Community Chat

[Tinkrbl44]

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@Mominohio wrote:

I've always wondered why there are no follow up shows to these type programs.

I would think the people most likely revert to the old hoarding behavior, and that probably doesn't make for profitable television, but I'd love to see them follow up on these shows. I think it would be interesting to see if follow up and counseling helped any of them stay on track.

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@Mominohio

Have you written to the network ... on their facebook or web site?

[HappyDaze]

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@scatcat wrote:

There seems to be a few different levels of hoarding.  Those who have 30 bottlles of laundry detergent, 200 dolls, 300 Christmas ornaments etc.  Fairly clean, just has excess.  Then there are those who literally live in a garbage can.  Moldy food, animal waste, unusable toilets and sinks. garbage piled up past windows.  Pure filth, mold, spider webs etc.  The latter always saddens me when children and animals are involved. TLC has a few shows about people with mental illiness - hoarding and my 600# life to name 2. It's always nice to see a happy ending 

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Oh @scatcat i totally agree with you! I literally feel sick when I see the ones were they (not the animal but the humans, although the animals do too) actually defecate in various areas of their home because they can't even get to the bathroom which has long since  stopped working anyway. and then the sleep in the same areas. 

[YorkieonmyPillow]

We have a hoarder in our extended family.

It's appalling, but no one can help him.

His hoarding is so bad and so out of control, he has destroyed his home, I don't know how it's even still standing.

He hasn't had running water for years.

I don't know where he goes to the bathroom.

This is a man with advanced college degrees, BTW.

I can see collecting, but I can't see filth.

[mstyrion 1]

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@Mj12 wrote:

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@SunValley wrote:

I believe these people have a mental or emotional disorder and showing this for TV viewing is beyond sad. I watched a few out of curiosity and couldn't handle it. By the time they get to this level of dysfunction a social worker sent in by a TV show is just triage. These people need long-term help. I too know a hoarder, a woman I worked with and it extended into her office cubical, and then she got into trying to round up feral cats. She was full of severe scratches and bites and spread disease to several co-workers. Management attempted to help her without effect. Made me realize how complex this disorder can be.

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@SunValley ITA.  I have never watched this show, I think it is cruel. 

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I agree with both of you.

I've watched bits of a couple of the shows and felt like one of those voyeurs that hang around accident scenes to see blood and guts.

I feel the same about the 600 Pound Life kinds of shows too.

[cherry]

This is a true story. There was a family like this, in my town, who were hoarders. The stuff spilled out into the yard ,and into several cars. The cars were a neighborhood nuisance, and the neighbors  complained, so every few hours they would move the cars  outside,so they couldn't be ticketed

They were  quite nasty to their neighbors. One day their house caught fire, and there was so much piled trash inside, the lady of the house couldn't get outside. She tragically perished in the fire

I always wonder, if the remaining family were sorry they didn't clean the place up. If they had, she would still be alive

[YorkieonmyPillow]

@cherry Oh that is so sad!

[cherry]

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@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:

@cherry Oh that is so sad!

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Yes it is. They were very defiant about cleaning their badly  maintained home. They thought they were sticking to the  neighbors that  complained about the mess. It was an ongoing saga in the press.

[homedecor1]

if I don't stay off "as is" or the holiday board, old time pottery, Michaels, HL, Joanne's, etc.  I might be in that category soon!!!!! Lol!!!!

ive watched these shows and honestly, the one I saw last week the mother who does nothing and expects her children to clean, cook, etc. in this pig sty and the husband moved out -- what was he thinking get a backbone and take those kids!!!! Loser!!!!!

the bugs crawling all over the place skeaved me i had to turn it off. She should be arrested for child negligence and she states she has these medical issues well  I have advanced RA, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc symptoms -- and I clean, cook, wash, iron, and lots more! Give me a break - she's just lazy!!!!

[mistriTsquirrel]

I like that these shows are on, because it highlights a problem and tells you the story of a person who is dealing with it.  I think that helps the public get a better understanding of hoarding.  TLC or A&E get their ratings, the public gets awareness and the person who has been hoarding gets help clearing out their hoard, as well as counseling.  I don't think it's just exploitative, because it benefits the hoarder as well as educating the public.

I tend to keep too many things, and I'm not the best housekeeper.  Watching these shows makes me want to clean and get rid of things, and that is a HUGE help to me.  I have hulu, so I can watch an episode when I want to. 

Thanks, to @Mominohio for starting this thread, because I forgot about how much that helps me, and I could use the help getting motivated!!

[nun ya]

I don't understand how the hoarders with dead animals don't know the animal is dead?

I saw an episode where a lady was "missing" her cat, they found him pancaked under a mountain of trash. I feel bad for some of these people, but it's crazy to think someone drinks a drink and throws the can right on the floor.