Quitting cel collecting but then coming back

[KT]

I am going through this right now and I was wondering other's thoughts on this, as well as their own experience.

I honestly feel like cel collecting is a drug for me lol I was sober for acouple of years, but now I had withdrawls and now im back to get my fix

[sensei]

I used to feel that way. The "rush of acquisition" can be addictive. The following "Ten-Question Self-Diagnosis" can be instructive

1. Did you ever promise yourself or others to cut down on the time you spend on cel collecting, and then break that promise?

2. Did you ever lie about the time you spent browsing auctions online?

3. Did you ever suffer negative consequences as a direct result of your activities?

4. Does your spouse, partner or family disapprove of your hobby?

5. Do they feel that you spend too much time with it?

6. Do you feel a rush of euphoria when you win an auction, then afterwards feel depressed or remorseful?

7. Does not being able to access YJ, Anime-Beta, Rubberslug etc. for some reason make you irritable?

8. Do you find yourself thinking about cel collecting when you’re supposedly doing something else?

9. Do you buy cels to cheer yourself up when you’re having life problems or are depressed?

10. Does the amount of money you spend on cels lead you into financial hardship (excessive credit card debt, inability to pay for necessary expenses)?

Supposedly answering "yes" to one of these proves you "may" have a problem. Answering "yes" to two shows you "do" have a problem. Three or more? You have a "pattern of behavior that demonstrates addiction."

[Sensei's Halfway House for Cel Junkies may be able to help: check your cel books with the matron at the door and we'll start the detox process immediately in the padded cel room on the right-hand side.]

Personally, I think the paragraph beginning "Supposedly..." is a total crock, and in fact I use a variation on this "self-diagnosis" to illustrate illogical thinking in my comp. classes. The original deals with "internet addiction," but is easy to adapt to any kind of genuinely interesting activity, such as watching CNN commentaries on the Democratic Primaries. But it does include some genuinely tough questions to ask yourself. If you do say "yes" to any of these, then I'd say you should have some serious response that you can live with.

Take #5: do people think I spend too much time on this hobby? Yeah, they sure do. What of it? I think it's quality time, in which I meet interesting people and learn about genuinely interesting things. I'm "addicted" in the same way that I'm "addicted" to reading and teaching the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. So the answer is "yes," but in this case, it's the other person's problem.

Can you go through the list and either say "not really" or "yes, but what of it?" Then you're fine to check out of Sensei's Halfway House.

Lessee ... I thought we put your cel books under the counter here. Just a sec ... uh ... how about we mail them to you when we locate them. OK?

[Cypress]

Well...welcome back!

I have never quit cel collecting. I have had lulls where I didn't buy anything for the better part of a year...and I haven't updated my online gallery in like 4 years (I'm working on it!!! But Cloud won't stop baiting me!)...but I never quit.

I did come close to selling off my entire collection once when money got really tight. I even put prices on everything with Post-Its. But thankfully we found another way and I was able to keep my collection...my husband wasn't using that other kidney anyway.

[Cloud]

And. What makes you think that I won't stop baiting him or her.

[Cypress]

And. What makes you think that I won't stop baiting him or her.

See.

[KT]

That's a very interesting Self-diagnosis hehe

I answered yes to some of those questions But I think it's for non-addictive reasons haha (if that makes sense). Like, when I use to collect it was strictly one series....But now Im back again with different anime series in mind, so I think it has triggered my old passion for collecting because it is something new! So I have that "new collectors passion" to collect.

(And the only person I wont tell I am back into collecting is my little brother because he already knows I spend alot shopping for clothes, so I dont need to tell him my other expensive hobby because he will just go blab to my parents! haha)

[RoboFlonne]

I honestly feel like cel collecting is a drug for me lol I was sober for acouple of years, but now I had withdrawls and now im back to get my fix

You say that like being addicted to cel collecting is a bad thing!

[sugarcels]

Uh-oh, I answered yes to about 3 of those (buying when sad, buyer's remorse, irritable when Y!J is down). In my defense, I buy more than cels on Y!J (doujinshi, manga, DVDs, stuff like that), and when I'm bored and need something to do, I "surf" there. Even if I do find something I really want, it's only a few times (or less) a month that I actually get something

With cels, I guess it all depends on what is available. Sometimes there are several weeks or months when nothing catches my eyes, so I sort of take a break from it. I might even think "Why am I even spending all this money on yellowed paper or plastic?" and vow to stop - but then I end up getting something and get pulled into it again - ARGH

[wELCOME cONSUMER]

It's nice to see you around again KT. I haven't been collecting art at all lately. I don't check auctions and saved searches as much, mainly because I've forgotten to do these things. I love cels, but my interest in the hunt has waned. I'm content with my collection and want to add to it, but don't feel the passion for it right now. Maybe later. It's pretty natural for our interests to vary in intensity, so I'm not too concerned about it right now.

[miz ducky]

8. Do you find yourself thinking about cel collecting when you’re supposedly doing something else?

That one is a yes, but the rest, I'm in the clear on.

The reason that I think about it so much is the pile of stuff I need to get scanned!

[KT]

It's nice to see you around again KT.

Thanks WC I'm glad to be back. So many new faces! And Beta has changed so much too! Hopefully I wont wander away (last year I *almost* got back into collecting but then jumped boat )


I think everyone at some point reaches that "cel addicted" stage. I think it's a part of every hobby

[sensei]

Bottom line: it's an addiction when you have to admit it's bad for you. No one else can define this for you, and the test is only valid if it makes you say, "Uh-oh, that is a problem for me." I stick to a pretty tight budget, but every so often people talk about the ways that impulse buys make them max out their credit cards or hide their auction invoices from family members etc. etc. These people know it's bad, though, without anyone having to tell them.

An addiction that does no one any harm and makes you happy is ... well, it's a reason for living.

And ... as I should have said before ... welcome home, KT!

[Caroline]

i would suggest going cold turkey for a few years without collecting before officially announcing your retirement. i know some collectors who sold their collections, thinking they were "over it", and then regretted it later.

that said, welcome back!

[duotrouble]

*waves hi to KT*

I'm actually going through this right now. I haven't bought a cel for myself in almost 6 months. I'm not even looking at auction sites, web updates or anything. But I've remained active talking to the community. I consider myself on a break while I take care of other more pressing concerns in my life.

Hi! My name is duotrouble and I am a recovering cel addict.

Look for future RS updates from DT.

[Drac of the Sharp Smiles]

7. Does not being able to access YJ, Anime-Beta, Rubberslug etc. for some reason make you irritable?

Personally, I think this is a bit of a silly determination of being "addicted" to something. If you have a hobby and you want to spend some time participating in your hobby, of course you're going to be irritated if something stupid prevents your amusement, especially if you've been looking forward to your hobby. (Come on... we've ALL had days at work/school/etc when we get through the day by thinking: "When I get home, I'm going to do nothing but ______, dammit.")

The question really should be more along the lines of: "Does it cloud your whole day/week/month or make you want to kick your cat, etc...?"