Collecting fever and the new frontiers of passion
Hobbies, by definition, represent a pleasant diversion from our daily occupations, an activity to which we can indulge with serenity and light-heartedness, and from which we always hope to derive strong emotions, electrifying sensations that help us spend our days in a more fun and exciting way. Some people, by virtue of their very nature, are inclined to choose extremely dynamic hobbies and pastimes, such as extreme sporting activities, group dances, unusual and even quite dangerous activities, always capable of generating extremely intense adrenalin rushes. Rather than the content of the chosen activity itself, these people seem to focus more on their dynamism, on their ability to give violent (physical and emotional) shocks to their bodies, almost always through a series of actions to be performed through their bodies. When they finally feel exhausted, worn out, they believe they have reached the pinnacle of happiness, which is, however, destined to be short-lived. In this case, physical exertion and the emotions connected with it – such as adrenalin rushes – are the shortest and most direct route to a state of bliss very close to happiness, which is then the main reason why we choose our hobbies.
But there is also a category of people who, instead of focusing on dynamism, physical exertion and extreme activities, choose their hobbies from those apparently static activities that primarily involve the intellect, and which require very little physical activity to be fully enjoyed. We refer, of course, to the so-called ‘Nerd’ passions, among which one can certainly count reading comic books, the continuous and semi-professional use of video games and technological devices, participation in fairs and events where people are used to appear in costume, with the typical cosplay, but also to that universe of collectors who devote a good part of their lives to collecting playing cards, sports cards and other such productions, all of which have in common the presence of rare and almost inaccessible items that ignite the enthusiasm of any true collector even more.
Collectible playing cards
To effectively illustrate a phenomenon that is assuming ever-widening proportions, and that over the years has come to be known as ‘collector fever’, it suffices to cite one of the most famous cases of the last fifty years, namely the commercialisation of the famous Pokèmon playing cards in the early 2000s. Until shortly before the release of these playing cards, promoted and produced by Nintendo, GameFreak and Creatures, very few had heard of the colourful little animals that had captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of Japanese. But when the cards started to be published abroad, in Europe and America, a real fight broke out for the rarest cards, the shiny or most valuable cards, or those characterised by the presence of a tiny star-shaped symbol in their right corner, which instantly identified the rarest cards.
A rampant passion
Even those who had never been infected by any form of collecting began to buy surprising amounts of packs, in the hope of being able to compete with their friends, acquaintances (or schoolmates) in collecting the rarest and most exclusive cards. The passion for these cards spread like a flood, continually fuelled by the concomitant releases of the animated TV series and other card collections centred on the same characters. But what gave the biggest boost to the circulation and sales of these cards was the great emotional charge they were able to generate, partly due to the eye-catching graphics of the cards (with brilliant elements on the rarest ones), partly due to the clever division between common, uncommon and rare cards, which still continues to fascinate millions of collectors worldwide.
The liveliness of graphic effects is also a very important element in the gambling industry, especially for portals such as SBO, which offer their users an incredible assortment of vibrant and aesthetically pleasing internet sites where they can place their bets safely and reliably. With the useful guides and the precious suggestions of the experts – a whole team of professionals who carefully select each site, choosing them from the safest and most credible ones available online -, the site represents an excellent opportunity for amusement even for less experienced players, who will be accompanied step by step through each phase of the game, from registration to eventual winnings.
Even today, in the age of the internet and TikTok, the most exciting activities are those that involve us entirely, from the heart to the brain, triggering strong palpitations and lively bursts of enthusiasm, bringing us incredibly close to happiness.
