Pokemans and Philosophy: The Mind vs Heart conundrum: do you go for high value cards or cards you like when collecting?

Collecting
1

Now, this of course is an obvious answer. “Go with what you enjoy, collect what matters to you”, which is fair and and reasonable and definitely what one in theory should do.

But when the ego comes in (ego in the spiritual sense, I’m spiritual, so I see things from that perspective some times), your mind really wants to make sure it doesnt miss out on cards that eventually go up in value and are impossible to get in the future. Imo, blue chip cards from specific sets are historical artifacts that will only go higher as we get into the future.

For the average guy such as me, who has to save up, it takes time, but those cards are still within reach. Its not impossible yet to get some of the base set 1st ed cards for instance (not all ofc, blast, ven and char are out of question). The mind thus rationalizes it that way to go for such cards. To not miss out. “Get it now (not “now” now, im not dollar trumf lol, but you get what I mean) before missing out completely”.

The heart however, deep in the soul of the being (lol), says otherwise. “Get a Pidgey” or a staryu (love staryu’s base set design). And the rationale is; you have a finite amount of time here, saving up will make you lose out anyway.

If we bring philosophy into pokemon (anything really can bring you closer to deeper realizations), how do you see your collecting habits align (or mis align if that happens) with your true self? Do you find yourself going mind vs heart in this matter? Or in any other related matter?

And of course, i AM very much reaching and its just a hobby and collecting is mundane, which it of course is (But it doesn’t necessarily have to be)

I have found my personal answer to the mind vs heart conundrum, but interested in seeing other’s take.

Another philosophical question I have had in me for myself and others to answer: why do you do it? What does it give you?

Personally; some times i truly get joy out of it. Other times, I see no content there

1 Like
2

A lot of the high value rayquaza cards usually cost $50 or more, so making sure I can get as many high value cards as I can is a must. Since I enjoy collecting all rayquaza cards, it really dosen’t matter what card I collect as all cards bring me joy. My mind and heart is always focused on 1 goal: Collect as many rayquaza cards as you can.

I don’t mind spending it on cheap cards if I get the chance in a store (rayquaza cards are becoming increasingly hard to come by), and if I want a expensive card, I’ll save but still collect other cards until I reach my goal.

TLDR: High value or low value, it makes no difference. Rayquaza is Rayquaza, so my mind and heart are in the same place.

2 Likes
3

Both come into play in my opinion. We don’t live in a timeline where you can ignore the value of certain cards, and the potential future (or current) scarcity of them.

It’s why defining goals and priorities is important. If you have an inkling that a card may be more difficult to obtain in the future, you can afford the pricetag, and you really do want it, then I say go for it.

If we’re talking about buying cards that you don’t actually like or want, and only buy because you think they’ll go up, I don’t consider that collecting. You’re just speculating, which is fine, but I wouldn’t consider it collecting.

As for why I collect, I joke around that collecting is an “illness”, but it’s more of a half joke. Collecting for me brings stability and control that’s comforting and helpful for my wellbeing. If I didn’t collect Pokemon things, I would collect something else, it’s how I’ve always been.

I’ve stuck with Pokemon as long as I have because of e4. The wonderful people here/on the discord make the journey that much more enjoyable and worthwhile.

8 Likes
4

Just to also provide some philosophical context. Collecting an expensive card or not should be an indifferent. Meaning, it should not matter what is the value of your collection, since it does not really matter to the virtues you hold true and whether you are a good person or not.

If I would just think about myself, if I use immoral means to gather the funds to collect my cards, then it should be a problem. Or if I use my already gathered collection to cheat others from their money, then my collection is not being used correctly. A famous example is, a doctor can use a Lamborghini car to rush to a hospital and save lives or a gangster can use it in a drive-by shoot out. The car here does not matter but the person driving it does.

Lastly, and most importantly, hobbies in general can make you a very well rounded and healthy individual. Also helps deepen relationships with others involved in the hobby. However, you should not be a slave to them. Meaning, if you peace of mind, life worth and well being truly depend on things you could lose, then you will spend your life as a slave to those things.

There will always be a more expensive card, someone having a more better collection compared to yours, always a new chase card. You can truly never control if and when you can ever get these cards. It would be much better to invest your peace of mind in your own self worth, appreciating what you have while you have it. Having a good character and making good and kind life choices should matter more.

Sorry for not truly answering your question but just wanted to give you some perspective.

Cheers!

6 Likes
5

@mrbubbles

No, this was a good answer. There is no right or wrong here. What I like about your answer is what you said about sacrifice of your peace of mind. Ultimately, as you say, your state of consciousness and being should be nr 1. If you sacrifice your peace of mind, you are truly missing out, even when getting something your mind labels as “success”. Time spent without peace is the only true currency tbh (Unless that “non-peace” of mind is also a journey for your soul to grow and learn more about its shadowy aspects.).

So, very good point! Love it!

