Hobby seen as an obsession??

Anyone else have this happen?

Was talking to my mom on the phone the other day about my snakes, and she asked if I was "done getting more snakes". Of course I said no and she went on to say that having 10 and wanting to get more is sounding obsessive to her and that I don't "need" any more snakes. We argued for a bit, me saying that noone needs anything; my snakes are merely a hobby that I enjoy being apart of and I would like to breed down the road when I become more experienced (on top of that I want to own my own exotic pet store someday). Since starting collecting, I never thought of my collecting as an obsession: it's my passion, and since I was very young I've always had something that I collected. It's just who I am and how my personality is.

Has anyone had anyone see your love of a hobby/your passion as being "obsessive"? Personally, when I hear of people being obsessed over something I hear that in a negative light. A bad obsession would be one where a person spends money on something that they can't afford, it affects their social life/family life/personal life negativly, or they are held back due to their obsession and don't go anywhere in life. To me, that's what I think about when I think about someone being obsessed over something - their quality of life goes down.

I suppose in a way her reaction made me sad because I don't want to share news about my snakes or new additions with her now because I don't think she approves of my hobby like I thought she did. :(

I no longer tell people how many snakes I own because I'm tired of being stared at like I'm some crazy hoarder. God forbid I mention the massive rat orgy that I have going on in my garage. :D

I wonder if your mom has ever collected anything? Most people have something they like to spend their "extra" money on. Some folks go on cruises, some collect antiques, some buy fancy clothing or Prada bags and $500 shoes. Some buy season tickets and attend every football game.

Everyone has things they spend their money on, passions they make time for. Ours is snakes(well and action figures for me too... ahem, but I digress...) and it's not a common passion/hobby. But then, Civil War re-enactors spend thousands of dollars, and several weekends a year with their hobby... some guys buy suits that cost thousands of dollars... some folks own $100K in jewelry.

It's all different strokes for different folks. Keep talking to your mom about your passion. Ask about her own hobbies or passions. Eventually she'll figure out it's not a "unhealthy obcession", it's a hobby.

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Originally Posted by spitzu

I no longer tell people how many snakes I own because I'm tired of being stared at like I'm some crazy hoarder. God forbid I mention the massive rat orgy that I have going on in my garage. :D

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I'm with you, but I don't have the rats. I'm done telling people how many snakes I have, I just answer more than you want to know. I'm tried of crazy looks.

My mom is a lot like yours Daybreaker. When I talk to her she asks if I've gotten any more critters. Sometimes I answer honestly, some times I don't. :P She seems to accept it, but lately has been telling me I shouldn't get any more until I start producing babies and selling them, which I can understand. I've sunk a lot of money into reptiles this year when I could have been paying double on my college loans and getting out of debt faster.

Color me obsessed! Wouldn't have it any other way though :) Gotta do what you love, not everyone is going to get it. What I tell people is if everyone in the world had the same hobbies and interests, this would be a pretty boring place.

yea i get told all the time that snakes are a waste and what not, but it's funny how its ok when i sale a 500 dollar snake, lol. do what makes you happy as long as it does not over run your life. :gj:

I agree with the things said above. If you are able to afford your hobby and it isn't affecting you or the ones around you in a negative way then I wouldn't consider it obsessive. I have spent my whole life intrigued by reptiles. I think about my current animals and future goals with them more than anything else. I would like to eventually teach zoology at a community college. I have found a unique path for my life, reptiles are what lit the fire for me to progress my life's ambitions. I wouldn't have it any other way.

By the way I also stopped telling most people about how many reptiles I have. Only the ones close to me know, and I think they know way more about them than they've ever wanted to. I try hard to keep the reptile discussions to a minimum with others because I feel people generally don't care or judge me for it. That's why I spend my time on here.

You guys and gals...understand me...:tears: Haha :D

I'm only 14 and I have at least 30 snakes and 3 geckos. At the last reptile show, my mom kept telling me that I should get crested geckos after she saw my friends. Now my mom collects chihuahuas and I collects reptiles lol.

Thanks guys, you made me feel better :)

My mom has her own interests as does my dad, I just think they didn't expect my one snake I got last November to turn me into a "snake collector" - though like I mentioned they don't understand the hobby or why it's so interesting and addicting to me.

I think I'll refrain from telling people I don't know very well about the size of my collection (though I think it's small compared to others' collections!) to avoid misconceptions and judgements. It's too bad though, I am really proud of my collection and each and every individual snake I have!

i told probably half the ppl i see on a regular basis about my first snake and some judged but most were excited to see it. then i got more and only the ppl that come over to my house while i happen to have one or more of them out, roommate holds them too, end up getting chatted up about them because no one knows too much about snakes and i like giving them some knowledge of something new.