Views from Non-Hobbyist

[laitostarr777]

I made this post in regards of what I am currently facing in my adventure of playing cards collecting

My family thinks that I will be a gambler because I am collecting playing cards. Why you ask? Because playing cards are easily associated with gambling and casinos. They keep on churning about why wasting money to buy more and more playing cards, as they like others, thinking playing cards is just a stack of 54 pieces of paper, same courts, same pips, same numbers. I am speechless of what I want to say in my defense

What do you guys think of these views? Do you think this is just plain nonsense or there is a right to it?

[RichK]

I collect for the art or fun of the cards. It's like a mini art museum to me. My problem is spending too much on cards, a potential debt creating thing. Be aware about that aspect.

Otherwise you sound ok to me. They need to see what you've collected. Hope you're a tuck opener.

[kem-collector]

I'm sure they have something that they assign a value to that they collect, whether they realize it or not. There are plenty of games that involve playing cards that are not associated with gambling at all. If you are of-age and you have a job, your own house and pay for your own hobby, tell them to go fly a kite and ensure that you give them playing cards every Xmas in their stockings. If you are underage and/or still living under their roof, wait until you move out before you do that...lol

[MagikFingerz]

I feel that it's hard to really "defend" any type of collection, because gathering so many of the same type of thing is inherently illogical. My "go-to defence" though, is that playing cards are at least usable for various things (playing with, magic, cardistry) than more common types of collectibles like stamps or coins. They are tiny works of art, and art collectors are at worst "eccentric"

[Timmargh]

I’ve not had any negative reactions as such but my family have often asked: “Why?" A few of my carers started off by being slightly baffled but the more they see of my collection the more curious they have become; one lady in particular now insists on being the one to open any new parcels I receive.

I am starting to get gifted decks occasionally, mostly cheap ones from charity shops and the like, and I love it; I have some lovely little decks.

[laitostarr777]

I collect for the art or fun of the cards. It's like a mini art museum to me. My problem is spending too much on cards, a potential debt creating thing. Be aware about that aspect.

Otherwise you sound ok to me. They need to see what you've collected. Hope you're a tuck opener.

Ah yes, I am a tuck opener. I practice the art of safe opening of the playing cards
- Carefully tear the plastic strip
- Discard the top part of the plastic wrapping
- Use a cutter on the seal. If the seal still fresh and easy to remove, carefully remove it. If the seal is so stubborn (removing might cause tear of the tuckbox), you have no choice to cut throught it.
- If the cards are printed by Cartamundi, you should expect another cellophane on the cards, so just remove the cellophane
- Admire the cards and enjoy your plunder. If the cards are in specific stack, DO NOT shuffle it, unless you want to break it

[theCapraAegagrus]

...just plain nonsense...

You said it yourself.

My family and friends were quick to learn why I collect them. All it took was 1 JR, Lorenzo, or Lotrek deck. They appreciate art, though.

[Bradius]

I keep a nice card display at the office. Folks that know me are a bit surprised by my choice of playing cards as I am personally risk averse. However, they check out the artwork and quickly understand why I am interested. It makes for good conversation at least.

[justplaycards]

I completely understand that friends and family think I am nuts when they see the amount of decks I have. Not to mention how much I spend on them. I generally just point out they make me happy. That's pretty much it. Seems a good enough response for most people.

[theCapraAegagrus]

I completely understand that friends and family think I am nuts when they see the amount of decks I have. Not to mention how much I spend on them. I generally just point out they make me happy. That's pretty much it. Seems a good enough response for most people.

And that is all that matters.

[Eric Lee]

I made this post in regards of what I am currently facing in my adventure of playing cards collecting

My family thinks that I will be a gambler because I am collecting playing cards. Why you ask? Because playing cards are easily associated with gambling and casinos. They keep on churning about why wasting money to buy more and more playing cards, as they like others, thinking playing cards is just a stack of 54 pieces of paper, same courts, same pips, same numbers. I am speechless of what I want to say in my defense

What do you guys think of these views? Do you think this is just plain nonsense or there is a right to it?