@Will Collecting is sort of a human nature thing isn’t it? You would collect something else if not cards, because it is in our nature. We started collecting sea shells in primal times and in many ways we havent upgraded

@Vertemes you’re lucky in that way. You have to focus on one thing, which makes it less of a hassle. I really like some common cards, whether its staryu from the base set, or uncommons like arcanine, but have been in this conundrum sometimes, because they will be easier to get, than let’s say a holo.

1 Like
7

This is actually not true at all. Rayquaza is a popular pokemon, and 100% a collection in any language for rayquaza is always a hassle. English is probably the simplest because it’s mostly simple promos and main set cards. It’s not too hard to find them, but as you get higher up, the more you need to save. You’ll need to spend about 3,000 for the top 5 cards. Japanese is a pain, as not only are there promos and main set cards, there are things like 2012 rayquaza gameshow contest, with only 8 copies in exsistence and the last copy selling for 20,000. We also have to include cameos, which include the illustration contest promos that sell of hundreds of thousands and also obsure movie cameos. I haven’t even mentioned chinese and other cards! Rayquaza is not simple to collect AT all, especially when you want to become the best there ever was.

1 Like
8

Damn, really? So many layers to tcg. Reminds me of the time I discovered IV’s and EV’s in the games. Rayquaza is also a legendary, which probably adds to the challenge. Sought by many but still rare

4 Likes
9

Don’t forget the infamous poncho pikachu cards and Lottery promo1

1 Like
10

I collect because i like what i collect. I may prioritize cards that have a potential to jump in value over those that dont but that isnt because their value but because their potential cost, i have to like the card to collect it, it has to move my collection forward in some way.

I live my life very similarly where value doesnt really matter as long it is something I want to do. Many here have seen my odd crafting projects that take many hours of dedication and sometimes significant costs for resources, things that should cost hundreds, given away because they would make someone else happy and I enjoyed making something with that in mind.

Why does someone enjoy a color? It appeals to you. Thats why I collect or participate in the hobby. It lets me express myself with something that is easily accessible. I cant easily collect rocks from around the world or travel to new places to understand their local histories or decipher the differences between western and eastern skylarks, no one would care anyways, but rain or shine I can find my place learning and sharing knowledge about pokemon cards.

As mrbubbles said, there is always someone with a bigger and more valuable collection but thats a matter of what you are looking to accomplish. I found an interest that isnt just a checklist of a binder (not that thats wrong) and the satisfaction i get when looking at it, knowing the journey and seeing how far its come, is honestly probably not worth anywhere close to the value I put into it but it is very much a representation of myself and how I interact with life when I look at it and that is enough for me.

A person climbs a mountain because its there to climb, I collect the way I do because it is there to collect.

3 Likes
11

Very aligned with some creation stories regarding why the universe itself was created. The universe imo and understanding is conscious and set out on this adventure of life (through us, and all beings) just for the sake of it. For the sake of experiencing. Because there is no other game in town, so to speak. Existence is, and the movement towards certain direction happens, because it simply feels correct.

So in your case (and in ours really, unless the ego gets in the way); the macro is represented by the micro. You do it for the sake of it. The innate joy of collecting.

I think of it with children sometimes. Even twins; its kind of strange how two completely alike children (and even different ones that are not twins) gravitate towards completely different interests. Why some children gravitate towards skiing for instance and others to cars is still a mystery to me.

2 Likes
12

I’ve always bought cards I liked and or thought were a good deal.

3 Likes
13

I personally feel that we should (from my PoV, so I guess, “I” should) try to balance what I want with what is a good investment. If I want to collect a full set, then I should aim at sets that are not over-produced and are more desirable, for example. So If I want a card for my collection, I have to consider whether I would sell it in future, and if not should I classify it as an over-indulgence?

Price is what you pay, but value is in the eye of the beholder. I had an unhealthy attachment to beat up charizards for several years. It paid off. I have a similar attachment to Pryce’s delibird… not the same class of card, so I really have to meter myself. (I’m never gonna be buying-out all vs delibirds… I’ve discovered that last couple years that I really only “get” something out of it if I’m working on my mainline collections: Arita and MtG Lands. Otherwise, I really don’t have a good reason to do it. I’ve said elsewhere, I’d rather spend $50 on a nice meal, or $100+ on a great one, than collect a raw AR card.

Asking what we get out of it, tangible or not, and then weighing that against other things, like a musical instrument, car, or house is a sort of way of balancing and checking our emotional “ego” as you call it. That’s what I do anyway. It also helps with FoMO and scalper frustration.

animatedUrsaringSlow

3 Likes
14

This is about FOMO, not the philosophy of collecting, the universe, or ego.

2 Likes
16

I just collect because it makes me happy, and takes me back to a more comforting time. Its almost as if I were experiencing being a kid again, or purchasing memories of my childhood everytime I buy a new card regardless if its a modern one or not.

1 Like
17

I think its more of a fact of what I can afford.

I have weird priorities so sometimes it is expensive, sometimes not.

That said, I actually get cold feet on expensive cards, so I gravitate towards things I enjoy which are less expensive and easier to stomach.

6 Likes