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Hello Dakka, i want to know, where do you draw the line between passion for our great hobby and obsession?

When does the desire to paint a squad of infantry turn into a need to paint the squad?

I brought a Rhino Transport on monday, and finished painting it yesturday, i also brought another Rhino yesturday, passion or obsession?

When you drop everything to go to your FLGS to play, is that through passion or are you obsessed with the game and social aspects?

So folks, in your opinion, where does the line get drawn?

I'm looking forward to the discussion

Not to be flippant but it's different for everyone. Ask 100 different people and you'll get 100 different answers. Not only that but it changes with time - the passion that I had in my youth is not the same as the passion I have today (nor the time constraints!)

Obsession is just uncontrolled passion really. It's a hobby up until you're sacrificing necessities just to do it.

@n0t_u. Thats a good way to put it. didn't think of it like that before

I think the line is drawn when it stops being fun.

Thats one way to put it

A passion becomes an obsession when it starts to negatively impact other aspects of your life.

To take this modelling/gaming example into consideration, if a person feels anxiety if they have an unfinished model or if they have no model to work on, it might be an obsession.

If the desire to buy, build and paint models overrides a person's desire to interact with others or spend time with a significant other, it might be an obsession.

If purchases of hobby items become more important that having money for rent, utilities, or food, then it's probably an obsession.

That is going to be different for everyone, like filbert mentioned. A no-brainer line is if you're hurting, in some way, yourself or someone else. For example, using painting / modeling / gaming as a salve to cover other issues and not deal, or an excuse to shirk responsibilities. Choosing hobby over going to work, feeding pets, taking care of dependents, etc, of course are huge problems, but I think most people don't get that far.

I think for most it becomes a matter of choosing what to do with one's free time. Free time used for leisure, that is fine. But when one chooses to let a hobby infringe on not-free time... i.e. work, school, family and social obligations, etc, that crosses into unhealthy. To me, "obsession" has tinges of that unhealthy line getting crossed. Essentially: if it affects one's ability to live a productive life.

What your describe just sounds like you're on a kick, enthusastic, etc. No problem there. But if you were spending money needed for something important, like skipping needed meals or medications, getting in trouble with school / boss / parents / significant other (whatever applies), or think you may be heading in that direction, it might be time to scale it back / branch out into other things.

Unfortunately, no one can make that decisions but you (or your parents if you are a minor), but if you start to think you are going in a bad direction, definitely do reach out for help.

/ PSA

Edit - Dang Saldiven, nice ninja!

I don't obsess anymore. I've reached that age where slow and steady wins the race.
For instance, I've been building and painting up six Kans and two Deff Dreds for what I think is close to a month of evenings (after work) and I'm finishing them up (plus basing) this weekend.
In my youth, I'd probably have obsessed, and marathon-ed this project over the course of a week, and they would have been worse for wear.

It goes into obsession when you are spending money on models that would normally be paying bills.

Hückleberry wrote:It goes into obsession when you are spending money on models that would normally be paying bills.

This. And don't ignore your girlfriend (or cat for that matter) or else you'll end up Here

If the hobby replaces your social life instead of being a supplement to it. Otherwise, you could literally fill your house with minis and I wouldn't call it an obsession if you also had friends and a spouse.

Gymnogyps wrote:What your describe just sounds like you're on a kick, enthusastic, etc. No problem there. But if you were spending money needed for something important, like skipping needed meals or medications, getting in trouble with school / boss / parents / significant other (whatever applies), or think you may be heading in that direction, it might be time to scale it back / branch out into other things.

Personally, i just think i have alot of time on my hands. (Its a week off of school here in the UK). Although wargaming does infuriate my parents, but only when they have to cough up the £30 they owe me, so i can go buy a predator (It has happened once btw)

So to summarise so far, Most people agree that it becomes obsessive if;
Your skipping / ignoring your obligations and responsibilities
Spending excessive money on your hobby, specifically money for rent, bills etc.
And missing social activities with friends to play / paint

I've seen some pretty obsessive fans, thats for sure.


One guy didn't want to go to work to play, and another sacrificed his paycheck for a tank army.

Had to have an intervention, and show him the error of his ways, but theres a point when you let friends go over the top for gaming.


But the point where you see a guy push the limit on his game over family and common sense is a point of contention. Some people let thier pals go over the top, and other people say a thing or two about it.


These days? I let it ride, based on some of the things that have happened over the past year.

Its just a game now. You have to have a good balence between hobbys and life in general.

Grot 6 wrote:I've seen some pretty obsessive fans, thats for sure.


One guy didn't want to go to work to play, and another sacrificed his paycheck for a tank army.

Had to have an intervention, and show him the error of his ways, but theres a point when you let friends go over the top for gaming.


But the point where you see a guy push the limit on his game over family and common sense is a point of contention. Some people let thier pals go over the top, and other people say a thing or two about it.


These days? I let it ride, based on some of the things that have happened over the past year.

Its just a game now. You have to have a good balence between hobbys and life in general.

He sacrificed a full paycheck for a tank army? Ugh. I spend extra per diem money from my job on gaming, plus an occasional amount from regular paychecks. Occasionally (like this week) work will hand me $100+ for spending on warhammer if I use cheap hotels and eat light. But a full paycheck? Ugh. That's serious obsession, to the point of rehab.