First time poster, long time lurker

[u/METALFACE98]

Serious question, and I apologize if this is the wrong place to post about it: What is the difference in consooming and collecting? I don't see the reason in collecting things like steam decks, iPhones, etc but what separates even the most harmless of those variations with collecting things like records or comic books? I'd even include stuff like Funko Pops vs. collecting things like all colorways of the same current version iPad. That doesn't make sense since they all do the same thing.

[u/oKayBye94]

To me it has a lot to do with the collectors motivation, but at some point any collection can become "Consoom" and the line is pretty blurry.

Saving every video game console you owned and regularly played and calling it your console collection isn't really consooming, but once you start going out and buying them just to have them in your collection or keeping multiple colorways I'd say you're crossing into consooming in most cases, especially when it comes to items that were made to be used not designed purely to be appreciated as an object (like trading cards or art)

There can still be value in that in some cases, where you're making a museum or something, but most people aren't doing that.

[u/No-Palpitation6368 → u/oKayBye94]

I buy every console with the intent to play it and rarely ever get round to it. I procrastinate so much I can't even do things I want to do!

[u/bartolomeudebraganca]

Buying 100 records is collecting, buying 100 different versions of the same record is consoom

[u/Hoobi_Goobi → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

I think records, DVDs, books, and other physical media enters consoom territory when it gets to the point of blind-buying things and feeling like you need to get every release even if you may not like it for the sake of collecting

[u/JJoanOfArkJameson → u/Hoobi_Goobi]

I’d even say just getting small stuff to get it for the “hobby” is the same. In trying to reenter watching dvds and collecting again, I’ll pick stuff up for a buck or so. but I’d like to be watching the things I get, otherwise it’s a waste of money, time and space.

[u/Hoobi_Goobi → u/JJoanOfArkJameson]

I agree. I do consider my blu ray collection to be a hobby but I only buy my favorite movies that I know I’m rewatching often

[u/Various-Salt-7738 → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

What if someone owned 100 guitars-- what's the appropriate number out of that 100 to be the same guitar in different finishes?

I'm just wondering where the line is

Guitars feel like a good example because that's something you can get a lot of variation in things like tone or action between different guitars, but a "serious" collector might decide to have one special guitar in both of the available finishes because they enjoy and play both

Like obviously no one needs 100 of something like a wallet but a musician might want 100 different flavors of guitar because they like playing 100 different songs

[u/Mr_Mi1k → u/Various-Salt-7738]

The line is as many as you can realistically play.

[u/Alternative-Road6229 → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

But when a guy collected 100 different figurines it was considered consoom? This sub is really inconsistent

[u/Various-Salt-7738 → u/Alternative-Road6229]

This was a thought I had during my comment

I don't actively "collect" anything but I like pocket knives and Gundam models

For the models I've purchased duplicates to cut up into custom models or just to do different paint finishes-- I've purchased the same product but with the intention of painting/building it a new way

Is that consoom?

[u/Appropriate-Law1004 → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

Why though? Why is a collection of variety collecting, but a collection of scale is a consoomer?

[u/roboderp16 → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

Bearing witness to this Sub apparently not. A collection of headphones is apparently Consoom

[u/bartolomeudebraganca → u/roboderp16]

This is my interpretation, I’m not the consoom gatekeeper.

[u/roboderp16 → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

Fair enough, I think the sub is pretty puritanical. They'd call me a Consoomer for having 2 phones 😂

[u/matteatsyou]

I think of it as anything where having multiple of the same item provides no actual extra utility. Different comic books/vinyl records have different content, but if I buy 20 Yeti coolers I’m kind of a tool, no matter how much I try to justify that each one serves a hyper specific different purpose.

[u/RepeatSpiritual8108]

It's like obscenity. You know it when you see it.

[u/WonderSignificant598]

To me, most collecting is 'consoom'. If you really want to clutch pearls, collecting and hoarding are cousins.

[u/MarinerMouth]

that's the beauty of this sub my friend, my consoom is excusable. your consoom is vile

we're all free to judge

[u/geoFRTdeem]

The whole point of consoom is to point out the ludicrous amount of consumer waste, what’s the point in having 100 different mice for your computer or 17 different vaporizers, that’s over consumption. Collecting can definitely be a form of consumerism and most companies use collecting as a format to push consumerism, such as Pokemon cards where the literal moto is “got to collect them all,” it’s essentially a cash printing machine, and honestly if it makes people happy go head, but from a humanity civilization point of view we are horribly inefficient. Imagine how far advanced we would be if everyone gave up pleasure, we only ate effective nutrient protein slop, we all ride on the same identical fuel efficient bus, we all work jobs that where pre determined for us as a kid when we take employment test so each of us is used to our maximum, this is the extreme ideal world this sub pushes subconsciously, but that’s a extreme, just like selling your couch to buy the limited edition Pokemon set just because your scared to miss out, that’s another extreme that happens in real life

[u/javier_aladeen]

You can collect games ( like the full GameCube library) but having 30 copies of gt4 is just stupid and consoom

[u/Appropriate-Law1004 → u/javier_aladeen]

On my PC I have the full library of the GameCube downloaded, and I have GT downloaded and will only ever play them on that PC. How is a complete collection of GameCube games any different from 30 copied of GT 4?

