Gothamist: A "Collyer Mansion" Situation

k

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 09:43:07 -0500

thanks, kimdog. it is fascinating and seems like it might actually be helpful to those with hoarding problems.

kimdog

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 00:04:53 -0500

Squalor Survivors is a fascinating website that deals with these folks, both horders and just plain messy people. It has first hand stories and pictures.

Meghan

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 19:29:41 -0500

My Dad is a retired firefighter and I always thought he called them "Collier Fires" because of the stacks of magazine (Collier Magazine). 29 years later the NYT bursts my bubble.

ramone

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 16:10:39 -0500

here's one about a rat hoarder... disturbing http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2006/06/29/rat_man_says_nature_overwhelmed_him/

I'm related to a hoarder

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:56:38 -0500

It's probably all over the map, though I'd be interested in knowing this myself. A very close family member of mine is like this, and take it from me, it sucks pretty hard, and next to impossible to get them to change their ways.

k

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:17:47 -0500

so, do these people with hoarding tendencies - cats, papers, whatever - have anything in common - i'm assuming, you know, some really traumatic emotional experience or something? or is it all over the map? any amateur (or real) experts out there? i'm sorry, but honestly, it is as fascinating as it is sad.

smitty

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:12:59 -0500

Oh yeah, here is that famous crazy ebay lady hoarder: http://www.auctions-registration.com/ebay/

smitty

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:09:11 -0500

There are also animal hoarders, who have like 200 cats.

TJ

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 14:24:10 -0500

I work EMS and can confirm that we see these on a semi-regular basis. These are among the worst places you get called to. It is AWFUL. Dirty, malodorous, and usually lots of little things crawling around. And that is not referring to the patient (although those adjectives apply in most of the situations in these apartments too). NASTY.

TJ

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 14:23:29 -0500

anonymous

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 14:13:24 -0500

I think that's correct, about how the Collyers died - The book Ghosty Men is sadly terrible. It's such an interesting story but the book is unfocused and poorly written. The author alternate between chapters about the Collyer brothers and about a relative of his with a hoarding problem, and he has little insight about either topic.

Julian

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 13:57:19 -0500

Langley Collyer didn't just happen to die. Their home was not only filled with tons of junk but with trip wires. Langley apparently triggered one, and tons of junk came crashing down on him. Homer, who I think was in a wheelchair, then starved to death.