Darn straight! I say if you want to collect, collect! Last time I noticed there wasn't a M.A.T.F. (Mothers Against TransFormers) and our hobby dosen't infringe on the safety OR lead us to worse things. I've been in a financial bind lately but I know as soon as it's over I can go back to collecting without it becoming such a burden to me. I'm not buying vodka by the crates, and it makes me happy. Not only that but to see the smiles of the people seeing my hobby ... even if they think it's silly ... priceless. It's always been a way to inspire some of my own creations as well!

Feed the inner child I say! We'd all be much happier people in this world if we all could learn what we as collectors have learned through our hobby.

Goki, Sentinel IS sort of a dick but I have a feeling he'll wise up soon enough. At least Jazz's cool! You know where his loyalties lie. ^_^

I want to see Sentinel develop - whether it means he becomes nicer or meaner, I want change.

Ah you know that'll happen soon enough once Black Arachnia makes her entrance back into his life. Hey, am I the only one that thinks Sentinel Prime feels a lot like Springer?

I don't see him as Springer at all. Springer was a nice guy (even when he jerked off Impactor, it was under orders from Emirate Xaaron, so that doesn't count) and proved himself to be loyal and charismatic when he assumed leadership of the Wreckers and the Survivors. Sentinel Prime is the first Transformer who's a non-rogue member of a heroic faction who's intentionally portrayed as being a bully, which is a unique and interesting plot element and something that I give TFA writers kudos for having done. Having said that, he has been, up till now, just a fairly one-dimensional jock/bully caricature. Sentinel has the potential for some interesting plot development - he's obviously someone who's inherently lacking in self-esteem (despite his outward bravado) and sees others like Optimus Prime as a threat to his delicate ego. I'd like to know what made him like that and what continues to drive him - and it'd be great to see further development to see him either plunge further into his role as a wanker or if he manages to gain more confidence in himself and stops being a jerk. He has the potential to become a great hero or villain depending on how he's written. Right now Sentinel is a one-dimensional slate begging to be written into a proper character.

P.S.: actually, G1 Grimlock was also a non-rogue heroic TF that was portrayed as a bully during the time when he ruled the Autobots as an elected tyrant. But Sentinel is different because he's a lot more like a schoolyard bully rather than a corrupt tyrant.

if the economy collapses, you're better off with materials that have a stable value (even if it's less than you paid for it) than money that can decrease in value.

Ah, I like not caring... seriously, anyone who comes into my room sees what I like. Warhammer, TFs, LEGO, games, comics, oh dear, not much adult stuff there is there
Never met anyone who cares so far, and if I did, well, you know, no matter what they say. My money, my choice.
They are one of my "treats" in life, I'll buy it whenever I see it, because, well, you know, they're hard to come by
Anyway, gotta go. Bye!

Because for some shallow-minded people out there, getting wasted with weed, drugs, booze, whoring around, shoplifting, etc... are superbly "cool" if compared to collecting toys and comic books. Then those wasted fleshlings who thought they're "cool", will then proceed to next stage, by attempting to influence other people, especially those who are deemed as "weak" and "not cool" by those "cool guys", to be cool (in a wasted way) like them.





You even got death threats just because of collecting TFs? That's really shocking to know. O_O

I tried keeping it a secret when I got into the early teen years 'cause I saw it as a faux pas. I'd secretly buy action figures with any extra money and still play with 'em up 'til High School...yes High school...12th grade. After that I stopped playing with my action figures because I thought if anyone found out, they think I was a psycho and send me to the looney bin. I still secretly collected all through college. At one point my parents finally started officially noticing my habit and had several talks with me...not just about money, but *grooooan*, growing up and being adult. Although I hate to admit I kinda agreed with them on the money angle, it made me mad that they didn't accept my passion and hobby. It not like I do drugs, drink, and have rampant sexual misadventures with random floozies!!! Nowadays, at 26 I've tried to ween myself off collecting and maybe focus on my favorite lines (Transformers, for instance). Once I save enough money and finally get a decent job....THEN I can finally collect in peace! If anyone ever gives me lip, I usually give 'em a smart-aleck comment about some aspect of their life...that usually shuts them up.

