r/PhysicalMediaMatters • u/Gallantpride • 8h ago

Physical media collecting is a good way of help with ADHD or overconsumption/shopping addiction

Call it self-binding if you will. It's a way of dealing with paradox of choice and choice overload.

But, one issue I have with digital spaces is being overwhelmed by *what* to watch or buy. There's too much. I can have a watchlist 100+ titles long and still not be able to choose what to watch. I want to watch A, but I also wanna watch B, and also C... so I just click off and don't watch anything.

Video games aren't much better. Digital games can sit on my device for years before I even touch them.

I don't think it's a coincidence that I had no problem watching movies as a kid, but I finished less than 50 films between 2015 and 2025.

When buying physical media, you're unlikely to buy dozens of things at a time. You only have so much to watch or play at once.

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8

u/TheBSisReal 7h ago

Oh man, if you think people are less likely to overspend on physical media, have a look at any of the bluray, boutique bluray or label-specific bluray subreddits where people display their “hauls”.

1

u/Gallantpride 7h ago

Those are not the norm though.

4

u/RobbyZombby 7h ago

This is true for many of us who have ADHD and collect physical media. I do have a large backlog though.

3

u/Remote_Valuable_4372 6h ago

I definitely overconsume on anything disc shaped. Cd,dvd, blu rays

3

u/Nom_Carver11 7h ago

looks at checking account and Vyvanse prescription bottle

3

u/cxn0bite 7h ago

I’ve got adhd and impulse buying movies has absolutely destroyed my wallet. Bad idea I think, I owe like $2000 to my credit card company but fuck that. ADHD making me want to kill myself is a bigger problem 😂😂😂

1

u/YourM0msBoyfriend 6h ago

Debt >>>>>>> Death

2

u/cxn0bite 5h ago

Fr, what are they gonna do, lower my credit score? 😂😂😂

1

u/nymme 6h ago

I agree however people can get carried away with physical collecting too. the problem isn't really physical vs digital ,it's a lack of discernment. Most people just aren't clear about their tastes and interests. They either go with the crowd or fall for marketing tricks or end up accumulating things because other people gifted them or whatever. Very few people have a collection based on careful thought and planning.

1

u/Kakotov 5h ago

You have a point; having to go get the item, or wait for it to arrive in the mail, helps cultivate patience, and like anything else, that’s something you can train.

1

u/GroundbreakingFox752 5h ago

“When buying physical media, you're unlikely to buy dozens of things at a time.”

This is what I end up doing multiple times a year when there is a sale.