.chromo11.com . I'm trying to work out "what is thrill" by
collecting (!?) examples of thrill from a wide cross section of
people.

We could discuss it here, but if you've got something to say on the
subject I'd really like to do an interview. On the site you'll find a
set of short, but carefully crafted questions that you can download
and answer at your leisure; you'll also be able to read more about the
project.

Thanks

Brendan
email: ***@chromo11[dot]com
web: www.chromo11.com

[Fred]

Post by BW
What *IS* the thrill of collecting? Is it the hunt, ownership of
something rare, being an expert, showing your collection to an
audience, finding someone into the same thing as you, dangerous
encounters.? You tell me!

What *IS* the thrill of collecting?????

It is a combination of all those things you listed above and then some!!

Fred
"melting pot"

[Alan & Erin Williams]

Post by Fred

Post by BW
What *IS* the thrill of collecting? Is it the hunt, ownership of
something rare, being an expert, showing your collection to an
audience, finding someone into the same thing as you, dangerous
encounters.? You tell me!

What *IS* the thrill of collecting?????
It is a combination of all those things you listed above and then some!!
Fred
"melting pot"

I'm not sure I can actually express it in writing, but I can promise you
one thing.

It beats living linoleum out of the 'thrill of surveying'. ;-)

Alan
'no contest'

[John Stone]

Post by BW
I was searching through some past articles trying to answer the above
question, but unlike other subjects I've been looking at this one is
still a mystery to me.
What *IS* the thrill of collecting? Is it the hunt, ownership of
something rare, being an expert, showing your collection to an
audience, finding someone into the same thing as you, dangerous
encounters?? You tell me!
I'm a researcher in England and I'd really like to know about your
collecting related thrills. I'm currently conducting interviews with
people about their personal experiences on the web-site
www.chromo11.com . I'm trying to work out "what is thrill" by
collecting (!?) examples of thrill from a wide cross section of
people.
We could discuss it here, but if you've got something to say on the
subject I'd really like to do an interview. On the site you'll find a
set of short, but carefully crafted questions that you can download
and answer at your leisure; you'll also be able to read more about the
project.
Thanks
Brendan
web: www.chromo11.com

To me its the thrill of the hunt. If you could get everything just by
calling
up someone on the phone and having them ship it to you what is the fun
in that?

For that reason I've never understood why someone would want to buy
for instance a complete collection of say Franklin half dollars
1948-63 all at one time in an album. Upgrading to get better
examples of what you are collecting is another
challenge but one I've never been that keen on.

The thrill of the hunt I believe is one reason that Ebay is so
successful, at
least in the collectables category, you never know what is going to
show up
there on a daily basis and that makes it fun and exciting.

[Mat]

Post by John Stone
To me its the thrill of the hunt. If you could get everything just by
calling
up someone on the phone and having them ship it to you what is the fun
in that?
For that reason I've never understood why someone would want to buy
for instance a complete collection of say Franklin half dollars
1948-63 all at one time in an album. Upgrading to get better
examples of what you are collecting is another
challenge but one I've never been that keen on.
The thrill of the hunt I believe is one reason that Ebay is so
successful, at
least in the collectables category, you never know what is going to
show up
there on a daily basis and that makes it fun and exciting.

I'd say the same, the thrill of the hunt...oh and the gold!

Sylvester.

[Michael E. Marotta]

To me its the thrill of the hunt. ... For that reason
I've never understood why someone would want to buy
for instance a complete collection of say Franklin half dollars
1948-63 all at one time in an album.

I agree about the thrill of the hunt. For me, there is also
serendipity: finding something you were not looking for. Discovery
brings special rewards.

That said, just to offer another view on the complete set, there is
"meta-collecting": the collecting of collections. You shop for the
best complete set of this, and the best available and affordable
complete set of that, and the two of these or those that can be merged
into one much better than either, and so on.

Upgrading to get better
examples of what you are collecting is another
challenge but one I've never been that keen on.

This is a special draw for some collectors. Now you have two and one
is really nice. However, the financial arithmetic works against this
and it is more effect to save your money for the one you really do
want.

Coins, cars, or creamers, all collecting is pretty much about the same
sorts of motivations. It is always personal and in some ways, perhaps
ineffable. "Thrill of the hunt" does not explain WHAT you choose to
hunt for or HOW you prefer to track it down.

[David Ames]

Post by John Stone

Post by BW
I was searching through some past articles trying to answer the above
question, but unlike other subjects I've been looking at this one is
still a mystery to me.
What *IS* the thrill of collecting? Is it the hunt, ownership of
something rare, being an expert, showing your collection to an
audience, finding someone into the same thing as you, dangerous
encounters?? You tell me!
I'm a researcher in England and I'd really like to know about your
collecting related thrills. I'm currently conducting interviews with
people about their personal experiences on the web-site
www.chromo11.com . I'm trying to work out "what is thrill" by
collecting (!?) examples of thrill from a wide cross section of
people.
We could discuss it here, but if you've got something to say on the
subject I'd really like to do an interview. On the site you'll find a
set of short, but carefully crafted questions that you can download
and answer at your leisure; you'll also be able to read more about the
project.
Thanks
Brendan
web: www.chromo11.com

To me its the thrill of the hunt. If you could get everything just by
calling
up someone on the phone and having them ship it to you what is the fun
in that?
For that reason I've never understood why someone would want to buy
for instance a complete collection of say Franklin half dollars
1948-63 all at one time in an album. Upgrading to get better
examples of what you are collecting is another
challenge but one I've never been that keen on.

