Why Collecting Toys is Like a Heroin Addiction.

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't see it either. Standing in line for hours, shopping in an air conditioned environment(or online) and at worst case incurring massive debt is a far cry to having to commit crimes like stealing(or worse) to fund the next hit, mixing up with violent gangs in shady areas of the city and actually degrading your body through needles and chems.

It's unhealthy sure, but let's not pretend they are even in the same magnitude in the slightest. Obsessive toy collection is no different to any other obsessive retail behaviour and you're not going to liken hastak to some drug pusher are you? Are you?

Hate to bring it this silly meme up but...1st world problems?

Drug addiction is a form of substance dependence, whereas toy addiction is a type of behavioural addiction. So it's probably more accurate to compare it with other forms of behavioural addictions like addictive gambling or video gaming etc. But fundamentally speaking, substance addictions and behavioural addictions are still all forms of addictions.

Symptoms of addictions include:
* Impaired control over the substance or behaviour. e.g. when HasTak releases another crappy repaint or a toy that seems overpriced for what it is, most of us would say to ourselves, "Screw that," whereas an addict would be like, "What a crap toy. I must have it!"
* Preoccupation with the substance/behaviour, so like you're constantly thinking about buying a new toy (as opposed to thinking about and enjoying the toys that you already have).
* Continued use/behaviour despite consequences - in this case, the guy doesn't even like his toys... doesn't play with them or display them. But he feels compelled to keep buying them.
* Short-term reward, long-term cost. e.g. if you're only buying Transformers to enjoy the experience of purchasing them, as opposed to buying Transformers and enjoying the toys for years to come. I still play with my G1 toys... just a few days ago I was making my G1 Rodimus Prime and Galvatron battle each other.
* Tolerance. This is when the body adapts to the substance or behaviour (thus it no longer gives you the same 'rush' or 'high'), and thus the user requires increasingly larger amounts to achieve the original effects. e.g. buying a new toy once a month no longer thrills you, so you buy a new toy once a fortnight. Then this becomes dull and you end up buying every new toy that you see on shelves as frequently as possible. When this no longer satiates you, you go online shopping for toys that aren't available in your region... and beyond that you start an eBay account and start splashing out for toys that are no longer available in your time! (i.e. vintage toys). I'm not saying that everyone who collects vintage toys off eBay is an addict, remember we're talking about people who enjoy the purchase more than actually owning these toys. So whereas someone might go, "Woot! I have a Grand Maximus! Can't wait to enjoy this toy!", the addict would be, "Woot! I have a Grand Maximus! Can't wait to put this toy in storage and hunt down Battle Gaia!"
* Withdrawal. "Aw man, there are no new toys out that I wanna buy. I'm not interested in Transformers no more." I can see how a lack of new toys is extremely frustrating, for sure... but as I've often said before, during periods of "toy droughts" (especially the late G1, G2 and late RiD years) I felt frustrated that there were no new toys too. But it never stopped me from enjoying the toys, reading the comics and watching the videos of Transformers that I already had. As most of you know, I've been an avid and dedicated fan and collector of Transformers non-stop since 1984... there have been times when my passion has slowed down (G2 years), but it's never stopped.
* Denial. I know a guy who's in complete denial that he has a video game addiction (and thus refuses to seek help). His marriage has broken down because he was neglecting his wife and children and household because he was just constantly gaming. He's just completely anti-social.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

yea i fail to see the connection, except to make light of a different and more serious social problem.

Probably more of the opposite - to make a comparatively minor behavioural problem seem more significant than it is.

I'm 2 parts Cat to 1 part Goki on this one - it is an addiction, sure, so there are some similarities, but to compare toy addiction to heroin addiction is a leap too far IMO.

[Sky Shadow]

As an experiment - I'm quitting Transformers for one month. I know I'm an addict, but anyone who claims they're not addicted should feel more than free to do the same. I will:

- not purchase any Transformers. That includes looking at buying Transformers on eBay or other sites that sell Transformers. I will also not go to any toyshops or the toy section of any department stores.

- not buy or read any Transformers comics/books.

- not play with, transform or look at any Transformers toys.

- not go to any Transformers websites including here at OTCA and Tfwiki.

(The only exceptions to the above are that I do have some Transformers which I'm selling on eBay and here - anything related to those is unavoidable. I won't check my sale page here, but if you PM me, I will get the message in my email. That goes for anyone who wants to PM me for whatever reason.)

