TV's hoarders show us the dark side of consumerism | Suzanne Moore
The stories in TV programmes such as Britain's Biggest Hoarders fascinate us because we glimpse ourselves in themHello, my name is Suzanne and I have a broken blender at the back of my cupboard. In fact, more than one. And an old kettle that could be useful for someone, surely? My friend – who, like me, is totally normal – has stopped herself buying a fifth sewing machine; a neighbour has racks of clothes she has not worn for 20 years. Vintage, right? We are just waste not, want not. Not like those people on programmes such as The Hoarder Next Door, for these people are unwell. They have a mental illness, OCD, anxiety or depression.Currently, there is a glut of TV programmes about these sad, compulsive people who have to tunnel through their own junk. Why would anyone live like that? And why would we watch them? Because although hoarders...
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