The downside of being a TMNT fan part 2

[TommyT]

So we all know about Michelle Ivy, and how they maligned her and her turtle love, painting her as a crazy person.
But I have to say, this here (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=293711004482315&set=a.114676735719077&type=3&theater), this is next level. He's building a web series, and well, what do you think? Is this what our friends and family think of us when we admit to being turtle fans?
I keep it on the downlow, and don't exactly broadcast it, but I'm thinking the fandom has a bad rep, and things like this, I don't know if it helps or hurts. Is this too far, or maybe not far enough?

His facebook here if you'd like to follow him.
Dubois Barbour (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=699981177188627&set=a.114676735719077&type=3&theater)

The youtube channel:
jl9gSgz5D2g

[Powder]

Every fandom has its share of nuts & hostiles, but they're simply a vocal minority. Plenty of regular people are passionate about fandom stuff & know how to properly temper that passion publicly. As for this guy, if he's not doing anything to hurt himself or others, Cowabunga indeed, yo. Everybody needs an outlet.

[IMJ]

I've always viewed TMNT fandom as a hobby thats great for a few display pieces in a case, some comics in a long box and the occasional DVD set. From there, it's place as a hobby is basically fulfilled.

Certain IP's feature things you aspire to be (of course, the current generation doesn't have heroes because if something is better than they are, they'd argue that it's offensive, but that's another point entirely). Others are just reminders of fun times and periods of escapism. TMNT is the latter.

If I could be Iron Man and build armor and fly around, I'd think it was great. I never aspired to be a Ninja Turtle.... never. I own some of the 2012 toys MOC because the show was so strong that it had me enjoying the IP again; but the majority of my fandom is from the OG Fred Wolf cartoon and Archie books.

I have some tastefully mounted acrylic display cases of rows and rows of Iron Man, and a great setup of Indiana Jones stuff in cases, etc. But when I decide to display something from TMNT, typically the most iconic turtle toys that are available at that given moment will suffice. Right now that's the NECA stuff. Otherwise, all of my vintage TMNT stuff is nicely bagged and filed away in a drawer system along with about 1,000 other action figures in the 4" or 3 3/4" scale. Stored this way, they are out of sight, organized, and I can pull 'em out, look at them at-a-glance, and then put 'em back and close the drawer.

If IDW would ever release an Archie Omnibus set, those might wind up being the only Turtle comic books I'd own. Without that though, at this moment I'd say I've got maybe 4 longboxes representing TMNT comics going back from the original Mirage series all the way through issue 50 of the IDW book where I dropped that series because I am a completist and the variants were out of control. I wasn't reading it sooo....

I don't love being a turtle, but the Turtles are fun and the franchise has been entertaining when it's needed to be.

[MikeandRaph87]

I don't love being a turtle, but the Turtles are fun and the franchise has been entertaining when it's needed to be.

As with anything don't obsess just greatly enjoy it as a main hobby.

[IndigoErth]

Eh, he looks rather young still, if he's just goofing off and having fun with it, then more power to him.

Wouldn't be what my friends and family think of, since I'm not that outward about it and keep it pretty tame. (With a rather judgmental parent you just kind of learn to keep stuff you're into under control early on.) As for this guy... well, some people just wave that fan flag around a bit more exuberantly than the rest of us. lol

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I've always liked TMNT fans as long as they'd provided us with fansites where fandom can be shared, like his community and all fan websites who were popular during the late 1990's and early 2000s.

I've never cared for people who play around as Ninja Turtles.

[TommyT]

So, who here has done Turtle cosplay?

I haven’t, not even a Hallowe’en costume, but I’m maybe not as big a fan as some of you.

[newfan]

Is this what our friends and family think of us when we admit to being turtle fans?


As pointed out already, every fandom has those who can take their passion for something quite far, people should just think that you like the Turtles, same as if you said you liked Star Wars for example. The only thing with TMNT, (I feel anyway) is it has more of the kid stigma, as the version I came in with is one of the kid versions I'm not really open about it off the internet.