Apa khabar dari Malaysia, sahabat Laito! Yeah, the same goes here. Less judgement for me as playing cards are common amongst we Chinese, but yeah, playing cards = gambling is the common mindset here as well. Well justified too since the Lunar New Year is when gambling sessions break out with family and relatives with everyone joining in.

I've only actually showed my decks to a few close friends. I don't display them due to lack of space and young kids. Also when I tell them how much for a deck, they get shocked as it's around $40 for basic custom bike and $60-$80 for the usual KS customs.

For Malaysia, cardists are probably the big card buyers and they can always show off their skills to justify their deck purchases.

So if they get more concerned on your habit or start making more noise, I would suggest you pick up a few cardistry moves and/or magic tricks to show off to your family and friends. I actually know a few magic tricks using marked decks mostly. Then you've reassured them that it's more a prop for your new hobby and not a gambling habit!

Either that or display openly the more artistic decks to show that it's more art appreciation than anything else. Nothing like a transformation deck or Lotrek for them to see the artistic merit in playing card collections.

[macstrat]

As a collector for the art, I like to display the images, which makes people really go WOW! So I display my collection on a "picture frame"

I detailed my setup in this thread:
http://unitedcardists.com/viewtopic.php ... 4d#p158938

[Adonael]

I feel that it's hard to really "defend" any type of collection, because gathering so many of the same type of thing is inherently illogical.

I have to disagree, it's not illogical to have more than one painting on your wall after all. As a purely functional object, sure it wouldn't make much sense to have a collection of 100 screwdrivers, but decks to me are purely art. Though I would agree that there is a point where it becomes too many to justify! I haven't reached that, it's probably the point where you can't remember all of them lol.

But yeah, I do have to explain to people every time it comes up, and I do compare them to wall art, having an Arabesque/Order/Rising Spade at hand really helps.

[kem-collector]

But yeah, I do have to explain to people every time it comes up, and I do compare them to wall art, having an Arabesque/Order/Rising Spade at hand really helps.

I've had a few see the collection and make off-hand remarks. All that it takes is to show you passion. In all cases, I was able to explain the history of the Kem Playing Card Company, or USPSS, or a specific deck, or a specific artist. When you can add depth, history and passion to conversations about something that you collect, it becomes more than just a pile of card decks. Many will not feel the same way you do about playing cards, but your passion about it can be related to and that is all they need to understand to get it.

[Azazaaz]

This thread is an excellent read. Like every passion there's something incredible in sharing with others. I've met incredible people and talked to amazing persons thanks to this passion. Just look at this thread and see how everyone is encouraging and supportive, that's awesome.

[laitostarr777]

I made this post in regards of what I am currently facing in my adventure of playing cards collecting

My family thinks that I will be a gambler because I am collecting playing cards. Why you ask? Because playing cards are easily associated with gambling and casinos. They keep on churning about why wasting money to buy more and more playing cards, as they like others, thinking playing cards is just a stack of 54 pieces of paper, same courts, same pips, same numbers. I am speechless of what I want to say in my defense

What do you guys think of these views? Do you think this is just plain nonsense or there is a right to it?

Apa khabar dari Malaysia, sahabat Laito! Yeah, the same goes here. Less judgement for me as playing cards are common amongst we Chinese, but yeah, playing cards = gambling is the common mindset here as well. Well justified too since the Lunar New Year is when gambling sessions break out with family and relatives with everyone joining in.

I've only actually showed my decks to a few close friends. I don't display them due to lack of space and young kids. Also when I tell them how much for a deck, they get shocked as it's around $40 for basic custom bike and $60-$80 for the usual KS customs.

For Malaysia, cardists are probably the big card buyers and they can always show off their skills to justify their deck purchases.

