Not really OT: Do your "friends" ever put you down?

[Dr.Mirakle32]

For your toy collecting hobby? I am under 21, and my friends think I'm obsessed with toys and that I am a geek for it. I don't think I am. I love films, and over the years I have liked getting collectibles based on them since I was little. I have a decent sized collection of toys ranging from Hasbro Star Wars, NECA/McFarlane movie figs, Sideshow Monsters/Horror/Bond/Highlander and a few Marvel Legends.

Collecting is not my only hobby, but it makes me happy, and at the end of the day, I am not hurting anyone, yet my friends and even my dad constantly say I am "hurting myself," and that I waste too much money on "plastic junk." I also love to paint and to make my own independent films, but they don't care and think I should do something more "useful" and "productive" with my time. I don't play video games, and I don't regularly read comics. Movies and toys are my only "geek" passions.

They also ask me what I am going to do with my life when I am in my mid-thirties and still have a bunch of "toys" lying around.
I tried to explain that it is just a hobby and lots of "cool" celebrities do it too, but they don't care. One said I was a weirdo, and couldn't understand why I wanted the NECA CC Ash when I had the 18" McF one, just because they were the SAME character!

Is there something wrong with, me or with them for criticizing me?

 

[dekadentdave]

All of my friends collect as well. If your friends put you down for something that you enjoy then they are not true friends.

btw - I am in my mid-thirties and my house looks like my room when I was six years old. And no, I am not a virgin.

 

[Darth Loki]

My friend's don't think I'm a geek, but I think my collection makes a few of my friends jealous because I make more money than they do. But I don't let it bother me because I know that I busted my ass for years to get recognized for my big promotion.

I do however openly admit that I am a SW and LOTR geek.

 

[El Roranous]

Don't let them get you down. You like what you like and if they can't handle it, screw em.

If it makes you happy, then it can't be that ... i'll stop this now.

Keep collecting and playing with your "toys".

 

[user 1190]

Part of its your age, a lot in that age group think of people that do this as geeks. I had a lot of friends who kinda thought the same thing when I was your age. They couldn't understand me getting up at the butt crack of dawn to goto Target Walmart etc... looking for stuff. My father also didnt understanf why I was "wasting money on that stuff" until I sold a few duplicates I had and they paid for a ton of stuff. I say as long as your not messing up your finincial situation or your school if you go don't worry to much about it. I assume that you have other hobbies interests that are the same as you friends, if not that could also be the issue. I hung with a large group of guys and we were all into cars and constantly going to races so when the topic came up I would just change the subject.

 

[dekadentdave]

Just remember this: Everyone is a geek. Everyone. Some are football and sports geeks. Others are car geeks. There are art and music geeks. Everybody is into their chosen hobby of interest so what's the difference. We are into movies and collecting plastic reproductions. The next time someone "puts you down" for your hobby find out what they are into and chastise them for it.

 

[Agent0028]

My advice to you is to be true to yourself. It's not easy, and you'll catch crap for it, but you will be happier in the long run and you'll find people who accept you for who you are. I'm not trying to say your friends don't accept you, or that they aren't friends, they may just be unaware that what they say hurts. They can't comprehend how important this stuff is to you, so they probably think that what they say doesn't hurt you like it does. Like I said, the bottom line is to be true to yourself and everything else will fall into place as it should be.

 

[Nitro]

don't listen to your friends or family. if collecting is what makes you happy and it's enjoyable to you, then keep on enjoying it. don't let people influence you or put you down on anything.

everybody has their vice in life. some people like playing golf, some people collect antiques, some people collect DVD's/video game, lots of women collect many shoes. point is, everybody likes different things. if someone is going to put you down because of it...well, let it in one ear and out the other. life's too short...you gotta enjoy yourself once in awhile.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Anyone who doesn't like how I spend my money and my free time can kiss my ass.

 

[creature4000]

Non of my friends collect.. thats why I'm here... to make new friends who do!

My GF actually likes some of what I collect... and my family know a little bit of my hobby but not to what extent. I live in a one bedroom apartment and most of my stuff is boxed up. They'll see what kind of a freak I am when I get a house next year hopefully.

I worry about spending too much money sometimes... but as long as I never get close to a debt because of collecting. or collect in moderation No one can really say that what I'm doing is wrong. I don't expect them to understand... but once they see the finish product.. they do think its cool. BTW I'm 31.

 

[Icemizer]

I see nothing wrong with being a geek. As said above there are all kinds of geeks out there. Does 16,000 comics make me a comic geek? I sure hope so thats a lifetime of work there and whenever I hit the comic cons I see lots of people there just like me. I take a certain pride in the things I collect and since I discovered SS I havent looked back. With the release of the Marvel PF line I am in comic heaven. Great pieces that compliment my books and vice versa. Now get out there and be the best geek you can and if your friends cant deal with it then they arent really your friends.