[CyberCubed]

This feels like a subtle troll thread to be honest.

[IMJ]

This feels like a subtle troll thread to be honest.

-shrugs- Even if that's true, the material for it is right there in the video at the top of the thread, sooooo....

Just take it as it comes. Clearly not every TMNT fan is also a Furry.

[Andrew NDB]

I'm a big fan of people doing whatever they want as long as it's not hurting anyone else. Just don't expect me not to snicker at you, or make me out to be a bad person when I do -- it's not my fault.

[newhire13]

In both those fan’s defense, the turtles ARE pretty great

[IMJ]

I'm a big fan of people doing whatever they want as long as it's not hurting anyone else. Just don't expect me not to snicker at you, or make me out to be a bad person when I do -- it's not my fault.

This exactly.

[CyberCubed]

Be thankful the internet did not exist for most of the original TMNT fad between 1984-1995.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Be thankful the internet did not exist for most of the original TMNT fad between 1984-1995.

And why would that be?

[IndigoErth]

Probably because there is less record of childhood nonsense to look back on and feel embarrassed over, and what there is of it largely isn't online for the world to see. lol

[TommyT]

This feels like a subtle troll thread to be honest.

Not trolling at all. There is a perception of fandoms that people like us are nuts. I think videos like this feed that perception, harmless as it may be.

We can rationalize it, but perhaps we shouldn’t.

[Roseangelo]

I have no issue with people being fans and expressing their fandom.

I started karate because of the TMNT. And while I keep that pretty low-key, my instructor knows and has fun with it here and there. If it comes up, I own it.

[Leo656]

I have no issue with people being fans and expressing their fandom.

I started karate because of the TMNT. And while I keep that pretty low-key, my instructor knows and has fun with it here and there. If it comes up, I own it.

That's incredible. Because He-Man is what inspired me to always punch people in First-Person View and give a moralizing speech about what I'd learned today afterwards! :lol:

[IndigoErth]

We can rationalize it, but perhaps we shouldn’t.
The alternate is what though, try to be the fandom police? Tell people they can't do something because it makes some outsiders think all fans are weird?

Wasted effort since no one is going to stop them from doing their own thing, and wasted worry, because people who generalize all fans of a thing based on a few, just like people who generalize all people of any demographic, are the ones with the issue and aren't worth the concern.

[TommyT]

The alternate is what though, try to be the fandom police? Tell people they can't do something because it makes some outsiders think all fans are weird?

Wasted effort since no one is going to stop them from doing their own thing, and wasted worry, because people who generalize all fans of a thing based on a few, just like people who generalize all people of any demographic, are the ones with the issue and aren't worth the concern.

Most people do actually generalize, to some Extent, including yourself with that last part of your quote. Obviously I wouldn’t suggest a policing of fans, but bad actors in any group, do the group no favours.

[IMJ]

The alternate is what though, try to be the fandom police? Tell people they can't do something because it makes some outsiders think all fans are weird?

Wasted effort since no one is going to stop them from doing their own thing, and wasted worry, because people who generalize all fans of a thing based on a few, just like people who generalize all people of any demographic, are the ones with the issue and aren't worth the concern.

A small fact that escapes a lot of normally operating people in our day to day lives - we assume that we are just watching an "idiot" jump around, or you read something on a forum and assume the guy is an "asshole" when in fact the internet gives anonymity to all people.

If anyone here wants a real wake up call? Consider this - you go to a comic convention and talk to any given, slightly short tempered comic book dealer. You, a normal person who is just living your life as correctly as possible, never gives any consideration to who that dealer is outside of how he treats you in that moment. But think about the total sum of the situation. Why exactly are so many of those guys going around the country, from con to con all the time, no health insurance, super vested in comic books? Because they love them? How about how many of those guys are ex-cons and can't land a structured job so they do stuff like convention sales of collectibles to make some money. I'm not saying that all conventioneers are ex-cons - hahahaha! But I'm giving you some perspective about the truth of these hobbies.

