Are You A Hoarder?

[hifi_dave]

I'm a collector.

So much stuff that I can't remember what I have but it is all tidy. It is either displayed on racking or stored away in boxes or cupboards, because I can't stand clutter.

[Sherwood]

I'm a collector.

So much stuff that I can't remember what I have but it is all tidy. It is either displayed on racking or stored away in boxes or cupboards, because I can't stand clutter.

So a collector is a hoarder with shelves!

[Marco]

Btw, Martin, in terms of this:

I get accused by several people of being a hoarder and it really gets on my goat. They are the sort of people who seem to own damn all. I get judged by people who barely own 10 cds and freak out when they see 500. I own about 200 games and 170 dvds...is that really a problem to anyone?

If it is, too bad and tell them to fuck off! Don't allow yourself to be judged that way.

It's YOUR house, so when they come to visit, they should be there to see YOU, not criticize your lifestyle or impose their standards upon you. I'm a firm believer in the saying 'You take me as you find me' (or our house as you find it) - and anyone who doesn't sign up to that philosophy knows where they can go...!!

Marco.

[Sherwood]

On a serious note, I would say a bad sign is when you feel you need to defend yourself against accusations of hoarding. It is not just about having a lot of stuff. Serious hoarding is not merely an issue of tidiness, but an issue of safety and good mental health. I have known people with this serious mental issue and it has destroyed their families!

Geoff

[Pigmy Pony]

Last year the company I do work for were given the task of clearing a house and making it saleable. The old lady living there had died, and with no living relatives, I was told the house becomes the property of the Crown. Is this correct? Doesn't matter, because no-one is going to part me from my "find of the year".

The lady was a serious hoarder, with every room filled halfway to the ceiling, and a path through each room, that made you feel like you were walking through a canyon.

Amongst all the stuff that the house clearance blokes had earmarked for the next skip, was a 70's record case. Inside it, along with a lot of Max Bygraves and Des O'Connor, were virtually mint copies of "Please Please Me", "With The Beatles", Beatles For Sale", "Hard Day's Night" and "Help". All Early pressings. Black shiny vinyl, and virtually silent (apart from the music).

A few record begs as well, from Hardman's and Brady's (probably won't mean anything to anyone outside Preston).

Nobody wanted them ("Who bothers with records any more?")

If this makes me sound smug, that's because I am! But I also feel a bit sad for the old lady, who lived out her years with no family and just a houseful of tat for company.

[Minstrel SE]

On a serious note, I would say a bad sign is when you feel you need to defend yourself against accusations of hoarding. It is not just about having a lot of stuff. Serious hoarding is not merely an issue of tidiness, but an issue of safety and good mental health. I have known people with this serious mental issue and it has destroyed their families!

Geoff

Its very sad when a mental illness develops but my point is I dont like being judged as if I have some sort of problem when clearly I am far from the sort of extremes that they see on television.

There are levels of healthy collecting and dabbling long before it becomes a substitute for human company or other activities. I dont fill houses full of newspapers or have corridor walkways through piles of junk. Sure a couple of my rooms look busy but I enjoy the stuff I have in there. They are just busy in the way a Stereophile reviewers room might be

I went to one guys place and all he had was a telly and an old games console with one game. By those standards we are all hoarders. I dont go to his place and ask him why he seems to have damn all.

Its seems more odd to me why someone doesnt have a healthy smattering of music and film about the place.

[walpurgis]

I gets me when people have no books in their homes. I've seen this.

[farflungstar]

My spare room is a disgrace to humanity. But I find closing the door and pretending it doesn't exist helps.

[Macca]

If we had a 'How bad is your spare room?' photo competition, I reckon I'd win gold. I'd have to clear stuff away just to get in there to take the photo.

Every year I say I will have a spring clean but it never happens. Last time was 2004. I've got boxes of equipment in there that I've never even opened since they arrived. And a couple of tea-chests still waiting to be unpacked from when I moved in here. That was 20 years ago at the end of this month. But hey, I'll get round to it all at some point. Just not today.

[walpurgis]

Every room I have looks like a spare room at the moment.