Is Breaking Psychologically Addicting?

[Nomad]

I was just tuning into the Hitman Rips stream in between Fantasy Island and the Pacers game and musing that, at least with that particular host (and hostess), it's very relaxing to kind of flow and see if you hit something cool.

Now I justify watching with the concept of "studying the market," learning the various sets and understanding how various players in sports I don't follow are valued. I mean, with that knowledge, and charisma, you could make money, right?

But I could see myself someday with like 30G at a poolside Cabana texting with ninja and sipping a high end kombucha, reloading from time to time when a mix of boxes I like comes along. Far more random that buying off the bay.

Is this why boxes are so expensive? Is breaking that entertaining, relaxing, and at the same time addicting? Better than golf I would say.

[nothinbefore]

relaxing when you are just watching with no money in the pot, it becomes a ticking time bomb with wires to cut once you thrown down money into the situation.

Glad i deleted whatnot..every few months i'll redownload it and just throw down $20 into a break and then regret it once it check my ebay watchlist

[thekiddfan]

PYP Aaron Nesmith

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by nothinbefore

relaxing when you are just watching with no money in the pot, it becomes a ticking time bomb with wires to cut once you thrown down money into the situation.

Glad i deleted whatnot..every few months i'll redownload it and just throw down $20 into a break and then regret it once it check my ebay watchlist

Interesting, my watching experience now with nothing on the line is nothing like when I did participate in some breaks early in my basketball collecting journey. That was adrenalin pumping and potentially unhealthy.

On the PYP tip, I remember I picked the Celtics in a few affordable Absolute spots during the pandemic after watching that 38 point comeback against the Spurs and hit a pair of Nesmith Tools of the Trade 6 patch RPAs. And that actually made me go back and realize that he was the rookie who had impressed me so much with his performance in that game.

He was like eff the pandemic, when everyone was kind of not really playing high-intensity basketball (no crowds) let's bring back the grit (amazing how much of the apparent animosity of the players is down to the fans' attitudes). But he brought that attitude and fight by himself. Had almost no technical skills at that time. Casual fans just saw him jolting around and missing shots and assumed he was not really with it. He's a high touch player.

I also thought about those really expensive rare Kobe rookies that I suddenly coveted and realized I should be avidly buying his best cards after breaks, if I believed in this player's long term potential. Instead of participating in breaks, given the relatively small value of my "big" hits compared with the price of a spot.

I predict: in a week Obi Toppen's prices (despite the NY head start) will have lagged measurably behind Jalen Smith, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard prices. In a year, Lamello prices will be below at least one of the three. Math will stay steady and probably above all of these because of 1) sunk investor costs and 2) he could flourish in another system. Like what if he worked with Kawhi in LA.

[thekiddfan]

Lamelo below either 3?

Bro...

[hauntedcomputer]

Just because you win the lottery doesn't mean you weren't an idiot for having played.

The same part of your brain fires whether it's sex, cocaine, or the shiny parallel cardboard.

[jcardstore]

It's definitely addictive for some percentage of people. Those people are also addicted to the lottery, the casino, gambling in general, video games, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, etc...

You're either someone who gets addicted to things or not.

[ballhawkdawk]

Originally Posted by hauntedcomputer

Just because you win the lottery doesn't mean you weren't an idiot for having played.

The same part of your brain fires whether it's sex, cocaine, or the shiny parallel cardboard.

Agreed. To me it's the same as asking if gambling is addictive. Yes. Daily fantasy sports, casinos, the lottery... all the same as card breaks to me. Card breaks and lottery especially as you can't even increase your skill to improve your odds.

[hermanotarjeta]

Yes, fanatics and the breaker culture is trying to capitalize on that.

[hermanotarjeta]

Everything has lost value since the pandemic except for one thing - sealed wax, which is still in demand from the breaker culture.

People can turn down buying singles that continue to fall in price, but they cannot resist getting into breaks - every last dollar you own will be spent if you are a degenerate gambling break participant.

Thus wax does not go down in price because some people simply can’t help themselves.

[GOATcards]

Breaking Bad was kinda addicting, I binge-watched the series



(the guy was sure quick to want to kill 2 of 3 available meth cooks, huh)

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by thekiddfan

Lamelo below either 3?

