Do you have to be a social misfit to enjoy TMNT in "old" age?

[gobo]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot

I work in a UPS warehouse damaging all of your valuable ebay stuff. lol.

Awesome 'delivery' of that info.

[Mr. Stay Puft]

"Normal", "odd", "weird", "social misfit", etc. are all just a matter of perception. My only clear definition of "weird" would be if I met someone who said they've never seen a single episode of The Simpsons. I mean, after almost 20 seasons, you have to have caught at least one episode at some point.

In regards to the poll. No. Different, maybe, but I don't consider myself to be "odd" or a "misfit". Everyone has their hobbies and interest and if someone else wants to think less of me for what mine are, then with all due respect, they can f*** off!

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Mikeys_in_tha_hizouse

"Normal", "odd", "weird", "social misfit", etc. are all just a matter of perception. My only clear definition of "weird" would be if I met someone who said they've never seen a single episode of The Simpsons. I mean, after almost 20 seasons, you have to have caught at least one episode at some point.

In regards to the poll. No. Different, maybe, but I don't consider myself to be "odd" or a "misfit". Everyone has their hobbies and interest and if someone else wants to think less of me for what mine are, then with all due respect, they can f*** off!

ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

[aabxx]

"Odd" is very subjective. Normal people sometimes try to describe themselves as a bit odd because that makes them feel more special but having small quirks does not make you odd. That's normal as every single person on the planet has them.

The deviation has to be substantial.

I lift weights, I play football ("soccer" for you americans), I swim, I smile the prettiest smile you could imagine when prompted to do so among strangers... I have higher education and am taking three more years... I might be getting married soon... from the outside, nothing might seem that strange with me. I probably come off as a very mild mannered and intelligent looking chap. But it's because I'm a part time ninja. I know the game of deception and I move in the shadows.

Yes that might've sounded like an overactive imagination but that's what really many odd people do. They try to conceal their true nature. I only exist as myself among my closest friends. To the outside world, I'm just an act. A phony! That could probably be said about most people though. They don't act like themselves when in public. But then we get back to the degree of deviation from the norm.

By now it might sound like I actually enjoy this game I'm describing but frankly, the one thing I've wanted the most my entire life, was to be normal. But hey, I'm sounding a bit too emo now. I thought I was done with that phase of my life...

[gobo]

You don't have to be a weirdo to be a TMNT fan... but it sure helps!

To the uninformed, I might not seem odd either. But, I'm pretty sure one can't even resemble a tame (i.e. realistic) form of Monk without being weird. I've just been dealt a bad hand for playing the popularity game, and so I've found better uses for my time and effort. Why would I want to run myself ragged just to be of 'adequate' normalcy? I'm of the opinion that those who don't like my individuality aren't worth my concern. I like myself better than when I was a clueless follower (ages ago).

Next testament, please.

[ToTheNines]

The main fuel to my TMNT fire is how deeply nostalgic I am (and have always been, as early as 5th grade). While still in my childhood I wanted to go back to the 3-6 ages, I've always had a good life, I just realized at a very young age that life gets worse as you grow up. The reason I got into TMNT (after it had died out) was when I moved we had to wait about half a year for our house to be built and we had 5 people and a dog living in my grandma's small house while all my stuff was in storage. My main form of entertainment was the TMNT games for the NES, and stuff just picked up from there.

So turtles was my gateway drug into nostalgia

[Revan]

The comic book lover/avid reader stereotype had to come from somewhere. I know when I go into my local shop to pick things up I always see the same people browsing and the same clerk. I don't know them so I'll save my judgement but I do know myself and I have to answer the poll question with "yes"

[themaxonline]

I wouldn't consider gay or lesbian people to be "social misfits" either, lol.

And I don't think I'm a social misfit,...unless you consider one in high school to be one for life but I don't think life starts until after high school ends anyway so... ha!

But I talk about the ninja turtles a bit, usually around DVD release time, and even get friends to watch them with me. It's almost "cool" to like cartoons from the 80s tho! I know people in their mid 20s that watch other 80s cartoons and they're.. (ugh, I hate the word but) "normal".

[Scandia]

And I don't think I'm a social misfit,...unless you consider one in high school to be one for life but I don't think life starts until after high school ends anyway so... ha!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!

Too bad some people cannot get past the high school stage.

I was the class nerd in high school. Not only that, but I was very dorky as well- very socially awkward.

Yet the former ugly duckling has blossomed into a swan.

"still has those fantasies of walking into a class reunion and having jaws drop"

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Perhaps to an extent. You don't have to be a complete oddball, but maybe a certain amount of eccentricity is involved. I know my family sometimes think I'm weird when I tell them about how I've been watching the movies again and am thinking about getting more of the DVDs. I try to explain it's a nostalgia thing. Being a huge comic book fan, which is usually considered dorky, is part of the reason why I'm still a Ninja Turtles fan.

