I’ve never considered myself a hoarder. In fact, I do my best to remove clutter and keep things organized, after all, I do have an interest in organizing too. But, before jumping to conclusions, it would be helpful to know the definition of a “hoarder” as per Dictionary.com:
noun
1. a supply or accumulation that is hidden or carefully guarded for preservation, future use, etc.: a vast hoard of silver.
verb (used with object)
2. to accumulate for preservation, future use, etc., in a hidden or carefully guarded place: to hoard food during a shortage.
verb (used without object)
3. to accumulate money, food, or the like, in a hidden or carefully guarded place for preservation, future use, etc.
Well, when you put it like that… I’m definitely a hoarder!
The thing is that when I think of a hoarder I envision scenes like these (click images to enlarge):
 epicdolls.com |
 izismile.com |
 autographhellbook.blogspot.com |
 hoarding.theplan.com |
That’s more like it. 
I would say pictures are worth a thousand words, so I’ll let them speak for me. I will say, however, that hoarding is only a problem when (1) your stuff dramatically affects your ability to live–especially with regards to health and safety concerns–and (2) when it takes you more than a minute to routinely find what you’re looking for, which is more likely a simple lack of organization rather than a hoarding problem.
Well, what do you think? Are (we) preppers hoarders or not? Does it even matter?
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I don’t believe that preppers are hoarders at all, but I guess using the description above anyone who collects anything would be a hoarder…interesting
A real prepper is not a hoarder. In some respects we are all hoarders. Who ever says we have too much money….no one. We are all money hoarders. Whats the difference than between hoarding money or hoarding stuff. Just because people can see your stuff they call you a hoarder. Some people know how to put their money to good use and some people know how to put their stuff to good use. A prepper just needs to be organized and know how to use their stuff wisely. We should all be some type of prepper.
I like to think of myself as a futurist: someone who looks into the future. Or maybe I’m just a “stocker”
Either way, tomorrow’s food at today’s prices.
I believe that when the government collects and stores stuff (drugs, ammunition, cheese, crude oil, chemicals ….) they call it stockpiling. Has a nicer ring to it than hoarding, doesn’t it?
So we should just start calling ourselves “stockpilers” and we’ll be ok.:)
Or any other synonym for stockpile: accumulation, buildup, cache, inventory, nest egg, reserve, source, stash, stock, store, surplus. Maybe we need an image consultant!
By definition having a years supply of food for your family would make you a “hoarder”. I believe the plains Indians would take advantage of a once a year opportunity to kill massive amounts of buffalo by forcing them to run over a cliff. If they were successful they had more then a years supply of food for their tribe and of course if they were unsuccessful they were the the opposite of a horder they were dead. So was “hoarding” bad?
There is a difference between For purpose and and mental illness . 100 cats in a studio apartment in not a for purpose kinda thing ……..its a somebody needs to go to the state hospital kinda thing
Hoarding is a mental disorder for sure. If you’ve ever watched any of the hoarding shows on tv it’s obvious these people cannot be reasoned with and often display fear and anger when confronted with their problem.
I see those shows and I dont feel so bad about my clutter .
They arte ORGANIZED hoarders
Another word that’s been twisted like booty, thong, gay, capitalism and text. Just like racist, hoarder is used as a pejorative to end intellectual exchange and shame a person into conformity. Honestly, I always thought of international bankers as hoarders (greedy, stingy, thieves, keeping money for themselves while the whole world collapses). – Yea, I had the definition wrong, too.
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little looking at those pictures! Blugh! I guess by the technical definition we are hoarders if there is a large stockpile. However, those pictures are exactly what I think of when someone says hoarder. I also think you could be a minimalist and a prepper. Being able to live with as little as possible possesions and probably more adaptive to make do with what is available is a skill few people have.
I think the media is responsible for giving definitions to words that they were not meant to mean. A good example is the thing I see going around all the time about people being offended by the use of the word “entitlement”. They are all angry about the word being used in reference to S.S. benefits. When in reality, S.S. benefits are an “entitlement”. If you look up the word, this is a proper usage. But the media has equated the word with charity and hand-outs. I’m amazed sometimes that people have forgotten how to use a simple dictionary, and their own brains. Off my soapbox. Get dizzy if I stay up there too long.
I don’t see myself as a hoarder of useless things, newspapers or junk. I do see myself as a hoarder of needed items, food and paper towels. My hoarding keeps the family afloat when the paycheck doesn’t stretch enough. I never really saw my prepping as hoarding until now though.
I don’t consider prepping as hoarding, far from it. The definition of “hoarder” however does indicate I am one; perhaps it’s time for a definition change?
I agree that definition of hoarder needs to reflect the good aspect: saving for a rainy day type of reasoning,but also reflect the bad aspect: saving trash because of your mental illness.
I feel that hoarder is looked down on as much as prepper is nowadays. At least in my area.
Interesting question. Hoarding implies some unbalance in an individual – like the pictures above. I prefer to think that when I can get a good deal on something (like food items) that I use, and know I will use in the future, I stock up. It makes economic sense and although I have put away items at a bargain, I’m not sleeping on boxes of rice. One of the best thoughts I’ve heard and often explain to people who ask me about prepping is: what if you lose your job, but have a few months of staples put aside? Will you worry as much about how you and your children will eat with no income?
Those pictures are what comes to mind when I think of hoarders also. They save everything, even useless stuff.
You’ve hit the nail on the head, “useless” is the operative word.
Another question can you be a minimalists and a prepper?
Good definition of a minimalists – living with as few possessions as possible but owning things I think are essential and that add value to my life..