The News from ElephantToenails.com

Another installment in the From the Lighter Side:

You know I have held to my promise not to use this forum here to talk politics, but I was sent something today from one of the members of the Elephant Toenail Collector Club that I had to share with you.

I share this at the risk that someone not of the toenail persuasion will see it and get the wrong impression of us here at ET.com or worse ME, but since we are all friends and you know I have a healthy sense of humor- so you have to promise YOU will take this the right way too and not as shameless promotion.

Here goes. Check it out

Thanks for lightening up my day, KEN.

Collecting: An Unruly Passion

Why do you collect? What is it that one gains from collecting (other than a bunch of stuff)?

Have you ever looked into the psychology of collecting? You know the- why folks collect, where the passion comes from, and what they feel once they have acquired their latest find.

Well, I have, so allow me to share some of what I discovered. I think you will enjoy learning a bit about yourself. I know, most men don’t like introspection one bit, but it is generally good for the soul, so come on stay with me on this.

A case has been made for the establishment of a chapter of the Knife Collectors Anonymous.

Some years ago I was looking for books on collecting. I wanted to find interesting information on collectors and items that are collected, and info about the “cycles of value and trends” of a given object. Sounds like exciting reading doesn’t it?

Well I ran across a book called COLLECTING: AN UNRULY PASSION-Psychological Perspective by R. Muensterberger. I thought it sounded very interesting, as I have always had an interest in psychology, and with the combination of collecting, it was right down my alley.

WARNING- THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, PREGNANT WOMEN, OR PEOPLE THAT TAKE THEMSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY ☺Talk about DEPRESSING!!  I couldn’t believe what I was reading… I wanted to share a quick snippet with you.

“Certain aspects of human conduct seem at first glance not to all exceptional or mysterious. Yet on closer inspection we can see that they can be quite perplexing and not easily understood. One such trait is collecting. Collectors themselves-dedicated, serious, infatuated, beset-cannot explain or understand this often all-consuming drive, nor can they call a halt to their habit. Many are aware of a chronic (yes, you read that right he used the word chronic. Can you believe that! SK) restiveness that can be curbed only by more finds or yet another acquisition.”

Then the writer closes out the first chapter with “I have followed the trail of these emotional conditions in the life histories of many collectors. They reveal the need of the phallic-narcissistic personality. We see them as show offs of all kinds. They like to pose or make a spectacle of their possessions. But one soon realizes that these possessions, regardless of their value or significance, are but stand-ins for themselves. And while they use their objects for inner security and outer applause, their deep inner function is to screen off self doubt and unassimilated memories.”

Hit me below the belt will you…this Muensterberger guy must have been someone who was outbid at the last minute on eBay (a victim of being sniped). Had this dude called me I would have told him upfront that I was nuts and saved him a lifetime of studying to try to figure that out.☺

Like I said, anyone here interested in joining the ET.com chapter of Knife Collectors Anonymous?