[NightwatchersOnlygirl]

I'm not odd cos I like TMNT

[Zeno]

I'm not a social misfit, I actually get along with everyone, and go out of my way to meet ppl, I have a gf, I handle public situations well, and im pretty sharp when it comes down to it, so social misfit no, misfit in general oh god yes.
Tho honestly I find that nowadays toy collecting, and hobbies like such are pretty accepted, almost everyone I know watches cartoons, and collects figs to some degree.
i'm 25, and most of my buds are between that, and 35, so my joys of collectordom have always seemed kinda normal,( yea I hate the word too) Besides, toons, and comics are what made me the person I am nowadays, I learned about power, and responsibility from Spidey, the Turtles showed me at a young age the importance of honor, I learned alot of family values from the X-Men, and the importance of controlling oneself from Hulk.
Not to mention I credit comics in general for a love of reading when I was a tyke, and for the fact that it got me interested in martial arts at a young age, and that really helped through school.( no getting shoved in lockers for me, I found it more fun to bully the bullies)


PS, when I think about it, how many ppl love Godzilla, and wasnt he just an atomic mutated lizard, he didn't even have mad ninja skills lol.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by themaxonline

I wouldn't consider gay or lesbian people to be "social misfits" either, lol.

Are you one of either, cause if not you have no idea.
I mean sure there are some people who are in hidding and play it safe but those of us who are themselves in society are not very well accepted I'd have to say, hence being a social missfit.
I'm sure some could argue that you bring it upon yourself, but there are just allot of people who hate on someone for who they are without even knowing them.
And it shows up allot on the internet because people who ar cowards can be big when they're hidding behind a computer screen.

Originally Posted by NightwatchersOnlygirl

I'm not odd cos I like TMNT

No you're odd because you're in love with Nightwatcher.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

It's much better to be interested in cartoons when you are old than alcohol, drugs or tobacco.

[Chris]

Johan that is so true!

It's also what I say when my parents complain about the money I spend on TMNT, DVDs, figures, etc.

I'll freely admit I'm not what most people would define as "normal"; I read comics (probably way more than I should), I collect figures (NECA's TMNT, Sideshow' Star Wars, Mattel's DC stuff), I still love many things most others my age consider "childish" - TMNT, the classic Disney films (mostly the 90s era), Batman: The Animated Series and it's follow ons up to JLU, etc. But that's who I am. I never really talk about these interests at work, but I do with my friends and I'm lucky enough to have a girlfriend who has similar interests. It was great going with her and another friend (all of us in our twenties) to see TMNT.

So yeah I'm not what most people consider "normal", but then again what's "normal" these days? And wouldn't the world be a really dull place if we were all that way?

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Chris

So yeah I'm not what most people consider "normal", but then again what's "normal" these days?

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

Sad but freakin' true...everyone wants to be and acts like almost every place I go. ugh

[themaxonline]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

Are you one of either, cause if not you have no idea.
I mean sure there are some people who are in hidding and play it safe but those of us who are themselves in society are not very well accepted I'd have to say, hence being a social missfit.
I'm sure some could argue that you bring it upon yourself, but there are just allot of people who hate on someone for who they are without even knowing them.
And it shows up allot on the internet because people who ar cowards can be big when they're hidding behind a computer screen.

I am and I don't consider myself to be abnormal because of it either. I know and realize that some people do but for myself, I don't really. At the same time though, I don't think there is a normal. Even on the basis of this topic, it seems like "normal" is defined by the person that participates in sports and other voluntary activities that are highly social but in reality, what percentage of people does "normal" represent? I would say less than 1/4 of people are "normal", which is hardly a majority so does that mean they are no longer normal?
There is no such thing. It's a perception we allow ourselves to exist to either place us on the inside or the outside.

Closer to your post, I don't think being gay makes someone a social misfit either. A lot of gay people that have accepted themselves for what they are work fine with making friends with other gay people and non-gay people that accept the concept of the existence of "being gay". I realize that being gay still isn't as widely accepted as I'd like it to be but where I live (canada), I have yet to really experience anything directly negative that is personal to me. Sometimes it feels like society is out to get me but for the most part, it seems to be going smoothly when I take religion and right-wing politics out of the equation.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by themaxonline

I am and I don't consider myself to be abnormal because of it either. I know and realize that some people do but for myself, I don't really. At the same time though, I don't think there is a normal. Even on the basis of this topic, it seems like "normal" is defined by the person that participates in sports and other voluntary activities that are highly social but in reality, what percentage of people does "normal" represent? I would say less than 1/4 of people are "normal", which is hardly a majority so does that mean they are no longer normal?
There is no such thing. It's a perception we allow ourselves to exist to either place us on the inside or the outside.

Closer to your post, I don't think being gay makes someone a social misfit either. A lot of gay people that have accepted themselves for what they are work fine with making friends with other gay people and non-gay people that accept the concept of the existence of "being gay". I realize that being gay still isn't as widely accepted as I'd like it to be but where I live (canada), I have yet to really experience anything directly negative that is personal to me. Sometimes it feels like society is out to get me but for the most part, it seems to be going smoothly when I take religion and right-wing politics out of the equation.

Ah you don't live in the US no contest, Canada is awesome end of story.

[AquaParade]

Interesting topic. I voted no. I would not call myself a social Misfit...I'm pretty damn weird, but all my friends know and accept it, and I'd say I have a large group of friends. I had a beautiful quite "social acceptable" girlfriend for about two years until recently, and ya, I'd say no, you dont have to be....or maybe it just depends on your definition of misfit. I would say I'm pretty different from all my friends, but I still have plenty of friends. I'm pretty glad to say that I think me being so open with all the ninja turtle comics, dragon ball z dvds, and spider-man crap, that it makes my friends feel pretty eased around me, like they can be themselves.