Ticking/Tasting

Personally, I can only see it as a circumstance where the ticker wants to build up numbers, to 'collect' these beers, and in that way I see it much the same as twitching. I don't tick, never have, but in my early birding days soon after learning the basics I began to build the obligatory Life List. I think it is a natural extension of what is a basic facet of human nature--we want to name things, put them in categories, and that naturally leads to wanting to see and name more things to fill those categories. The problem presents itself when we stop the seeing and continue on with the naming. It took many years but I realized that I was no longer experiencing birds the way that I wanted to. I wasn't watching behaviors, noticing minutia, barely even enjoying the experience. Hell at times I wouldn't even look at the damn thing, becoming satisfied with simply hearing a call or song. That's when I realized I was off course.
Not saying that my epiphany should be attributed to all. I have no problem with twitchers...er,tickers. Suum cuique pulchrum est, and we are the richer for the diversity.