Cue Nemesis Prime?

Aye, I've gotten death threats for collecting TF's. They seem to think they can intimidate me to be just like them, but I find TF's to be quite interesting and at least with TF's you know you're getting something for your money, something that's still going to be there long after others have spent a fortune on drink, drugs and smoking. And unless you like trying to cram TF's down your gullet, then they're not likely to kill you or cause you to harm others.
No one's ever mugged anyone just to have a new Legend to transform.

-.['/

WOW! Things are rough in your part of the woods, Smokescreened. I'm creating a few stories right now and am in Animation school and I've often dreamed about the time when I get death threats to finish a trilogy or a series. It would mean that I've arrived and that my fans, although fanatical, would love my mianderings so much that it makes them want more. Sigh. That will be a beautiful life. ^_^ But to hear that you're getting threats for just collecting Transformers and hving your windows smashed ... just freaking WOW! Those guys are just idiots! I mean why would they do that? It's just sad. Is there something that could be done? Move to a better area maybe? Tazers? Sharks with lasers attached to their heads maybe?

Death threats. That's a new one. Jeez, man. I hope you didn't cave.



Indeed. In a morbid sort of way. (I'm a dog lover, so the sting is there, but the humor is too.)

No. but I'm a bad ass (see soon to be attached member title) and no one f*cks with a bad ass.

dang, I was totally betting that your post in this thread was going to be "other people can suck a wang"

Why give in to them? They want to destroy their bodies, they're welcome to. It can be quite a pleasure to transform a new TF and play about, if able to concentrate, with the older ones. They're a marvel of toy engineering.
Though I've got to admit I've been tempted to just pack the collection away and no longer bother in the hopes of getting some peace from the local idiots. Already got to keep my love of Trek hidden because of the same problems.
I find TF's are a good help for my fighting my disability, transforming them back and forth can be painful for me, but it can be rewarding as well. It's a shame that there are always those who refuse to get it into their heads that not every one is the same as them.

-;#/]

You sir, are a goddamn fcuking GENIUS!

Here is just how awesome my wife is: A few years, I played her an audio clip of David Kaye singing the "Rubber Ducky Song" at Botcon, and I explained why that song would be significant to him (the whole Megs and the ducky in the bath gag). So for Christmas that year she made something for me...

This, my fellow Transfans, is the very definition of love:



She insisted I name them...the Maximal is Mallartron (as in a Mallard duck), and the Predacon is Darkwing.

Usually when people first find out of my hobby the eyebrow raises, but they get used to it pretty quickly and realise it just adds to my quirkiness (or some BS like that).

As for the ladies, nothing says, "Hey check out how much expendable income I have. I can afford to buy toys for myself!"

I seem to recall back in the good old days when I had a girlfriend she was pretty game for it. We used to build new combiner robots together. It was like our own little activity... *breaks down and cries*
She bought me a Headknocker Megatron on an anniversary. I already had one, but didnt tell her.

Now I've read some interesting things on this topic. I've got to know one thing: to those who reported death threats and extreme measures of that sort, are you being truthful or are you exaggerating?

Sure, all the time I get ribbed about my hobby.

Most of my friends aren't so bad, cause well, their my friends. My family though, UGGGHHHH....

But all I do when they need some personal validation and rag on me because I bought a $10 toy is bring up what they buy, for example a $70 wicker wreath, or drop $150 on some baseball cards or yet another fishing rod.

The average response is "So whats wrong with what I do?"

To which I say, "Same thing thats wrong with what I do"

It always shuts them up cause after all, the last thing someone who's pointing a finger wants is to have it turned back on themselves. Just to grind the point I normaly add in that "you just bought some sticks" or "yeah, toys are stupid, unlike pictures of a bunch of guys"(my brother can't take the slightest notion of him being implied as gay, yeah, I take advantage of that).

Either way, this is what makes me happy, screw anyone who doesn't like it. It's not like I'm asking them for money or space.

My Parents.

