How do people react to the fact that you collect toys?

[Donatello19]

This is to the (many) people of the Technodrome who collect toys, TMNT or not. How do people react to it? To be honest, I don't really care what anyone thinks of me collecting them, because if it makes me happy and I'm not hurting myself or anyone else, than who cares, honestly? I was just wondering if any of you had some stories, figured they'd be interesting to read.

[blindturtle02]

My family has always been cool with it. I'm very glad I'm marrying someone who loves the hunt as much as I do. Only with her, it's American Girl rather than Star Wars or TMNT. So we usually go to TRU, Walmart, Target, etc to just look around at pretty much everything. My mom was the one who got me into buying TMNT in the first place, so she's been into the fig hunting thing since around early 90 or thereabouts. My stepdad says I'm wasting a bunch of money on stupid plastic, but he's got a motorcycle that just sits in his garage gathering dust when he's not polishing and polishing and polishing it. I think he's the only one who doesn't see the point but he's never made a big deal about it. I've tried to tell him that the SW ships and TMNT vehicles are rather like my versions of motorcycles, only I have more than he does and mine cost less. I always make sure my bills are paid and the groceries are bought berfore even thinking about buying something. And I don't buy things every week let alone month. Haven't even bought a single toy this year because I haven't really seen anything I've wanted. Never really cared what people thought about it, but I'm glad I've got people close to me who enjoy toys as well.

[CyberCubed]

My toys are locked away in a storage bin instead of being displayed...so they're always in a closet anyway

[BubblyShell22]

I used to collect the Barbie Kelly Club dolls and never cared what anyone thought. They mostly just stayed in the boxes anyway, so it didn't matter. I don't collect anymore because I have no room.

[Discogod]

Most people think it's cool, a small minority think it's rather weird. Me, I couldn't care less what people think.

I bring toys in to display on my desk at work - I have a few permanent exhibits (mostly TMNT stuff), and I usually bring a new toy in every few days, sometimes things that are relevant to the date/day.
It's got to the point now where people from other departments will stop by to see what I've brought in...

[turtlefanforever]

My brothers think it's really cool, the rest of family could care less but are pretty supportive, parents have bought me a few figures. My friends are cool about it. I guess not many people know or could know cause they're in my room and I don't just go walking around saying I have toys, but yeah everyone seems to be cool about it. Especially my better half.

[shuriken]

Most people I know either don't know or don't care. Besides it gives my nieces and nephews something to play with when they come over.

[RaphAndDonnie]

My friends are ok with it, as some of them collect toys themselves. My parents don't mind either. My dad's actually talked about building me a display shelf. Really the only people who have a problem with it are acquaintances/ strangers.

[blindturtle02]

Originally Posted by RaphAndDonnie

My friends are ok with it, as some of them collect toys themselves. My parents don't mind either. My dad's actually talked about building me a display shelf. Really the only people who have a problem with it are acquaintances/ strangers.

Yeah my dad's built me some display shelves. He's been a carpenter for decades and decades, so that's helped me out allot. I haven't gotten them hauled down to Tx yet but will hopefully get around to that this summer after my wedding in May. We want to devote a whole room to our collections but I'm thinking we're going to need more room than that. I usually store the figs in tubs under beds. I haven't even gotten to open some of my SW stuff EG my ginormous Millennium Falcon or 2010 AT-AT, so looking forward to getting my shelves later this year. I suppose I really will be doing Christmas in July.

[Mzx10484]

Everybody is ok with it - some of them might think "oh well" ...
Some find it funny and make jokes, "I should set up all the figures in the garden and see what the neighbors say" ...
Some of them are impressed by the value of some figures.

[snake]

Everyones pretty fine with it aside from a few of my friends.

