55 replies to this topic

[jkaris]

Some of it was due to bad attitudes of fellow collectors......

I think this is exactly why we have what seems to be such a long tenure here in the group. Up until recently, there wasn't much friction or issues between collectors with any staying power. If collectors would bicker, the next week, they back to being friends. As we have grown, it has gotten worse. Not sure if it is influence from other boards, where flame wars and cliques are the norm, or if it is just that we are all getting older and a lot more stressed overall.
But even for those who don't actively collect M.U.S.C.L.E. anymore, most of us are still here from the original MPS or email group. It's just always been a great community, and the new collectors have always seemed to spur on creativity, to get the group a little more passionate about the hobby.

[Jet-Mech]

I think this is exactly why we have what seems to be such a long tenure here in the group. Up until recently, there wasn't much friction or issues between collectors with any staying power. If collectors would bicker, the next week, they back to being friends. As we have grown, it has gotten worse. Not sure if it is influence from other boards, where flame wars and cliques are the norm, or if it is just that we are all getting older and a lot more stressed overall.

I couldn't agree more. One of the die-cast boards I used to visit on a daily basis was so full of bickering it nearly made me ill. I haven't had the opportunity to poke around here too much, but the amount of bickering I've seen has been very minimal, which is very nice.

Some of the more heinous examples of bad beahvior among Hot Wheels collectors would be the guys who lined up outside Wal-Mart just before they opened the doors and then bought hundreds of freshly stocked cars--on a daily basis--and then capitalized on short-term demand by reselling them at high prices. And then there was dankingery's comment in this thread:

i actually used to know a guy who collected hot wheels who was so nuts that he got into an actual fight with a mentally disabled kid over a hot wheel. nuts..

And, now that I've given it some additional though, part of it was me. My Hot Wheels collecting had stopped becoming a hobby and started to become an obsession. It doesn't look as if M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting will have the same effect on me.

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

I think another type of collector would be something like a Smoldering Collector. The embers of the original Bursting flame is still there to keep the interest warm.

I look at myself as a smoldering collector. As I've said before I'm a pretty patient collector. I've been collecting some lines like Beast Wars for over 10 years just picking up a new piece here or there or replacing an older damaged figure. I havn't lost interest in Beast Wars, but I figure I have all the time in the world to get a whole set. But that's just an example.

I completed my flesh set of muscles probably within the first year of collecting. But I didn't stop buying fleshies. I had alot of imperfect figures, so over the years I've been buying small lots of Flesh figs here and there to replace the imperfect figures and to also assemble a second Flesh set to play with, as my first set is on display. Any other extra figures that are in near perfect shape that I have usually get traded to just help out other collectors who need to fill in holes in their collection, or to fuel the other figure collections I have.

Colored figs aren't a priority for me, and I've even traded or sold some RARE colors I've found to other members who were trying to complete their color sets like Veers. I buy them when I can, and trade my extras. I usually never sale, cause if I get money it is as sure as gone, but I can just about trade muscles for anything I want here.

So I'm done, but I'll always buy them when I can to build my slowly growing color pile, or to perfect my 2 Flesh sets. I don't buy any MOC muscles cause I already have 1 of every pack type, and a board game, and that's all I need as far as that stuff goes.

Another major reason why I havn't Burned out or just vanished, is this board. I would probably have quit years ago if I just bought a full set and not had anyone to share my experience with. I have had the privilege via these boards and its members to be a part of the community, and to donate some legitimate discoveries to the hobby. I think that alone, although it hasn't added much more to the hobby lately, will keep me around for a good while.

I might not be extinguished, but I still have some red hot coals to keep me going.

[Soupie]

1) Flash, as Veers described above. This collector eventually stops collecting because he simply loses interest.
2) Burnout, in which a collector tries to get all the mass-produced items (like a full flesh set and the accessories), but doesn't go as far as trying to get the Super-Rares or rare colors. This collector stops collecting because he's collected what he considers to be a "complete" collection (i.e. a full flesh set) and is unwilling to go further to get the really expensive stuff (which he doesn't consider part of a complete collection anyway).
3) Atomic burnout, in which a collector tries to be a completist and get all the colors, Super-Rares, etc. This collector stops collecting because the high prices and relative unavailability of the items he's searching for is discouraging.

