Computer technology has undeniably shrunk the world of business, finance and generally of communication about anything that exists out there in the great wide world.
Special interest groups are also taking advantage of the ability to gather, sort and disseminated information that would otherwise be a laborious and impossible task.
Seeing the potential of current technology, Melbourne based entrepreneurs, David Eedle and Fiona Boyd co-founded collectZing.com, an online social network for anybody who collects anything from X-Files trading cards to stamps and art works.
"I've long admired avid collectors, as they always have something positive and passionate to do or say about what they collect" said Fiona Boyd.
One such person, Stanley Nife (no K), whose passion for dolls suddenly led him to also count snow-domes as his obsession, told The Epoch Times :
Others whose interests are more traditional also find the internet a valuable tool.
When asked whether he was a dabbler or an obsessive collector 60-year old Don S. said "I'm an obsessive dabbler. By that I mean I collect a variety of stamps in a variety of ways. My prize item is the very first US stamp that was issued in 1847. It's on an envelope which was actually mailed that year."
The subculture of collectors may span the world but collectors are often quirky in their tastes which forces them into a rather isolated state particularly with regards to their beloved hobby. But thanks to the internet, all this has been opened up to a teeming hub of social exchange that has exponentially increased the scope for collectors to peruse each other's treasures with great relish.
Don is thankful for the way the internet has widened his horizons "Before the Internet, stamp collecting was a very solitary hobby. Often collectors would have their stamps locked up in a safe deposit box or stored away in the attic. Every once in a blue moon they would bring them out to look at. Now you can easily scan and upload them for the world to see and to share."
There are also those who don't necessarily see themselves as collectors although cataloguing their possessions on the website helps them get an overview. Naomi who has been collecting since she was in her teens sees herself as more of a dabbler. "I never really realised I collected stuff until collectZing came along. I took a look at my room, and geez... there were all of a sudden so many things I collected – books, theatre programs and theatre merchandise, coins from my trips overseas, DVDs..."
She also has an extensive puppet collection which she makes as well as restores, and while there are websites for uploading photo's Naomi says "collectZing gives me the added benefit of keeping note for each puppet. I can add information about the materials, or anything about restorations I've done."
But ultimately the internet has banished the isolation of collectors and propelled them out of the closet to new possibilities. They can even collect collectors.
Enough said.
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