[Iroh]

When my wife and I were dating as boyfriend and girlfriend, I told her that I collect action figures. Other people around me were very accepting because I have friends that still collect postage stamps. There was a long pause at first after I told her. I was waiting for the rejection or "the talk." When she lead me to her walk-in closet, I couldn't believe the MASSIVE Barbie collection she has. I actually cried out of happiness because I didn't want to see the remnants of my childhood go to waste. Out of her own mouth, she told me that she was thankful that we have something great in common. I am truly thankful and blessed. When we travel outside of the country, we buy toys as souvenirs from Japan and China but sometimes it is hard to get it onto the plane.

[Zulithe]

Honestly the only people who seem put off by it are the same people I wouldn't want to hang out with anyway.

Sometimes people who you don't expect will think it's really cool and you could make an unexpected new friend

As usual follow the simple rule... be yourself... that's the only way you are going to meet people you connect with. hiding who you are or what you like isn't getting you anywhere. it will only lead to unhappiness

[Iroh]

Originally Posted by Zulithe

Honestly the only people who seem put off by it are the same people I wouldn't want to hang out with anyway.

Sometimes people who you don't expect will think it's really cool and you could make an unexpected new friend

As usual follow the simple rule... be yourself... that's the only way you are going to meet people you connect with. hiding who you are or what you like isn't getting you anywhere. it will only lead to unhappiness

That is well said.

[Bossa Nova]

I wonder if there's a difference in how adult men are treated who collect toys as opposed to adult women. I collect turtles, ponies and dolls, and with the latter two I sometimes get the feeling I'm being judged as compensating for my lack of children or that I myself am childish.

However, my immediate family are all great sports about it. I've received items for my collection from them for years, and while I get a light teasing every once in awhile it's never meant in seriousness. My co-workers also know I like turtles and ponies since I keep two tiny figurines of each on my desk, and they're also super cool about it. Yeah, I get a couple of guys who roll their eyes and ask if I'm serious, but I think they just go with it since I'm one of the youngest employees there anyway.

Weirdly enough, it's actually my friends I never mention them to. I'm not sure why, but I feel strangely embarrassed about it and I think the only time it's ever remotely been touched on was during a car trip when we were playing the 'What's your favorite' game and I claimed the turtles as my favorite super heroes.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I have several (small) collections- dragon figurines, SW figures, and lately, TMNT stuff. And posters- I have quite a few of those, mostly Marvel character related or from movies. And my comic collection, of course! Most people know only about my comics and the posters if they visit my home, but the TMNT collection is starting to get some attention from people at work. There's one co-worker who has even added a couple of items to my TMNT and Marvel collections (a cup w Spidey, and a TMNT jumbo pen) because she saw them and thought of me!

Most people are cool with it, though they are often surprised. I take a cup with me to work every day so I have something to drink going to and from work- I walk about two miles each way, and having something to drink in the afternoon on the way home is just a good idea, especially in a Texas summer. All the cups are either Marvel characters or TMNT, so everyone knows which one is mine, LOL! And I switch them out frequently, depending on my mood or who I want to bring to work with me. Usually it's one of the turtles or one of the Avengers. (Mikey and Cap being most frequent.)

[blindturtle02]

Yeah Bossa Nova, my mom will still pick up the occasional TMNT or SW related toy. I used to be a bit shy about telling people, especially in hs but that was years ago. I'm fine with it, especially since I've got a fiancé who enjoys it as much as I do. My brother doesn't collect figs or anything but he doesn't rib me about it. If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that there's nothing as rewarding as being yourself. I love that BS some people spout about how guys and girls who collect toys will be single forever. What a scream! lol I guess if people let it consume all their finances, then that'd be a problem but from what I've read, most people tend to put family before all that. Haven't received much ribbing about my SW and TMNT collecting. I actually got into a conversation with a guy at a Target register in Memphis once about TMNT because he was also a collector. Same thing happened with another fellow about SW merch when I was at a TRU. If I'd been ashamed of my collecting, I never would have gotten to know Jester back in the day at college. I think our first conversation was centered around toys at a lunch table. Toys and TMNT, if memory serves correctly. His then future wife was also sitting there. I wanna say she got the ball rolling when bringing up carebears. So it's certainly introduced me to some lifelong friends, and liable to introduce me to many more over the years.

