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30DW2-2 - Day 22: Compulsively



I feel sorry for people who act compulsively. For some it's minor actions that often result in humorous situations. But in other cases it's an uncontrollable disorder.

Have you ever seen that reality show Hoarders? Oh my God those people have problems. The subjects of this show have bought and collected so many things there's hardly room for them to live in their houses. Not only is a disposal expert and crew engaged to clean up the house but a psychiatrist is brought in to help the hoarder and their family through the exercise of getting rid of these articles. In many cases, the local government has condemned the house and refuses to lift the ordinance until the house is cleaned up.

And although these folks live in filth and squalor and have collected so much they can't even find their own bed in their house most of these people go through severe mental aguish in deciding what to part with.

I don't watch this show on a regular basis, not compulsively, but when I do I just shake my head.

I suppose my compulsive behaviour, although certainly not on a level like Hoarders, when it comes to collecting things is buying books and CDs. I read about 4 or 5 books a month and I'll buy either the hardcover or the e-book version.

Worse is my expansive CD collection. I'm nowhere near having to move out of the house yet but I am a bit of a completist when it comes to music, collecting rare pieces of music or CDs of albums I may not have bought in my youth to complete my collection of the entire output of various artists.

Mrs D thinks I'm a little odd. So I've started to download my music from iTunes. In this way my CDs are invisible and she doesn't know the true extent of my very eclectic collection.

But I don't think my book or music collection is evidence of compulsive behaviour. C'mon. Some people act compulsively when it comes to washing or shopping or gambling or eating and so on. I'm not like that.

But I'll tell you where I might act compulsively. Yeah, I admit I have a weakness. I'm forever straightening things up. If the placemats on the table are crooked I'll straighten them. If the phone on the counter is out of place I'll align it the way it normally is. If Mrs D leaves her cookbooks out in the kitchen I'll put them away.

If someone's been reading the magazines on the coffee table I immediately put them back in a nice neat pile. I have books on shelves under the coffee table and sometimes people accidentally push them in. I'm forever pulling them back out and lining them up in neat, straight stacks.

Mrs D is forever laughing at this. She thinks I'm a bit anal when I do this.

My unspoken answer, which always runs through my mind but which I never give voice to is "Yeah, too bad you weren't a little more compulsive about the laundry!"

Hey I might be a little compulsive but I'm not stupid.

Now if you're still with us after 22 days I think you've got a bit of an OCD issue having engaged in writing and reading all these posts that Nicky and Mike at We Work Compulsively have so kindly engaged us in. So for the 22nd time this month wander over there and see what the rest of those folks are afflicted with.

Comments

Linda R. said…
"Yeah, I admit I have a weakness. I'm forever straightening things up. If
the placemats on the table are crooked I'll straighten them. If the
phone on the counter is out of place I'll align it the way it normally
is. If Mrs D leaves her cookbooks out in the kitchen I'll put them away."



Some compulsions are better than others.
Nicky said…
You, my funny friend, are writing until Day 3,654,925,872.
nonamedufus said…
Ha, I should live so long. Good thing you and I are 200 kilometres apart.
nonamedufus said…
Yeah I hadn't thought of it like that. I would appear to be the opposite of a messy hoarder. Hell, I'm a neat freak.
Boom Boom Larew said…
OOOH... next time I come visit I'm going to have so much fun listening to your music and then replacing your CDs all wonky on your shelves. But only because I care... I'd hate for you to go a whole day without having anything to straighten.
nonamedufus said…
Don't you dare! You meanie, you. Hey, if you're coming we should check with Cheryl on her timing. We can have a big party!
nonamedufus said…
So you don't think I need to see someone about this?
Shawn Ohara said…
I have my share of 45s too. But I want to hear the alternate tracks. I got rid of some albums. I think I only have about 500 vinyl in my collection now.
nonamedufus said…
I did something in the 80s I've been kicking myself for ever since - I pitched all my 45s and about a third of my albums in the garbage! There were some real collectables in that collection.
Boom Boom Larew said…
Slumber party at Dufus's house! Maybe Nicky can come, too. (Did you see how I did that... inviting more people to your house?) When is Cheryl visiting?
Barb Paige said…
Lucky for you that you've kept that comment to yourself... but.. does she read your blog? If so BUSTED!
nonamedufus said…
Nicky? The more the merrier! I don't know when Cheryl's coming.
nonamedufus said…
Um, she reads it sometimes. But it's okay. She has a good sense of humour. Or she did.
P.J. said…
I totally would move the books on the shelf and then stare at you to see how long it would take you to fix 'em up. ;)
nonamedufus said…
It wouldn't take long, believe me.
Shawn Ohara said…
Oh. That's a shame. I regret buying cassettes instead of albums in the 80s. Vinyl is more collectible than plastic. I have three old turntables 2 need new cartridges the other needs new wiring.
nonamedufus said…
*facepalm* Something else I threw away. I bought cassettes so I could play music in the car.
Indigo Roth said…
Oh Dufus, I fear this means I'm both compulsive and anal. And I'm forever straightening my toupée. Roth
nonamedufus said…
A good adhesive will fix that right up.
KZ said…
I used to be one of those people who collected way too much music on disc. Then I moved into a little apartment, and I figured out fast how to prioritize my belongings and space. I kind of miss purchasing music on disc, though. I got very good at opening new jewel cases and quickly stripping off all of the packaging adhesive.
nonamedufus said…
Oh man I just hate the CD wrapping and the damn plastic stuck across the top on some CDs. I've broken more than a couple of jewel cases trying to get them open.
meleahrebeccah said…
Hoarders is TOTALLY upsetting. I can't handle that show at all.

It makes MY own OCD kick into overdrive and I have to clean incessantly after watching an episode!
nonamedufus said…
I just feel very, very sorry for those folks. I get very uncomfortable watching that show.

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