Are retrogamers more mentally imbalanced than the normal population?

[Keatah]

I believe that is true - retrogamers are an eccentric bunch alright.

 

Many are hoarders, without a doubt! And don't forget being mentally imbalanced, caused by either a natural birth defect or some sort of acquired phobia. There's always something "not quite right" when you talk to somebody that has an "oversized" or extensive collection. No matter how you justify it. It's a fact.

 

A lot of retrogamers, for whatever reasons that unknown to me, are on some sort of medication. Either self-prescribed natural supplements from the healthfood store or controlled pharmaceuticals from a real doctor.

 

This is only confirmed and evidenced by my most recent haul. There's more stuff in here than I imagined and I'm finding new goodies as I go through the final 6 boxes. The place I got this from was from worse than a pig-stye! Smelly garbage all over, things rotting, way too many duplicates of stuff to indicate any shred of sanity. Ugghhh.. I'm keeping the good stuff and getting rid of the rest.

[AtariLeaf]

I believe that is true - retrogamers are an eccentric bunch alright.

 

Many are hoarders, without a doubt! And don't forget being mentally imbalanced, caused by either a natural birth defect or some sort of acquired phobia. There's always something "not quite right" when you talk to somebody that has an "oversized" or extensive collection. No matter how you justify it. It's a fact.

 

A lot of retrogamers, for whatever reasons that unknown to me, are on some sort of medication. Either self-prescribed natural supplements from the healthfood store or controlled pharmaceuticals from a real doctor.

 

This is only confirmed and evidenced by my most recent haul. There's more stuff in here than I imagined and I'm finding new goodies as I go through the final 6 boxes. The place I got this from was from worse than a pig-stye! Smelly garbage all over, things rotting, way too many duplicates of stuff to indicate any shred of sanity. Ugghhh.. I'm keeping the good stuff and getting rid of the rest.

 

I was just mentioning this in another thread about being overwhelmed by a collection. I know I'm not a hoarder because I get overwhelming desires to get rid of so much of it and otherwise, I like and need things clean and organized around me. In some ways, game collectors as a whole are anti-hoarder because we like and need order in our collections. Maybe its because there's disorder in the rest of our life and our game collections are the one area we have some control over.

[so_tough!]

I believe that is true - retrogamers are an eccentric bunch alright.

 

Many are hoarders, without a doubt! And don't forget being mentally imbalanced, caused by either a natural birth defect or some sort of acquired phobia. There's always something "not quite right" when you talk to somebody that has an "oversized" or extensive collection. No matter how you justify it. It's a fact.

 

A lot of retrogamers, for whatever reasons that unknown to me, are on some sort of medication. Either self-prescribed natural supplements from the healthfood store or controlled pharmaceuticals from a real doctor.

 

This is only confirmed and evidenced by my most recent haul. There's more stuff in here than I imagined and I'm finding new goodies as I go through the final 6 boxes. The place I got this from was from worse than a pig-stye! Smelly garbage all over, things rotting, way too many duplicates of stuff to indicate any shred of sanity. Ugghhh.. I'm keeping the good stuff and getting rid of the rest.

 

Is this a serious post?

 

"And don't forget being mentally imbalanced, caused by either a natural birth defect or some sort of acquired phobia."

 

What is this defect you are talking about? A pear shaped brain or 3 nipples?

 

I think you need to really research this and bring this to the attention of the psychiatric industry! They will help you come up with a diagnosis sheet and help get the big pharmaceutical companies involved.

 

 

welome to the mad house!

Edited December 23, 2011 by so_tough!

[ls650]

I dunno; there are a lot of nutjobs in the noncollecting public too...

[Reaperman]

I'm not doubting that we're an odd bunch, but consider the (well founded) FPS gamer stereotype. Or maybe people that collect their own urine--we're way more stable than most of them.

 

Heck, I once saw this movie focused on the lives of professional scrabble players. Now we're doing great.

Edited December 23, 2011 by Reaperman

[Sonic R]

I am a hoarder... just going into my kitchen, I have an excess of things…

 

plates = 20

silverware = 15-20 sets; knives, spoons, forks

glasses = 15

cups = 12

sipping cups for my 1 1/2 year old daughter = 8

pots = 5

pans = 4

 

then to my gaming room…

 

consoles = 20 (hooked up and ready to play)

games = 1200

televisions = 2

controllers = too many to bother counting…

 

then in my bathroom…

 

toothbrushes = 6

shampoo = 3

conditioner = 3

body wash = 2

toothpaste = 2

hand towels = 3

 

I mean how can I possibly use all this stuff at once, all the time?!?!

 

I need help! I keep too much stuff on hand only to seldom use some of it… can anyone reccommend some good drugs? I need to reduce my inventory and become lean, but I cannot do so in my current state of mind!!!

