Has anyone here been chastised, friendly or otherwise by anyone for participating in this fine hobby? Just curious.

I have a couple of family members that think I'm too old for these things (19 yo). One actively supports me and the others seem pretty indifferent. What's your experience?

Up to age 17-or-so, I kept it hidden from "friends", aka classmates. Especially because I did not really felt comfortable in the group to begin with. On a trip, I stumbled on a store that had BW Transformers (this was about 7/8 years ago, mind you), and I had to buy a couple. Ofcourse, I was rather hesitant to show them to the group, however, the guys were really supportive, and actually genuinely seemed supportive of my hobby. As it turns out, it was the first time for them that I had shown a personal side of me.

These days, I'm "out of the closet" with my hobby. I like it, and people may look odd towards it, but they can apparently see that I really enjoy it, and they appreciate it for that.

nope I don't get any stick about it at all. my family give me a bit of grief about how many I have but even then they don't seem to mind it so long as its all kept neat

There are 70-year-olds who have been playing with toy trains - I'm sorry, "scale railroads" - their entire life. Toy robot collectors have been around since, what, the 1950s? Earlier? And toy soldiers date back millennia. It's just a matter of which generation you were born into.

Transformers have been around for nearly 25 years by now - they're practically retro. And to be honest, once you start living away from home, no-one gives you any crap about what you collect.

Me, I got away with it in my teenage years by having an enthusiasm for all things robotic and engineering, and referring to my collection as great examples of engineering which were cheaper to collect than full-size construction equipment.

Chicks dig it.









I'm being serious.

Some of my friends here knew it, but that's just the few if compared to all my acquaintances, colleagues, etc. -_-
At first, last year when I start collecting it, starting with Movie figures, my GF kinda opposed it, but now could accept it, as long as I got positive hobby, that's an okay for her.

My dad still chuckles when I talk about going to conventions.

Other than that, no one shows negative opinions except a couple teenage girls I work with. Everyone is interested or doesn't care.

LOL, whaddya expect? I also get certain negative opinions from some younger fellas on my neighborhood here once they noticed of my newfound hobby of Transformers. But that's not a problem for me afterall.

oh, that was what I expected. But they asked why I got Botcon weekend off, and I didn't see any point in lieing.

my wife is sick of them.... my mom rolls her eyes... my nephew searches everywhere for them when he visits.... my CEO doesn't get "my obsession with little robots" but i dont get his obsession with logo golf balls and bulldogs named UGA.

anybody that comes in my office seems interested in them... i keep mp starscream, japanese version, in bot mode, alternators swindle and shockwave alternate (no pun intended) between robot and alt mode on the credenza behind my desk and the Decepticon cellphone, whatever it's name is on my desk holding my business cards.

most people find the alternators impressive and don't beleive they have two modes...

My wife gives me crap every time I buy something.

Something about feeding the kids and paying the bills. I don't know, I'm usually too busy transforming something to listen to her.

most common reaction to someone seeing my collection: "Can I play with em?"

to which I mostly respond. "sure, except for that one and that one... they're kinda fragile."

I usually just hand Cybertron Clocker to those that ask. If they ask about others I respond "eeek! I don't know where your hands have been!"

I'm 38. My Dad still rolls his eyes and mentions "Peter Pan Syndrome" but that's about the most negative. One of her friends once asked my Wife why she let me spend so much on a child's hobby. Her response was "He doesn't drink. He doesn't smoke. He doesn't got to (ahem) Gentlemen's clubs. Why do I care about a hobby that keeps him at home and connects him with our kids?"

By the way, that friend's divorced now. (twists the knife)

i'll have to remember that the next time she's batchin'

Truly awesome.

The one person who keeps me most in check is myself. I used to be a lot more of a collector, but it wasn't really that satisfying for me. So now I just have a few random items, and it works out better because I don't feel the stench of armpits and hopelessness* nearly as much anymore.






*ask Smith for an explanation

Heh, very true. Its even better when they have a hidden interest in it. My girl is kinda like that..
She doesn't have any yet, but I'm planning on buying her animated Bumblebee and Bulkhead when they get out here.. seems to be her favorites so far.

