Butch003
Newly Enlightened
I'm going through the same sickness. Can't seem to find an answer. In the past 6 weeks, I've spent more on flashlights & parts than I did in my whole life before that. Love it.
Why is CPF and flashlights in general so addicting?
- Thread starter hammerface
- Start date
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I'm going through the same sickness. Can't seem to find an answer. In the past 6 weeks, I've spent more on flashlights & parts than I did in my whole life before that. Love it.
hammerface
Newly Enlightened
I agree. It's still a tool/survival thing in a way but much safer. I used to be big into knives (which too is more expensive than this) however it's a little safer to let my 2 1/2 year old play with my flashlights than my knives..
shomie911
Enlightened
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2008
- Messages
- 850
This makes sense because some of us, myself included, get a kick out of just playing around with our lights sometimes.
I think it's human instinct to have an interest with the creation of light, hence why fire transfixes some people and glow sticks can keep kids entertained for hours.
CPF is addicting because it's a great forum, with good people, enough said. :twothumbs
Now flashlights? Well they're relatively cheap and fill that inner need for cool tools and gadgets that most of us have. They also fill a practical purpose which makes it that much more easy to get addicted.
saabgoblin
Enlightened
CPF is so addicting because we can all live vicariously through each others purchases and experiences while visualizing ourselves effortlessly prepared for each and every scenario and nevermore have a care or worry in the world as long as we have our ultimate EDC we know that we can face anything except opening our credit card bills.
:devil:
:devil:
There is something very stimulating :devil: when you post an 
..... & 
. Also the never-ending hunt, for your "perfect light" or EDC. Then, you log on and 
read a new thread about a light you did not know anything about :huh2:......:wow: and it begins all over again.
$$$$ 
$$$..
Sound familiar?
........................... Oh ya and "bright and shiny".
..... & . Also the never-ending hunt, for your "perfect light" or EDC. Then, you log on and read a new thread about a light you did not know anything about :huh2:......:wow: and it begins all over again.$$$$ $$$..Sound familiar?
........................... Oh ya and "bright and shiny". hammerface
Newly Enlightened
Hell, a glow stick will keep ME entertained for hours. Give me a wicked flashlight and well....
rhpdchief
Newly Enlightened
I think CPF is addicting because its a great site with genuinely great memebrs. Also, there's always something new and interesting here.
As to flashlights... I think it is mostly that they are cool looking, gadgets, tools, and toys that you can carry anywhere, use anywhere, and surprise/amaze people with. While most people don't carry a flashlight at all it actually makes sense to carry one all the time. That's a concept people can grasp pretty quickly once they think about it. If you spend anytime over in the marketplace you quickly find that alot of us also like knives, titanium tools, and other pocketable gadgets. Flashlights, unlike knives and handguns, are something that you can safely use anytime and anywhere you want. Flashlights are useful, safe, unobtrusive, non-threatening fun!
Finally, I can learn here, I can buy here, and I can sell here with confidence.
As to flashlights... I think it is mostly that they are cool looking, gadgets, tools, and toys that you can carry anywhere, use anywhere, and surprise/amaze people with. While most people don't carry a flashlight at all it actually makes sense to carry one all the time. That's a concept people can grasp pretty quickly once they think about it. If you spend anytime over in the marketplace you quickly find that alot of us also like knives, titanium tools, and other pocketable gadgets. Flashlights, unlike knives and handguns, are something that you can safely use anytime and anywhere you want. Flashlights are useful, safe, unobtrusive, non-threatening fun!
Finally, I can learn here, I can buy here, and I can sell here with confidence.
Dave Keith
Newly Enlightened
Brand new poster here. My wife complains that my hobby is hobbies. I'm just one of those people who have a drive to know as much as possible about whatever piques my interest.
Firearms, knives, watches, fountain pens, now flashlights have all caught my interest through perceived need; then the interest spins out of control when I find a bottomless source of information.
My need for a better flashlight led me here and now after some lurking, I know much less than I did before.
Firearms, knives, watches, fountain pens, now flashlights have all caught my interest through perceived need; then the interest spins out of control when I find a bottomless source of information.
My need for a better flashlight led me here and now after some lurking, I know much less than I did before.
Brand new poster here. My wife complains that my hobby is hobbies. I'm just one of those people who have a drive to know as much as possible about whatever piques my interest.
Firearms, knives, watches, fountain pens, now flashlights have all caught my interest through perceived need; then the interest spins out of control when I find a bottomless source of information.
My need for a better flashlight led me here and now after some lurking, I know much less than I did before.
I have a safe full of guns. a closet full of knives and a drawer full of lights.
I am in the same boat!
Hogokansatsukan
Flashlight Enthusiast
It is simply the quest for wisdom and perfection.
On the with the quest!
On the with the quest!
It is simply the quest for wisdom and perfection.
On the with the quest!
Paypal just makes it way way WAY too easy!
If I had to go to a B and M store, pick up a light and pay I would own probably half the amount that I do.
csshih
Flashlight Enthusiast
AMD64Blondie
Flashlight Enthusiast
That's it!! I've just thought of a brilliant idea for a song parody.. "Addicted to Light" a parody of "Addicted to Love" . Any CPF members willing to try and sing?