[+Ransom]

I am a hoarder... just going into my kitchen, I have an excess of things…

 

plates = 20

silverware = 15-20 sets; knives, spoons, forks

glasses = 15

cups = 12

sipping cups for my 1 1/2 year old daughter = 8

pots = 5

pans = 4

 

then to my gaming room…

 

consoles = 20 (hooked up and ready to play)

games = 1200

televisions = 2

controllers = too many to bother counting…

 

then in my bathroom…

 

toothbrushes = 6

shampoo = 3

conditioner = 3

body wash = 2

toothpaste = 2

hand towels = 3

 

I mean how can I possibly use all this stuff at once, all the time?!?!

 

I need help! I keep too much stuff on hand only to seldom use some of it… can anyone reccommend some good drugs? I need to reduce my inventory and become lean, but I cannot do so in my current state of mind!!!

 

You know, obsessive counting is a sign of mental illness.

[Sonic R]

You know, obsessive counting is a sign of mental illness.

 

haha... tell that to my boss.. I have to do cycle counts regularly! my illness has spread to my place of employment! I NEED HELP!!!

[so_tough!]

You know, obsessive counting is a sign of mental illness.

 

haha... tell that to my boss.. I have to do cycle counts regularly! my illness has spread to my place of employment! I NEED HELP!!!

 

don't worry here's a book I'm currently reading, it may give you some comfort-

 

http://www.amazon.com/Myth-Mental-Illness-Foundations-Personal/dp/0060911514

Edited December 23, 2011 by so_tough!

[Metal Ghost]

I'm not doubting that we're an odd bunch, but consider the (well founded) FPS gamer stereotype. Or maybe people that collect their own urine--we're way more stable than most of them.

 

Heck, I once saw this movie focused on the lives of professional scrabble players. Now we're doing great.

 

Ha....you saw that too?!? I remember watching it with my wife a couple of years ago via Netflix. She's a huge fan of Scrabble and other various word games (of course Words with Friends is big on her list now). I was kind of picking on her throughout the entire movie, if only because she's not like a lot of the folks were in it. Definitely a worth-see though.

 

As for being nut-jobs, as a whole I don't see it. Maybe I'm just blind to it?? I can definitely attest to the fact that I'm about as much the antithesis to the filthy person described above from which a score was made. I agree wtih AtariLeaf....I strive for as much order and organization in my admitedly small collection as I can get.

[PsychedelicShaman]

With only myself to go on, I would have to say yes. But at gaming conventions, I always expect everyone to be socially maladjusted, and that's usually not the case. Mostly normal, nerdy people.

[FireStar]

I saw the topic title, and I started laughing. Then I started crying.

[Chuck D. Head]

Hmmmmm, after being involved with countless forums, usenet groups, and real world groups in my life, the group on this forum is the most rational and pleasant I have had chance to deal with. This includes little league, school groups, scouts, church groups, every work force I have ever been a part of, schools I attended, etc, etc, etc.

So, I say no, not much different from the rest of society. Unfortunately, most of us could do with a little dose of improved mental health.

[atarilovesyou]

That Scrabble documentary was awesome!...got me right back into the game and a respect for the guys who really know how to play that game. Full blown OCD, for sure, in most cases!

 

In all seriousness, I don't know about inbalanced, but anybody who seems to have a passion for anything these days can be discounted with OCD...if you're creative, now you've got ADHD, or other labels. In the end, whatever makes you happy and doesn't affect your health, go for it. I consider being a reclusive hoarder who shuns socializing for the most part isn't healthy, so if that was the case, I might consider getting some help!...after reading a few links about the compulsive nature of modern video gaming, I'm happy with the few minutes a day I spend playing old school games. Beats a full blown WoW addiction anyday, I think...but then I watch "Chasing Ghosts" with the scenes from that Robert Mrcek (don't recall his last name), and I use that as a reference point. Or a handful of others from that movie...I ask these questions:

 

Do I sleep in the middle of my living room surrounded by gaming relics of the past and own a dozen exotic spiders?

 

Do I collect quasi-pornographic art by the thousands while having not ever kissed a girl?

 

Do I wear a striped referee shirt and have a rock star delusion?

 

Do I still harbour anger towards a guy who beat me at Berzerk over 25 years ago?

 

...if I ever answer yes to any of those, I'm calling the funny farm on myself.

[AtariBrian]

i guess i have quite a bit of old game stuff. have it all organized to. but my friend is only into modern gaming and has a xbox 360 and he literally doesnt leave his apartment unless he really has to. a half year passed by one time before i heard from him. he is so addicted its unbelievable.

[PsychedelicShaman]

"I thought I was crazy, and then I visited the Jag forum..."

[so_tough!]

That Scrabble documentary was awesome!...got me right back into the game and a respect for the guys who really know how to play that game. Full blown OCD, for sure, in most cases!