In regards to this topic though.. some people are okay with it, others aren't so open minded. It goes with anything. I don't really broadcast it, because there's a lot of other things I can talk about myself besides "Yeah so I collect these robots that change into shot" .. if anything, I poke fun at myself..

.. I do get the occasional comment from a random family member like "are you ever going to quit?" Short answer is no.. I don't think so.

It only works for a little while.

Outside of a few relationships I've been in, one who got me into it, who really supported it, and a few others that just..let me go..I have no one in my life really that gets it. I'm not even sure I do. As far as family goes, my parents pretty much just say I spend to much money on them. My brother likes them as he used to have them as a kid, and now I get to keep him updated on what's going on with everything as he's still in Iraq..Not that his wife would let him get back into it though. It's easy enough to get people to go shopping with me for them though, most people don't mind a quick stop by the toy isle. But sadly, no, no other collectors in my life. Although I have evicting my tenants upstairs, so, we do have a place for rent if any TF fans are looking to move to bitterly cold Upstate NY.

What's funny is gamblers get more respect than we do. Generally, I get the silent shaking of the head in disbelief that I spend time and money on this stuff.

What I tell people is collecting is really about the people I get to know and share my passion with. Seriously, this keeps me balanced. I work hard and play hard and I am happier for it. If that does not get them, I point out this is really no more expensive than spending money on fancy clothes, movies, clubs, concerts, DVDs and all the other fun stuffs people spend money on for pleasure.

Indeed! I'll have to remember that next time my w bothers me about it. Or my dad who's an active gambler.

That's something new. I don't believe I have ever met a female Transfan.




Well said. This is a truly harmless addiction. I mean even a leader class figure doesn't cost as much as one could spend on alcohol or other things that are addictive.




It's great when people are interested in them. It's also even cooler that you keep them in your office. I will too eventually.


By the way, about the alternators thing, you're right. My Uncle didn't know it was a transformer either until I told him.

Actually, they're more "closeted" than us, male Transfans. And I do believe it's up to us to interact with 'em, and eventually, they'll reveal themselves, whether they love it like us, or simply liked it, nor just blatantly hate it because such hobby's considered childish for them.



Well, I also collect airsoftguns / firearms-replicas, and also wines/liquors, mostly are Absolut and Cointreau brand, with Absolut Raspberry & Sheridan as two of my faves.

You see, we also need other hobbies/interests as a leverage/balance/something-along-that-line for our TF-collecting hobby. Put it like this... I purchase liquors every time I'm about to board at Singaporean or Malaysian airport, two at a time, and collect lots of them, basically as my widely known interest, and people got nothing with that. Same thing goes for my interest on collecting Kalashnikov replicas, people got no problem with that airsoft outbound hobby, as long as I know my boundaries and don't go around wielding my rifles in public and attracting unnecessary attention from local law enforcers.

While for TFs, these are more like... the awakened childish side of me, the kind of interest that I tend to keep secret and don't have any intentions to talk about it to people here who might think of a different impression on us.

Also, like DenMasterPrime already stated previously, as long as our wife/GF are fully understanding and supportive to our hobby, it's an okay. At least, I don't go whoring around and tend to them more often. That's the bottomline.

Well, I also collect airsoftguns / firearms-replicas, and also wines/liquors, mostly are Absolut and Cointreau brand, with Absolut Raspberry & Sheridan as two of my faves.

You see, we also need other hobbies/interests as a leverage/balance/something-along-that-line for our TF-collecting hobby. Put it like this... I purchase liquors every time I'm about to board at Singaporean or Malaysian airport, two at a time, and collect lots of them, basically as my widely known interest, and people got nothing with that. Same thing goes for my interest on collecting Kalashnikov replicas, people got no problem with that airsoft outbound hobby, as long as I know my boundaries and don't go around wielding my rifles in public and attracting unnecessary attention from local law enforcers.

While for TFs, these are more like... the awakened childish side of me, the kind of interest that I tend to keep secret and don't have any intentions to talk about it to people here who might think of a different impression on us.