So if they get more concerned on your habit or start making more noise, I would suggest you pick up a few cardistry moves and/or magic tricks to show off to your family and friends. I actually know a few magic tricks using marked decks mostly. Then you've reassured them that it's more a prop for your new hobby and not a gambling habit!

Either that or display openly the more artistic decks to show that it's more art appreciation than anything else. Nothing like a transformation deck or Lotrek for them to see the artistic merit in playing card collections.

Ah yeah, that can work too, using cards as magic props and card flourishes instead of playing and gambling. Though still, for a hardcore conservatives, mentioning a deck of cards that costs 80$ will send them screaming about money lectures.
Also, it would be hard to explain about the art side of the playing cards, if the people around me doesn't really appreciate them. They would still say: Meh, in general it's all same, same courts, same numbers, same pips, nothing changed.

Just as I said, non-hobbyist would always judging hobbyist. Less chance of making them be tolerant of your collection

[laitostarr777]

This might be an old thread, but I want to hear something from you all.
If some collectors have a lot of playing cards collection, do you think they want to open up a casino and/or be a professional gambler?

[House of Cardistry]

When to box arrives in the mailbox from “gamblerswarehouse.com” it doesn’t help matters... !!!

In any event, I don’t feel the need to justify or explain myself to anyone as far as my newfound affinity for collecting decks and learning cardistry goes... I am taking care of all my adult responsibilities and no one is being harmed whatsoever so the way I see it if anyone has a problem with it they’re just gonna have to “deal” with it. I hope that doesn’t come across as selfish or mean spirited in any way but I just don’t see the harm in collecting or playing with cards, especially in today’s age... there are a LOT worse things somebody could get up to!!

[Smocito]

All collectors seem a bit crazy to non collectors.

Some decks and tips that may help them understand your hobby and prevent them from putting you in an hospice:

Dondorf hundertjahkarte (or the restoration by Lotrek)
https://www.maxplayingcards.com/en/2017 ... nary-deck/

Arabesque Gold (here is the review by TGW of the error deck)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRKlinX-Ttw

Ultimate deck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCQQNLz7M_8

House of the Rising Spade - Cartomancer variant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXy67HpwM-g

Mémoires de Casanova
https://www.wopc.co.uk/france/philibert/casanova

Venice Simplon Orient Express
https://www.wopc.co.uk/france/grimaud/v ... nt-express

History of Playing Cards Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCESsdZqJ14

Show them a marked deck (the butterfly for instance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea5N9BOqdGI

Show them a small trick with a stripper or Svengali deck.

If needed, do the Invisible deck trick to them.

If after all this they still think you're crazy, you should help your friends and family finding them a doctor

[Fes]

I have collections going on all the time. Like me playing cards it's stuff I use on a daily basis, but also different in some ways. Example, When I go to the grocer I collect food. When I come home I add some of that food to my larger food horde. Quite seriously a whole small room I call the pantry. I use some of that food on a daily basis. Keeps me collecting more food and consuming more food and... I think we get it.

I have a collection of dishes and bowls to consume that food on. When I spot a set of dishes and bowls that catch my eye with a certain design, I'll buy um up and add them in growing my collection. Believe it or not, I even have some shnazzy silver foil looking snowflake pattern dishes and bowls complete with saucers and cups. Yep, use um in the winter around holiday season.

No one wants to say a damned thing about my collection of noms or dishes, cups or flatware. You know, this collection fills up some serious cabinet space! So much space, I give directions to where a person can find a fork or a glass to drink water with so they don't get lost and go around opening and closing every friggin cabinet and drawer. Yea, it's true!

I don't feel the need to justify a damned thing about those collections to folks and I don't feel the need to justify any other collection I have either. Doesn't matter what it is. I are who I are and me does what me does. idgaf if they like it or not.

I think at some point anyone who collects anything for whatever purpose has to take on that mindset of it doesn't matter what people think or what they want you to collect. No matter who you are, you're you. Your own being with your own judgement on what you want in your life. Living that life, it's up to you. What you fill that life with, also up to you.

