Are vintage collector's secretly depressed ?

[Adam West]

I will say for me it is a fun distraction from the monotony of day to day life but wouldn't say that life would otherwise be depressing.

[megoscott]

The happier times thing makes me wonder too. My parents divorced when I was five, we moved around a few times, I was a lonely only child, then somebody's step-son. Not a horrible childhood by any means, but my Megos were a source of comfort and stability in an uncertain time.

[jwyblejr]

Oh Dont Deny It......embrace It...we Are Nerds , Geeks , Freaks , And All Around Wierdos !!! But That's What Makes Us Awesome!!!!!

No doubt about that. That's why the non collectors don't "get us". Things really don't change much. They have their own little groups,we have ours. It's been that way since most of us were in school and I doubt it'll change that much.

[MysteryWho]

While I was at the dentist, something else came to mind. A lot of the stuff I've collected is stuff that I DIDN'T have. Joes & Megos that I missed out on somehow. In fact, I am not strongly motivated to acquire many of things I DID have. So there is something else besides nostalgia. Closure maybe?
However, I don't want to emphasize the melancholy too much. I've always been fascinated with Sixties stuff and I wasn't born till '72. And Sci-Fi from the fifties. Maybe it's that good stuff stays good. Megos stand the test of time? Perhaps.

[Adam West]

I will add that for me personally, I only had a few megos (maybe 4 total).

My parents were very good to us but didn't have the money to collect them all.

One of my best friends on the other hand, had most of them. I really enjoyed going over to his house to read his comic books and covet his Megos.

Now that I'm an adult, I can afford them if I want them. It has been a real thrill to own some of the figures that I always wanted but was never able to have as a kid due to monetary reasons.

[palitoy]

While I was at the dentist, something else came to mind. A lot of the stuff I've collected is stuff that I DIDN'T have. Joes & Megos that I missed out on somehow.

I got that going on in spades, a lot of my collection is things I wanted to have but couldn't find as a kid. Although I guess that could also be viewed as nostalgia.

[Mikey]

That's an interesting thought.

I love the Space 1999 Palitoy's but never even heard of them until I was probably 25 years old.

When I did hear of them (I read about them in a collector's book) I thought --- dang, I gotta own these SOMEDAY -SOMEHOW.

It had nothing to do with nostagia whatsoever.

[clemso]

As far as I can remember, I only owned a Superman, but I did find a pair of Robin shoes while clearing out the childhood den, so i guess Robin too, but i don't remember him at all. I think I might have repressed memories brought on by not having them all. I remember the Jr21 Thinderbird toys very well and they are from the mid 60s. I had never seen or heard of the Thunderbird 4 or 5 back then but now of course I own them. I wanted them real bad too. So repressed and depressed

Clem

[ddgaff1132]

If you ever noticed. Everyone collects something... Cars, Guns Knick knacks, Teddy bears or in one case Old firefighting equipment. Basically I think it all falls under what you can afford, what appeals to the collector and what you're determined to follow through on. Some people jump on the latest fad (IE. Beanie Baby's) Only to see it vanish as quickly as it came to be. Collecting is key to the human condition (The accumulation of certain goods). Because of their poor distribution (and in the case of MEGO) abrupt end of production. Vintage toys have an appeal due to their finite nature. People want to preserve these type of things. Nostalgia also comes into. Happy or Sad. I think its all part of the Human condition. The person who doesn't collect worries me. They seem to be nihilistic with no ties to anything.

[VintageMike]

It's having a piece of the past that can bring you to that place in time for a few moments. Usuallya simpler time. As far as why some people do and some people don't to me it's a matter of how people change (or don't) as they get older. As some people get older they simply lose intrest in the things they loved when they were younger. For the rest of us we never lost our interest. The interest may change some what (fin thsi case from playing with toys to collecting them) but it's still there.
My personal belief is that those who lose intrest do so because they don't "feel" the past as we do. Just about everyone here has recounted exactly how good it felt as a kid playing with Megos, watching cartoons on a Saturday morning etc. Because we remember the feeling so well we place a higher value on it. For those who don't it because they've lost interest and only place a high value on the here and now.
I feel like we're the lucky ones because our inner children are still around and strong. I think that make slife more fun in general. I often look at people who have "moved on" and in contrast to the this subject are decidely unhappy. I sometimes wonder if they could still enjoy a comic book or other
"childish" thing it would bring some happiness into their lives.

Edit: One thing I love about collecting in the ability to bring something back something otherwise gone forever.
For instance I may never be able to see orginal Star Wars figures in thr store again but when I look at my display or carded figures in instamntly takes me back and that display is never going away unless I want it to.

[MysteryWho]

Oh man, that's great. I'm sometimes accused of being a nihilist in one way or another. I am definitely going to use my collectibles to defend myself next time!

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

Interesting thread. I collect for a lot of the reasons mentioned above...specially the being able to collect them now when I couldn't as a kid. Plus, they just make me happy having them all around me.

[sauce]

Sometimes I'm unhappy. Buying a MEGO can make me happy.
Sometimes I'm happy. Buying a MEGO can make me happier.
Sometimes I'm hungry. Buying a MEGO can make me have no money for dinner, so I gotta make sure it's a good MEGO. And then I'm happy.

When I stick my head inside of my big vault full of MEGO body parts, the synthetic sweet smell of deteriorating plastic from the 1970s brings me closer to where I want to be. I'll go with nostalgia as romanticized depression for $500, Alex.

[vulcan2074]

I'll go with nostalgia as romanticized depression for $500, Alex.

Ha Ha Ha Ha

Sammy

[M3G0M4V3R1CK]

i get happy when i buy a rare one but depressed when i get in a new robin lmao i have like 12 already