Also, like DenMasterPrime already stated previously, as long as our wife/GF are fully understanding and supportive to our hobby, it's an okay. At least, I don't go whoring around and tend to them more often. That's the bottomline.
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Yeah that's what I meant. There's a difference between collecting fine liquor and being a boozehound. One is harmful, the other can actually do you (and your wife as well) a great deal of good and give you both a lot of pleasure. And yeah, other hobbies are important too. I'm a guitarist myself. And I'm unattached.




That's a great way to think about this hobby. It's awesome that your wife is so open-minded about this. Also, Peter Pan Syndrome is one of the best parts of life, yes?

There are people who easily blow as much money (if not more) on other real vices like alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, hookers and books by L. Ron Hubbard.

I'm an openly loud and proud fan - always have been. Got bullied by a few kids at school for it, but I always stood my ground. Overall most people I know are pretty tolerant/supportive of my hobby and tend to see it as pretty cool.

The only time I ever really encountered any real resistance regarding my hobby (aside from good natured ribbing) would have been when I wanted to get a Decepticon insignia painted on my goalie mask, but my dad deep sixed the idea.

My father would be the most consistent opposition to my hobby, mostly because he sees it as a waste of money.

To me, it's my money and I spend it to give me enjoyment in a way which doesn't directly detrimentally effect others, unlike say substance abuse or joining some religion cult.

It took my wife some time to getting used to; her concern was about money, but I've assured her that I will always pay for the important things first and that funding my collecting will never mean that we would ever go without. It took her a while to get used to it, but now she accepts it. She's always thought that my collection was cool, but was only initially worried from a financial POV. It really helps that she's a former accountant who really helps me to budget myself - tells me exactly how much I need to put aside for necessities and the rest of my income is thus disposal and free to do with as I wish.

Having my collection in its own room really helps too because it means that from my wife's POV she isn't having Transformers shoved down her throat all the time. When you go in the room it's a bit overwhelming (which is how I like it ) but only if you go in there. People only go into that room if they want to be exposed to TFs. If you don't want the exposure, just don't go in there. Needless to say that I spend a lot more time in that room than she does - but hey, it works out well for both of us.

Any time someone tells me it's a waste of money, I ask them where their money goes. Whatever they answer, that usually leads to a stalemate, since they spend money on fun things too. If they spend money on something like alcohol, cigarettes, etc, I win because they only get to enjoy their purchase once.

Less "TFans" more "think it's cute that a guy has a hobby that excites him that doesn't involve booze, football, or boobs".

Just try not to geek out too much around them. All the girls in my office wanted to touch my Bumblebee.

I keep all my favorite Transformers (movie, MP, Alternators, RID, Classics) in my cubicle at work so my kids can't get to them n

Mostly my family but they have lightened their mood towards it. My brother-in-law thinks it's an awesome collection and he's shown me his massive sports card collection. The couple people I've divulged this to don't have a problem with it as they have their thing they do. A girl that was a friend saw them when she came over once and thought it was cool. We even got talking about Transformers. Another girl thinks it's great that I do something that doesn't involve drugs or alcohol and all that stuff.

That really was a key selling point with lots of the girls in my office, methinks. I mean, I'm 25, married, have a son (1 month old, yay!), employed, and have a fun harmless hobby that I genuinely get excited about. I am teh sexiness potential platonic boyfriend incarnate.

Other guys my age at work spent their spare time either talking about videogames, getting stoned, or how wasted they got on the weekend.

Here's an actual conversation that happened when we were discussing what we did on the weekend once:

Other guy "Man, I got soooooo drunk on Saturday night, I went through about $150. I don't even remember anything that happened after 1am. I woke up on some bench in the park without my pants and my wallet!" *fist pounds another guy*

Me "Uhh..... Are you sure you didn't pass out and then got r@ped by a hobo and had your wallet stolen? "

Such is the beauty of transformers. They are a gift that really does keep on giving.

Wait, what about the Breastforce?

I've gotten a few eye rolls, but that's really the extent of it. Nobody in my family bothers me about it, except maybe Mom, and only cuz she thinks the economy is going to collapse and the country is going to hell in a handbasket and I'll need the money more than the toys. I just think she listens to too much Glenn Beck. lol

I've never dated a girl who was bothered by my collection. If you keep them happy in other areas, and they're not snooty b-words to begin with, I think their generally ok with it. Nothing like being a watching Sopranos with your girl while a Transformers: The Movie ('86) poster is on the wall above you, MOC He man and Skeletor are on either side of you and 50 G1 Transformers are standing beautifully on top of the TV cabinet. Life is grand.