Specifically in regards to your question "Is MUSCLE a guaranteed burnout hobby," I'd agree with Tortle and say, yes, 99% of people will eventually lose interest in collecting MUSCLE stuff. Of course, there can always be exceptions. And as URS said, there are "smoldering" collectors who may not hunt for figures with the intensity of an Arforbes, but who nevertheless are still interested in a few figures when they pop up. (For instance, I'm looking for a green #189... )

Had you asked "Is toy collecting a guaranteed burnout hobby," I'd say absolutely not. (I'd guess that many "smoldering" MUSCLE collectors are people who collect other toys and non-toys.) The joy of collecting is the journey, not the destination. Having said that, it's very common for people to move from hobby to hobby -- you may focus on running for a year or two, playing in a basketball league, learning a martial art, running a Web site, playing an instrument, and then simply "burn out." It's very common to hear people say, yeah, I used to play guitar, I used to go to the gym every week, I used to go mountain biking, I used to collect football cards, etc.

The more specific a hobby is, like collecting one single toy line, the greater the chance of losing interest, while the broader a hobby is, like collecting antiques, the less the chance of losing interest; Yet losing interest is always possible and quite normal.

[Donkeykid77]

I have thought to myself a couple of times already,
at the rather fast rate I'm collecting battle beasts and co,
will I not get tired of this soon?

But I have found so many great possibilities, both in collecting BB as in customising them,
that -theoretically at least- the sky is the limit!
So there will always be some cool stuff I might wanna get done with BB,
and I think for Muscle-collectors pretty much the same should be true.

If I would want all obtainable elements of the collection and had no interest in super-rares or customs,
than I would probably decide to collect them superslowly, whenever you bounce on to some,
rather than actively seeking to complete your collection, because I would probably lose interest,
if one day it would be complete.

With BB/LB and MUSCLEs however, I feel that there are so many ways you can go,
that a true fanatic will never loose interest in continuing to collect.

I mean with BB for instance, you can decide (like CCV) to collect all beasts,
even the color-variants, in every rubsign and voila, you just tripled the aim of your collection!
Then Laserbeasts, they are AND more rare AND more pricey, so automatically they cost you more time collecting,
then there are SuperDeformed, Gumballs, Greek Beasts, Spanish Beasts, Bootlegs (Canadian, Mexican, Spanish)...
Not to mention the various types of cards. And then there's the issue MOC or loose...
The list seems to go on and on, and new finds STILL turn up to drive you even more nuts!

Personally, I will try to get most of everything I mentioned above, except Gumballs and anything MOC,
Gumballs, because they are just TOO hard to come by,
I don't know of ANYONE owning them all, and at the price those guys go...
And MOC just isn't my thing, I need to be able to hold the toys in my hands,
not the toy inside its box, but hey, that's just me.
A Stone Cobra and Striped Carp/Clear Carp/Clear Gator I do want, inspite of their high prices as well,
I feel that they are just the necessary crown on the collection.

I have begun a modest collection of MUSCLEs as well, even some exogini and kinkeshi...
But for now, I have decided to remain focused on BBs,
because my budget is taking more than enough beating collecting just those right now
And knowing myself, if I get serious into MUSCLEs, I WILL want Superrares too, so...

Anyway, just my 2 000 000 cents! ( since 2 certainly won't cut it anymore )

DaKollektor.

PS But on a side-note, if I ever were to really need the money on more important matters...
I might decide to limit my collection to just the basic 76 BB only, not even the Lasers would remain,
because they are worth too much just to sit on the shelf if you really need the money.

Edited by Donkeykid77, 10 May 2008 - 06:53 AM.

[NamaNiku]

My M.U.S.C.L.E. and Kinnikuman collection is always on display, however I have taken vacations from collecting over the years. I don't get bored with collecting M.U.S.C.L.E. by any means, I just get distracted with other collections and life in general.

I have also found that I have to show a little restraint now and then as to not overwhelm my displaying capabilities. I will only collect a piece if I actually like it -I have gotten away from buying something just because it is part of a series.

Working for a company whose website is littered with toys can also be a real challenge - It's like an alcoholic working in a liquor store

Edited by uoozuman, 10 May 2008 - 08:35 AM.