Age 40

 

[galactiboy]

I get a combination of jokes and awe at my collection. There are some people that don't get it and give me funny looks. But typically when they actually see my collection firsthand, how its arranged and whats in it people dig it. I actually was showing a friend some pictures of my collection the other day and he was pointing out something he wished he had... and it was fun.

I do agree that most people have some hobby that they "waste" money and/or time on. And my fiance is convinced that every man has an inner-geek (similar to what Dave was saying). I think that overall collecting toys is like anything, as long as you aren't neglecting your other responsibilities to feed your habit you should be okay!

 

[Customikey]

Friends? You mean other than my 1/6 scale ones? Blasphemy.

 

[Titan7170]

Whats funny is I bet some of your friends would love to collect also but they wouldnt be able to stand the peer pressure so they just fold up and act like you are doing something uncool. Its not uncool and I dont understand this geek thing.......I dont think theres any such thing as a geek. Everybody has something in their life that they favor more than others its impossible that that could make someone a geek.

Im 36 but in my neighborhood where I grew up everybody collected comics and toys played videogames and when we got older went to clubs and hung out......we still had our collections though and I cant remember anyone ever making fun of someone because they collected something. I remember when I was 19 trying to get this other friend of mine to trade me his Hulk 181 and he wouldnt budge

 

[Ven]

my friends praise me... rofl they wouldn't dare to make fun of me... because I'd call them cheap (or stingy) for not living up life or the hobby like you want too... haha

I mostly collect medicom... which is good friends with the clothing/shoe brand " A Bathing Ape " or " Bape " which is a big thing here in the states in the hip hop scene... so my friends practically priase me...

 

[devlinboy]

im 24, ive been collecting some type of memorabilia or paraphanalia lol my whole life. my friends dont collect anything like i do. maybe shot glasses but thats about it. every one in my neighborhood knows i collect comics, and statues and other related things. they all come to me for insight on certain pop culture advice and know i will always be in tune with the going ons of a constantly changing world. i get a ton of respect cause i dont hide my passions, hence my plan for a thanos and a jason tattoo in the next few months. people make fun of me sometimes, but they and i both know that if they cross the line i wont hesitate to do something about it. the attitude i take is that if you disrespect my hobby you disrespecct me. we go hand in hand. my life has been much easier just enjoying myself and not caring about other peoples opinions. you should try the same. it may not work for you but its worth a shot. if anyone says anything to you come get me. ill f em up .

 

[TOE]

My friends respect my hobby of statue and "dollies" collecting so I have no problem with them. My parents on the other hand constantly tell me to stop wasting my money on these junk and spend my money wisely. I say, it is hard to stop when this is your passion. I mean, it is my money. I'm not hurting anyone, but my wallet

 

[galactiboy]

My friends respect my hobby of statue and "dollies" collecting so I have no problem with them. My parents on the other hand constantly tell me to stop wasting my money on these junk and spend my money wisely. I say, it is hard to stop when this is your passion. I mean, it is my money. I'm not hurting anyone, but my wallet

Well you can really show your parents with all the free loot you just scored!

 

[BDboystoys]

I love this thread. The responses have been wonderful.
Well I collect, mainly Weta and SS Statues and the like. I absolutely love what I do, and it brings me great joy. Reminds me of things I love and theyre constant reminders of those things that I'm passionate about. Mainly from cinema.
I'm in my teens, I read a select amount of comics and have pride in the ones I have in my bookshelf. They're fine literature, and when people disregard them because they're classified as comics it only makes me feel sorry for them that they cant open they're minds and get rid of that preconceived idea about them.
Basically, my friends love my collection, some of them now even own weta statues they like it so much. Now theyre friends. They accept me for who I am, what I like and my passions. Sure there are some people who will only like what is considered cool at the time, and act like total *******, because gosh, being seen as unique must be a crime! You just gotta laugh really, its so pathetic. Wonder what will happen when they leave the schooling environment.
My family loves my collection, you see, I try to involve them with it so they really appreciate it as much as I do. Thats what I've done from the start. They comment, critique and admire what I buy just as I do and they cant wait to see what wonderful statue I obtain next. I'm very lucky in that way, that my parents are concious of what I love and try to involve themselves in it so I'm grateful.
I love who I am and they things I asscosiate with my identity, they make me feel good and whole inside, and different. Which I love.

Long winded response.

 

[Sachiel]

My friends loved my stuff even though they had none of their own didn't want to. Same with my parents and some of my relatvies. It's usually 'other' people I have (or had?) to worry about. It's like they're embarassed by you. And like someone said, you can be a geek of anything. I bet your friends are too of something. There are "worse" things you can spend your money on. I definately wouldn't change (ie; get rid of my happiness) to please them/make them happy. I've always tried to see things from someone else's point of view, especially non-[figure]collectors, but it's really hard without the same mindset.