For those who don't know a 'Philatelist' is a person who collects stamps. What's the bloody point? You can buy them at the Post Office and they're a damn sight cheaper. But, these stamp collectors wander around the world searching for stamps - that, by definition, are supposed to arrive at your house attached to letters or postcards. How's that for a bloody pointless hobby.
A 'Lepidopterist' is a person who collects Moths and Butterflies. Why would you want to do that? Again, I see no point. There you have some middle aged man prancing around fields and woods, waving his net like a deranged windmill. For what purpose? Apparently to catch some small insect and force a nail through it's abdomen to pin it to a board. My uncle even had a special display cabinet for the purpose.
But, they're not the only ones. Some have even had words created to group together these weirdos. Here are a few random selections:-
- Copoclephile - A collector of key-rings.(why? You need one keyring for all your keys)
- Oologist - Expert in or collector of bird's eggs.(go to the supermarket - they sell them in boxes)
- Phillumenist - Collector of matches, matchboxes, and books of matches.(which I presume leads to arson?)
- Tegestologist - Collector of beermats.(you sad bastards - just drink the beer!)
Then again, I had a friend who spent years collecting all the 'fluff' that appeared in his navel (belly-button) - whilst impressive by it's size and general fluffiness, I was never sure who it was supposed to impress (shit didn't work with prospective girlfriends for sure).
I assume that people have these obsessions for a reason? Maybe you can enlighten me with reasons for collecting??....