[Fedup23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thechris

And I would like to say again that I have rarely seen this happen. This being people getting teased for collecting toys. In fact, from my experience, it's more the teasing or outright insulting of someone collecting toys that seems to be perceived as deviant and unacceptable behaviour. Usually this results in an awkward silence and everyone secretly talking behind the guy's back who had just insulted someone for their hobby or outright verbal contempt for the guy who was rude.

Like once at work, I was talking to everyone about Green Lantern and this guy from India started insulting me for "talking shit" and said that I'm a loser for liking this stuff. He was obviously trying to fit in and thought that by attacking some guy who liked Green Lantern would somehow achieve this. Anyway, everyone just looked at him awkwardly and one of my co-workers was like, "Whoa calm down, geez." and he laughed awkwardly and I just carried on talking about Green Lantern. It's like he got ready for his big move to North America by being subjected to repeated viewings of the first half of "Lucas".

Maybe it happens more than I realize or it could be a culture thing? I'm from a good sized city in Canada and I don't often see this happen. On the other hand, I dated this girl who moved here from the UK and like I said, she was the only one who had a beef with my collecting. Also, back in the days of ICQ, a lot of the Americans I spoke to told me some real horror stories about getting harrassed for being a nerd and it was like straight out of Revenge of the Nerds and it's like, is it for the toys and cartoons? Or because you act like Steve Urkel (often sans intelligence AKA poindexter)?

When I went to High School, a good 80% of our "jocks" were also very good academically. I'd say a good chunk of them were on the Honours rankings. In some ways, I think these are outdated stereotypes perpetrated by people who just can't let go. ie: Only TV's stereotype of "nerds" can collect toys. All athletic people are dumb. All intelligent people have to smell bad, can't enjoy sports and can't get girlfriends. All intelligent people have to resemble Dexter from Dexter's Laboratory. If you collect toys, you have to think people who go to bars, clubs or drink are BAD PEOPLE.

People, it's time to grow up and grow out of these stupid "norms". This is thanks in part to years of counterproductive brainwashing by a handful of sociopathic "nerds" and "narcissistic jocks". Emilio Estevez's character from the Breakfast Club saying his dad brainwashed him and made him feel like he had to beat the crap out of some nerd. This kind of stuff apparently happens. And those with "nerd" parents or "nerd" friends who are complete control freaks who make you feel like you're a reject from society and that you CAN'T just go to anything that the "popular kids" go to and turn you into a meek society hating shut-in. Carrie's mom "They're all gonna laugh at you". THIS is the real problem. Not collecting toys. It's those people who just can't let go of this crap and let everyone get along because they were either dealt a bad hand or they screwed it up for themselves.

And hell, I might get a lot of grief from some people for posting this because I'm somehow betraying "our kind", but if you really think that, then I'm NOT LIKE you. I'm not pointing fingers. I don't know anyone personally, but a lot of you guys seem pretty cool. However, if this hits home for anyone, well, maybe it's time to re-evaluate things. I drink socially. I go to the gym on a regular basis. I do go to bars and clubs sometimes. I do have plenty of friends of varying backgrounds. I have played team sports. I meet girls. I've done well academically. I love cars. I work in the IT field. I collect toys. I draw. I sculpt. I play with LEGO. I play video games. I fiddle with electronics. I love programming. I love DIY. No, collecting toys doesn't mean you have to like everything but it also doesn't mean you have to hate specific groups of people, either.

Yeah I do feel a little silly collecting toys, not necessarily because of what others think, but because of what I think. In a way, that makes it even more enjoyable because I can appreciate how fun and youthful an activity it is. I can sit back and laugh at myself for it once in a while and really, who would I rather be? A guy who can sit back and laugh about life and be happy or a guy living with a stick up my ass cause not everybody appreciates my toy collection as much as I do? Yeah I think I'm happy with the first choice.

Great post!! **Standing ovation!!!**