This season, “Hoarders” has been on a roll, and it seems to be especially anti-doll and toy collecting. In years past, Cam and I have sat in stunned silence as we’ve watched tons of debris carted out of a three-room trailer. We’ve moaned in horror as we’ve witnessed skeletal remains of cats and squirrels buried amid the trash and junk that explodes out of the bathroom. Occasionally, we’ve felt pangs of empathy when we’ve seen home renters facing eviction because of “collections” that have sprawled out of control. Normally, we could tsk-tsk and shake our heads in disbelief because, face it, who in his or her right mind would ever amass such a huge collection of pocketbooks, or swimsuits, or TV guides, or inoperable microwaves. (For some odd reason, microwaves seem to be a recurring motif in the hoarder homes. I’ve watched as elderly women have mimicked Carl Lewis in their ability to broad-jump over stacked, broken microwaves that form gravity-defying towers in forgotten kitchens and hallways. There is such a sense of absurdity at times that the setups are ripe for parodying, which the boys from “South Park” did with glee. And so did “Glee” this year, with two racy references to the show.)

The program has always had an almost hypnotic ability to convince Cam and me (and several million other loyal viewers) to pledge to clean more and clutter less. And truth be told—I always find myself tidying up and dusting and sprucing as soon as the show ends. Cam and I always say, “There but for a total breakdown in reality go I!”

This year’s rash of episodes, however, are cutting too close to home. The last two weeks have focused on people who have filled their houses—and their lives—with dolls and games. One of the collectors was a female senior citizen who was quite disconnected from her own real-life children: she preferred the company of her dolls. The other collector was a rather domineering older man who had amassed several storage sheds’ worth of board games, toys, and dolls. Both people did the bulk of their buying at flea markets and tag sales. The lady in question was not discriminating. She seemed to go out of her way to find dolls that needed mending, repairing, and caring. (She lovingly detached hands from one doll and gently sewed them onto another, calling it “necessary surgery.”) She was definitely nurturing her purchases. Her male counterpart only sought MIB dolls and felt they were going to be his nest egg for when times got rocky. Both people were regarded as problematic and in need of therapy, according to the show’s experts. (Normally, these are a very chirpy female psychotherapist, a rather sincere, soft-spoken male psychologist, assorted professional organizers who specialize in OCD, and a band of hard-nosed, strong-armed cleaners.)

Watching the show is fascinating for me because I work in the very industry that is at the crux of so many of these televised problems. I work in the collectibles field, and I’ve seen people pin their dreams on resale values that never occur. (That’s why the cardinal rule is to collect ONLY what you really love and can afford.) These poor souls who are profiled on “Hoarders” have stopped buying what they love and what they can afford: they’ve spiraled into acquiring out of need and emptiness, and spending without consequence.

Seeing what can happen if a collection is left unchecked is just a small part of the “Hoarder” mystique. It really shows what can happen when people stop feeling connections to their family and friends, and turn to objects for total solace. Without a devoted person in his or her life, a collector who teeters on the edge of emotional estrangement can easily be pushed over. It’s not a comfortable thought.

Cam and I have made a pact to never let our collections evolve into a “hoard.” If one wanted to play a drinking game while watching the show—take a shot every time the term “living among the hoard” is used—you’d need a designated driver to get you home. (Gwyneth Paltrow and Jane Lynch got nice and toasty on FOX’s “Glee” sitcom while indulging in a “Hoarders” marathon spurred on by huge wineglasses of vino.) The “hoard” is a supporting player in these episodes. Nay, it’s more than a supporting player—it’s a co-star. It holds sway over the sufferers as well as their family, friends, and exasperated, intervening loved ones.

To help keep our collections in check, we have gifted many of our NRFB dolls to community fund-raisers for auctioning and tag sales. We’ve given some away to friends who have mentioned how much they have admired our keepsakes, and we’ve even taken some out of the boxes and (cover your eyes, readers) given them to children to play with and own.

I recommend “Hoarders” as a cautionary tale for all of us who have bought a lot in the past and still want to buy more in the future. Watch how these people have become imprisoned by objects: they are owned by their things, rather than the other way around.

Witnessing these worst-case scenarios week in and week out, I have NOT sworn off collecting. BUT I have sworn off chasing after a doll for the sheer trill of the hunt. I now buy what my heart desires—not what I think I should desire or should want to acquire.

One thing that always amuses us when we watch “Hoarders” and tweet to each other about it: A&E, the network that produces and airs it, has a company store that sells merchandise tied into the show. Cam and I always wonder, “How many hoarders are now hoarding ‘Hoarder’ paraphernalia?”

We look forward to seeing that exposed in next season’s canon.

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I won't watch hoarders because i'm afraid it will just upset me. but shame on the psychotherapist for dissing dolls. dolls are the least of a hoarder's problems.

billie , July 13, 2011

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I watched both the episodes you mentioned. I think as collectors we fear that one day we may become what we see on the show. I think the difference between the average collector and a hoarder is the fact that our collections do not interfere with our day to day lives. I have a big collection... I am a bit ashamed to say that my barbie collection has been residing in my crawl space since my last move. ... The reasoning... I don't have the space to display them at the moment. I know my collecting limit. Instead of dragging home bags of barbies and bears from the shows that I attend I usually now come home with a few little items. The difference between me and a hoarder is that I see my limit and stop. I can sell items that I no longer love to make space for new items that I do love. The hoarder just jams whatever they have into the space they have. What is gross is how filthy the majority of these people allow their home to get. Can you imagine how bad a dead cat would smell. I can tell you I had a mouse die in my office at work.. and I searched until I found it... a tiny mouse and the smell was unbearable. You really have to feel bad for these people. The one lady who repaired dolls... her collecting seems to be a reflection of neglect of love and loss of self worth. She sees the repair of the dolls as a contribution.. and really, it is! Only after you have 3 dump trucks full of dolls it's probably too much for a person to handle. There is a line between collecting and being out of control.

Melanie , July 12, 2011 | url

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I watch hoarders is awe of how can someone live like that I have a few small collections but I never go buy something I can't afford. I watched them take all those dolls to the dump and wondered why they were all thrown away. I refurbish dolls myself. No broken ones but just those that need cleanup and then I make them clothes. I resale them as a suppliment to my Social Security. This way collectors can buy a doll they want for a good price or they can be given to a child for play. I feel no doll should be "untouchable". They all need a little love.

Eva Summers , July 12, 2011 | url

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I have several different collections but none out of hand like on that show. I watched that doll show and wondered why so many and knew they were going to the dump. I refurbish dolls, not broken ones but ones that just need a little cleanup and redressed. I then sell them at a reasonable price. This way I make a little money to suppliment my Social Security and people who collect can get a doll at a good price and yes they can even by gotten for a child to play with. None of my collections are "untouchable" for every doll or stuff animal needs a little love.

Eva Summers , July 12, 2011 | url

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I know I have too many things. But even on my worst days, I don't have animal skeletons in my living room! My collection is large--it's not life threatening. That's a BIG difference!

Johnnie , July 12, 2011

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