 

In all seriousness, I don't know about inbalanced, but anybody who seems to have a passion for anything these days can be discounted with OCD...if you're creative, now you've got ADHD, or other labels. In the end, whatever makes you happy and doesn't affect your health, go for it. I consider being a reclusive hoarder who shuns socializing for the most part isn't healthy, so if that was the case, I might consider getting some help!...after reading a few links about the compulsive nature of modern video gaming, I'm happy with the few minutes a day I spend playing old school games. Beats a full blown WoW addiction anyday, I think...but then I watch "Chasing Ghosts" with the scenes from that Robert Mrcek (don't recall his last name), and I use that as a reference point. Or a handful of others from that movie...I ask these questions:

 

Do I sleep in the middle of my living room surrounded by gaming relics of the past and own a dozen exotic spiders?

 

Do I col

 

lect quasi-pornographic art by the thousands while having not ever kissed a girl?

 

Do I wear a striped referee shirt and have a rock star delusion?

 

Do I still harbour anger towards a guy who beat me at Berzerk over 25 years ago?

 

...if I ever answer yes to any of those, I'm calling the funny farm on myself.

 

People mis label ocd all the time though. ocd is not about collecting or anything like that. Ocd is not when you have 500 games because you ENJOY having them or being a neat freak because you enjoy having a tidy house. The phrase "I'm so ocd ..." has really made it sound trivial, most people who use that phrase do not have ocd.

 

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety

Edited December 24, 2011 by so_tough!

[Mirage]

People mis label ocd all the time though. ocd is not about collecting or anything like that. Ocd is not when you have 500 games because you ENJOY having them or being a neat freak because you enjoy having a tidy house. The phrase "I'm so ocd ..." has really made it sound trivial, most people who use that phrase do not have ocd.

 

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety

 

Thank you, yes. The same thing goes with ADHD/ADD/Adult-ADHD. It's not trivial, and it's overdiagnosed/assumed/self-diagnosed (my opinion).

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

Uh, RETRO GAMERS are stable, intelligent, polite and well adjusted of course! HOWEVER I think a case can be made for MODERN GAMERS being bat-shit insane!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCdrZmy0qTM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AkyPOSaHOg

[SnapCraft]

Mild OCD here.

 

My wife absolutely hates my collection. Hasn't slowed me down though. I just follow some simple rules (1) never pay more than $15 for a game and (2) don't get duped by eBay.

 

Some collectors are very anal about the box, instructions, label, CD scratches...etc. I am to a degree, but I'm more of the "I want everything and I'm willing to sacrifice perfection to get it" collector.

[SeberHusky]

I own 23 GameCubes...why? I dunno.I just started collecting them, because they were cheap. $10 or so for a lot of 3 to 4 of them. I don't consider myself as crazy, maybe a hoarder, possibly. I just enjoy gaming, and when things are cheap, you tend to buy it whether you need it or not. lol I actually do play most of may games. I try to find the time to. But, however, I agree with OSRG. Most modern gamers are of the FPS_Doug types of people.

 

I think Sheryl Crow said it best:

 

" If it makes you happy

It can't be that bad

If it makes you happy

Then why the hell are you so sad

 

You get down, real low down

You listen to Coltrane, derail your own train

Well who hasn't been there before?"

 

 

 

.

Edited December 24, 2011 by SeberHusky

[+Random Terrain]

People mis label ocd all the time though. ocd is not about collecting or anything like that. Ocd is not when you have 500 games because you ENJOY having them or being a neat freak because you enjoy having a tidy house. The phrase "I'm so ocd ..." has really made it sound trivial, most people who use that phrase do not have ocd.

 

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety

 

If intrusive thoughts force you to collect things to reduce anxiety, you might be a redneck. Oops, I mean you might have OCD.

[Rik]

In reply directly to O.P. question, ......not really.Everyone has issues or problems whether they are mental, physical, behavioral.Plus, what is NORMAL?I've heard countless times, shrinks, Psychiatrists, or whatever telling others what's normal and proper behavior and are often caught doing the things they are telling others is NOT "NORMAL". I believe as long as you're not hurting yourself or anyone else, physically or mentally, live your life as you want to.Actors, Rock Stars, any form of Artist, have the biggest reputation for being mentally imbalanced, but being famous they are referred to as "Eccentric", and are considered "cool" and find their certain eccentricities as "charming", where as the poor are sick and looked down upon, totally unfair.

[fiddlepaddle]

Normal is the LAST thing I want to be; so don't include me in your little conspiracy.

 

Me neither.

[so_tough!]

People mis label ocd all the time though. ocd is not about collecting or anything like that. Ocd is not when you have 500 games because you ENJOY having them or being a neat freak because you enjoy having a tidy house. The phrase "I'm so ocd ..." has really made it sound trivial, most people who use that phrase do not have ocd.

 

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety

 

If intrusive thoughts force you to collect things to reduce anxiety, you might be a redneck. Oops, I mean you might have OCD.

 

that's the point, if you're collecting something to alleviate or reduce intrusive thoughts, feelings etc (example-If I don't collect 50 tin cans this week then a loved one will get cancer) then that could be ocd, but it's not when you ENJOY collecting etc.