Imperfections in objects

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I have a bit of difficulty with imperfection in objects, when I notice them they eat away at me. Scratches, dints etc on my astro gear, fishing tackle, guitar or anything else drive me mad. I will polish, re-paint whatever it takes to make things look perfect again, which of course is very difficult to do. Sometimes I have to give up and either sell or give the thing way to give myself some peace, I can lose sleep over this kind of thing.

Is this just me or does anyone else have this little difficulty? It takes over and becomes a complete obssession.

Oh my god, I thought I was the only one!!

Seriously!

I wouldn't say I actually lose sleep over it, but I do get really, really upset and angered when a belonging gets a dent, ding, scratch etc, where I'd kept it in perfect condition up until then. It does prey on my mind quite badly.

I haven't given a thing away or sold it, I just kind of live with feeling mad every time I look at the place where it's damaged. But sometimes if it's not expensive to replace, I have actually bought another of that item if it's still available.

I especially cannot stand stuff like this happening when the thing is relatively new. That first time some stupid damage happens to something really gets my goat.

I also won't buy something if I can't find one that isn't already damaged in some way. Like I won't buy a new book if every copy on the shelf has a bumped, bashed in corner or a creased cover. I want to at least start out with a perfect item.

Everything I buy, I try to find the most perfect one and try to keep it that way.

Me too. But my urge to correct it all isn't overwhelming, I usually just think "dammit!" and move on, or I'll make a reasonable effort to set the imperfection straight. I used to be less mellow about these things, but I guess I had to make a deal with reality. Don't get me started on what I think of shabby chic.

Shabby chic = Cheap reproduction, well usually anyway. I have a cottage with lots of antiques, its not the same thing and the knocks and bangs add something, as long as they were there when it they arrive. My cottage is circa 1690 with low ceilings and oak beams so modern stuff looks stupid.

Yes, it bothers me.

Recently bought a new refrigerator and it came out of the box with a small dent in the door.
My eye just keeps honing in on that imperfection every time I look at it.
I could have returned it, but I had to order it from the warehouse because I need a special size fridge to fit the alcove and it took about a fortnight, so I would have had no fridge.
Grrr.

The funny thing is, with "shabby chic" things that are actually meant to look worn and imperfect, or antique things that are already showing wear and tear, I'm totally okay with that.

Years ago there was a wooden trunk I had my eye on in Pier 1 Imports, but they were way too pricey for me.

Then one day I saw they had one on sale with a prominent notice that it was shop-worn and the bashed places were why they had cut the price right down.

I was happy to buy that trunk because the finish on it was already "wear and tear" by design, with little metal parts deliberately verdigris-effect and then scraped, and the shop damage actually didn't make much of a difference to the look.

used to have that, but conditioned it away... to the point there’s no fear of losing all possessions. don’t go about carelessly misusing things, but imperfections don’t ruin an item or effect enjoyment. priorities... incessantly gnawing turbulent feelings aren’t perceived worth the value of any possession.

Well Lace-Bane that is the most ideal and desirable way to be, I don't think anyone would argue with that. I think we know it's a flaw to feel this way about objects.

But for some of us we can't seem to attain that perfection, almost in the same way I can't stop having sensory issues.

Have to admit my Aspie perfectionism usually melts away in the face of a decent price break. The main problem with shabby chic (for me) is when they up the price because of the defects, some of which I suspect they deliberately create.

I can't stand imperfections in things. My eyes zero right in on them. I just dropped $450 on a new phone because my old one got a nick in the screen.

Not just me then, good, I think? I just obsess, its like I can't see anything else but the imperfection, I zone right into it everytime.

I think shabby chic is kind of comprised of both deliberately "distressed" new pieces and genuinely old stuff that's visibly worn.

The new stuff they distress, I dunno, it may not really be priced that differently than pristine new stuff. When you think how a finish on something that is supposed to look flawless and new probably takes as many if not more steps than just putting one coat of something on then buffing parts off, the process is probably not that much more complex.

I quite like some shabby chic looks, or more the "rustic" look it seems to have become lately. The upside of that distressed look is that I can live with the imperfection, while something that's meant to be perfect drives me crazy the first dent it gets, lol.

There always comes a moment when something new and perfect gets the first mark, I hate that but then seem to go the other way and not give a damn once it has happened....

The Japanese have a concept of 'wabi sabi' which is to see the beauty in imperfection - I am always attracted to people with physical flaws (scars etc) and have had a couple of lovers who let me concentrate on these for our mutual pleasure...

When I finish a design, I have a vision of perfection. When I finish the job, I see a collection of imperfect parts that I had to accept because I didn't have the time, skill, or tools to improve them further. Generally, I try to wear things out before replacing them for lack of function, because the function is the purpose. I know that if I look closely enough, there's always imperfection. I learned a great deal from the tool marks left on manufactured items. However, when I buy a piece of old brass, I sometimes polish it until it looks like goldsmith work. When the surface looks like liquid, it makes me happy.