Bro...

That's considering a) the significant chance that he probably trained too hard as a kid like Lonzo and will have persistent joint issues and b) the not insignificant chance that one of the three has a breakout performance in playoffs.

[cms11]

Originally Posted by ballhawkdawk

Agreed. To me it's the same as asking if gambling is addictive. Yes. Daily fantasy sports, casinos, the lottery... all the same as card breaks to me. Card breaks and lottery especially as you can't even increase your skill to improve your odds.

I was able to make a nice profit on Leaf breaks sold on eBay since Leaf's collation was very predictable. I could calculate the odds pulling each player and calculate whether the price for spots were worth it.

[boxbuster7]

anybody who says no has never opened a box of cards. It is insanely addicting.

[Bcr]

Anybody else ever pretend to join breaks just to see how much you would lose? That alone prevents me from buying most sealed wax and ever joining breaks.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Everything has lost value since the pandemic except for one thing - sealed wax, which is still in demand from the breaker culture.

This is not true at all.

[Brobocop]

I was addicted to it from about 2011-2014. Spent way more than I'd like to back then. I wasn't running up credit card debt or anything which I'm thankful for. I cannot imagine what it's like for people now given how high wax prices are today. I recall spending $300 or so per box of NT or The Cup back then, that amount of money today gets you a spot or two in case breaks, just stupid.

[AwesomeBrian]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Yes, fanatics and the breaker culture is trying to capitalize on that.

Just under 6 hours before he sniffed out this thread. He's slipping a little

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by AwesomeBrian

Just under 6 hours before he sniffed out this thread. He's slipping a little

Yeah, my Lebron is GOAT radar is a lot stronger than the one for breaking, LOL.

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by Brobocop

I was addicted to it from about 2011-2014. Spent way more than I'd like to back then. I wasn't running up credit card debt or anything which I'm thankful for. I cannot imagine what it's like for people now given how high wax prices are today. I recall spending $300 or so per box of NT or The Cup back then, that amount of money today gets you a spot or two in case breaks, just stupid.

Same. I never let it get out of control, and NEVER ran up the credit card, but for a good 2-3 year stretch, razz rooms were my jam. Around 2015, you could see the scammers and low-lifes taking over and completely ruining the vibe.

It was a good way to grab some low-priced cards, and depending on the razz room host, it was both informative and fun.

I wouldn't own a Mike Trout GU patch on card auto or a Michael Jordan on-card auto today if it weren't for razz rooms.

.
.

[cardsin47]

Sure - much of the Hobby is ( breaks / wax / prospecting etc. )

[jrb]

Yes. Gambling/breaking can be an addiction. Maybe you win or even find a short term "edge" but in the long run gambling/breaking is designed for you to lose. If the casino/breaker is crooked, then your losses/odds are even worse.

Breaking is one of several factors for the massive inflation of sealed product.

[Nomad]

Since Fanatics is in cards for the long term, isn't it in their best interest to try and align card and sealed product prices to some degree? Not giving breakers preferred access at least...

[Harper]

I feel a bit guilty benefitting off breakers’ addiction. But it is nice that they open so much product, then try to sell the lesser hits (aka the cards I’m interested in) in order to recoup some of their losses or go whale hunting again. It makes it so much easier and quicker for me to find cards /5 and /10 for my player collection. It is sad at times watching them list a $30 dollar card for $200 on eBay because they need to “break even”

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by jrb

Yes. Gambling/breaking can be an addiction. Maybe you win or even find a short term "edge" but in the long run gambling/breaking is designed for you to lose. If the casino/breaker is crooked, then your losses/odds are even worse.

Breaking is one of several factors for the massive inflation of sealed product.

There’s no edge in breaking, even if there may be a perceived edge (the leaf collation thing) it can’t be scaled. There’s still no real edge anyways because cards are illiquid.

Sports betting you can have an edge because if you have a good model you can find plenty of +EV stuff and you know the exact amount of risk vs return. Breaking you only know the risk, there’s no guaranteed return.

Breaking is pure, pull the lever, gambling.