Dods60
Newly Enlightened
on the topic bright shiny things,
whats the difference between a bright shiny diamond and a bright shiny flashlight?
when you tell people how much you spent on a diamond the guys mouth drops. when you tell people how much you spent on a flashlight everybodies mouth drops! :laughing:
the other half would not argee but she does not read these so i am safe.:tinfoil:
SaturnNyne
Enlightened
As many have said...
Flashlights work on us on so many levels. It's power. Safety. Comfort. Certainty. How did you feel as a little kid when you were given a flashlight? You no longer had to fear the unknown of the shadows, you had a weapon that could eliminate it. If you were outside, your reach and your sight were no longer limited, you could send a beam of light to the tops of the trees, extending your influence as far as your batteries and tiny incan bulb allowed. The darkness, concealing everything frightening, could now be conquered. In many ways, I think we never really out grow that. We all tend to fear the unknown, and a flashlight combats the unknown and gives us power over it. It also makes us more powerful than those around us who don't have a light or don't have such a bright light, we're prepared for what the world will throw at us each night, we feel like a king and a hero. For some, it becomes something of a hero's quest to find that light that feels "right," like it's meant for you and your needs. It's a magic wand, spreading a sort of knowledge, extinguishing ignorance. And when you think about it, the light itself, the actual photons being emitted, is rather magical; isn't it amazing to think that we're holding a device that is emitting a beam of energy particles in such a vast quantity that they're able to bathe an entire room in its energy? It's a light gun, if you're into guns. It's the fire at the mouth of the cave, it's Luke's lightsaber, it's Roy's six shooter, and it's Merlin's wand. It's a toy that kept us company as a child that we can reach back and pull into our adult lives as useful tools. These are powerful objects that can evoke strong feelings and attachments within us.
On a material level, a high end light has a wonderful essence of quality, craftsmanship, toughness, gizmoness, and functionality to it. It's a connoisseur's hobby, one in which we can revel in the refinement of our taste and the sharpness of our eye for detail; we have a special knowledge and appreciation and it makes us feel like we're special for it. Some fetishize watches or guns (as in nerdengineer's comparison) or jewelry or other gadgets, it's the same basic thing. It's quality, it has value, it's shiny (as Zenster pointed out), it's uncommon and special, you can see that someone had to put a lot of thought and care into creating it, it makes life better in a way that's significant to you; it's a rather magical object even before you get to the utility of being able to see in the dark.
Some people just naturally want to collect things. When you think about it, flashlights are a pretty natural thing to be drawn to collecting.
As for CPF, it's largely the people and the camaraderie. It's nice to go into a crazy hobby knowing there are thousands of other crazies that totally understand where you're coming from. There are some really good people here, and we tend to have a lot of fun, as opposed to most other forums that constantly degrade to children slinging naughty words. The people here tend to be a lot more down to earth and less insecure and nasty. It's a good place to meet some nice like-minded friends, even though you probably won't get to actually meet many of them.
Flashlights work on us on so many levels. It's power. Safety. Comfort. Certainty. How did you feel as a little kid when you were given a flashlight? You no longer had to fear the unknown of the shadows, you had a weapon that could eliminate it. If you were outside, your reach and your sight were no longer limited, you could send a beam of light to the tops of the trees, extending your influence as far as your batteries and tiny incan bulb allowed. The darkness, concealing everything frightening, could now be conquered. In many ways, I think we never really out grow that. We all tend to fear the unknown, and a flashlight combats the unknown and gives us power over it. It also makes us more powerful than those around us who don't have a light or don't have such a bright light, we're prepared for what the world will throw at us each night, we feel like a king and a hero. For some, it becomes something of a hero's quest to find that light that feels "right," like it's meant for you and your needs. It's a magic wand, spreading a sort of knowledge, extinguishing ignorance. And when you think about it, the light itself, the actual photons being emitted, is rather magical; isn't it amazing to think that we're holding a device that is emitting a beam of energy particles in such a vast quantity that they're able to bathe an entire room in its energy? It's a light gun, if you're into guns. It's the fire at the mouth of the cave, it's Luke's lightsaber, it's Roy's six shooter, and it's Merlin's wand. It's a toy that kept us company as a child that we can reach back and pull into our adult lives as useful tools. These are powerful objects that can evoke strong feelings and attachments within us.
On a material level, a high end light has a wonderful essence of quality, craftsmanship, toughness, gizmoness, and functionality to it. It's a connoisseur's hobby, one in which we can revel in the refinement of our taste and the sharpness of our eye for detail; we have a special knowledge and appreciation and it makes us feel like we're special for it. Some fetishize watches or guns (as in nerdengineer's comparison) or jewelry or other gadgets, it's the same basic thing. It's quality, it has value, it's shiny (as Zenster pointed out), it's uncommon and special, you can see that someone had to put a lot of thought and care into creating it, it makes life better in a way that's significant to you; it's a rather magical object even before you get to the utility of being able to see in the dark.
Some people just naturally want to collect things. When you think about it, flashlights are a pretty natural thing to be drawn to collecting.
As for CPF, it's largely the people and the camaraderie. It's nice to go into a crazy hobby knowing there are thousands of other crazies that totally understand where you're coming from. There are some really good people here, and we tend to have a lot of fun, as opposed to most other forums that constantly degrade to children slinging naughty words. The people here tend to be a lot more down to earth and less insecure and nasty. It's a good place to meet some nice like-minded friends, even though you probably won't get to actually meet many of them.