I will keep a diary and will post it here when the month is over. This all starts tomorrow, so I'll keep checking OTCA until then - if anyone has any comments or suggestions let me know!

(For the sake of this experiment, GoBots/Machine Men/Machine Robo etc. count as 'Transformers' and will also be part of the experiment. I have no interest in third-party stuff anyway, but it too counts. However, for now - my other toy addictions [Masters of the Universe, Zoids, Thundercats etc] will be continuing, because I'm too addicted and not brave enough to go completely cold turkey on toys. It will be interesting to see if/how those addictions grow in a month without Transformers, however.)

[Sky Shadow]

(And I won't watch any Transformers cartoons either, but I doubt I would have watched any anyway.)

[kup]

I think that if you also get your kicks from buying other toy lines, it isn't much of an experiment since at the end, it is more or less then same 'kick'. You are not stopping the 'addiction' part completely.

[Defcon]

Yeah agreed, you actually need to go cold turkey, to have any effect on the addiction. Still collecting other toys defeats the experiment.
I would say also some basic lifestyle changes would shake things up. Like do something different to what you normally do. Change routines, try new things etc.

by the way I realize this is just an experiment, just offering more suggestions so it might be more effective

[Trent]

I think that if you also get your kicks from buying other toy lines, it isn't much of an experiment since at the end, it is more or less then same 'kick'. You are not stopping the 'addiction' part completely.

If you aren't quitting the other toy lines, in all likelyhood you will just compensate for this buy spending more time/money on the other lines.

[GoktimusPrime]

I wouldn't be able to give up having and enjoying Transformers, so I'm definitely addicted in that regard. I wouldn't stop purchasing Transformers now, but not because because I have a strong urge to buy new toys right now, but because I'm afraid that if I wait till later the toys might become more difficult and expensive to chase down afterwards. It might not... I mean, United Artfire and Encore Fortress Maximus might end up shelfwarming and being massively discounted later. Or they might not. I'm not a betting man, so I prefer getting them sooner rather than later and risk having to spend more time and money hunting them.

But something I'd like to discuss is, when does an addiction become problematic? Because here are some points where I draw the line....

+ Enjoyment. Is Transformers fun for you? Do you love/enjoy it?
+ Are you using Transformers as a means of recreational escapism, or are you using it as a means of coping with other issues/problems in your life?
+ Is it negatively affecting the way you relate with other people?
+ Is Transformers distracting you from life? To put it crudely, do you have a life other than Transformers and toy collecting (and other nerdish or compulsive pursuits)?

Let's examine this in relation to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:

I think as your addiction is more greatly the lower order needs toward the bottom of that triangle, then the worse it gets.

Physiological: You know you're addicted badly if it's impacting on basic things like food, water, excretion etc. Think of that meme with a picture of a toy collection that states, "Somewhere someone is eating cup ramen." Imagine taking that one step further -- where you've spent all your money on toys and you can't even afford to eat. I once heard a radio caller who used to work at casino high roller's room who said that they often had to change the carpet under the tables because some customers will literally urinate and defecate in their seats rather than take time away from their games to go and use the toilets.

Safety: In this case we're mostly likely talking about financial security. Imagine someone spending all of their earnings on Transformers to the point that they're unable to maintain adequate savings or save up to buy stuff that they would like, such as a car, house etc. So imagine the stereotypical adult with no savings and still lives with his/her parent(s).

Love/Belonging: Is this hobby making you a social isolate? Are you still maintaining a network of friends and/or - if you wish it - romantic relationships with a partner? Is this hobby making you ignore your family (as in the case of the person with the game addiction I mentioned in my last post)?

Esteem: Do you respect yourself or do you suffer from some kind of inferiority complex (or even self loathing)?

Self-Actualisation: It is said that this is need is achieved only when all the other previous needs are achieved.

If Transformers is something you enjoy, and it isn't negatively impacting on you or others... then why not? Perhaps in such a case it's more of a "benign" addiction rather than a "harmful" one. JMHO.

[Sky Shadow]

Yeah, I'm looking at my Transformers addiction this month - not all toys, all comic books, all TV shows and all the internet - just the ones that relate to Transformers.

[janda the red]

Interesting read.... Not sure what I think to be honest, but it definitely made me think!

Good luck with your experiment though Sky.... Interested to hear how you go.