Not only do they believe collecting toys is a waste of time and money, they can't even appreciate good cartoons and think I'm stupid for not growing out of them.

Trying to explain to these people you're an 80s kid, and the memories/joy attached with it is like trying to say your from another planet.

Worse than than that they think I'm the only one my age still into it and are under the belief everyone eventually grows up.

Yeah I'd probably be pretty f*ckin' boring if I got married out of High school too.



If they bring it up I just go the "at least I'm not buying cigarettes route or dangerous drugs and crap"

That usually shuts em up until the next time.

My mom LOVES transformers. She's actually always encouraging me to buy myself one when I get my paychecks. I'm horribly split between buying my transformers and saving ALL of my money while I can. She's got a nice medium: Save your money, but do something nice for yourself.

One time I was looking for Universe Skywarp on Ebay and she encouraged me to buy a Ruination set from the same seller to make up for the four week shipping.

She is an awesome mom who thinks Transformers are the damn neatest things EVER.



My dad on the other hand is happy that I have a hobby, but hopes that it will eventually wind down into something "respectable" like model building. Somehow he thinks models are more grown up then transformers when I see them as the exact same thing.

Luckily I also went to a nerdy high school where EVERYONE at least acknowledged that transformers were cool as farg.

So yeah, I've been damn fortunate in everything about transformers besides the fact that most of my Beast Wars are junkers after having been shoved into a big plastic box over and over again over the years.

Well being 36 I get a lot of different kinds of reactions.

My family HATES IT! My sister never misses a chance to take a jab at my collecting habits when she's going on something. She always goes on and on about how "They're kids toys...YOU DON'T SEE ME BLOWING ALL THAT MONEY ON TOYS!" She says quite often.

Yet...she blows every bit as much money buying all of these super expensive video game systems (which she LOVES to play!) and the games for them. She collected beanie babies. Yet I have a problem!

Sorry, but in my book, video games aren't much more than over glorified toys.

I don't have credit card companies calling and harassing me, that's all I can say.

She's pissed because she hates Transformers and my older nephew who just turned 18 still loves them and she blames me for that.


As for the rest of the world, nobody really ever thinks too much of it either way. Usually I'll get a "yeah, it's pretty cool" kinda reaction but who knows what people are really thinking. They could be thinking.."OK! This guy is a wacko!" on the inside.

What surprises me is that all the more positive reactions I seem to get comes from female cashiers when I go through the checkouts.

When I went to Best Buy to get the Megs and Ratchet exclusives there was a HOT girl working there who saw me buying the last ones and came over and just started talking about how awesome she thought they were. We talked the entire time I was checking out about them and she really seemed to have an interest. Too bad I couldn't tell how old she was. If I had known she was over 18 I would have probably married her by now!

But alas....I couldn't tell.

Another girl from another store was the same way. She started talking about the movie (long before it was even out) and how she thought collecting things like that was pretty neat.

I've even had checkout girls who somehow managed to "accidentally" forget to ring up a figure or two when I was buying several. Gotta love them!


I don't think acceptance is as big of a deal as it once was. Chances are good most people, while they may not collect anything themselves, knows someone who does so that's why it doesn't strike so many people as being weird.

And if they do think it's weird, I simply ask if collecting coins, stamps, or sports memorabilia is weird. Usually the answer is "no!" Well to me, collecting TF's or whatever kind of toy is really no different with the exception that you can have more fun collecting TF's than you can with the rest of that stuff, not to mention it looks more cool. That usually shuts them up pretty quick.

If you think about the history of collecting toys back from Barbie and original GI Joes to todays sports and movie figures, toy collecting I think has solidified it's own niche and certain amount respectability in the world. So I really don't care what the few naysayers think. In the end, if you look at those who really think it's stupid, those people really don't have anything better in their lives that makes them happy and I think it actually makes them a bit envious.

Aging is something that happens to all of us. Growing up is optional.

My future Mrs. likes it, and helps me reign in the urge when I want to buy a fig that's in front of me that I honestly don't like.

I have lots of crappy figs from the dark age before I met her, picked up against all semblance of sanity and crumpled to dissatisfaction once I opened them.