Yup. Reminds me of a stamp and coin dealer I used to do business
with. For high-school graduation I bought myself a gift of a key
Jefferson nickel. He charged me the Red Book price for an
uncirculated coin. A few years later I was broke and needed cash to
buy Christmas gifts. When I wanted to sell the coin back to him, it
was no longer uncirculated. His words: "When I do a thing, I do it
right." And I later found that the premium-priced stamps he had sold
me were actually high-class seconds.

Post by John Stone
The thrill of the hunt I believe is one reason that Ebay is so
successful, at
least in the collectables category, you never know what is going to
show up
there on a daily basis and that makes it fun and exciting.

[Francis A. Miniter]

Read "Possession" by A.S. Byatt. She beautifully describes the emotional
underpinnings of owning something rare.


Francis A. Miniter

Post by BW
I was searching through some past articles trying to answer the above
question, but unlike other subjects I've been looking at this one is
still a mystery to me.
What *IS* the thrill of collecting? Is it the hunt, ownership of
something rare, being an expert, showing your collection to an
audience, finding someone into the same thing as you, dangerous
encounters…? You tell me!
I'm a researcher in England and I'd really like to know about your
collecting related thrills. I'm currently conducting interviews with
people about their personal experiences on the web-site
www.chromo11.com . I'm trying to work out "what is thrill" by
collecting (!?) examples of thrill from a wide cross section of
people.
We could discuss it here, but if you've got something to say on the
subject I'd really like to do an interview. On the site you'll find a
set of short, but carefully crafted questions that you can download
and answer at your leisure; you'll also be able to read more about the
project.
Thanks
Brendan
web: www.chromo11.com

[Michael E. Marotta]

Post by Francis A. Miniter
Read "Possession" by A.S. Byatt. She beautifully describes the emotional
underpinnings of owning something rare.
Francis A. Miniter

Thanks for the recommendation. I got the Author-Title-Etc.
information and I will be ordering it interlibrary loan. I am looking
forward to this. I have not read anything serious in about six
months. That was THE SUN ALSO RISES. I got bogged down in Moby Dick
and then in The Deerslayer.

The only character I can think of from popular literature whom I would
regard as a proud owner of anything is NERO WOLF.

Some hint of this runs through the works of Ayn Rand, of course. I
think of Gail Wynand, for instance.

In any case, thanks again!

[Michael E. Marotta]

Post by Francis A. Miniter
Read "Possession" by A.S. Byatt. She beautifully describes the emotional
underpinnings of owning something rare.

I got the book from my local library. The local video store has a
movie based on the book that the clerk told me stars one Gwinneth
Paltrow who played in a Shakespeare movie, apparently. (She said that
she had seen Bridges of Madison County "a thousand times" so I gave
her one of my extra copies.) Anyway, I am reading your recommendation
now, and I am, well, possessed.

Michael E. Marotta
ANA R-162953

[Keith Fletcher]

In order:

Love of beautiful art

Love of history

Love of the hunt to find the perfect coin (perfect in that it is what i'm
looking for)

Post by BW
I was searching through some past articles trying to answer the above
question, but unlike other subjects I've been looking at this one is
still a mystery to me.
What *IS* the thrill of collecting? Is it the hunt, ownership of
something rare, being an expert, showing your collection to an
audience, finding someone into the same thing as you, dangerous
encounters.? You tell me!
I'm a researcher in England and I'd really like to know about your
collecting related thrills. I'm currently conducting interviews with
people about their personal experiences on the web-site
www.chromo11.com . I'm trying to work out "what is thrill" by
collecting (!?) examples of thrill from a wide cross section of
people.
We could discuss it here, but if you've got something to say on the
subject I'd really like to do an interview. On the site you'll find a
set of short, but carefully crafted questions that you can download
and answer at your leisure; you'll also be able to read more about the
project.
Thanks
Brendan
web: www.chromo11.com

[Dale Hallmark]

Post by BW
What *IS* the thrill of collecting? Is it the hunt, ownership of
something rare, being an expert, showing your collection to an
audience, finding someone into the same thing as you, dangerous
encounters.? You tell me!

Several things intertwined.

A big enjoyment for me is like many others here, the thrill of the hunt.
After I have a coin I really don't glom over it
or actually look at it very often except
to check the condition and replace it if it has toned unattractively.
I am mostly through with it and ready for the next one.

