Recovering hoarders?

[Ultralight]

I used to live near a landfill. I don't want that crap on my planet. Your definition of home is too small for me.

I don't want it on my planet either. But then again, if you are worried about plastic cups on the planet -- why bring them into your house? Why build an addition to your house to house more? I am just being a prick. I am asking sincere questions.

I consider myself a planetary citizen too.

everyone thought it was a great idea. It was family. I was either being thrifty or environmentally responsible. I think your upbringing shapes your hoarding. Maybe if I was raised by people who focused on animal rescue I'd hoard cats.

Very intriguing thought...

it is a mental prison. THAT IS THE POINT. It's not a character flaw, it's not laziness or lack of willpower, it's not stubbornness, it's not greed. I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS. But it's really hard to find the door out.

I understand. It is frightening and heart-wrenching.

[Ultralight]

Those people on hoarders who are crying? They aren't brats throwing a fit. They are actually in pain. Someone is dragging them straight through the bars.

I know. This is what tipped me off that my mom was not entirely lazy or lacking willpower or just being stubborn. When my sis and I tried to dehoard just a few tiny spaces in her house and she went hysterically berserk I thought: "Hmmmm... something is going on here I don't yet understand."

[iris lilies]

I feel it is greedy too. I don't like to feel greed in myself. But I still do some greedy things from time to time.

I have nevr ever ever said that I dont do greedy things myself.

My life is kindofa greedfest. But at least I recognize it.

Animal hoarding is an example of altruistic behavior that can turn into greed pretty fast. No one "needs" 30 cats and it is greedy and selfish to think that only you ( the general you) can save them.

Actually, I have a problem anyway with the whole idea of somene who considers themselves a "saviour" of cats and dogs anyway.

[Chicken lady]

The addition is to house experiences. Because when we had 8 people in my kitchen/dining area it was standing room only and nearly impossible to reach the coffee.

They are already on the planet. i bring them into my home because it's that or the trash. If you said "hey, could I have those for my atheist group picnic" I would give them to you, and feel a rush of those chemicals I can't remember that make you happy.

a small rush for helping you, a small rush for reducing the total number of cups that would get thrown out, and a huge rush for being free of the cups.

[iris lilies]

In CL's situation I would have gone to the theift stores, purchased glasses and cups there,used them and returned them. They wouldnt match but I doubt anyone would care about that. We have good thrift stores aeound here.

I use them to feed my addiction to dinnerware which is under control but always lurking in my head. As ya'll know I do flower show exhibits and table exhibits are part of that world. I got that rush CL talks about when I was able to go to my basement and put togehter a thematic display of dinnerware fitting the iris show theme, all obtained from Goodwill.

i recently bought a box full of melamine dishes cor $10 whoch is a lot of money, but melamine is easy to spray paint, so now I have a supply of dishes in interesting shapes that can be painted appropruate colors for flower show displays.

keep in mind I have NO PROBLEM throwing these away when the time comes that I move on to another hobby, or to clean off for more appropriate stuff.

[Ultralight]

They are already on the planet. i bring them into my home because it's that or the trash.

Does it not seem like by doing so you make your house the trash? That is my concern with keeping stuff.

If you said "hey, could I have those for my atheist group picnic" I would give them to you, and feel a rush of those chemicals I can't remember that make you happy.

What if I then told you I was going to throw the cups in the trash when I was done?

Or... what if after I had the picnic I then told you I threw the cups away? Would you feel absolved by that point or anguish?

[Tammy]

i like the washing of non recyclable cups. that's not hoarding to me. that's responsible living on this planet. i recycle what i can, and then i wash the plastics that can't be and use them as my tupperware. i don't own hardly any actual tupperware - its all from the grocery. and it works just fine.

[Chicken lady]

Oh, I know you are going to throw the cups away. But you were going to throw the cups away anyway. I stopped you from buying new cups to throw away.

it does not feel like my house is the trash, because they are not trash. They are clean and useful - my house is the "warehouse of potential."

iris lilies, I like that!

[Ultralight]

i like the washing of non recyclable cups. that's not hoarding to me. that's responsible living on this planet. i recycle what i can, and then i wash the plastics that can't be and use them as my tupperware. i don't own hardly any actual tupperware - its all from the grocery. and it works just fine.

What if you have 3,000 non-recycleable plastic cups you have saved?

[Chicken lady]

But Tammy, what happens when you have enough "Tupperware" and something comes into your house in a plastic container?