Surrounded by piles, again

[major_clanger]

A good while back I blogged about the way in which I was slowly sinking beneath vast mounds of magazine and journal back-issues.

I've been doing some tidying this morning. Things haven't got any better in the last four years.

It is extremely tempting to say "Enough! I read them and they go in the recycling!" There are some I want to keep - but why? I have nearly the whole run of SFX, but have never looked at old issues. The same goes for the Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Wired and various IEE journals.

Some stuff I do want to hang on to; Interzone and BSFA magazines. But why do I have this urge? Is it wanting to have stuff for research or reference purposes?If so, not being a reviewer or academic I find it hard to honestly justify this. Is it because I want some sort of library of familiarity? Is it because if I start disposing of old magazines I'm unlikely to read again that I might be tempted to get rid of old books I'm unlikely to read again? That way lies heresy!

Comments

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Well, having lugged a box or two of BSFA magazines, untouched, from Balham to Lewisham to Burgess Hill to Redhill, I can sympathise.

They are going. (Hopefully to a good home, if there is any such thing. A library? Or something?)

And as for the books: coming soon to an LJ near you, a thorough analysis of why my bookstock will be shrinking dramatickally...

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

It's a terrible problem, isn't it? I think the only solution which I've found is to share magazines - either cancel my own subscription, or get someone to 'buddy' on mine. Somehow, I don't feel so bad about letting periodicals go into the recycling if they've visited two households ... and it's much easier to share current issues than back issues.

BTW, just to confirm that I shan't be at Picocon tomorrow either. Also, G is disappearing under a mound of work and is worried about not being able to start using that 'last of 2006 holiday, must be taken by end Feb 07' next Wednesday :-(

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

Is it partly an identity thing? In that these magazines represent a range of your interests, and your level of intellectual engagement with them, and thus to you -- and perhaps to others -- something about who you are? This might explain the visceral attachment.

And I do feel much the same way about books and fanzines: I like having them about, for all that many are ones I rarely look at properly twice (or, in some cases, once yet), and that's why we moved somewhere with space for them. And, of course, You Never Know when you'll want a specific one.

[vicarage.livejournal.com]

Remember, almost everything can be looked up in the Internet, or one of your friends has hoarded it, and could scan and send you a copy. Its so liberating to read something, and then throw it on the fire.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Run a nuclear power station with your ZX80

That's what the Russians were doing at Chernobyl, but the RAM pack fell off...

[biggingerdave.livejournal.com]

We're looking at it the wrong way. Why wouldn't anyone in their right mind want to keep their old magazines. They self-reference just for that point.

Maybe I like hoarding too much.

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

If you have any SFX you don't want (or similar mags) get them brought to Redemption next weekend where they can be cut up to do door decorating!

[don-fitch.livejournal.com]

A bit over fifty years ago I seem to have decided "These things deserve to be preserved, and I have an Obligation to do this". I have not done a good job of it (some of the things have deteriorated even more than I have), and the point where I should have given up -- and even given up on trying to find a good home for as many of them as possible -- has long passed. Now... either I must "recycle" them, or, in a few years, the unpleasant task will devolve to someone else. In all fairness, I need to start doing it, Real Soon Now. Except for the books, of course ... well... most of them ... and some of the fanzines, and perhaps a few other things that belong to the person I once thought I would be.