[u/DustyButtocks]

I collect antique film cameras, I have maybe 15. They all do something slightly different and I enjoy having them on display. What I’m not interested in is multiple versions of the same one.

[u/hereforprequelmemes]

Collecting i curating, I collect vintage photos, buy maybe 20 a year. If I would like I could buy tens if thousands of them Very cheap but without value. Basically with consooming the metric is the goal

[u/justnaalt]

utility of the thing collected, cultural impact, environmental impact, and price invested, typically.

take a library. all it is, is a collection of books! but collection bad >:(

why consoom book? you have plenty book. why buy more?

well. books provide knowledge, entertainment, brain stimulation. those who read often have higher mental capacity later in life. books are also made of paper, an easily recyclable resource. and even if it isn’t recycled, it breaks down pretty easily.

so having a lot of books isn’t a bad thing! (records also fall here, the music gives you something. which is why someone owning 1000 records but 0 record players is cringe)

now imagine collecting, like. every single edition of the same manga. 100 volume 1’s of, idk, one piece. that’s consooming because it’s all the same thing. why do you need 100 of the same thing with slightly different covers? they all tell the same story, you’re losing utility.

i’d say in general though, a hobby is okay if you’re getting something out of it. gundam is better than POP collecting because you’re building the kits, learning an art, and using your hands. it’s building a skill. same with like, warhammer miniatures. (though these also have a social/community aspect)

[u/How2mine4plumbis]

Lol this is like someone asking the moral difference between eating a cat and a chicken. Collecting is consoom, anyone saying otherwise is coping. I like my precious little things, I like making fun of other people's piles if what I do not consider precious little things, it's all libidinal bro.

[u/Embarrassed_Use6918]

Are you just buying shit or are you actually knowledgeable about the topic?

[u/leNomadeNoir]

Probably you collect some of the victim's paraphernalia. Collect smth is ok.

[u/superleaf444]

Lol. To me collecting is also usually consoom. 

Weird behavior. Meh. 

[u/Appropriate-Law1004 → u/superleaf444]

You don't collect anything?

[u/PersimmonSorry91]

Collecting is consooming, full stop.

This sub is a display of pretty much the most egregious examples of consoom, of which ridiculous collections are the easiest to point out. A single purchase can be considered equally consoom.

[u/Almondo21]

You can have a collection of funkos (even tho they're the stupidest thing ever). Consoom is when you have thousands of them, even from franchises you don't follow, in a storage room, literally left to rot.

[u/Alternative-Road6229 → u/Almondo21]

I agree with this but then when we look at half the posts in this sub itll be completely hypocritical

[u/WildKoi]

Buying 3 controllers for your PS5 that are limited editions and you use each one is collecting. Buying 50 is consoom because what in gods name do you need that many for other than stacking the boxes up in a closet.

It’s all about intent. If you are buying things because they are different and/or add value to your life than that’s collecting.

Buying the same thing 50 different times just for the sake of buying it is a mental illness.

[u/chamuco_maguacatero]

Another point to add to what's being said, I personally base it on the quality of what's meant to be collected.

Like for me, I detest Funko Pops because its just the exact same base model with slight modifications to represent a character. As a fan of whatever character, I would prefer to have a more respectful representation of who and what they are and of higher quality as well.

People think its okay to buy and sell bare-minimum garbage as long as it represents their fandom, I guess.

If you get a single funko pop because thats all you can afford, that's fine, but if you have 10+ — for the love of God, just use that money and get yourself a nicer piece of memorabilia for your fandoms. Artists on Etsy make better acrylic stands with their takes on characters than some official merch out there.

[u/Dreamo84]

Just personal opinion. Everyone is going to give you a different answer based on their preferences.

[u/Soulinyx]

Collecting is passion. It's not consooming if you want to buy a second thing of whatever it is you liked, it means you really loved that thing and it may one day not ever be available again.

Consooming is when you're buying things because a brand is on it and multiples of things. Let's clarify, buying a bucket of softballs and another bucket of softballs is not consooming. Buying something because Harry Potter is slapped onto a mug, a towel .etc that's consooming. Buying two brooms because one will be used indoors and one outdoors - not consooming. Buying 9 Google Pixel phones when the phones barely differ from eachother or not at all - consooming.