Normally operating people often don't even consider these things because it's so far off our radar that it doesn't make sense. But it's true. How many people never check their sex offender registry in their neighborhood - go head and do that after you read this. Everyone go ahead and do that.

The point I'm making for everyone here is that, sure there are a lot of good people in the hobby. But also that a lot of the strange **** you read from some "asshole" on the internet could very likely be coming from a sociopath or some handicapped person, or even just some dumb kid - but you'll instinctively visualize some adult, confrontational male. Then you turn off your computer to go to the comic book convention where all of the "good and great fandom is". Consider that nice and dedicated comic book dealer and then consider how many of those guys are there because their hugely felonious record is keeping them from any standard employment. Then go home to your house, in your nice neighborhood where you realize that you've got 5 registered sex offenders within 4 blocks of your place.

This all sounds really terrible, but again -perspective-.

[TommyT]

I'm not saying that all conventioneers are ex-cons - hahahaha! But I'm giving you some perspective about the truth of these hobbies.
Normally operating people often don't even consider these things because it's so far off our radar that it doesn't make sense.
This all sounds really terrible, but again -perspective-.

Hold on, I’m not an asshole. I am saying we all get painted by the same brush, and that’s just reality.

If you’ve been to enough cons, you realize its made up of broken people, and outsiders, and then the famlies that like to go slumming to laugh at the animals, so to speak. Yes, a good number are there because they can’t get a real job. The others are addicts. Its not good natured when you roll back the log and shine a light. Not by a long shot.

That kid could just be a super fan, but if I was less forgiving, I might see an young man, whose lost his grip on reality, and owns weapons. If he were dressed like the Punisher, we’d have an even steeper hill of denial to climb.

[IndigoErth]

Eh, I guess I'm just less cynical on the assumptions than you guys. While an ex-con would give me pause...if some previously troubled person is turning their life around and if it's something they've found to do with it and are making a better life...then really, good on them and a past they've left behind is not really my business if they're a different person today.

Geeze, I hope you guys don't assume everyone at those things is an ex-con, or otherwise troubled or jobless. :tlol:

From experience of having been behind the table once at NYCC, I can vouch for the fact that there are also some wannabe upstarts, etc too, not just people selling junk. I'm sure my friend who bought the spot to try to promote his little studio would be shocked to hear that he's a jobless ex-felon seeing how he's an animation teacher and just an eternally big kid at heart. lol

[IMJ]

Hold on, I’m not an asshole. I am saying we all get painted by the same brush, and that’s just reality.

If you’ve been to enough cons, you realize its made up of broken people, and outsiders, and then the famlies that like to go slumming to laugh at the animals, so to speak. Yes, a good number are there because they can’t get a real job. The others are addicts. Its not good natured when you roll back the log and shine a light. Not by a long shot.

That kid could just be a super fan, but if I was less forgiving, I might see an young man, whose lost his grip on reality, and owns weapons. If he were dressed like the Punisher, we’d have an even steeper hill of denial to climb.

Yup, really well said dose of truth.
As for the kid in particular, I go back to the developmental level thing. He's probably not operating at a well adjusted level in any situation.


Eh, I guess I'm just less cynical on the assumptions than you guys. While an ex-con would give me pause...if some previously troubled person is turning their life around and if it's something they've found to do with it and are making a better life...then really, good on them and a past they've left behind is not really my business if they're a different person today.

Geeze, I hope you guys don't assume everyone at those things is an ex-con, or otherwise troubled or jobless. :tlol:

From experience of having been behind the table once at NYCC, I can vouch for the fact that there are also some wannabe upstarts, etc too, not just people selling junk. I'm sure my friend who bought the spot to try to promote his little studio would be shocked to hear that he's a jobless ex-felon seeing how he's an animation teacher and just an eternally big kid at heart. lol

I've been to a llloottt of conventions in the past. As I get older they tend to be less and less fun, and I don't go like I used to. But I was just painting an eye opening picture for how these things work, and that picture was more about the selling population than the regular convention attendee or the guys on artist alley, you know?