Of course, I was in a Nike outlet store today and couldn't bring myself to spend $50 on a new pair of shoes, which I kinda actually need. On the way out, the gf says to me, "It's kinda funny that you'll spend $400 on a toy without thinking about it, but can't spend $50 on something you need."

Sometimes I think I'm lame!

Not to mention that in a lot of cases, the value of these things actually increases over the years.

If anyone gives me financial grief about my collection, I can point to Reflector and say "That cost me four bits of cardboard when I was a kid. Now it's worth a couple hundred bucks to the right person. Those other ones next to it? Ten bucks in the 1980s. Anything up to a hundred or more now. I can show you auctions for these things which hit more than a thousand dollars a pop. My hobby collection is worth more on the open market than my car and all my computers put together. So how are your investments doing?"

Of course, that's not why I collect(ed) them. But it does tend to take the wind out of people's sails. And their sticker price isn't even counting the personal and psychological value I get out of being able to take them off the shelf and fiddle with them. You can't do that with government bonds unless you like paper cuts. It's more like having an art collection, except that the pieces are designed to be played with as well as looked at.

so you admit your pride? not the tf/collector kind





well maybe your mom but the rest....



I NEVER EVER LET ANYONE KNOW exept dogs they keep secrets

I've met plenty and encountered and heard of several more online. One of my ex-girlfriends is a Transfan.

my wife, in an attempt to piss me off for spending money on transformers, purchased a registered black lab for $250 back in July. Since then we've been to the vet for spaying, deworming, and most recently a broken leg due to a car running over her. since then i've been winning the argument with "megatron may have cost $120 but he hasn't had worms or a broken leg. he's no money pit like your dog."

she just looks the other way now...

I remember when I told my girlfriend that I collected T/Fs. She thought it was awesome and then showed me her American Girl doll collection. Now they're all the best of friends.

My GF is really accepting of my habit, she thinks it "too cute" to see me get excited walking through the toy aisle, or waiting eagerly for a box in the mail. My parents used to give me a hard time about all the money that I was spending for a while, but they got over it. None of my good friends collect, but will occasionally ask me to keep an eye out for something that they saw that was pretty cool. I think everyone I know just about has at least one TF in their homes now. One friend fell in love with WSTFs, another Masterpiece figures.

I've been on board since the class of '84. I was 10 then... now I'm 33 and married. My mother grumbles, calls it a waste of money and more or less refuses to buy them for me for holiday gifts anymore, and as such I've kind of settled into not bringing up the T-word anymore when she asks, "What do you want for your birthday?"

My wife, on the other hand, is a god-send. She has no personal interest in TFs, but not only does she tolerate her husband spending money on this stuff to put in the big display case that sits in her living room, she actually makes it a point to retain information about it so as to at least SOUND interested and invested in it. (Example: I made some passing reference to "the Japanese version of Powermaster Optimus Prime", and she said, "Oh, you mean God Ginrai?") She's always willing to stop by the toy aisle whenever we're out at Wal-Mart. Hell, she even volunteered to go with me to a Toys R Us TF fan event in Florida a few years ago. Every Christmas and birthday (and sometimes Valentine's Day) she scours the Internet for things one can't easily find in stores. A few things she's paid good $$ for me over the past few years: a MOSC G2 Hero Megatron, a MISB MW Soundwave, eHobby Detritus/Desert Hound, OTFCC Sideswipe, Reissue God Ginrai and TF Collection Megatron, Hound, Stepper and Hot Rod... and that's only scratching the surface...

I have one buddy from college that's a big Transfan, so of course it's easy for us to get together and geek out. Most of the other people in my life aren't into it, but really, aside from my mother, no one looks down on me for it. I think they think it's cute, and ultimately harmless. I sometimes offer a self-depricating attitude when the subject comes up around co-workers or other non-fans, and everyone, myself included, gets a good laugh out of it.

That. Is. Awesome.

Somehow, this is funny.

