I just keep hoping he'll finally do a little "experimenting" with Amy ."

[hopefully short rant]You sound a bit like me morris. Since as long as I can remember, maybe 5/6 years old, I've always collected something, usually obsessively documenting and double/triple checking minutiae about the stuff. For me, it's been comic books pretty much the whole time, with bounces back and forth to video games and films.

I think that for me the only hobby where I really care about the content is comics. I truly enjoy the stories and art and read and reread what I buy. For gaming and baseball cards and films it's more the collecting aspects than the content; the bargain hunting, organizing and reorganizing, and completing sets.

To help my wallet and my physical space limitations, my OCD has been shifting to digital collecting. I'm currently in a gaming phase. This time last year my GOG and Steam libraries were non-existent. Thanks to bundles and sales, I now own ~700 PC games for a few hundred bucks. I've played maybe a dozen of them in that time.

I know I shouldn't be buying more content than I'll possibly play/read/watch in my lifetime; but I can't resist. I want to change, but so far I've never been able to go more than a few weeks without a shopping splurge. At least I'm focused on getting bargains and collecting freebies, so I probably spend less on my hobbies than a casual drinker spends on a couple drinks a day or a smoker spends on cigarettes; but I'd still rather be putting that money towards retirement or helping others. [/end personal rant]

As much as I liked reading comic books when I was a kid/teenager, the "collector" mentality was largely my main motivation in those days. I was obsessively putting all my comic books into individual plastic slips with acid-free cardboard backs, in a foolish attempt to keep them in mint condition, etc ... Back then I foolishly thought that the value of comic books would spike up with time, like what happened with issues #94 to around #150 of the Uncanny X-Men in those days. (Decades later I realized most of the post-#150 issues of The Uncanny X-Men haven't really went up in value, other than the cover price tracking inflation for mint condition copies).

My jump off point was shortly after the Secret Wars 2 series and crossover issues were over. Towards the end, I was hardly reading any of the then-current new issues anymore (such as stuff after Uncanny X-Men #200, Iron Man #200, etc ...).

By then, I had already jumped onto the ocd vinyl records collecting treadmill which lasted until around 1990. (After 1990, my ocd treadmill moved on to music cds which lasted until around the mid-late 2000's).

(A long video game rant).

For some reason, I never really got into the compulsive collecting/hoarding of video games, once I was an adult. (Whether pc, xbox 360, download, etc ...).

The only time my ocd collecting/hoarding mentality was ever triggered by video games, was shortly after the great video game industry crash (1983). At the time, I was largely clueless about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_A..._crash_of_1983

Around 1984 and 1985, I was picking up numerous $5-$10 Atari 2600 (and some Colecovision) game cartridges which were showing up at local stores like kmart. (Essentially such 2600/Coleco games were being dumped/liquidated at various discount stores).

By the beginning of 1986, there wasn't many 2600/Coleco games left in the local dump bins, which I didn't already have.

As with my then-simultaneous ocd collecting/hoarding of comics books in those days, my ocd collecting/hoarding of video game cartridges also fell by the wayside too around the same time, when my ocd compulsive collecting/hoarding habit moved on to vinyl records.


After 1985, I had no interest in compulsively collecting/hoarding video game cartridges (or discs).

A few years later, I had an Nintendo NES which I hardly ever played. (I only really played Metroid).

Decades later, I picked up an Xbox 360 to play Grand Theft Auto 4 (GTA4). At the time, I first read reviews of the pc version of GTA4 being a complete half-assed total botch job. (If the pc version of GTA4 was a masterpiece, most likely I would have never purchased an Xbox 360). Up to this day, I only purchased two other Xbox 360 games, which I have hardly ever played. (I may pick up Grand Theft Auto 5, once it starts showing up in the local dump bins for $15 or less).

I did waste a loooot of money on that collector mentality. Over the last couple of years, I've really shrunk my collection down by... well, quite a bit. It's still fairly large, of course, but it's not quite the insane bloat-fest it used to be. So yes, in that respect, I have felt some remorse buying Blu-ray titles.

As far as buying Blu's in general though? No way. This is likely the last physical format I'm really going to need. If another format comes out in time, I'll likely buy it... but I'm not replacing most of my collection for yet another new format. 1080p looks great on my 46" set. I really dont' see the need for a higher resolution in my home.

I can relate. I've had many similar thoughts on this in general. But I've found that such rationalizations have fallen short for me in the longer term, regardless of how many times I keep on saying it to myself.

As I got older, I've come to the realization that my ocd mentality generates a lot of anxiety (and some paranoia), which is very pervasive and ever present when my ocd goes into full throttle. The few times in my life where I have not been on any ocd "treadmills", I didn't feel any anxiety at all and I was largely at peace with myself. (Such time periods lasted only a few months).