*stares longingly at Lugnut, but knows better*

(Yeah, I know, lots of you guys love Lugnut and I'd probably like him, but I can't justify the cost [at the moment] on that kind of chance for a fig.)

The day she told me she wanted an animated Bumblebee was SO awesome.

She had a few tfs handed down to her when she was younger, and some g1 eps on tape. When she mentioned this, I told her I had the old movie on dvd and let her borrow it.

I got a call later that night... "OPTIMUS PRIME DIED!!!!!!!!! What the hell?!"

"You didn't know?"

"NO! He's DEAD!"

"...BWAHAHAHAHAHA! ...ha."

Seriously, I laughed and laughed.

She wasn't mad at me, and though I was called a bastard for laughing at her emotional scarring, she has a pretty twisted sense of humor so it was okay.

And we're engaged now, so woo.


As for other people... Well, people used to give me crap about a bunch of things. Up until Sophomore year in high school I was short and pudgy.

Thanks to a growth spurt of near Grayskull proportions, I lost a bunch of fat and started gaining muscle. By my senior year, I had arms bigger than most of the football team, and that was mostly without exercise. (If only it were that easy now...)

So today, if anybody thinks I'm weird for my Decepticon shirt, or browsing the toy isle, they don't say anything to me about it cause I'm usually bigger than them.

And if I'm not, it's nice to have a shovel handy.



~Matt Booker

*sigh* Well theres been many times for me, believe it or not. Mostly here at home. Sometimes my dad tells me things like how I "just have too much" or the ol fashion "can't have everything." They also think I'm like the biggest fan or something just cause I have more toys than the average kid. They don't realize that its only like a half pixel of what some older collectors have and rich kid fans... And there was this one time at school where I was getting stuff out of my locker and these two girls behind me were talking. One of them said something about the biggest school nerds then they began to whisper as if they noticed I was there. I guess I was on da list. Eh. But if collecting is something I love to do and just can't stop than I'm not gonna stop because of dumb reasons. Thats mostly the bad things but theres some people that find it cool that I collect "toys".

Hellscream: heh, I consider myself as having mostly grown out of playing with video games. I occasionally play them but I no where like I used to as a kid and not like my friends who are proper gamers. I'm not a gamer. Yet I still play with toys. But I never mock people who collect/play video games - it's their hobby and they're just as entitled to it as I am to my toys.

The argument of "it beats substance abuse" only goes so far because if your hobby is actually an addiction then there are some serious issues surrounding them regarding both mental and physical health (e.g.: stunted social development, obesity et al.).

Best thing to do easilly actually is this:
Say you're happy collecting them/watching them. And hows it harming anyone? So what's the problem?
Or the At least I'm not doing blah blah blah, which, TBH, is overused


And to the girls at checkouts: yeah... Girls like creativity and geeks which is good for me

Yeah but don't forget, famlies batch!

You can sell all your figures and be elected President after cleaning all poluion, and teaching people how to breath in space while rescuing kittens from a burning building....

and they'll still fault you for something.

My answer to that, see them less often. When you do see them you'll get an agrivating ear full all at once, but then you go home and your good for 3-4 months while you enjoy your figures.

I’m 33 and have a wife and four kids.

My wife totally supports me in my endeavor to buy whatever I want, she also buys whatever she wants and we spend 2,000.00 to 5,000.00 on yearly family Vacations to anywhere she wants to go and whatever she wants to do every year. She has the understanding that It could be worse and I could be buying Hookers or Drugs. My kids love them and they have their hundreds of toys as well.

Most people like them.

My Mom is the only one, she always wants me to get rid of them anytime she comes over, and I have to remind her that I already got rid of my 1972 Chevelle that was very nice and extremely fast. It’s like everything I like she wants me to get rid of? How strange?

My wife is beginning to try to reel me in, and I'm really trying to cooperate. But she doesn't underSTAND! Universe! Animated! Various old-school eBay finds! I'm powerless, *whimpering* what can do...?

buy her some new shoes & a handbag (works for me!)