It's a good point because ultimately I think people are allowed to live however they want so long as their lifestyle choices do not effect other people.

During the early days of my marriage I explained to my wife that I would ensure that my collecting would not financially impact on us - i.e.: that we would always have enough money to pay for essentials and savings on top of that. It took her a while, but she's come to accept that now - because any time she would complain about me spending too much money on TFs I would point out that we always had enough money for all essentials. So she's since accepted my hobby.

I like slugpitcher's argument because he's point out that MP Megatron isn't financially effecting him and his wife like her dog. If you're going through a financially difficult time, like say you're going through a period where you have a lot of important payments to make - then you can simply choose to stop buying Transformers for that period until you've sufficiently financially "recovered." If your dog is sick or has a broken leg, you need to treat that right away! It can't wait - which means that you need to spend money on that animal immediately! It means that TF collecting is financially easier to control than say, a pet.

I know people who blow all of their disposable income on booze and get stupidly drunk every Friday and or Saturday - and I've seen drunk people do some incredibly STUPID things back in my old uni party days (t'was never me - I've never been drunk). Yet getting wasted is culturally far more acceptable than collecting toys and comic books. That's just fcuked up IMO.

Friend of mine used to poke fun at me for collecting. I found an old checkbook of his helping him move and saw the carbons and the amount of change he was dropping at the Yellow Rose (strip club). There was a great amount of pleasure in getting my point accross that not only was I spending near that amount on a "hobby", I'd (one) gotten something for my money that was tangible and didn't hurt me on the way home and (two) it was something I wasn't afraid my then-girlfriend would find out about.

He's since gotten married/semi-respectable and is buying anime and Gundam models. I don't know if he's spending less, but he can tell his wife where the money's going.

Thanks to all about the nice comments about my wife's support. "He doesn't smoke. Doesn't drink or go to "Gentlemen's Clubs..." She thought seeing y'all "talk" about her was a hoot. (I'll take brownie points where I can get 'em!)

From locals, I've had death threats, attacks in public, my windows smashed and harassing, insulting phone calls about my collecting TF's. They think it's wrong of anyone to have a fondness for anything that isn't drink, drugs, sports and being the same mind.
From others like my parents and other people I've met who know of the collection, they find it odd, but endearing and I've been encouraged to try and be less adult all the time and to just have fun for a change, even if it's just playing with TF's at times. Still learning how to do that.

Collecting one of the best toys ever created doesn't harm anyone, so those who hate it really shouldn't go giving people grief for it.

-'.],

Actually, much to my surprise, they do! ^_^

I've invited quite a few girls over now and I am starting to get the same reaction, "awww ... that's soo cool"! I'm still surprised about that! I even have a girl that's a great friend wanting to stage a Transformers Battle Royale with me! HA!

I say our hobby is in all good fun and says we don't take ourselves totally seriously where we have to hide our obsession in a closet or some basement somewhere. Makes me love the hobby so much more!

ONLY people that do give me any sort of flack about it is my family. But then again, just when did they know what's best for me?

^_^

Are they targeting you solely because you're a TF collector, or are they targeting you for other reasons buy using your TF collection as a means/excuse to attack you? When I was bullied by kids at school for being a TF fan (especially in years 7 and 8) they were mainly targeting me because I was a small and meek child who was unable to fight back - and bullies typically target someone who is least able to defend themselves. It's an act of cowardice because bullies are really cowards who are very insecure about themselves, hence why they feel the need to intimidate other people to "feel better" about themselves.

Look at Sentinel Prime in Transformers Animated - he's a complete bully. He bullies Optimus Prime a lot because he sees him as weak and inferior. An academy drop-out in his eyes. Yet his interaction with other Autobots in the Elite Guard, especially Ultra Magnus, is completely different. He would never dare to speak to Ultra Magnus the way that he speaks with such utter contempt to Optimus Prime. And Sentinel did back the fcuk down when Optimus reminded him that they were of equal rank then successfully extracted the AllSpark shard from the factory computer. It'll be interesting to see if Optimus will continue to stand up to Sentinel and not allow him to bully him anymore (I hope so - the TFA Sentinel Prime is a major d!ckhead)