FMA – Fussy Mathom Arranger

klatu003

Having been on this forum for a while, I have a proposal.  Let’s start a new acronym for that tendency many of us have to organize, complete, evaluate, curate, overspend and generally get all weird about our LEGO.  This would replace the phrase “my OCD” with “my FMA.”  Of course Mathom is a nod to Tolkien, but I would say LEGO are closer to the Old English definition, rather than the Hobbit understanding.

You see, OCD is not a simple little inclination to be particular about elements of a hobby, or conflicted over buying another set, but a serious debilitating mental illness.  Remember the “D” stands for Disorder, not placement on a scale from slob to neat-freak. 

As a small step in a positive direction, I thought the members of this forum might enjoy starting an alternative designation.  AFOLs are a pretty awesome bunch on the whole.

Don’t know if this will move to “Off Topic”, but OCD gets thrown out there a lot in “Collecting”

gmonkey76

We already have one, and it's AFOL. :)

Astrobricks

My OCD will not allow me to do this.

NateF

It doesn’t seem that OCD is being replaced anytime soon

CCC

Sometimes it is more of a Methodological Arrangement Disorder.

Shib

As a former germophobe who came close to OCD at the worst point I appreciate the sentiment as I hate the overuse of the term OCD - in general, not just in relation to collecting.

However I don’t think the acronym would work as Mathom is not a commonly used (or therein well known) word.

I’d suggest coming up with something a bit easier to figure out from context - personally if I see the term FMA I read it as Full Metal Alchemist (as an anime fan) so in context of LEGO collecting terminology I’d have no clue what was meant.

something like FCO for Fussy Collection Organiser would be better as the meaning might be easier guessed as it used all common words.

playwell

As someone with OCD its doesn't bother me at all the way others use the term OCD on the forum. In fact it kind of makes me feel better that my Lego habits are normal in the world of the AFOL.

I think people can have OCD thoughts without having the disorder. People can be OCD about Lego but not in the rest of their life. So I am not sure the term is even used that incorrectly.

OCD isn't like a light switch, its not either on or off, you have it or you don't. Everyone has some level of OCD and for most people its not a problem but to some people it is. And even within people with "real" OCD there are different levels and different problems.

Honestly I do think that us AFOL are more OCD than average and therefor I am sure there will be a few people on the forum that have to be watchful of their OCD. But I am not sure using the term less helps them and it just makes it seem like a bigger deal if you do suffer from the condition.

Just my thoughts, other people with OCD might feel the complete opposite. 

Toc13

FCO- Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Not particularly known for liking Lego

Astrobricks

Take any three character initialism, and it’s already in use somewhere.

SumoLego

Fuzzy Mothra Argument?

It's a really large, radioactive moth.  Of course it is fuzzy.

CCC

Astrobricks said:

Take any three character initialism, and it’s already in use somewhere.

Including some that mean something else ... gfy.bar

GeordiePaul

@shib I’d be careful admitting that you don’t know the meaning of a word around here. Look what happened to the poor person who said they didn’t know what the word ‘libellous’ meant over on the libel thread. It wasn’t pretty!

Shib

^It's ok because I didn’t say I didn’t know the word, just said it was less known ;-)

(the fact I googled it first is besides the point) 

MaffyD

I don’t know what the word ‘definition’ means, so I know I’m in trouble! As far as OCD goes, it’s a sliding scale as far as I’m aware. Context allows us to use it properly, and I’d prefer the term be used more often rather than less so that more people can get the context.

klatu003

@SumoLego "Fussy Mothra Argument" -love it.  A little context for the discussion "A person with OCD has obsessive and compulsive behaviors that are extreme enough to interfere with everyday life. People with OCD should not be confused with a much larger group of people who are sometimes called "compulsive" for being perfectionists and highly organized. This other type of compulsiveness, however, is more in line with a pattern of excessive perfectionism and rigid control as personality traits. In OCD, the compulsive behaviors are performed in reaction to the intrusive thoughts, images, and obsessions." https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder 

LegoAerologist

I must admit, it's an intresting concept

sid3windr

I'm more of a Furry Meowthra Adept.

Kaitch

@klatu003I like the inclusion of compulsive behaviours in non-OCD individual. I can be compulsive, but I severely doubt I'm OCD. If @SMC doesn't mind, I'd say that the inclusion of compulsive Lego collecting is not in and of itself OCD, and trying to include it might just end up worrying people unnecessarily due to the prevalence of self-diagnosis. I wouldn't want to accidentally promote declaring you have an actual disorder based solely on personal observations of your own habits and what people say on the 'net, rather than getting a dignosis from a professional.

So, if we were to adopt an acronym, I would suggest something including the word "compulsive", but avoid "disorder" for certian, and for preference also omit "fussy", although that's just because I don't like the word. I like "mathom", because it does acknowledge that the focus of our compulsions is, in the end, just stuff, which might also help promote a healthy attitude towards collecting; but I do get the point that it's a rather obscure word. I would suggest something like "Compulsive Collecting", or CC. Possibly add a third word?

Or just leave it as CC and let the SW collectors trading rumours over that upcoming UCS have fits.

pharmjod

Does anal-retentive have a hyphen? =D

AR is probably accurate for most of us.

The_Rancor

Surely to a certain extent any adult that collects things will have a compulsion towards what they really like, whether it's Lego, art, cars, sports memorabilia or more. I wouldn't say being an AFOL creates a specific attachment or definition of a form of OCD, but that is just my opinion.

To be honest I would be all for channelling our energies towards normalising AFOLs rather than to suggest our own new designations. There are far too many labels and groups applied to everything already nowadays. 

560Heliport

I think "AFOL" is descriptive enough- Adult Fan(atic) of LEGO.

SearchlightRG

Future Master of Airjitzu?

devilhead

I wish upon anybody who wants more acronyms in this world an FMA (Flying Monkey Assault).