[House of Cardistry]

Fes totally gets it. I used to have a huge guitar collection and folks were always quizzing me about what I was going to do with all those guitars... some folks were genuinely interested in what my ultimate goal was in having such a collection when I could only play one at a time, but others were just being *jerks*... the jerks quickly found themselves on the outside. I ended up getting an offer I couldn’t refuse from a fairly well known (within the muso clique) guy and sold the entire lot to him for a heck of a lot more than I ever paid for them... I wasn’t looking to make a buck with guitars and I’m not looking to make a buck with cards either. I collect what appeals to me and that’s that.

[Curt]

I guess because I started off in magic, I never had the same connection to collecting cards being as related to gambling and neither did my family. That is not to say that I have never played poker or been to a casino, I just think that I so strongly connected playing cards with magic that it was not something I thought about too much. As for my responses to why I collect cards, it usually comes down to a couple things, the artistic value in them and being part of a fun community.

Over the past year I have had many decks shipped to my office and at first there was some obvious confusion to why they were a worthwhile purchase. Over time though (and a bit of explanation about various designers) many people came to understand the appeal of a playing card collection, even if they were not committed to it themselves. In some cases it even got to the point where I would be asked on occasions if I had received any new decks from "that guy in Greece".

As for the community, it is one of those things that most people I have met don't think exist for such a hobby and are quite surprised to learn about the active social media channels and a forum like UC. Although I do not post a lot, I enjoy reading everyone thoughts and opinions on the card collecting world. I am not very active at all with personal social media accounts but enjoy interacting on Instagram via my card collecting profile and have met a great group of people from all over because of that.

[House of Cardistry]

Being new to collecting, I’m interested... who is “that guy from Greece”???

[MagikFingerz]

Being new to collecting, I’m interested... who is “that guy from Greece”???

The one and only Lotrek. If you don't know of him yet, don't worry. You will

[House of Cardistry]

Oh Lord... don’t none of y’all tell my wife what I’m about to spend on playing cards... there’s actually a deck of original Jerry’s Nuggets on eBay right now for 500 clams that I’m seriously debating on buying... a month ago if anyone had even suggested that I’d be willing to pay more than $10 for a deck of playing cards I’d have laughed them out of the room, but here I am. Things change quickly in life!!

[laitostarr777]

Being new to collecting, I’m interested... who is “that guy from Greece”???

Once you know Lotrek, your wallet is going to bleeed

[Bradius]

This is what happens to your money once you get hooked into Lotrek:

[KingfisherZero]

My philosophy on collections in general...everyone has something they spend money on, that another person would not find "worth it." Collections pull that to an extreme because instead of having "something" they spend money on, they have 200 "somethings."

As long as you're spending money you have and are not neglecting needs, and that thing brings you happiness, who are we to judge? Whether it's cars or baseball cards or stamps or playing cards or loofahs...do your thing.

I personally take a little time to show people a couple of the cooler decks to at least provide context into what I see and appreciate in the decks. That's as far as I can get, because only 1 in 10000 or whatever will get to the point of thinking the hobby makes sense. So eye rolling understanding is it!

No one - my wife included - knows how much I spend on an Omnia Suprema deck.

[MagikFingerz]

This is what happens to your money once you get hooked into Lotrek:

They have to lie on the FLOOR of the bank vault??

For easy access?

[House of Cardistry]

I just hope when I die, my wife doesn’t sell all my stuff for what I told HER I paid for it... Mailman just brought me two decks of blue Monarchs and (another) deck of Virts FW2017... tomorrow I’ll be getting the 2016 and 2019 Cardistry Con decks along with a German deck (TRÜF Messymods) I thought really looked cool... next week will see me receiving my Hype V1’s and a deck of the 2017 Cardistry Cons...


I may need professional help here. I have a bad case of CAS... (Card acquisition syndrome...) and I haven’t even gotten to the Lotreks yet!!!