In many ways, I've been searching for something that my ocd can focus on without generating any anxiety or paranoia. So far bluray, dvd, comic books, music cds, etc ... have not been ideal candidates. (I do not know yet whether something abstract/non-physical like "string theory" could be a viable candidate).

String theory is less physics and more pure math. It's very likely our current understanding of mathematics is not complete enough to fully articulate a successful string theory. I think the Holographic Principle is our best bet at the current moment to achieve a practical solution, though we really need another Einstein to come along.

Even Einstein spent half of his career on failed "unified field theories".

It seems like "unified field theories" or "theories of everything" are a very seductive waste of time for some physicists and mathematicians.

Similar sentiments here too.

In practice, I've found that just about every ocd "treadmill" I've been on, has been like this. The actual objects of interest (whether physical or virtual), have very little to no "intrinsic use" for me outside of "collecting" purposes.

For example, I have a large collection of Star Trek novels which I have hardly read at all. (Mostly stuff I found for 50 cents each or less, at various thrift stores, book fairs, church rummages, etc ...). This was another ocd compulsive collecting/hoarding treadmill I was on, immediately before I jumped onto the ocd dvd collecting/hoarding treadmill in early-2011. (Since then, I've had no interest in "completing" my Star Trek novel collection).

I didn't really have a sudden "light bulb moment" when I came to the same realization. (ie. I was already going through the $2 bluray bargain bins at local discount/dollar stores).

For me it was more gradual over a year long period. (Mostly over late-2012 and into 2013).

Basically I kept on saying to myself over and over again, that I would spend more time on watching through my backlog of tv season sets. But instead of watching through my backlog, I ended up spending all my time netsurfing and posting on internet message boards.



It took me a long time to realize this, and to see how many unwatched dvds/blurays I had collecting dust on the shelves. (ie. I would rather go netsurfing mindlessly, than watching tv).

My light bulb moment was when that Alan Smithee thread was created.

But sometimes I really need to watch a CED version of Porky's. Who need a Blu-ray version?

If I had not been taking measures to deal with my ocd behavior over the last few years, most likely that Alan Smithee thread would have raised my eyebrows and immediately caught my attention.

Going through the first several dozen or so pages of that thread, was like a feeling of "been there, done that" for me.

So at this point can I assume it's not a question of if, but rather of when the site will change it's name to OCDTalk?

I kinda learned my lesson with DVD. I had about 1,000 movies (which may not be shit in this group, but is a lot of movies). I probably didn't watch but 1/3 of them. Some I lost in my divorce, some I sold, but I still have about 500. I'm much, much choosier with Blu Rays. I only buy my absolute favorites. Last year I only bought about six movies total in fact and I only have about 50 Blue Rays.

(More generally).

Overall, I don't think I ever really truly cared much about the stuff I was collecting/hoarding, especially when it came to actually using such items for their intended purpose (outside of collecting/hoarding purposes). As "paradoxical" this may sound.

At most my interest was largely superficial, and only really "transient" over the duration of the particular treadmill.

Once I jumped off a particular ocd compulsive treadmill, the objects of interest essentially became "clutter" clogging up my bookcases and storage rooms. For example, such as bookcases filled with dvds, Star Trek novels, multiple editions of engineering + physics textbooks, video game strategy guides, etc ...

(More generally).

Wonder how many other online message boards which are dedicated to collectables of any sort, have similar types of "ocd" threads about the posters commiserating over large unmanageable collections.

(ie. First world problems or a "tempest in a teapot").

I never heavily invested in Blu so my answer would be no. I was pretty interested in the format from late 07' to 09' but like alot of posters here I learned my lesson from DVD. At my peak I think I had about 400-450 DVDs with only 150-175 watched. I probably peaked with about 75 blu's and after slimming down have about 20-25 left. Streaming is just so convenient that I don't really see the need for physical media anymore.

I agree, collecting media and OCD aren't the best combination -- especially when it comes to organizing, completing a series/collection or having to buy new cases for used product (something most people wouldn't give two shits about). I too was getting more anxiety than enjoyment when I decided to let a good chunk of the collection go.

First, I sold off TV series I only had one or two seasons of (stuff like Burn Notice or Sliders) because not having the remaining seasons bothered me and I figured if I did shell out for the rest of the sets they would just sit unwatched with the rest of my backlog. Then I moved on to terrible sequels that I owned just for completion sake (I'm looking at you, Hellraiser 4-8) or bad films from directors/actors I enjoy. If I have no desire to revisit a movie, why have it take up space on the shelf?

