Hoarders

[sueluvshalloween]

I watched a couple episodes of "Hoarders" yesterday. It's unbelievable what some of these people will hoard. It's not just things like books, clothing, empty bottles, jewelry, knick-knacks, etc. In one episode, this New Mexico couple in their 70s collected cats! The wife kept taking in strays, or people would just dump unwanted cats on their doorstep. The authorities finally came in and took over ... they counted 76 animals on their property, 36 which were dead! This woman had an obsessive complusion to take care of animals, not being able to turn any away. It was so sick and very sad. The house was completely taken over and destroyed by the cats. The garage was even worse. The head of the clean-up crew warned his men that the stench was going to be awful, so if they had to throw up to do it outside. Even though they were wearing masks, it was anticipated there was going to be vomiting! That garage was so nasty ... there was even a skunk running through it! They showed the dead cats and kittens being brought out. Since I didn't watch the entire show, I don't know how much progress was made. I also don't know if the home was entirely cleaned up, and if it was, have this owners been able to keep it that way. It blows my mind to see what a nice, once-normal home can become.

[MacPhantom]

I watched the same marathon, and found myself unsettlingly sympathetic. Let's just say I think I may have.... tendencies....

After about three episodes, I gave my bedroom a thorough cleaning, then started on the basement.

[Spookymufu]

I am definitely not the biggest clean-freak in the world, but I cant watch that show, it gives me the heebie-jeebies

[Andybev01]

Jeepers-creepers, not the heebie-jeebies!

[MacPhantom]

The dead mummy cats was kinda hard to watch.

[adrian]

man i must've missed this one... sounds creepy enough though

[ilovemichaelmyers]

I have been to a couple of houses that were like that! It took me FOREVER to clean it all up! This one guy collected PIZZA BOXES and had like a million of them! I don't know why they do it, I think something is missing in their lives to be keeping all that junk around. I feel sorry for them but at the same time come on put it in the trash and it won't build up like that!!!

[Spookymufu]

I don't know why they do it, I think something is missing in their lives to be keeping all that junk around.

**as Scott looks over at his Star Wars toys and sigh's**

[Alan Wake]

I don't know why they do it, I think something is missing in their lives to be keeping all that junk around.

**as Scott looks over at his Star Wars toys and sigh's**

lol

[ilovemichaelmyers]

I don't know why they do it, I think something is missing in their lives to be keeping all that junk around.

**as Scott looks over at his Star Wars toys and sigh's**

LOL that is funny.

[MacPhantom]

I think something is missing in their lives to be keeping all that junk around.

I think it's a sort of mental disorder, linked to OCD. In fact, on the show, one of the things common to many of the hoarders was their extreme perfectionism when it came to certain things. This one dude had a collection of power drills, and they were well organized and sorted, but there were still loads of other junk and papers all over his house. When it comes to cleaning and organizing, they get so caught up on the idea that it has to be done in a certain way that they never accomplish anything.

[ilovemichaelmyers]

I throw stuff away or give it away when I don't need it anymore! I hate clutter and somehow it still creeps up with all the junkmail and <deleted> I just toss it all! I keep what I need and use only. I do collect some stuff I guess but I keep it to a minimum. Simplicity.

[Andybev01]

I agree ILMM. If I haven't seen it or have used it in 6 months, away it goes.

Clothes, books, paper files; I have enough to keep track of already to add anything to my responsibilities.

[Spookymufu]

but then, the minute you toss it in the trash or give it away, you find a use for it and you're saying "man, I wish I had that right now"....at least thats how it works for me

[MacPhantom]

Andy and ILMM, you are both very lucky that your brains work properly. What Spooky just said? That's the sort of thing that keeps me up at night.