I work toward completing a set and completion gives me a feeling of satisfaction and
accomplishment
but that doesn't happen in my collecting often :-).

I collect some stuff that doesn't have any literature written about it, not due to
it's rarity, quite the opposite
and in that endeavor I get a thrill of exploration and discovery as I accumulate
knowledge
that possibly very few others have or even care about. This is a biggy for me at
the present time.

I share that knowledge when applicable and that gives me a feeling of pleasure
in helping someone.

I take some pride in owning something rare or in the best condition or valuable
but in my collection I don't experience that very often at all
and can do without it.

I get very little to no pleasure in showing my collection, well a little showing to
a fellow collector if
they are actually interested but I can think of that happening only twice in my
lifetime.
Normal people :-) usually couldn't care much less about coins, though Nazi coins
with a swastika
always generate genuine interest and curiosity.

Dale

[BW]

Dear Collectors,

I'm going to try something new here. During my research if I find user
group interest is high, I'll invite people to say more in an
interview. This usually involves going to a website which some people
find a drag. I'm very interested in what's being said here about
collecting, so I'm offering the interview right here on the user
group.

If anyone's interested, they can take the interview here in the user
goup, though I would as that you send a copy directly to
***@chromo11[dot]com .

To tell you a little more about myself before you commit. I am a
researcher at the Royal College of Art in England. I'm funded by an
arts grant to do this research (no commercial interest, just really
into understanding thrill)

I hope one, or more of you can take time to help. I think collecting
has so many interesting sides. It'd be great to be able to compare
responses from the interview.

sincerely

Brendan Walker
[phone]

++++++++++++ THE INTERVIEW FOLLOWS HERE ++++++++++++

Hello again,


Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed. Answer as many questions as you
can (the more the better) then email your interview to me at
***@chromo11.com. If there's anything else you want to say just
add a note at the bottom of the email.

You're obviously sat at your computer, so we'll make a start...


ABOUT YOU
==========

Just to get the record straight, could please tell me your name, age,
sex and where you were born (I'll only publish your surname and
birthplace unless otherwise instructed)
name:
age:
sex:
birthplace:


YOUR BACKGROUND
==================

1.Q Tell me about the first time you remember being thrilled.
1.A


2.Q Which of your thrilling experiences has frightened you the most?
2.A


3.Q What's the smallest or slightest thing to have thrilled you?
3.A


4.Q Tell me why you're not a sensible person.
4.A


5.Q What were you doing the last time you were really bored?
5.A


6.Q What's the most uninhibited thing you've ever done?
6.A


7.Q What things have you considered doing for thrill, but were too
concerned about the risks?
7.A


8.Q I always dreamt about becoming a paramedic, speeding in an
ambulance and saving lives; what about you?
8.A



YOUR THRILL
============
To answer these next 15 questions, you should think about a particular
time you were thrilled.


9.Q Describe this thrill in a nutshell, in one sentence. (there's time
to expand later)
9.A



the setting...
----------------
10.Q Where and when did it take place?
10.A


11.Q Tell me a bit about yourself around this time.
11.A


preparation...
------------------
12.Q How did the moment arise? Was it planned?
12.A


your feelings...
--------------------
13.Q List the sequence of events leading up to your thrill, and how
you felt at each stage. The smallest detail could be important (this
is your chance to expand).
13.A


14.Q At the exact moment of thrill, how did your mind and body feel?
14.A


15.Q What thoughts were going through your head?
15.A


16.Q What did you do immediately afterwards?
16.A


the risks...
-------------
17.Q What were the most likely things that could have put you off
going through with it?
17.A


other people...
--------------------
18.Q How were other people important to your thrill?
18.A


19.Q What do you imagine other people were thinking throughout your
thrilling episode?
19.A


20.Q Some people probably don't understand how such a thing can thrill
you; explain it to them.
20.A


equipment...
-----------------
21.Q Why were certain objects or equipment important to your thrill?
21.A


repeat performance...
-----------------------------
22.Q If you've done something like this before, how does the last time
compare to the first time you did it?
22.A


23.Q If you did it again, what things would you add or change to make
it even better?
23.A


finally...
-----------
Thanks for doing the interview. I'll let you know when it's on the
chromo11.com website. Is there anything you want to add?

[Tim Doyle]

You might be interested in a previous thread at rec.collecting.books
about the psychology of collecting, at http://tinyurl.com/raun .
Certainly the hunt is a big part of it. Not much compares to the
thrill of finding some key piece to enhance your collection. I also
think there has to be something highly personal and maybe even a touch
quixotic in the pursuit of a collection; or as others have said, what
is the thrill of simply going out and buying a bunch of readily
available components to form a collection, or worse buying an existing
collection outright. As to why we do it - an irrational attempt to
impose order in the face of entropy? A gesture to counter our own
mortality (middle-aged men seem prone to sudden urges to start
collecting something)? I don't know - I've collected books all my
life, it's just that in the last few years I've gooten more organized
and ambitious about it.

Regards, Tim