Then again, when it's out, I have no trouble opening up about it. I always found it funny when a friend says it's a good way to turn off women, yet I've had more cute young women just openly start talking to me about them in a store than anything.

See, that whole 'it scares away women' thing is a myth. It's not the hobby that keeps women away, it's the person. So many fan types are complete social recluses, and let's face it, go to a con. Not a lot of the people take care of their appearance. Nobody has the right to a partner, it's a privledge that requires effort to meet the expectations of what people want (ie, a respectable person who isnt offensive to the nose or to shy to order pizza). Would you want some weirdo or a person with a hobby? The hobby is a scapegoat usually for the real problem. Now some women/men might be turned away because of your hobby, and that's ok. Because really, if something like that turns them away, what else do you think would? Probably anything, because the two people are not compatible. Any woman or man who doesnt respect or tolerate your hobby obviosuly has a problem with the way you are. Why would you want that? Low self esteem, lonly, depession, or whatever? Once again, not the hobby, the person.

 

Did'nt mean to rant, but some dork perceotions are so off base that they lead me to it. It's nice to see another who see's it for bs :)

Maybe I'm just kidding myself, but I believe if I didn't advertise my hobby with T-shirts and such as I proudly do, I could pass for a "normal", non-geeky person (whatever ill-defined standard of normal it is people adhere to these days). I've been more open with my interests due I think in large part to having a supportive wife, though I've never been closeted in my geek tendencies. Before I got back into Transformers, it was Marvel, with shirts picturing Wolverine and Spider-Man.

I have noticed something I feel is strange since rediscovering TFs: several people have come up to compliment a TF shirt I'm wearing. This usually leads to a 10-15 minute conversation that starts with childhood memories of G1 and works its way around to the Bay movies. At some point during each of these conversations I'm told I'm lucky because this person's girlfriend/wife would never allow them to wear a shirt like mine. This is only since I started wearing TF clothing and always makes me a little sad for them.

Maybe even in this new generation where being dorky is supposed to be cool it's still more acceptable to be an '80s cartoon fan than a comic fan. I don't know. I think obsessing over a sports team and knowing all the players stats is geeky too, and that's cool. A person should be able to geek on whatever they want, be it sports, toys, cars, or comics. If a person can derive joy from it and it doesn't override priorities like taking care of yourself or your family, then how can it possibly be a bad thing?

Funny thing is that I've never had any problems in general with other people when it comes to my collecting, it's the ones closest to me that give me the most problems about it. They seem under the impression that only complete losers would ever collect this kind of stuff and that there's hardly anyone that does.

 

I've met around 20-30 fellow collectors in my parts who now gather regularly at someones house (whoever decides to host) and I can say if they have ever seen some of what I've seen and met the people I've met, I think their views might change a bit.

 

Most of those guys you'd never think it by simply looking at them either.

Oh, dear God. I've got a Decepticon symbol on my '93 Chevy, my immediate living space is cluttered with them, my immediate workspace is cluttered with them, and I spend roughly at least a third of my day thinking of random plotlines and character-ideas and how any vehicle or non-vehicular machine could transform...as well as which figure I'm going to repaint next. Lately, I am obsessing over the notion of acquiring both HA Roadbuster and HA Leadfoot (it's a shame we might not be getting HA Topspin) and thinking how I am going to repaint Roadbuster into Bayverse Wheeljack and Leadfoot into Bayverse Chromedome.

 

The partnership just makes sense, IMO.

 

I do this all. Day. LONG.

 

I'm with you, Jason X on being more open with regards to expressing my affectations for this particular hobby when a supportive wife/GF is present. My woman is extremely supportive of my habit (as long as I'm fiscally responsible!!!) and tends to get upset when I don't talk TFs with her. She's still letting me cry on her shoulder about the cruel fate of Animated. So, yeah: having a supportive mate really helps express the TF love a little bit more.

 

Damn good topic, BTW.

Well I play with TFs a lot in my spare time...If that counts :P

 

Though tattoos disgust me so I would never get one of those. And since I'm not married (Nor have I ever even had a gf lol) I don't have a wife to tell me how obsessed I am. Heh...

Oh, dear God. I've got a Decepticon symbol on my '93 Chevy, my immediate living space is cluttered with them, my immediate workspace is cluttered with them, and I spend roughly at least a third of my day thinking of random plotlines and character-ideas and how any vehicle or non-vehicular machine could transform...as well as which figure I'm going to repaint next. Lately, I am obsessing over the notion of acquiring both HA Roadbuster and HA Leadfoot (it's a shame we might not be getting HA Topspin) and thinking how I am going to repaint Roadbuster into Bayverse Wheeljack and Leadfoot into Bayverse Chromedome.

 

The partnership just makes sense, IMO.

 

I do this all. Day. LONG.

 

I'm with you, Jason X on being more open with regards to expressing my affectations for this particular hobby when a supportive wife/GF is present. My woman is extremely supportive of my habit (as long as I'm fiscally responsible!!!) and tends to get upset when I don't talk TFs with her. She's still letting me cry on her shoulder about the cruel fate of Animated. So, yeah: having a supportive mate really helps express the TF love a little bit more.

 

Damn good topic, BTW.

Thanks buddy. If I'm going to take up peoples time I try to make it interesting.

Your statement about Animated hits home because my wife knew how much I missed the show. She pretty much insisted I get the Stunticon set. It was one of her cooler moments.

Well I play with TFs a lot in my spare time...If that counts :P

 

Though tattoos disgust me so I would never get one of those. And since I'm not married (Nor have I ever even had a gf lol) I don't have a wife to tell me how obsessed I am. Heh...

No worries Atmo. There's someone for everyone and when yours comes along I just hope she's every bit as supportive as mine, Shellfromer's, and the rest of the ladies mentioned in this thread.

been waiting 23 years now and still havent found her. as such, i'm having doubts. ah well. I've gotten used to being single. but i still have that feeling of hope yet....

been waiting 23 years now and still havent found her. as such, i'm having doubts. ah well. I've gotten used to being single. but i still have that feeling of hope yet....

Just enjoy the single life while you got it. Marriage is awesome and I wouldn't trade it for anything but when I hear about my single friends just taking off for the weekend I do have a tiny pang of longing for the my old whatever, whenever lifestyle. We still have fun. It just takes a lot more planning.

Oh, and my brother finally found the right girl for him about a month after turning 35. He had actually given up and was pretty okay with so there you go.

sounds good to me!