posted on December 16, 2001 10:52:12 AM
This after reading capolady's psycho bidder... It seems that buying online in auction format for collectible items taps into three areas of the human psyche, sometimes with unfortunate results: each auction a venture into the unknown.
1. Love of gambling: getting something for nearly nothing. Finding a collectible in an online auction in the last few minutes of an auction brings sweat to the palms, paplpitations and other well known physical manifestations of inner excitement. I love the last few minutes of an auction both as a buyer and as a seller.
2. Shopping as psychotherapy for those with occasional bouts of low self-esteem. Think HSN and QVC on television... Doesn't buying yourself a present make you feel better? Does me.
3. Anonymity of the internet allowing the meek to be bold and throw their money/weight around, spout arrant nonsense and vilify the righteous if they darn well choose.
Mix these together in unequal portions and any given auction can be a thing of beauty, a bargain for the buyer, a coup for the seller or the auction from hell.
