Anyone watch Hoarders?

[Anonymous]

I've tried watching this show but find it nauseating. I think it's sad that these people with very real issues are presented on this show for entertainment.

[Anonymous]

These people are mentally ill. I turn my head away whenever I pass a car wreck. I cannot look at or be entertained by other people's suffering. I recently sat through a discussion of this show by two people who were in a room with me. I almost had to leave the room, but finally they changed the subject. Mental illness is not funny or entertaining. A family member of mine was a hoarder. It's an illness that causes much pain. This is one reason I never watch TV.

[Anonymous]

I dated a guy whose parents were hoarders. It was mind blowing, just like the show! Only difference was they were really rich and all the stuff in their house was brand new, in packages. They literally had 5 foot high piles all through the house with paths to get through. Man do I wish eBay was around back then, they could have sold everything, it was really sad.

[Anonymous]

PP - Einstein, the rats show up because of the mess! We have neighbors like this. Huge garages/carports filled with crap so the whole neighborhood can see it - and the rats! G-R-O-S-S. Definitely a health hazard.

I know my neighbors live like this. So sad. They are definitely depressed and/or have mental health issues. It's so obvious when people are never invited past the front step. YIKES!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, when social services or the local ASPCA comes in and has to clean-up after these people it costs a fortune so it's not that funny. It's also not funny if you share a wall with one and end up with termites or rats. Trust me, I have firsthand experience here. The worst offenders are the ones who hoard animals. WTF? Those shows are the worst - half of the animals end up being euthanized and the ones that make it have all kinds of health and socialization issues. This is terrible but I think thathoarders should have their homes taken from them if they cannot afford to pay for the damage they cause.

The rats should put their procreation in God's hands. To stop the rats from reproducing would be sinful. God knows how many rats is enough and he always sends just the right amount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These people are mentally ill. I turn my head away whenever I pass a car wreck. I cannot look at or be entertained by other people's suffering. I recently sat through a discussion of this show by two people who were in a room with me. I almost had to leave the room, but finally they changed the subject. Mental illness is not funny or entertaining. A family member of mine was a hoarder. It's an illness that causes much pain. This is one reason I never watch TV.

I'm a huge fan of Hoarders and watch the A&E and TLC versions, although I prefer TLC. I don't agree that everyone they profile is seriously mentally ill, although lately they seem to be on that binge. They've been showing people who genuinely need to be wards of the state if family members don't come forward to help. In the past though they've had lots of people who are compulsive shoppers and then get overwhelmed by having to manage all their possessions. Even my pack rat husband was scared straight by some of the episodes and has been tidying up lately. Hoarders has been a great public service for me.

[Anonymous]

I hate the cases in which they aren't able to finish cleaning up or make much process because they "ran out of time". They lost time because Person X couldn't make decisions quickly enough or whatever. I always think - please give them another day!!! Then we are left wondering if they'll still get evicted or fined and I feel sorry for them.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't feel like the show is exploiting them. The show is doing them a service. I'm sure the show pays for the cleanup crew and counseling and even the new furnishings after the place is cleaned. Whoever calls the show on behalf of them is doing them a great service. So many times the hoarders look at old pictures of what it used to look like and only realize then just how bad it was.

Also, for wondering why the plumbing or heat is out, that's because people are too ashamed to bring the repairmen into the home. It's not that they enjoy being without those things.

I can understanding the collecting of stuff, but cannot understand the throwing garbage on the floor. That part doesn't make sense to me even for those with mental problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, when social services or the local ASPCA comes in and has to clean-up after these people it costs a fortune so it's not that funny. It's also not funny if you share a wall with one and end up with termites or rats. Trust me, I have firsthand experience here. The worst offenders are the ones who hoard animals. WTF? Those shows are the worst - half of the animals end up being euthanized and the ones that make it have all kinds of health and socialization issues. This is terrible but I think thathoarders should have their homes taken from them if they cannot afford to pay for the damage they cause.

The rats should put their procreation in God's hands. To stop the rats from reproducing would be sinful. God knows how many rats is enough and he always sends just the right amount.

PP has a point....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate the cases in which they aren't able to finish cleaning up or make much process because they "ran out of time". They lost time because Person X couldn't make decisions quickly enough or whatever. I always think - please give them another day!!! Then we are left wondering if they'll still get evicted or fined and I feel sorry for them.

I don't understand the usually artificial time limit, either. I am no hoarder, but I've got plenty of 'stuff' I need to sort thru and purge around my house and I would be hard pressed to do it in 2 days! I think the 2 day limit is usually unnecessary and often creates more problems than it solves. Obviously, they can't spends weeks doing it. But 2 days? Come on...I think 4-5 days would be more realistic and from the hoarders point of view, just as impossible as 2 days.

[Anonymous]

I know someone I think is a hoarder...she collects stuff, and she DOES give lots away, but still collects more than she gets rid of....
I think she would be stressed/exposed without her protective layers of 'things'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else wonder if any of their neighbors' houses look like the ones on the show?

I think one of my neighbors is probably as bad as the people on this show. Cats in every window, junk piled to the ceiling on her front porch and in her car...

Plus, she's clearly unstable when you talk to her, so it seems there's a lot going on there. Sad, but it also makes me mad, because we suspect she's responsible for the increase in vermin in our neigborhood. Calls to the county don't seem to make a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate the cases in which they aren't able to finish cleaning up or make much process because they "ran out of time". They lost time because Person X couldn't make decisions quickly enough or whatever. I always think - please give them another day!!! Then we are left wondering if they'll still get evicted or fined and I feel sorry for them.

I don't understand the usually artificial time limit, either. I am no hoarder, but I've got plenty of 'stuff' I need to sort thru and purge around my house and I would be hard pressed to do it in 2 days! I think the 2 day limit is usually unnecessary and often creates more problems than it solves. Obviously, they can't spends weeks doing it. But 2 days? Come on...I think 4-5 days would be more realistic and from the hoarders point of view, just as impossible as 2 days.

I've seen some episodes where the time limit has to do with a deadline imposed by the city, fire department, social services, etc. Those episodes are always so sad because the people are just not going to get it done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PP - Einstein, the rats show up because of the mess! We have neighbors like this. Huge garages/carports filled with crap so the whole neighborhood can see it - and the rats! G-R-O-S-S. Definitely a health hazard.

I know my neighbors live like this. So sad. They are definitely depressed and/or have mental health issues. It's so obvious when people are never invited past the front step. YIKES!

Well Einstein, pay attention. On the show, the person actually hoarded rats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate the cases in which they aren't able to finish cleaning up or make much process because they "ran out of time". They lost time because Person X couldn't make decisions quickly enough or whatever. I always think - please give them another day!!! Then we are left wondering if they'll still get evicted or fined and I feel sorry for them.

I don't understand the usually artificial time limit, either. I am no hoarder, but I've got plenty of 'stuff' I need to sort thru and purge around my house and I would be hard pressed to do it in 2 days! I think the 2 day limit is usually unnecessary and often creates more problems than it solves. Obviously, they can't spends weeks doing it. But 2 days? Come on...I think 4-5 days would be more realistic and from the hoarders point of view, just as impossible as 2 days.

I've seen some episodes where the time limit has to do with a deadline imposed by the city, fire department, social services, etc. Those episodes are always so sad because the people are just not going to get it done.

I think these 'deadlines' imposed by the city, etc are often created/facilitated by the producers for more drama for the show. How likely is it that so many people are recruited for the show, the show taping schedule and professional services schedule line up so coincidentally that the show is coincidentally filmed just 2 days before the deadline? I think its another way they create drama but at the expense of the hoader, taking advantage of their mental illness.