Whether preparedness is hoarding depends on who is doing the defining. I have had more than one liberal make fun of people that stock up on things and they do see them as hoarders.
My liberal neighbor said people who have years worth of food are no different that those that hoard hundreds of cats or dogs. When I pointed out to her that it is smart to at least store food for storms and things like that- her idea of preparing for things like that is having enough on hand for one week, anything over that is just crazy. My neighbor thinks anyone that stocks up on firearms and ammo is absolutely certifiable and she is “terrified” of people like that.
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By Mayo Clinic staff
Hoarding is the excessive collection of items, along with the inability to discard them. Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Some people also collect animals, keeping dozens or hundreds of pets often in unsanitary conditions.
Hoarding, also called compulsive hoarding and compulsive hoarding syndrome, may be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). But many people who hoard don’t have other OCD-related symptoms.
People who hoard often don’t see it as a problem, making treatment challenging. But intensive treatment can help people who hoard understand their compulsions and live safer, more enjoyable lives.