Duckie, awesome that you have coworkers who've helped you out! Jester did that on occasion with a couple DC figs which I paid him back for directly when he found them at a Wally World. I've also got a few hero glasses which have gotten a few convos started at some of the schools I work at around here. One office worker started gushing about The Avengers. There's a couple who works at the same school as my fiancé who named their kids Jacen and Jaina. So she's gotten to know them because we've both been reading SW and naturally, those guys enjoy it as well. I haven't met them yet but they sound like great folks. Both their kids who go to that school get a kick out of their names. Sometimes, the 8 or so year old boy will come up and be like,"Hey, I'm named after a Sith!," and all that. Amazing how being ourselves result in meeting some terrific people.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Naming the kids after Jedi? That is so cool! Actually, when I was pregnant with my little girl Rhiannon (no, NOT after the song, actually the Celtic goddess) before we knew what I was having, I was going to name it James Logan if it was a boy. And yes, THAT James Logan. My hubby wasn't too keen on it though. But he's just not a Wolverine fan, I guess, LOL! Maybe I could have gone with Casey? I did name my cats Ash and Demona, if that means anything. (Ash is from Evil Dead, and Demona- yes, I'm a Gargoyles fan!)

[blindturtle02]

Originally Posted by MsMarvelDuckie

Naming the kids after Jedi? That is so cool! Actually, when I was pregnant with my little girl Rhiannon (no, NOT after the song, actually the Celtic goddess) before we knew what I was having, I was going to name it James Logan if it was a boy. And yes, THAT James Logan. My hubby wasn't too keen on it though. But he's just not a Wolverine fan, I guess, LOL! Maybe I could have gone with Casey? I did name my cats Ash and Demona, if that means anything. (Ash is from Evil Dead, and Demona- yes, I'm a Gargoyles fan!)

If your cat ever came up in conversation with someone complementing your kindness to animals and saying that you seem to know all the exentricities of felines and the like, you could totally go all Macbeth and say,"Know her? hahaha! I named her!" Sorry, sorry. I just love that line. No one but Gargoyles fans would get the reference though.

You ain't kidding about Tx weather being hot lately. I wish I still had my sewer spitting turtles so I'd have an excuse to take them outside. Not that I'd go about squirting people at random. Just in the mood for more summer themed toys lately. Speaking of which, we honestly see a tun of teens hanging around the toy isles when toys for the new summer blockbusters are being released. It's quite tough to get through there lately. Sure they'll pretend to be hanging out, but allot of this Marvel stuff still appeals to the kid in all of us. That goes for TMNT too. I think the days in which all of this stuff was frowned upon are becoming a thing of the past. Not really sure if this hobby really was ever frowned upon. I think the folks who enjoy making fun of others to bolster their own insecurities will always attempt to single the adult toy collector out, but imho, it just doesn't bother me and never really has. I've always thought that the folks who laugh the loudest tend to at least watch the cartoon belonging to the same toyline. Just a theory.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

LOL, yup that's my favorite line from him, and oddly enough I just recently bought the season 2 vol. 1 DVD, which of course introduced MacBeth! We watched the entire thing in two days a couple of weeks ago. It goes from City of Stone to the beginning of the Avalon arc, with the first two post-Avalon episodes being the last episodes in the set. Now I wish they'd hurry up and finish the series release, so I can buy it! I don't have season 1, unfortunately, as my local Wal-Mart didn't have it. But they have had copies in the past, so I'm hoping it will show up again sometime soon. Seasons 2/3 are what I really need to help me work on my fan-fic though, since it takes place after Goliath and Elisa return to New York with Angela in tow. Ugh, I really need a life- I watch cartoons and call it "research" for fan-fics!

Which reminds me, I REALLY need to find that "Leo Slice" of Season 7 of the OT!! Hmm, do cartoons count as toy collecting? I've already got all of season 1 of the Nick series, and will be picking up the first volume of season 2 with my next paycheck. I plan to get them all as they come out. Also the rest of the OT and the 2K3 series, if/when it's ever fully released.