29
Coworker said my pin collection was 'just stuff' and I got defensive
We were at lunch, he pointed at my lanyard with about 30 enamel pins. He said, 'You know that's just random metal you paid for, right?' I sat there quiet for a minute. Realized I never actually thought about why I keep collecting them beyond the hunt. Does anyone else collect something and not really know the why anymore?
4 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In4 Comments
leo_fisher25d ago
That "same brain spot as hunting" thing @bell.felix mentioned actually makes a weird kind of sense to me. I started collecting old Zippos a few years back and now I'm just chasing that rush of finding a beat up one at a garage sale for a dollar. The pile of metal on my shelf doesn't really matter as much as the feeling of the hunt itself.
8
jennifer20425d ago
Is it just me or does that explain why people get super into things like thrifting or antiquing even when they don't really need the stuff? I've noticed this pattern with my neighbor who goes to estate sales every weekend, she's got a whole room full of random knickknacks but she barely looks at them once she gets home. It's really all about the adrenaline of spotting something good and getting there first. Kinda makes me wonder if gamifying everyday life is just our brains trying to feel that primal hunter-gatherer spark again. We've replaced chasing deer with chasing deals at Goodwill I guess.
3