There are some truly high profile sellers at many of these cons as well - make no mistake. Guys who have built really good buying relationships across the country or otherwise have really dug in and somehow always have market mover books.

But everything is just some perspective to maybe consider when you run into that weird booth with a semi-rude or awkwardly adrenaline seller at a show.

Geeze, I hope you guys don't assume everyone at those things is an ex-con, or otherwise troubled or jobless. :tlol:

Dude, I said verbatum in bold face letters above, "I'm not saying that all conventioneers are ex-cons - hahahaha".

[IndigoErth]

My bad, didn't retain that part. Long week already used up most of the short term memory.

[IMJ]

My bad, didn't retain that part. Long week already used up most of the short term memory.

:lol::lol::lol:

8)

[Leo656]

I used to buy comics from a guy who is almost certainly on a "list" somewhere. He used to do every small local "convention" or show around here. Had a little bit of everything, but a HUGE assortment of porn comics, and he was clearly way more knowledgeable about those than anything else that he sold. Invited us over to his house one time to look over some swords, battle axes, etc. Come to find out that this clearly 50-something grown man was literally living in his parents' basement. To be fair, it was a very nice house and outwardly they were very nice people.

That said... Yeah, there's definitely a story there and I'm kind of glad I don't know what it is.

[TommyT]

Con's give me a headache, not sure what it is, the lack of circulating air, or the body odor, the lights, dust, I can't say. I used to really get a kick out of the stuff, but these days, We're over stimulated, and I feel like there's nothing new or exciting to see.

[IndigoErth]

I don't know how people even enjoy those things with the crowd. Maybe some are better, but my one experience with NYCC... holy hell. Not an inch of breathing room in that place, and I really dislike crowds. Wish I could have had a look around and didn't waste the whole thing bored behind a table, but leaving just once for a bathroom break and to go hunt down an overpriced bite to eat was aggravating enough. Fun in theory, but the crowd size makes it a whole lot less so.

The genuinely fun part was having an exhibitor/vendor pass and not having to wait in that long line in the cold.

[pferreira]

Speaking from experience obsessions can be a result of neurodiversity like autism. It's only a problem if it affects finances, affects others or his ability to live.

More power to him although if I were him I'd stay away from any TV shows that claim they want to present his fandom. That way he won't have clips from his appearance used on YT videos ad nauseum for the next twenty or so years. :ohwell:

[TommyT]

Speaking from experience obsessions can be a result of neurodiversity like autism. It's only a problem if it affects finances, affects others or his ability to live.

More power to him although if I were him I'd stay away from any TV shows that claim they want to present his fandom. That way he won't have clips from his appearance used on YT videos ad nauseum for the next twenty or so years. :ohwell:

He isn't being watched very carefully, if that's the case.
https://scontent.fybz1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74713426_723558781497533_7779927304985116672_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=103&_nc_oc=AQmHYkCI4yjouYOd0RgqLBSU65OiCXlkoGaLtd10ELu pq7_8dPpsSV3FC1azQDK4jlI&_nc_ht=scontent.fybz1-1.fna&oh=85ab40801c0e546a8f17fb01252a0523&oe=5E1D55BE

[IndigoErth]

Someday he's gonna look back and wish the internet hadn't existed yet.

I mean, I tend to avoid old forum posts as it is, I can't imagine having to revisit pictures like that someday. lol


Also, holy spoiler tag, Batman, that pic is huge. I could live without such a ginormous crotch shot. lol

[pferreira]

He isn't being watched very carefully, if that's the case.On the Internet he can kind of get lost but when you're on TV presented by Fred Willard all bets are off. :ohwell:

Someday he's gonna look back and wish the internet hadn't existed yet.He does look like he's desperately trying to pop one out. :o

[TommyT]

Someday he's gonna look back and wish the internet hadn't existed yet.