But you know what? That OCD/completeist part of my brain is still bothered that I got rid of some of this stuff. In all honesty, I've repurchased about a dozen or so titles I sold off in the last five months... which makes me feel like a complete moron. This was only due to a particularly sweet 30% off + free shipping coupon from SecondSpin. A few titles were upgraded to Blu-ray, some where replacements for out-of-print tiles (like Just Before Dawn) that I figured would be hard to come by later. Whatever the reason, I still feel ridiculous. But, hey... admitting you have a problem is the first step toward recovery.

I have slowed down new purchases to about six titles a month (and even that seems a bit much, all things considered). I'll never stop collecting movies, I just need to be more selective going forward and make a point of letting a few things go from time to time.

For some strange reason, my ocd "compulsive completionist" dvd/bluray habit only seems to be triggered by tv shows, but not movie (or actor/director) "franchises".

I have many movies on dvd and/or bluray with many missing sequels, and it doesn't seem to bother me at all. (For example, franchises like: SAW, Cheech/Chong, Bourne, Alien/Predator, James Bond, Superman, Batman, Death Race, Fast and Furious, Marvel, etc ...).

Why exactly this is the case, I don't know (yet).

Overall at the present time, I guess my ocd behavior is very compartmentalized and can be summarized as:

1 - Compulsive bluray collecting/hoarding and "impulse buying" at the $2 bluray bargain bins of local discount/dollar stores. For such $2 blurays, I don't even care about "completing" any of these series of movies. This is largely pure mindless "impulse buying" of less popular sci-fi/fantasy/action $2 movies. (I don't care anymore about "impulse buying" dvds). These days, this ocd "impulse buying" behavior is not triggered at all by blurays which are $5 and higher.

2 - "Compulsively completing" tv show series, with either all the seasons or up to a particular season (such as Happy Days up to season 4, CSI up to season 9, etc ...). For tv shows, there is very little to no "impulse buying" anymore. I do a lot of prior "research" on sites like tvshowsondvd and amazon to determine what I want to buy and "complete".

3 - Obsessively finding ways to counteract (or neutralize) my ocd behavior. (As ironic this may sound).

I don't have too much of that OCD mentality of "gotta collect them all", but just enough to have a collection, though very controllable.Me too. Only I went from about 4 purchases a week to about 2 a month. Part of that is due to good releases sorts drying up, and that I also pretty much have all the catalog titles I'd want. I love that my collection is pretty much contained and under control - not to mention all the money I've been saving. It's almost a shock when I get my CC bill these days and how it's so much lower than it used to be 5-10 years ago.

Yeah, I pretty much have all the catalog releases I want... and previously had way more than I really needed.

Currently, the only catalog releases that are really calling out to me are the Scream Factory/Olive releases and the occasional Criterion (though I haven't bought one of those in over a year). Thankfully, the prices on those labels keep me from going overboard unless there is some crazy sale happening. In the case of Scream Factory, I already own most of those movies on DVD from other labels. As nice as their blu-rays are (especially in the special features department), I don't really need upgrade everything.

Same here.

In the case of current tv shows on bluray, there's very few current shows that interest me enough to want to buy any of the bluray season sets.

At the present time, the only current tv shows I've been buying on bluray are "Person of Interest", Cinemax's Strike Back, and the revived Hawaii Five-0. Though Hawaii Five-0 might be discontinued on bluray, and Strike Back ends next year.

None of the current crop of first season tv shows have really kept my interest, that I might want to get the season 1 bluray sets. (ie. I probably won't bother picking up season 1 of "The Strain" on bluray).

(On a related tangent).

My absolute worst case of ocd induced anxiety, was when I picked up the Dexter complete series bluray set earlier this year. (Previously I only saw season 1 of Dexter, when it was cleaned up for network television during the 2007-2008 Hollywood writer's strike).

Due to my ocd paranoia over defective discs, I spent an entire weekend extracting the undecrypted isos of every disc on the computer, to check for any bad sectors due to manufacturing defects. (IIRC the set had 25 discs, where each disk took around 45-50 minutes to go through on the computer). I was relieved when all 25 discs were shown to be fine.


More recently, I've been attempting to "reverse engineer" my ocd bluray anxiety/paranoia by turning it on its head, and using it as a way to avoid buying any sets with a large number of bluray discs. More generally, also using this anxiety (or perceived anxiety) to avoid buying a large number of bluray discs at the same time.

For example, whenever I'm at a discount (or dollar) store going through the $2 bluray dump bins, I now use this anxiety (or perceived anxiety) as a way of limiting the number and type of $2 blurays I'll buy. So instead of buying every single $2 title in the bluray dump bins, I'll restrict my purchases to the sci-fi/fantasy/action (and some horror) movies, while mostly skipping over the comedies, dramas, documentaries, etc ... Usually this ends up reducing the number of $2 blurays to a manageable level of anxiety.

(This may sound strange to a non-ocd person).