If you happen to be in the sad business of collecting toys, there are at least two things that constantly distress you: availability and cost. Availability is something that I've had to come to accept since I was ten, but the world is a lot smaller thanks to the Internet. Cost, well, rising costs are with death and taxes.
In this case, let's take Hasbro's G.I. Joe figures. 3-3/4" tall with a variety of accessories depending on the figure. Average cost $7.99/$8.99. I was looking for the "Renegades" Airtight and the updated Lifeline for the past few months. I found them together, today, at a local Walgreens behind a Rise of Cobra Cobra Commander. They were 11 something each, still cheaper than buying them on eBay. Bitterly, I bought them. Later, I found out that target is selling their G.I. Joe figures for $10.50. (To put this in perspective, their 12" figures only cost $19.99, close to three times the size of the small ones.)
To get to the point, one could see where cost alone could really discourage a person. I have always told myself that I did this to enjoy my childhood as a hobby, but there's a fine line to obsession. In a materialistic society, we live thinking our privileges are our necessities, and there is no doubt that there are those who take advantage of this.
What if there was a line drawn in the sand, where inflation could no longer be taken with a shrug? What would it take for us to put away our addictions? Take a moment and look at your priorities and see how important they really are.
Or will we always be a society that starves but has great cell coverage?