I mean, I tend to avoid old forum posts as it is, I can't imagine having to revisit pictures like that someday. lol


Also, holy spoiler tag, Batman, that pic is huge. I could live without such a ginormous crotch shot. lol

Sorry about that, I just linked the FB image. It is a little big.

[IMJ]

The whole point to what I was saying above about the internet giving anonymity to all people was a ginger way of explaining that you never really know who you are watching or talking to.

The kid in the video probably falls somewhere on the autistic spectrum. You have to consider that.

[pferreira]

The kid in the video probably falls somewhere on the autistic spectrum. You have to consider that.That might be true but yeah we don't know. To be fair there are a lot of kids his age dressing up in their favourite franchise costumes. Think about all those kids who have run around in their garden dressed as Batman or Superman. Or what about kids running around the house dressed up as a Power Ranger? It's not uncommon.

[TommyT]

That might be true but yeah we don't know. To be fair there are a lot of kids his age dressing up in their favourite franchise costumes. Think about all those kids who have run around in their garden dressed as Batman or Superman. Or what about kids running around the house dressed up as a Power Ranger? It's not uncommon.

He’s not a kid. He’s a young adult carrying a weapon.

[IMJ]

He’s not a kid. He’s a young adult carrying a weapon.

Dude doesn't even have a bed - his mattress is just chillin' on the ground.

[Andrew NDB]

https://i.makeagif.com/media/5-03-2017/wzFZCY.gif

[IndigoErth]

Dude doesn't even have a bed - his mattress is just chillin' on the ground.
Dress up like Splinter instead of the Turtles. Problem solved.

edit: Unless the Japanese connection is literally the reason, not just a lack of money for furniture. :tconfuse:

[IMJ]

Dress up like Splinter instead of the Turtles. Problem solved.

edit: Unless the Japanese connection is literally the reason, not just a lack of money for furniture. :tconfuse:

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[pferreira]

He’s not a kid. He’s a young adult carrying a weapon.Maybe with the costume on he could pass himself off as a kid? Yeah okay that's a stretch for me. :D

[Dejablue]

A small fact that escapes a lot of normally operating people in our day to day lives - we assume that we are just watching an "idiot" jump around, or you read something on a forum and assume the guy is an "asshole" when in fact the internet gives anonymity to all people.

If anyone here wants a real wake up call? Consider this - you go to a comic convention and talk to any given, slightly short tempered comic book dealer. You, a normal person who is just living your life as correctly as possible, never gives any consideration to who that dealer is outside of how he treats you in that moment. But think about the total sum of the situation. Why exactly are so many of those guys going around the country, from con to con all the time, no health insurance, super vested in comic books? Because they love them? How about how many of those guys are ex-cons and can't land a structured job so they do stuff like convention sales of collectibles to make some money. I'm not saying that all conventioneers are ex-cons - hahahaha! But I'm giving you some perspective about the truth of these hobbies.

Normally operating people often don't even consider these things because it's so far off our radar that it doesn't make sense. But it's true. How many people never check their sex offender registry in their neighborhood - go head and do that after you read this. Everyone go ahead and do that.

The point I'm making for everyone here is that, sure there are a lot of good people in the hobby. But also that a lot of the strange **** you read from some "asshole" on the internet could very likely be coming from a sociopath or some handicapped person, or even just some dumb kid - but you'll instinctively visualize some adult, confrontational male. Then you turn off your computer to go to the comic book convention where all of the "good and great fandom is". Consider that nice and dedicated comic book dealer and then consider how many of those guys are there because their hugely felonious record is keeping them from any standard employment. Then go home to your house, in your nice neighborhood where you realize that you've got 5 registered sex offenders within 4 blocks of your place.

This all sounds really terrible, but again -perspective-.

This sounds like an interesting documentary.